By Sylvia Nankya.
THE Speaker’s decision to expel 78 members of Parliament whose political affiliation changed before the end of their term is arbitrary, misguided and inconsistent with the Ugandan legal system, according to the former Nakasongola county MP, Peter Nyombi.
His discontent is embedded in a 14-page letter addressed to the speaker Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi and copied to President Yoweri Museveni, the Vice President, The Chief Justice and the Leader of the Opposition. It’s also copied to all members of Parliament and the chairman of the electoral commission.
Speaker Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi evicted the members after the Constitutional Court ruled that it was illegal for independent MPs to stand for elections on any party ticket and also for political party MPs to contest as independents without first resigning in line with article 83 of the constitution.
The ruling is contained in a Judgement in a case filed by George Owor against the Attorney General and William Okecho, the NRM flag-bearer for the West Budama North constituency.
But Nyombi blames the speaker for rushing into making a decision which eventually contradicted the court advice and denied a big portion of Ugandans a chance to be represented in Parliament.
He said court called for corrective measures without restricting the speaker’s authority on what sort of collective measure he had to take.
“Court did not direct you to take particular action, but urged you to take appropriate action. Therefore denying 1/3 of the country an opportunity to be represented in parliament cannot be taken to be appropriate action,” Nyombi added.
However, Ssekandi dismissed the complaints, saying the affected MPs and their lawyers went to court and agreed they had erred.
“I don’t have time to waste on that. I am not the Supreme Court. The court ordered that we take action. I can’t oppose the Supreme Court,” said Ssekandi.
He demanded that if the speaker insists on the implementation of the directive, he should also consider the legality of the legislation that were passed and resolutions that were made in the presence of the 78 members.
Nyombi suggests that it would be necessary to clean the Hansard of such legislation with the same swiftness with which the members of parliament were told to vacate their seats to avoid wastage of time in litigation. He sites the controversial Cultural leaders Bill as one of the legislation whose legality should be examined.
He also blamed the speaker for bundling them in the same boat without giving them an opportunity to be heard although they had consulted him and he advised that they were free to contest in the various political parties since the August 2010 primaries had nothing to do with the 8th parliament.
Nyombi contends that their decision is not in anyway inconsistent with article 83 of the constitution which compels any person who changes political affiliation to vacate his seat in Parliament.
“Your decision tends to be consistent with the wrong view and erroneous presumption that the provisions of article 83 were intended merely to prevent members of parliament from switching over parties and hence contradicting other constitutional provisions on freedom of association” he added.
Nyombi said the manner in which they were evicted from parliament was an insult to the electorate and the entire body of members of Parliament.
“Changing the Locks of the doors of the offices previously occupied by the 78 members, is an insult to parliament and the implication of that action is that you are presiding over a parliament comprising of people with no integrity” Nyombi added. Ends-
Thursday, March 24, 2011
African parliament speaks out on Libya
By Sylvia Nankya.
The Pan African Parliament has demanded that western forces in Libya stick to the principles of the UN Resolution on Libya in order to avoid escalation of violence, confrontation and further bloodshed.
The second vice president of the Pan African Parliament Mary Mugyenyi told Journalists in Kampala yesterday that the US-Led allied forces must refrain from using their presence in Libya as a mission to influence change of leadership.
She said the decision of change must come as a will of the people and not as a result of foreign pressure.
“In line with UN Resolution 1970 of 26th February 2011, we strongly condemn all forms of violence and the resulting loss of innocent lives but we also need to watch the situation and ensure that foreign forces remain on track,” She said.
In the Resolution, the UN Security Council decided to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians. It also authorized Member States to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights imposed.
On the basis of the resolution, a coalition of American and European forces launched an operation, bombing Libyan targets by air and sea since Saturday in the first phase of a military campaign to drive Muammar Gadhafi from power.
Mugyenyi said that The Pan African Parliament had made a resolution calling upon all parties to immediately end violence and put the highest interest of Libya before any other in order to overcome the current crisis.
She added; “The Pan African Parliament equally condemns the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and summary executions in Libya.”
Yesterday the Parliament’s secretariat in Midrand, South Africa passed a resolution to task Libya to honor its commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which it had signed and ratified.
In the same document, they challenged all African Union Member States to sign and ratify the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance adopted by the African Union in 2007.
Mugyenyi also questioned the urgency used by Western countries in addressing the crisis in Libya . She said “why have they taken more interest in Libya and not in another country where things have gone wrong for example Somalia? Ends
The Pan African Parliament has demanded that western forces in Libya stick to the principles of the UN Resolution on Libya in order to avoid escalation of violence, confrontation and further bloodshed.
The second vice president of the Pan African Parliament Mary Mugyenyi told Journalists in Kampala yesterday that the US-Led allied forces must refrain from using their presence in Libya as a mission to influence change of leadership.
She said the decision of change must come as a will of the people and not as a result of foreign pressure.
“In line with UN Resolution 1970 of 26th February 2011, we strongly condemn all forms of violence and the resulting loss of innocent lives but we also need to watch the situation and ensure that foreign forces remain on track,” She said.
In the Resolution, the UN Security Council decided to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians. It also authorized Member States to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights imposed.
On the basis of the resolution, a coalition of American and European forces launched an operation, bombing Libyan targets by air and sea since Saturday in the first phase of a military campaign to drive Muammar Gadhafi from power.
Mugyenyi said that The Pan African Parliament had made a resolution calling upon all parties to immediately end violence and put the highest interest of Libya before any other in order to overcome the current crisis.
She added; “The Pan African Parliament equally condemns the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and summary executions in Libya.”
Yesterday the Parliament’s secretariat in Midrand, South Africa passed a resolution to task Libya to honor its commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which it had signed and ratified.
In the same document, they challenged all African Union Member States to sign and ratify the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance adopted by the African Union in 2007.
Mugyenyi also questioned the urgency used by Western countries in addressing the crisis in Libya . She said “why have they taken more interest in Libya and not in another country where things have gone wrong for example Somalia? Ends
Monday, March 21, 2011
UK investigates Ugandan priest over fake weddings Sunday, 20th March, 2011
By Sylvia Nankya and agencies.
A Ugandan born Clergyman Rev. Canon John Patrick Magumba is being investigated in England amid claims he was involved in scores of bogus weddings to help illegal immigrants obtain UK Resident Visas, The Church of England Newspaper reports.
The Vicar was arrested in Britain's second major police investigation in as many years into sham marriages staged to help immigrants win residents' visas
Hundreds of Weddings he conducted are also being reviewed by the UK Border Agency and Greater Manchester Police. Investigators are examining claims that the churchman abused his position to marry illegal immigrants who had no legal right to remain in the UK, a statement issued by the Border Agency indicates.
A spokeswoman for the agency said: “The UK Border Agency arrested a 58-year-old man in Rochdale for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into sham marriages in the North West.
Magumba 58, is accused of failing to read out the banns that are designed as part of a safety net to make sure a marriage is legitimate.
The banns involve reading the names and addresses of those getting married during three separate Sunday services and are necessary to acquire a marriage certificate, according to the Anglican Journal.
Armed with their marriage certificates, the immigrants were then able to hoodwink the UK Home Office into giving them a visa, which allows them leave to stay in Britain as the ‘spouse’ of their bogus husband or wife and gives them full access to education, healthcare and welfare benefits.
Magumba is currently team vicar for the South Rochdale Team Ministry. He oversees three churches in the area – St Peter’s, Newbold, St Luke’s Deeplish, and St Mary’s, Balderstone.
According to the Church of England Newspaper, On March 13, the Archdeacon of Rochdale told the congregation of St. Peter’s Church in Newbold, Rochdale, that their Team Vicar, Canon Patrick Magumba, had been arrested and the rectory and church searched by officers of the UK Border Agency in connection with an investigation of sham marriages in the North West.
Canon Magumba has since been released on bail and will continue to help the authorities with their enquiries over the coming weeks, the Church of England Newspaper reports.
He has also been suspended on full pay as the UK Border Agency investigates the allegations.
Sham weddings involve EU citizens marrying non-Europeans so they can earn the right to live in the UK. In many cases, the bride and groom have never met and don’t even speak the same language.
Last year in a similar case, a vicar Rev Alex Brown was sentenced to up to four years in jail for conducting 360 fake weddings to help foreigners evade immigration regulations. Brown married hundreds of African men desperate to obtain permanent residency rights in Britain, to eastern European women who were paid up to £3,000 [Close to Shs12 Million]
Early this month, two clergymen Rev Brian Shipsides, 54, and the Rev Elwon John, 44, were charged following a sham marriages probe. They were alleged to have conducted around 200 bogus unions between EU and non-EU resident in their inner-city parish.
Another man Oscar Prata, 45, an Angola-born Portuguese citizen who had fixed a sham marriage was last month jailed for 3 years after admitting his role in setting up 2 bogus ceremonies at a Coventry church.
He was also recommended for deportation at the conclusion of his sentence.
-Ends-
A Ugandan born Clergyman Rev. Canon John Patrick Magumba is being investigated in England amid claims he was involved in scores of bogus weddings to help illegal immigrants obtain UK Resident Visas, The Church of England Newspaper reports.
The Vicar was arrested in Britain's second major police investigation in as many years into sham marriages staged to help immigrants win residents' visas
Hundreds of Weddings he conducted are also being reviewed by the UK Border Agency and Greater Manchester Police. Investigators are examining claims that the churchman abused his position to marry illegal immigrants who had no legal right to remain in the UK, a statement issued by the Border Agency indicates.
A spokeswoman for the agency said: “The UK Border Agency arrested a 58-year-old man in Rochdale for questioning in connection with an ongoing investigation into sham marriages in the North West.
Magumba 58, is accused of failing to read out the banns that are designed as part of a safety net to make sure a marriage is legitimate.
The banns involve reading the names and addresses of those getting married during three separate Sunday services and are necessary to acquire a marriage certificate, according to the Anglican Journal.
Armed with their marriage certificates, the immigrants were then able to hoodwink the UK Home Office into giving them a visa, which allows them leave to stay in Britain as the ‘spouse’ of their bogus husband or wife and gives them full access to education, healthcare and welfare benefits.
Magumba is currently team vicar for the South Rochdale Team Ministry. He oversees three churches in the area – St Peter’s, Newbold, St Luke’s Deeplish, and St Mary’s, Balderstone.
According to the Church of England Newspaper, On March 13, the Archdeacon of Rochdale told the congregation of St. Peter’s Church in Newbold, Rochdale, that their Team Vicar, Canon Patrick Magumba, had been arrested and the rectory and church searched by officers of the UK Border Agency in connection with an investigation of sham marriages in the North West.
Canon Magumba has since been released on bail and will continue to help the authorities with their enquiries over the coming weeks, the Church of England Newspaper reports.
He has also been suspended on full pay as the UK Border Agency investigates the allegations.
Sham weddings involve EU citizens marrying non-Europeans so they can earn the right to live in the UK. In many cases, the bride and groom have never met and don’t even speak the same language.
Last year in a similar case, a vicar Rev Alex Brown was sentenced to up to four years in jail for conducting 360 fake weddings to help foreigners evade immigration regulations. Brown married hundreds of African men desperate to obtain permanent residency rights in Britain, to eastern European women who were paid up to £3,000 [Close to Shs12 Million]
Early this month, two clergymen Rev Brian Shipsides, 54, and the Rev Elwon John, 44, were charged following a sham marriages probe. They were alleged to have conducted around 200 bogus unions between EU and non-EU resident in their inner-city parish.
Another man Oscar Prata, 45, an Angola-born Portuguese citizen who had fixed a sham marriage was last month jailed for 3 years after admitting his role in setting up 2 bogus ceremonies at a Coventry church.
He was also recommended for deportation at the conclusion of his sentence.
-Ends-
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Peter Sematimba concedes defeat
Thursday, 17th March, 2011
By Brian Mayanja and Sylvia Nankya
FORMER mayoral candidate Peter Sematimba has accepted the outcome of the Kampala mayoral elections held on March 14.
Speaking to journalists at his home in Rubaga yesterday, Sematimba said: “I acknowledge that the process for electing a new leader for Kampala is over and therefore a new mayor has been chosen and declared. I accept that fact and also congratulate the new mayor.”
Sematimba, who was the NRM flag bearer in the mayoral race, lost to Erias Lukwago (independent) who polled 229,325 (64.41%) of the total ballots cast against Sematimba’s 119,015 (33.43%) votes.
He called upon his supporters to rally behind Lukwago to build the city to a befitting status.
“To all my supporters and supporters of NRM, I am sorry that I could not deliver Kampala to you but the opportunity to build Kampala still exists. Inspite of the loss, I want us to recognise that we are one people in one city with one destiny. We can work together to achieve this dream,” Sematimba added.
He also called for harmony from all parties which were involved in the race, adding that the campaign was about building a new leadership for Kampala and not turning the city into a war zone.
Sematimba also denied involvement in any malpractice that marred the elections leading to the cancellation of the initial mayoral poll on February 23. “I came as a man of honour and left as one,” he added.
He said he will go back into private business but is willing to serve the country if given an opportunity.
Sematimba advised the four other contenders — Michael Mabikke, Francis Babu, Sandra Ngabo and Emmanuel Tumusiime — to accept defeat.
On Wednesday, they said they were going to sue the Electoral Commission on grounds that it erred to organise fresh polls before concluding investigations into factors that led to the cancellation of the February 23 poll.
Thursday, 17th March, 2011
By Brian Mayanja and Sylvia Nankya
FORMER mayoral candidate Peter Sematimba has accepted the outcome of the Kampala mayoral elections held on March 14.
Speaking to journalists at his home in Rubaga yesterday, Sematimba said: “I acknowledge that the process for electing a new leader for Kampala is over and therefore a new mayor has been chosen and declared. I accept that fact and also congratulate the new mayor.”
Sematimba, who was the NRM flag bearer in the mayoral race, lost to Erias Lukwago (independent) who polled 229,325 (64.41%) of the total ballots cast against Sematimba’s 119,015 (33.43%) votes.
He called upon his supporters to rally behind Lukwago to build the city to a befitting status.
“To all my supporters and supporters of NRM, I am sorry that I could not deliver Kampala to you but the opportunity to build Kampala still exists. Inspite of the loss, I want us to recognise that we are one people in one city with one destiny. We can work together to achieve this dream,” Sematimba added.
He also called for harmony from all parties which were involved in the race, adding that the campaign was about building a new leadership for Kampala and not turning the city into a war zone.
Sematimba also denied involvement in any malpractice that marred the elections leading to the cancellation of the initial mayoral poll on February 23. “I came as a man of honour and left as one,” he added.
He said he will go back into private business but is willing to serve the country if given an opportunity.
Sematimba advised the four other contenders — Michael Mabikke, Francis Babu, Sandra Ngabo and Emmanuel Tumusiime — to accept defeat.
On Wednesday, they said they were going to sue the Electoral Commission on grounds that it erred to organise fresh polls before concluding investigations into factors that led to the cancellation of the February 23 poll.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lukwago Opponents contest Victory
By Sylvia Nankya.
Four of the candidates in the just concluded Kampala Mayoral race are taking legal action against the Electoral Commission challenging the outcome of the Poll claiming it was a nullity.
Michael Mabikke, Francis Babu, Sandra Ngabo and Emmanuel Tumusiime claim the electoral commission erred to organize fresh polls for Kampala before concluding investigations into factors that led to the cancellation of the 23 rd February Poll.
The February 23rd mayoral elections were called off after reports of massive ballot stuffing, intimidation and violence which left several people injured.
The rescheduled election held on March 14th gave Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago a landslide win to become Kampala’s first Lord Mayor after polling 229,325 (64.41%), of the total ballots cast. Lukwago beat his main challenger and NRM flag bearer Peter Sematimba, who polled 119,015 (33.43%) votes.
Michael Mabikke of the Social Democratic Party came third with 4,092 votes (1.15%). Francis Babu, an independent got 2,059 votes (0.58%). Other contenders Sandra Katebalirwe Ngabo, and Emmanuel Tumusiime of the Forum for Integrity in Leadership managed 1,035 votes (0.29%) and 539 votes (0.15%) respectively.
Two of the four candidates Michael Mabikke and Emmanuel Tumusiime told Journalists in Kampala that “We want to convince court to nullify the outcome of the exercise on the basis that it was not organized legitimately. There’s no way the EC should have conducted elections before availing a report on the February 23rd fracas”
They said the EC failed to listen to demands contained in a petition they filed before fresh polls were organized.
They had wanted the commission to cancel the nomination of all individuals who were linked to the stuffed ballot boxes recovered from various polling centers in the initial poll.
They also demanded for compensation from the EC amounting to Shs60 million each for the time and money lost due to cancellation of the elections and the ballot papers format changed to ensure that the leaked papers would not be used again.
However the Group said it had already instructed lawyers led by Michael Oketcha to handle the matter. “The process has already started and we are also ready to prove that the election shouldn’t have taken place on that day” They said.
They are also challenging the number of voters who participated in the exercise saying the results announced do not correspond with the number of voters recorded by their agents on polling day.
They allege Erias Lukwago paid 50 Million shillings to a Group of youths led by a one Dalausi; to vote in names which appeared on the voters register without pictures.
Mabikke alleges the group was initially hired to handle the task for Peter Sematimba but abandoned him in favor of the highest bidder.
“Some agents abandoned one candidate and did the Job for Lukwago, so there is overwhelming proof that about 150.000 of the votes announced were Ghost. Sematimba was also a victim of such antics, he ought to have won the election” Mabikke added.
Asked why he did pull out of the race after the EC failed to heed to their demands Mabikke said “Fighters never walk away however much the ground is not leveled otherwise you will be mistaken for a coward.” End.
Four of the candidates in the just concluded Kampala Mayoral race are taking legal action against the Electoral Commission challenging the outcome of the Poll claiming it was a nullity.
Michael Mabikke, Francis Babu, Sandra Ngabo and Emmanuel Tumusiime claim the electoral commission erred to organize fresh polls for Kampala before concluding investigations into factors that led to the cancellation of the 23 rd February Poll.
The February 23rd mayoral elections were called off after reports of massive ballot stuffing, intimidation and violence which left several people injured.
The rescheduled election held on March 14th gave Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago a landslide win to become Kampala’s first Lord Mayor after polling 229,325 (64.41%), of the total ballots cast. Lukwago beat his main challenger and NRM flag bearer Peter Sematimba, who polled 119,015 (33.43%) votes.
Michael Mabikke of the Social Democratic Party came third with 4,092 votes (1.15%). Francis Babu, an independent got 2,059 votes (0.58%). Other contenders Sandra Katebalirwe Ngabo, and Emmanuel Tumusiime of the Forum for Integrity in Leadership managed 1,035 votes (0.29%) and 539 votes (0.15%) respectively.
Two of the four candidates Michael Mabikke and Emmanuel Tumusiime told Journalists in Kampala that “We want to convince court to nullify the outcome of the exercise on the basis that it was not organized legitimately. There’s no way the EC should have conducted elections before availing a report on the February 23rd fracas”
They said the EC failed to listen to demands contained in a petition they filed before fresh polls were organized.
They had wanted the commission to cancel the nomination of all individuals who were linked to the stuffed ballot boxes recovered from various polling centers in the initial poll.
They also demanded for compensation from the EC amounting to Shs60 million each for the time and money lost due to cancellation of the elections and the ballot papers format changed to ensure that the leaked papers would not be used again.
However the Group said it had already instructed lawyers led by Michael Oketcha to handle the matter. “The process has already started and we are also ready to prove that the election shouldn’t have taken place on that day” They said.
They are also challenging the number of voters who participated in the exercise saying the results announced do not correspond with the number of voters recorded by their agents on polling day.
They allege Erias Lukwago paid 50 Million shillings to a Group of youths led by a one Dalausi; to vote in names which appeared on the voters register without pictures.
Mabikke alleges the group was initially hired to handle the task for Peter Sematimba but abandoned him in favor of the highest bidder.
“Some agents abandoned one candidate and did the Job for Lukwago, so there is overwhelming proof that about 150.000 of the votes announced were Ghost. Sematimba was also a victim of such antics, he ought to have won the election” Mabikke added.
Asked why he did pull out of the race after the EC failed to heed to their demands Mabikke said “Fighters never walk away however much the ground is not leveled otherwise you will be mistaken for a coward.” End.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Katumba, Angina elected army MPs
By Sylvia Nankya
THE UPDF defence council has elected 10 representatives to the ninth Parliament.
The elections, which were held at the land forces’ headquarters in Bombo, were overseen by the Electoral Commission chairman, Badru Kiggundu, and attended by President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander–in-Chief of the armed forces.
There are 10 UPDF representatives in Parliament. They include Generals Aronda Nyakairima, David Tinyefuza and Elly Tumwine.
Others are Ramadhan Kyamulesire, Grace Kyomugisha, James Makumbi, Sarah Mpabwa, Francis Okello, Julius Oketta and Phinehas Katirima. Katirima has been MP since 1996.
A total of 20 candidates were nominated by the UPDF high command and forwarded to the President for approval.
According to sources, the new entrants are the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, Maj. Gen. Jimmy Owoyesigire, the airforce commander, Charles Angina, the land forces chief of staff and Capt. Susan Lakot, the director of the UPDF Junior Staff College in Jinja.
Those who bounced back are Nyakairima, Tumwine, Tinyefuza, and the coordinator of the security services, Oketta, Katirima and Maj. Sarah Mpabwa.
Grace Kyomugisha, Makumbi, Kyamulesire and Okello were not nominated for another term.
According to the UPDF Act, two out of the 10 army representatives must be women. The remaining eight seats are open for competition by both women and men.
The defence council is composed of 360 members who include head of directorates, chieftaincy heads, division commanders and brigade and battalion commanders.
The army forms part of the special interest groups in Parliament. Others are women, persons with disabilities, workers and youth.
A motion moved by MP Francis Epetait last year to throw the army out of Parliament was defeated. Other opposition MPs had also argued that the army should return to the barracks after stabilising the country.
However, Nyakairima and Tinyefuza argued that countries like China, Turkey and Egypt have army representation and that it was disheartening that they, who had saved the country, were being sidelined.
A review of the representation of special interest groups was also done in December 2005 and Parliament resolved to retain the army MPs.
The total number of MPs in the next Parliament is expected to increase to 376 from the current 332.
THE UPDF defence council has elected 10 representatives to the ninth Parliament.
The elections, which were held at the land forces’ headquarters in Bombo, were overseen by the Electoral Commission chairman, Badru Kiggundu, and attended by President Yoweri Museveni, the Commander–in-Chief of the armed forces.
There are 10 UPDF representatives in Parliament. They include Generals Aronda Nyakairima, David Tinyefuza and Elly Tumwine.
Others are Ramadhan Kyamulesire, Grace Kyomugisha, James Makumbi, Sarah Mpabwa, Francis Okello, Julius Oketta and Phinehas Katirima. Katirima has been MP since 1996.
A total of 20 candidates were nominated by the UPDF high command and forwarded to the President for approval.
According to sources, the new entrants are the commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, Maj. Gen. Jimmy Owoyesigire, the airforce commander, Charles Angina, the land forces chief of staff and Capt. Susan Lakot, the director of the UPDF Junior Staff College in Jinja.
Those who bounced back are Nyakairima, Tumwine, Tinyefuza, and the coordinator of the security services, Oketta, Katirima and Maj. Sarah Mpabwa.
Grace Kyomugisha, Makumbi, Kyamulesire and Okello were not nominated for another term.
According to the UPDF Act, two out of the 10 army representatives must be women. The remaining eight seats are open for competition by both women and men.
The defence council is composed of 360 members who include head of directorates, chieftaincy heads, division commanders and brigade and battalion commanders.
The army forms part of the special interest groups in Parliament. Others are women, persons with disabilities, workers and youth.
A motion moved by MP Francis Epetait last year to throw the army out of Parliament was defeated. Other opposition MPs had also argued that the army should return to the barracks after stabilising the country.
However, Nyakairima and Tinyefuza argued that countries like China, Turkey and Egypt have army representation and that it was disheartening that they, who had saved the country, were being sidelined.
A review of the representation of special interest groups was also done in December 2005 and Parliament resolved to retain the army MPs.
The total number of MPs in the next Parliament is expected to increase to 376 from the current 332.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Opposition MP wants 10 years for president
By Sylvia Nankya
ARUU County MP Odonga Otto is proposing a 10-year term of office for all elective political posts in the country.Otto wants the provision to apply to the President, Members of Parliament and local government leaders.
Otto said he would lobby the opposition to endorse a pending motion by Kabula County MP James Kakooza who recently suggested the extension of the term of office of the president to even years.
According to Kakooza, a five-year term is too short for any leader to accomplish his programmes since leaders spend about half of their term holding consultative meetings and campaigning.
Otto said he would lobby the opposition to move an amendment to Kakooza’s motion to have the extension of the presidential term moved to 10 years. But the president would only serve one 10-year term as a condition.
However, the proposal will require a constitutional amendment since Article 105(1) of the Constitution says a president shall hold office for a term of five years.
The article is one of the constitutional provisions that are entrenched and requires a referendum to be amended in accordance with Article 260.
Article 105(2) initially provided for a maximum of two five-year terms for a president, but was amended in 2005 to allow a president to serve unlimited terms.
“We need to ensure that anyone who becomes the President of this country will rule for 10 years,” Otto told journalists at Parliament.
He said the opposition was also considering a proposal for a two-term limit for members of Parliament and district chairpersons.
Otto said this would not only save the country billions of shillings spent on the regular elections, but would also limit the number of people who have turned Parliament and district leadership into a career.
He argued that with the current set up, many leaders do not concentrate because they keep on running to the constituencies to safeguard their seats for another five years.
“We have just finished elections and my opponent is already consulting for 2016. what kind of life is that?” Otto asked.
“Such a proposal is meant to bring a little more peace in this country. I only need to convince members of the NRM to accept that we have term limits. Extending the term to 10 years without introducing term limits will put us in an unfortunate situation,” he added.
The debate on the presidential term limits is raging on.
ARUU County MP Odonga Otto is proposing a 10-year term of office for all elective political posts in the country.Otto wants the provision to apply to the President, Members of Parliament and local government leaders.
Otto said he would lobby the opposition to endorse a pending motion by Kabula County MP James Kakooza who recently suggested the extension of the term of office of the president to even years.
According to Kakooza, a five-year term is too short for any leader to accomplish his programmes since leaders spend about half of their term holding consultative meetings and campaigning.
Otto said he would lobby the opposition to move an amendment to Kakooza’s motion to have the extension of the presidential term moved to 10 years. But the president would only serve one 10-year term as a condition.
However, the proposal will require a constitutional amendment since Article 105(1) of the Constitution says a president shall hold office for a term of five years.
The article is one of the constitutional provisions that are entrenched and requires a referendum to be amended in accordance with Article 260.
Article 105(2) initially provided for a maximum of two five-year terms for a president, but was amended in 2005 to allow a president to serve unlimited terms.
“We need to ensure that anyone who becomes the President of this country will rule for 10 years,” Otto told journalists at Parliament.
He said the opposition was also considering a proposal for a two-term limit for members of Parliament and district chairpersons.
Otto said this would not only save the country billions of shillings spent on the regular elections, but would also limit the number of people who have turned Parliament and district leadership into a career.
He argued that with the current set up, many leaders do not concentrate because they keep on running to the constituencies to safeguard their seats for another five years.
“We have just finished elections and my opponent is already consulting for 2016. what kind of life is that?” Otto asked.
“Such a proposal is meant to bring a little more peace in this country. I only need to convince members of the NRM to accept that we have term limits. Extending the term to 10 years without introducing term limits will put us in an unfortunate situation,” he added.
The debate on the presidential term limits is raging on.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Public Smockers could get two months in Jail
By Sylvia Nankya
PERSONS who smoke in public places risk being imprisoned for up to two months if the draft bill on tobacco control is enacted.
The Tobacco Control Bill 2010 was drafted by public health advocates, which include the Uganda National Tobacco Control Association and The Environmental Action Network.
The Bill is intended to guide the Government in enforcing the National Environment (Control of Smoking in Public Places) Regulations 2004 that imposed a ban on smocking in public places.
The ban followed the December 2002 declaration by the High Court that smoking in public places was a violation of non-smokers’ rights to life and to a clean and healthy environment.
The regulations have, however, not been enforced and there have been no reported arrests or prosecutions in relation to the control of public smoking.
The two organisations are now engaging the ministry of health to table the Bill before Parliament.
But Gilbert Muyambi, the secretary general of the Uganda National Tobacco Control Association, said they may sponsor it as a private members bill if the ministry is hesitant.
Primary health care state minister James Kakooza is optimistic that the ministry will support the Bill to protect human health, regardless of how much money is raised by taxing tobacco products.
He said this was the position they intended to present before the Cabinet.
The draft Bill suggests that no person shall smoke a tobacco product while in an enclosed public place, workplace, or within five metres of the doorways of such places. It also empowers owners, occupiers and operators of public places to evict smokers from their premises.
The Bill also seeks to prohibit retail sale of tobacco products in certain places and imposes a similar penalty on persons who contravene this section.
Such places include any place accessible to the general public for collective use, regardless of ownership or right of access.
Persons who knowingly or unknowingly sell cigarettes to minors will also face prosecution.
“The products will also include objects like sweets, snacks, cigarette lighters or toys that resemble a tobacco product or which in any way are likely to appeal to a person under the age of eighteen years” Muyambi noted.
According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills 4.9 million people per year. It is estimated that by 2030, 10 million people will die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, 70% of these in developing countries like Uganda.
PERSONS who smoke in public places risk being imprisoned for up to two months if the draft bill on tobacco control is enacted.
The Tobacco Control Bill 2010 was drafted by public health advocates, which include the Uganda National Tobacco Control Association and The Environmental Action Network.
The Bill is intended to guide the Government in enforcing the National Environment (Control of Smoking in Public Places) Regulations 2004 that imposed a ban on smocking in public places.
The ban followed the December 2002 declaration by the High Court that smoking in public places was a violation of non-smokers’ rights to life and to a clean and healthy environment.
The regulations have, however, not been enforced and there have been no reported arrests or prosecutions in relation to the control of public smoking.
The two organisations are now engaging the ministry of health to table the Bill before Parliament.
But Gilbert Muyambi, the secretary general of the Uganda National Tobacco Control Association, said they may sponsor it as a private members bill if the ministry is hesitant.
Primary health care state minister James Kakooza is optimistic that the ministry will support the Bill to protect human health, regardless of how much money is raised by taxing tobacco products.
He said this was the position they intended to present before the Cabinet.
The draft Bill suggests that no person shall smoke a tobacco product while in an enclosed public place, workplace, or within five metres of the doorways of such places. It also empowers owners, occupiers and operators of public places to evict smokers from their premises.
The Bill also seeks to prohibit retail sale of tobacco products in certain places and imposes a similar penalty on persons who contravene this section.
Such places include any place accessible to the general public for collective use, regardless of ownership or right of access.
Persons who knowingly or unknowingly sell cigarettes to minors will also face prosecution.
“The products will also include objects like sweets, snacks, cigarette lighters or toys that resemble a tobacco product or which in any way are likely to appeal to a person under the age of eighteen years” Muyambi noted.
According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills 4.9 million people per year. It is estimated that by 2030, 10 million people will die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, 70% of these in developing countries like Uganda.
120 Mps Lose Parliamentary Seats in Just concluded Polls
By Cyprian Musoke and Sylvia Nankya
ABOUT 120 Members of Parliament were voted out in the just-concluded parliamentary elections.
Preliminary results from the parliamentary elections indicate that most of the losers, who include 18 ministers, are from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling party.
The affected MPs lost to stronger opponents at the February 18 polls or were knocked out in the party primaries.
In the 2006 parliamentary elections, 80 MPs, including 17 ministers, lost their seats. At least 18 ministers again lost in Friday’s polls.
They include third deputy Prime Minister and internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja, Hope Mwesige (agriculture), Beatrice Wabudeya (presidency), Fred Mukisa (fisheries), Isaac Musumba (regional cooperation), Namirembe Bitamazire (education) and Jennipher Namuyangu (water).
Others are Gabriel Opio (higher education), Emmanuel Otaala (health), Serapio Rukundo (tourism), Urban Tibamanya ( urban development), Wambuzi Gagawala (trade) and Omara Atubo (lands).
Aggrey Awori (ICT), Aggrey Bagiire (agriculture), Nsaba Buturo (ethics), Rukiah Chekamondo (privatisation), Alintuma Nsambu (ICT) and Simon Ejua (transport) also lost in the just-concluded elections.
The NRM has about 90 members on the losers list although many of them had defied the party to contest as independents after losing in the party primaries.
The Forum for Democratic Change lost 10 MPs who went to the polls as incumbents, mainly from the northern and eastern regions.
They include leader of the opposition in Parliament Ogenga Latigo (Agago), Toolit Simon Okecha (Omoro), Julius Peter Emigu (Kaberamaido), Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) and Michael Ocula Nyeko (Kilak).
Others were Ochieng Alex Penytoo, (Gulu municipality), Albert Oduman (Bukedea), Akbar Godi (Arua Municipality), Simon Oyet (Nwoya) and Charles Ekemu (Soroti Municipality).
The Conservative Party lost one MP, Susan Nampijja, who had switched from Rubaga South to Makindye East.
The party has, however, retained Rubaga South seat, which has been won by Nampijja’s father, John Ken Lukyamuzi, who has returned to Parliament five years after he was expelled for not declaring his wealth in 2005.
Lukyamuzi, however, won the court battle against the Inspector General of Government over the matter.
Seventeen of the losers were independents. Of these, seven are from the Uganda People’s Congress party.
A number of MPs opted to quit Parliament and vie for other elective posts. They included mayoral aspirants Erias Lukwago (Kampala Central) and Michael Mabikke (Makindye East).
Busongora South MP Christopher Kibazanga (FDC) is eyeing the district chair, while FDC leader for West Nile and Maracha MP Alex Onzima is seeking to lead Maracha district.
Rubaga North MP Beti Olive Kamya contested for the presidency on the Uganda Federal Alliance ticket, but lost.
The outgoing eighth Parliament has had 332 MPs, who included 215 directly-elected constituency representatives, 79 district woman representatives and 10 UPDF representatives. The youth, workers, and persons with disabilities have five representatives each, while 13 were ex-officio.
The number of district representatives has increased to 112 with the creation of new districts and more constituencies. The ninth Parliament is expected to have 378 MPs.
ABOUT 120 Members of Parliament were voted out in the just-concluded parliamentary elections.
Preliminary results from the parliamentary elections indicate that most of the losers, who include 18 ministers, are from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling party.
The affected MPs lost to stronger opponents at the February 18 polls or were knocked out in the party primaries.
In the 2006 parliamentary elections, 80 MPs, including 17 ministers, lost their seats. At least 18 ministers again lost in Friday’s polls.
They include third deputy Prime Minister and internal affairs minister Kirunda Kivejinja, Hope Mwesige (agriculture), Beatrice Wabudeya (presidency), Fred Mukisa (fisheries), Isaac Musumba (regional cooperation), Namirembe Bitamazire (education) and Jennipher Namuyangu (water).
Others are Gabriel Opio (higher education), Emmanuel Otaala (health), Serapio Rukundo (tourism), Urban Tibamanya ( urban development), Wambuzi Gagawala (trade) and Omara Atubo (lands).
Aggrey Awori (ICT), Aggrey Bagiire (agriculture), Nsaba Buturo (ethics), Rukiah Chekamondo (privatisation), Alintuma Nsambu (ICT) and Simon Ejua (transport) also lost in the just-concluded elections.
The NRM has about 90 members on the losers list although many of them had defied the party to contest as independents after losing in the party primaries.
The Forum for Democratic Change lost 10 MPs who went to the polls as incumbents, mainly from the northern and eastern regions.
They include leader of the opposition in Parliament Ogenga Latigo (Agago), Toolit Simon Okecha (Omoro), Julius Peter Emigu (Kaberamaido), Harry Kasigwa (Jinja Municipality West) and Michael Ocula Nyeko (Kilak).
Others were Ochieng Alex Penytoo, (Gulu municipality), Albert Oduman (Bukedea), Akbar Godi (Arua Municipality), Simon Oyet (Nwoya) and Charles Ekemu (Soroti Municipality).
The Conservative Party lost one MP, Susan Nampijja, who had switched from Rubaga South to Makindye East.
The party has, however, retained Rubaga South seat, which has been won by Nampijja’s father, John Ken Lukyamuzi, who has returned to Parliament five years after he was expelled for not declaring his wealth in 2005.
Lukyamuzi, however, won the court battle against the Inspector General of Government over the matter.
Seventeen of the losers were independents. Of these, seven are from the Uganda People’s Congress party.
A number of MPs opted to quit Parliament and vie for other elective posts. They included mayoral aspirants Erias Lukwago (Kampala Central) and Michael Mabikke (Makindye East).
Busongora South MP Christopher Kibazanga (FDC) is eyeing the district chair, while FDC leader for West Nile and Maracha MP Alex Onzima is seeking to lead Maracha district.
Rubaga North MP Beti Olive Kamya contested for the presidency on the Uganda Federal Alliance ticket, but lost.
The outgoing eighth Parliament has had 332 MPs, who included 215 directly-elected constituency representatives, 79 district woman representatives and 10 UPDF representatives. The youth, workers, and persons with disabilities have five representatives each, while 13 were ex-officio.
The number of district representatives has increased to 112 with the creation of new districts and more constituencies. The ninth Parliament is expected to have 378 MPs.
EAC to train election observers
By Sylvia Nankya
and Moses Mugoya
THE East African Community is making arrangements to form a team of trained personnel to be deployed in election observer missions across the globe, Beatrice Kiraso, EAC deputy secretary general in charge of political federation has said.
She said the training would focus on the basics of electoral monitoring and democratic principles with a view of advancing Africa interests and eliminating foreign interference in electoral processes. The training will be organised by the EAC in partnership with the South African based electoral institute for sustainability of democracy in Africa.
Kiraso was speaking at a pre-deployment training for election observer’s missions for the East African community, the Inter Governmental Authority on development (IGAD) and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The three African regional blocs have teamed together to send a joint observer mission for Uganda’s general election slated for February 18. The 64-man delegation will have personnel deployed across the country to observe the much anticipated polls.
“Upon implementation of the training programme, the community would stop picking people on an adhoc basis to engage them in observing elections” Kiraso said.
She was optimistic that this would build a basis for consolidating political processes and democracy in Africa. “We don’t have to rely on the Big-Brothers to determine Africa’s destiny because quite often, we find our hands tied when there is interference into our governance issues” Kiraso said.
She said working together would create a bigger impact for Uganda and the continent given the similarity in principles for the entire three blocs. Kiraso also advised the observers to use the mission as a tool for enhancing political accountability in Uganda and the other countries where they will be deployed.
Diuedonne Tshiyoyo the manager of elections and political affairs at the electoral institute for sustainability of democracy in Africa, warned observers against usurping the role of monitors.
Tshiyoyo said the presence of observers must enhance public confidence in the process, deter improper practices and enhance acceptability of results.
Published on: Sunday, 13th February, 2011
and Moses Mugoya
THE East African Community is making arrangements to form a team of trained personnel to be deployed in election observer missions across the globe, Beatrice Kiraso, EAC deputy secretary general in charge of political federation has said.
She said the training would focus on the basics of electoral monitoring and democratic principles with a view of advancing Africa interests and eliminating foreign interference in electoral processes. The training will be organised by the EAC in partnership with the South African based electoral institute for sustainability of democracy in Africa.
Kiraso was speaking at a pre-deployment training for election observer’s missions for the East African community, the Inter Governmental Authority on development (IGAD) and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The three African regional blocs have teamed together to send a joint observer mission for Uganda’s general election slated for February 18. The 64-man delegation will have personnel deployed across the country to observe the much anticipated polls.
“Upon implementation of the training programme, the community would stop picking people on an adhoc basis to engage them in observing elections” Kiraso said.
She was optimistic that this would build a basis for consolidating political processes and democracy in Africa. “We don’t have to rely on the Big-Brothers to determine Africa’s destiny because quite often, we find our hands tied when there is interference into our governance issues” Kiraso said.
She said working together would create a bigger impact for Uganda and the continent given the similarity in principles for the entire three blocs. Kiraso also advised the observers to use the mission as a tool for enhancing political accountability in Uganda and the other countries where they will be deployed.
Diuedonne Tshiyoyo the manager of elections and political affairs at the electoral institute for sustainability of democracy in Africa, warned observers against usurping the role of monitors.
Tshiyoyo said the presence of observers must enhance public confidence in the process, deter improper practices and enhance acceptability of results.
Published on: Sunday, 13th February, 2011
Civil society drags MPs to court
By Sylvia Nankya
A Coalition of civil-society organisations have opted for legal action against the parliamentary commission in attempts to recover sh6b given to members of Parliament last month.
The organisations include Uganda National NGO Forum, Uganda Debt Network [UDN], Uganda Governance monitoring platform [UGMP], Forum for Women in Democracy [FOWODE], Action Aid Uganda and Anti corruption coalition of Uganda [ACCU].
Initially, they had issued an ultimatum of February 4 to the MPs to return the money as part of their “Respect your Honor and Return our money” campaign.
By yesterday only 12 MPs, mainly from the opposition had returned the money. They Include; Beatrice Atim Anywar, Hussein Kyanjo, Latif Sebaggala, Nabbilah Naggayi, Sebuliba Mutumba and Suzan Nampijja among others.
“We shall file a petition in the constitutional court requesting the court to declare that the money was issued illegally because it was never approved by Parliament as required,” Martha Nanjobe, UDN’s director of programmes said.
She said they would also appeal to the court to direct the parliamentary commission to recover the money.
“The intention is to have each Member of Parliament take the responsibility to refund the 20 million shillings,” Nanjobe added.
A Coalition of civil-society organisations have opted for legal action against the parliamentary commission in attempts to recover sh6b given to members of Parliament last month.
The organisations include Uganda National NGO Forum, Uganda Debt Network [UDN], Uganda Governance monitoring platform [UGMP], Forum for Women in Democracy [FOWODE], Action Aid Uganda and Anti corruption coalition of Uganda [ACCU].
Initially, they had issued an ultimatum of February 4 to the MPs to return the money as part of their “Respect your Honor and Return our money” campaign.
By yesterday only 12 MPs, mainly from the opposition had returned the money. They Include; Beatrice Atim Anywar, Hussein Kyanjo, Latif Sebaggala, Nabbilah Naggayi, Sebuliba Mutumba and Suzan Nampijja among others.
“We shall file a petition in the constitutional court requesting the court to declare that the money was issued illegally because it was never approved by Parliament as required,” Martha Nanjobe, UDN’s director of programmes said.
She said they would also appeal to the court to direct the parliamentary commission to recover the money.
“The intention is to have each Member of Parliament take the responsibility to refund the 20 million shillings,” Nanjobe added.
Eight vie for MUK guild
By Sylvia Nankya
THE Makerere University Guild presidential race has attracted eight candidates. Four of them are being sponsored by political parties, while the rest have indicated no political affiliation.
They include Morris Muhindo (NRM), DP’s Abel Batte, Dennis Onerikat of FDC and Hakim Kawalya (CP). The independents include Deo Kiirya and Tumusiime Mark among others.
The chairman of the university’s electoral commission, Simon Peter Musangala, said although they proclaimed support for the various parties, their nomination was not based on political affiliation.
At the nomination exercise conducted on Thursday, Musangala announced that they had overhauled the system to minimise cases of violence in halls of residence.
“We have changed polling centres from halls of residence to the colleges.”
He said the polls would be conducted on March 11.
One of the candidates,
Morris Muhindo, appealed for a calm campaign that would ensure that the race ends peacefully. He also called for increased security and scrutiny of visitors during the campaign period in order to reduce cases of insecurity.
On a number of occasions, violence in the university elections has resulted into loss of life and injuries.
THE Makerere University Guild presidential race has attracted eight candidates. Four of them are being sponsored by political parties, while the rest have indicated no political affiliation.
They include Morris Muhindo (NRM), DP’s Abel Batte, Dennis Onerikat of FDC and Hakim Kawalya (CP). The independents include Deo Kiirya and Tumusiime Mark among others.
The chairman of the university’s electoral commission, Simon Peter Musangala, said although they proclaimed support for the various parties, their nomination was not based on political affiliation.
At the nomination exercise conducted on Thursday, Musangala announced that they had overhauled the system to minimise cases of violence in halls of residence.
“We have changed polling centres from halls of residence to the colleges.”
He said the polls would be conducted on March 11.
One of the candidates,
Morris Muhindo, appealed for a calm campaign that would ensure that the race ends peacefully. He also called for increased security and scrutiny of visitors during the campaign period in order to reduce cases of insecurity.
On a number of occasions, violence in the university elections has resulted into loss of life and injuries.
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