Uganda: Gov’t to restore vandalized mausoleum
The Ugandan government has announced that it will assist in the restoration of the vandalized royal mausoleum at Kasubi in Kampala. The structure that houses some tombs of Buganda's Kings was set ablaze Tuesday night by yet unknown people. - The announcement was made by President Yoweri Museveni Wednesday during an impromptu visit to the site where he directed for immediate investigations into the cause of the fire.
“I am suspicious but I don’t know whether it was a deliberate act or an accident. Unfortunately these people have interfered with the scene of the crime because we would have been able to ascertain if it was intended arson. Government will see how it can assist in…Museveni urges sustainability of clean water
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has called on experts to not only discuss clean water and sanitation but also to include its sustainability and availability on the continent. "Don't confine yourselves to safe water and sanitation. The bigger problem is: do you have sustainably enough water to clean?" he asked. - The President was opening the 15th International African Water and Sanitation Congress and Exhibition currently taking place at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo. The 3-day congress that is running under the theme “Water and Sanitation; Perspective and Challenges Relating to Energy and Climate Change” has drawn over 1,300 participants from 64 countries worldwide.
…Roving in Kigali, Kampala taxis
I had never been in a country where people knock on doors as a sign of getting out. People knock on doors as they enter into houses. But in Kigali the capital city of Rwanda, people knock on taxis' doors and window screens to notify the driver that they want to get out of the taxi. - I initially boarded a Kigali city taxi, sort of a minibus with a yellow band around it just like those in Kampala city to take me to Remera. Remera is in the outskirts of Kigali city. We had hardly moved a kilometre when some passengers started knocking on window and door screens of the taxi.
At first, it was merely a knock on the taxi’s window. ‘Just accidental,’ I thought. But later I be…Uganda: Political parties sign MOU
Major political parties in Uganda including the ruling party-NRM, have signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to work together towards democratization of the East African nation. The parties which signed the memorandum include Uganda People's Congress (UPC) , Democratic Party (DP). - The rest are Conservative Party (CP), Justice for Equality Movement (JEMA), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM)
They agreed to always use dialogue to solve political problems.
The ceremony which took place at Imperial royale hotel in Kampala on Friday was also attended by religious leaders, diplomats, minister and political parties’ top officials…Ethiopia: Zuma meets Museveni
South African President Jacob Zuma has assured Ugandans of his country's readiness to host the 2010 World Cup. - President Zuma was meeting Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the 14th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union is taking place. He said preparations are almost complete to host the world Cup in Africa for the first time.
He also briefed him about his country’s 20-year celebration of Former President and World hero Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on February 11th. The celebrations will coincide with the opening of the parliament of South Africa.
President Yoweri Museveni invited president Zuma to Uganda for …Police in Uganda arrest women protesters
Police in Kampala have arrested over 30 women for allegedly storming the Electoral Commission offices demanding for the resignation of the Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kigundu. The women belong to different opposition political parties operating under an umbrella organization -Inter party coalition. - They were demanding the resignation of the Electoral Commission Chief saying that he is allegedly incompetent and cannot organize free and fair elections.
The leader of the arrested women Ingrid Turinawe said they wanted to meet Badru Kigundu in relation to a memorandum on electoral reforms they sent him recently.
Andrew Soliwen, the Kampala Metropolitan police commander said the …Uganda to reconsider anti-gay bill
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has said cabinet is to hold discussions with David Bahati, the MP who tabled the anti-gay bill. This comes after the bill submitted last October sparked international condemnation and prompted threats to cut aid to Uganda. - President Museveni who was opening the NRM National Executive Conference at State House Entebbe noted that the issue of the anti gay- bill is a foreign policy issue which must be handled carefully.
He noted that the bill is already impacting negatively on Uganda’s foreign policy.
President Museveni told the delegates that several world leaders including Hillary Clinton, the US state secretary have called him over the bill.Bill Gates fights cassava disease in Africa
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has issued a grant of US$2.4 million to various organizations to identify and use molecular markers for faster and more accurate breeding of cassava varieties resistant to Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD). - These organizations include the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partners the Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Tanzania, and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda.
The disease which is one of greatest threats to food security in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by the Cassava Brown Streak Virus (CBSV). It results in a dry rot in the tuberous roots rendering them inedible. Cassava is an imp…Strange mosquitoes invade Uganda
Authorities in Uganda are studying what they term as strange mosquitoes that have invaded a district in the western region. The mosquitoes which have invaded Kabarole district are slightly bigger than the usual ones; feed day and night and cause skin rash on face and upper limbs of the people they bite. - Those they bite develop symptoms similar to those of chicken pox.
Now, Dr Joa Oketch, the Kabarole District Health Officer says they have taken blood samples from 27 people who were bitten by the strange mosquitoes and tested positive to malaria.
He identifies the affected areas as Mugoma zone 1 and 2, Buteebe parish in Karambi Sub County, Katojo prison and Kitere in Kibimba Ward, We…About 50 police officers arrested in Uganda
About 50 police officers in Uganda have been arrested for holding suspects for over 48 hours in police cells. The suspects include Criminal Investigations Department Officers and officers in charge of police posts and stations. They were arrested by the Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU) and held at police headquarters at Kibuli in Kampala. - This follows PSU's decision to visit various police stations and cells abruptly without notice.
The PSU Unit’s commandant, John Ndungutse, said that the police will not allow police officers who break the law.
He said it is unconstitutional for holding people beyond the 48 hours statutory detention limit and the officers arrested for d…Uganda rakes in US$ 12m from China
The Government of China has extended a grant of US$ 12 million to Uganda for the development of road networks in its capital Kampala. - Hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebagala, the Mayor of Kampala informed journalists the Kampala City Council would use the money to reconstruct all the major roads located within the divisions of Kampala.
Ssebaggala also revealed that the City Council has ordered machinery to re-equip its construction department, and that all the coming constructions will not be tendered but worked on by the City Council itself.
Sebaggala said most of the sub-roads from Kampala city were built in 1955 and cannot stand the increase in vehicles and human population.
He noted ab…Uganda: Lady kills army commander
Uganda's former army commander Major General James Kazini has allegedly been killed by his girlfriend, Atim, on Monday night. Reports say the incident took place at the general's home in Namuwongo, a suburb of the capital Kampala. - Atim is now in police custody. Uganda’s police spokesperson Judith Nabakoba told AfricaNews that Atim allegedly hit the ex-military officer with a metal on the head which resulted in his death. His body was taken to Kampala city mortuary for postmortem on Tuesday morning. It has since been returned to Namuwongo.
Major General Kazini is hailed in Uganda for his contribution towards elimination of rebels of Allied Defense Forces that attacked Uganda from D…Uganda: Four detained for drug trafficking
Two Nigerians and two Pakistani nationals are being held by the Uganda police in the capital city - Kampala - on suspicion of trafficking drugs. - Judith Nabakooba, the police spokesperson told journalists in Kampala that the four were arrested from Kiwatule, a suburb of Kampala city. She said they were allegedly found with marijuana and other drugs.
Nabakooba said that the Nigerians identified as Emeka Yeke and Kedi Yoki have reportedly confessed using Uganda as their base for trafficking drugs to Europe and Asia.
She announced that the four suspects are to be taken to court on Monday to be charged with drug trafficking.Suspect in Rwandan genocide arrested
Police in Uganda have arrested one of the most-wanted suspects in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Former intelligence Chief Idelphonse Nizeyimana is accused of organizing the killing of thousands of ethnic Tutsis - including the respected former queen. He was arrested two days ago as he traveled to Kenya from the DRC. - He was arrested by Interpol and has been flown to Arusha in Tanzania to be tried in the Rwanda genocide court seating there.
Niziyimana was arrested at Exotic Inn Hotel in Rubaga division, a suburb of Kampala the capital of Uganda.
The Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba said Nizeyimana is believed to have entered Uganda through the Democratic Republic of Congo using fake…Museveni to address summit on Climate Change
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni is due to address the 64th, UN General Assembly summit on climate change on Wednesday. He is expected to high light challenges faced by Uganda and Africa including negative human activities and population pressure on the little available land. - The summit under the theme, “Power Green Growth, Protect the environment,” was opened on Tuesday by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
In his speech, Ban Ki-moon warned that the world will pay an unacceptable price if it does not act now to combat climate change.
“All across Africa – the most vulnerable continent – climate change threatens to roll back years of development gain…Uganda: Museveni orders closure of talk shows
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has ordered that all radio talk shows, commonly known as bimeeza, should be off the air and the immediate arrest of propagandists who have been using them as a platform to destabilize the country's peace. - The president gave the directive Wednesday morning in Nateete, Rubaga Division in Kampala during an impromptu tour of Nateete Police Post that was burnt down during last week’s riots.
AfricaNews reporter said property worth millions was vandalized and business came to a standstill during a riot that was sparked off by police refusal of an influential local chief to travel to Kayunga district for security reasons last week.
Museveni said wher…
