Police: Lukwago Lawyers Stage-Managed Police Brutality

Police officers manhandle City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s lawyer Abdallah Kiwanuka after he came to serve a court order to Kampala Minister Frank Tumwebaze, who was conducting a KCCA council that later impeached the mayor on Monday. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa

Police has accused the lawyers representing embattled Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago for deliberately acting to discredit the force during the council session convened to impeach the Kampala Lord Mayor.
On the day the council voted Lukwago out of office, the High Court issued an injunction declaring the process null and void.
Lukwago’s lawyers were blocked from delivering the court order to Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Frank Tumwebaze. Tumwebaze was chairing the session.
Abdallah Kiwanuka, one of Lukwago’s lawyers managed to get past the KCCA gate but was brutally arrested and thrown out by heavily armed police officers. Video footage of the arrests were shown on several television stations across the country.
However, police has come out and denied the allegations of assaulting Kiwanuka. Police maintains that Kiwanuka simply acted to elicit public sympathy for Lukwago.
The comment was made by Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi. Kaweesi claims that Kiwanuka provoked police by attempting to force his way into the hall despite repeated requests to leave City Hall premises.

KCCA Councilor Allan Ssewanyana being manhandled after he tried to present a court order.

The commander claims that when police tried to force him out, he threw himself down to the ground to portray that the police had brutally beaten him up. Kaweesi however says police will continue to act professionally when confronted by such people.
General Aronda Nyakairima, the Minister of Internal Affairs, says such acts of violence against police cannot be condoned. Nyakairima says police has always acted professionally and will continue to do so. He however says where there are cases of wrong behaviours by some officers, it will be investigated and culprits punished.
He castigated the act of Kiwanuka and other opposition politicians who always engage the police in running battles and says the force has the capacity to deal with such people.
Several government officials including the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and Minister for Kampala, Frank Tumwebaze have also condemned the Lukwago team for engaging in street protests. They say government will not relent in its responsibility to protect the residents and their property.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) of which the lawyer Abdallah Kiwanuka is a member have indicated they will sue individual police officers for the rough treatment he received.

Bunyoro Kingdom Demands Unlimited Access To Oil Field

Bunyoro Kingdom’s Omukama Solomon Gafabusa iguru

Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom wants unlimited access to Waraga Oil exploration site in Kaiso-Tonya Buseruka Sub county, Hoima district.
 
Kingdom officials claim it is at Waraga where Bunyoro’s ancient King, Omukama Isaza Nyakikooto Waraga Rugambanabato, was buried in the 11th century. They argue that the area is an important historical site in Bunyoro.
It is however, now under threat of extinction following the discovery of oil around it. The area lies within Tullow Uganda’s Waraga Oil Exploration Site in Tonya Parish, Buseruka Sub County. The Kingdom argues that for hundreds of years, the area has been preserved. The kingdom team used to visit the area on a monthly basis to perform rituals there.
Ronald Isagara, the Mugema, or officer in charge Burial and Cultural sites in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, says ever since Tullow Uganda took over the area about six years ago, accessibility to the site has been limited.
He says the oil exploration company cordoned off the area making it impossible for the kingdom traditionalists to access it.
Isagara fears that this important cultural site faces extinction if government and the oil companies do not allow the kingdom team to go and preserve it. During a dialogue between Bunyoro kingdom officials and Tullow Oil Uganda on Wednesday, the Waraga issue took centre stage. The Mugema asked for permission to occasionally visit the site.
The Mugema says he is now traversing Bunyoro to identify all cultural sites, as the kingdom intends to rehabilitate and preserve them. He says although many have been encroached on, the kingdom will reclaim them. He explains however, that it may be hard to reclaim the Waraga Cultural site where oil exploration is taking place.
Didas Muhumuza, Tullow Uganda’s Stakeholder Engagement Manager, says the Kingdom’s claim on Waraga area was put to the company’s attention. He however declined to comment further, saying Tullow is only a contractor of government.
Catherine Bekunda, the Communications Officer at the Ministry of Energy, says the kingdom can only be granted permission to Waraga oil site when they write to the ministry. She says the request should clearly indicate the reason they want to visit the area.
According to Bruhan Kyokuhaire, the Bunyoro Kingdom minister of culture, Isaza Nyakikooto Waraga was the first king of Bunyoro to eat fish and that fish was named after him, Waraga.
Though the mythical king died thousands of years ago, his burial site remains vital in Bunyoro as people go there to pray for blessings and perform cultural rituals.
Early last year Yolam Nsamba, the Principal Private Secretary to Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru, blamed government and Tullow for not consulting the kingdom before tampering with the cultural site.

IGG Silent On Lukwago Saga

IGG Irene Mulyagonja (L)

Uganda’s IGG Irene Mulyagonja yesterday refused to comment on the ongoing standoff between Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the central government, saying the matter is subjudice.
The subjudice rule requires that matters which are before court for determination shouldn’t be commented upon especially in a manner capable of influencing the judge.
Mulyagonja was prompted by a journalist who demanded to know why she wasn’t pronouncing herself on the impending stand off between the executive and judiciary over perceived determination by executive to defy Justice Yasiin Nyanzi’s ruling re-instating Lukwago.
The journalists became curious when Mulyagonja told them the inspectorate she heads has a mandate to contribute on the quality of governance in Uganda besides fighting corruption.
“On the ongoing contempt of court in Kampala…what do you have to say about it as the IGG and former Judge,” a journalist asked.
Mulyagonja said: “That matter is subjudice. It’s before court for determination and it’s not proper to comment about it now.”
She explained that whereas they are mandated to pronounce themselves on governance issues, the IG officers are not expected to take partisan positions.
“The other day an organization came asking us to speak out on term limits limiting the Movement’s tenure but we refused because that isn’t expected of us as the Inspectorate,” she said.
Mulyagonja was speaking to reporters after seeing off Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who was chief walker in the city match the Ombudsman organized against corruption.
The anti-corruption match went around the city and ended at National Theatre gardens where Mulyagonja addressed a news conference. The match is part of the week-long activities meant to mark 25 years of existence for the IGG’s office. The events climax next Monday with a public debate on corruption in Kampala.
The Lukwago issue, which Mulyagonja refused to comment about, has ignited angry debate in the country with MPs vowing to censure Kampala Minister Frank Tumwebaze accusing him of contempt of court.
During a specially-convened news conference last Friday, Mbabazi, supported by police and a host of cabinet ministers, announced governnent wouldn’t be bound by Justice Nyanzi’s court order because he didn’t issue it in good faith. He accordingly ordered police and KCCA ED Jennifer Musisi not to allow Lukwago gain any access to city hall, the headquarters of KCCA.
The state’s actions have since attracted angry reactions from civic leaders such as the Buganda Katikkiro Peter Mayiga and Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga who has since despised police brutality saying it’s reminiscent of Amin’s days.
Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo yesterday morning appeared on NBS TV’s morning breeze and dismissed Lwanga saying he has no moral authority to speak for Catholics in Uganda.

Corruption Index 2013: Uganda Drops 14 Places

In June this year, former Principal Accountant in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Geoffrey Kazinda was sentenced to 5 years in jail after he was found guilty for forging 26 signatures of his then boss and Pius Bigirimana.

Uganda has fallen 14 steps in the 2013 corruption perception index, according to the Transparency International report.
The index ranks 177 countries by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption. It draws on surveys covering expert assessments and views of business people.
Uganda is ranked at 140/177 and scored 26 as compared to last year when it was ranked the 130th most corrupt country in the world.
Denmark and New Zealand tied for first place out of 177 countries – meaning they were perceived to have the lowest levels of state sector graft.
The latest perceptions of corruption index says Somalia is the world’s most corrupt country. Botswana ranks as Africa’s least corrupt.

Radio One Bosses Sacked Over Lukwago

Ugandan Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka. She is the owner of Radio One.

Radio one station manager Jeff Kiwanuka Tuesday morning swung his axe even further by halting the services of more presenters.
The affected presenters are mostly from Radio one’s sister radio kaboozi kubiri.
They include; Basajjamivule aka Abbey Sewakiryanga, PK Bossa Ssengendo, Simon Kaggwa Njala and Kamya Makumbi, the latest victim.
Kiwanuka, acting on orders of owner and Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka, has been separately ringing these presenters asking them to stay away from the station. Fearing to be sued for wrongful dismissal, radio one management has been witty, sacking them without anything written.
INSIDE STORY
We have obtained details behind these actions. Sources say Kiwanuka has been under pressure to restrain these political presenters from hosting any opposition actors to discuss the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago impeachment which court has since declared null and void.
Makumbi’s troubles began way back after independence when he hosted Col Besigye and Erias Lukwago to discuss why they walked out on the president during the celebrations in Rukungiri.
Apparently, his crime was hosting Kintu Nyago, a lightweight politician, to counter whatever scorn the two political giants poured on President Museveni that evening. The show was held on Eid Day and Nyago cried out saying Makumbi should have invited a heavier person like PM Amama Mbabazi or Frank Tumwebaze.
Makumbi ignored him saying as a former PPS to the president, he was good enough to counter Besigye and Lukwago. Sources close to Maria Kiwanuka say since that day security, whose moles are always listening, recording and scrutinizing all talk shows, blacklisted Kamya Makumbi and waited for an opportunity to strike.
As for Basajjamivule, his problem was all of a sudden changing to begin bashing KCCA boss Jennifer Musisi who used to be his ally. Claiming betrayal and being sidelined by KCCA iron lady, Mivule has lately been very belligerent towards Musisi while glorifying Lukwago whom he has been bashing on his morning show called Kalasamayanzi.
He onetime threatened to reveal Musisi’s best kept secrets, being someone formerly close to her, something security may not have liked.
As for PK Bossa, he is one journalist Tamale Mirundi has been complaining against arguing that his morning show, co-hosted with one Ddembe Zaina, is a platform to propagate DP propaganda.
Njala’s trouble stems from airing a mid morning program on kaboozi kubiri during which people call in and bash the central government. The state is also uncomfortable with morning breeze program on NBS TV which hosts political debates every morning.
“I’m in trouble. All my programs are being complained against but I will keep trying to be professional, objective and cautious” Njala told his NBS viewers Tuesdayday morning.
He looked scared and very pensive. Meanwhile, Top Radio’s Richard Kamagu, who security sources have since blacklisted as a Sejusa man, is back on air and has continued demonizing anti-Lukwago councilors. He was recently arrested and detained at Wandegeya police station ostensibly for being hostile to KCCA technical wing.

Journalists’ Body Condemns ‘Crackdown’ On Media

Uganda’s Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) has appealed to government to stop harassing journalists.
This appeal comes on the heels of several cases of arrests, intimidation and relocations of journalists who have been commenting about the ongoing standoff at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

Uganda’s Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) has appealed to government to stop harassing journalists.

Robert Sempala, the HRNJ National Coordinator also asked government to stop threatening with closure, media houses that offer a platform to those who hold divergent views about the ongoing events within the City leadership.
The wrangle started on November 25th when over 20 journalists were blocked from accessing the KCCA chambers to cover the controversial impeachment of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Moments later the KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi attacked the media alleging that they allowed political protagonists to use radio to communicate messages that have incited the public to attack KCCA staff. On Monday, some KCCA workers were attacked and beaten in downtown Kampala.
Sempala has called on media managers to ignore Musisi’s statements and resist what he calls unwarranted pressure from state agencies, but instead stick to their professional and progressive way of managing their media houses.
Sempala further cites some of the staff of Radio Akaboozi, which is a sister station to Radio One,who are currently on suspension over their conduct while on air. Those on suspension include; Basajjamivule also known as Abbey Sewakiryanga, PK Bossa Ssengendo, Simon Kaggwa Njala and Kamya Makumbi. The radio is owned by Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka.

Kadaga Orders Police To Vacate Lukwago Home

Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga

Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has ordered the Uganda Police to immediately vacate the home of beleaguered Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and allow him access to food.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Felix Kaweesi yesterday said they are at Lukwago’s home after receiving reports he wants to storm City Hall, KCCA’s headquarters with a group of youths and cause chaos.
Kaweesi added that they will continue deployment at Lukwago’s home until they are sure he has dropped his move to cause chaos in the city.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, Kadaga ordered the police to vacate the mayor’s Wakaligga home.
“Government should allow and send food to Lukwago and Besigye ‘s house holds immediately” Kadaga ordered.
This was prompted by complaints from mainly opposition MPs that Lukwago and his family had been denied access to food.
Leader of Opposition in parliament in parliament Nandala Mafabi expressed his dissatisfaction with the way Lukwago and Besigye are being treated by the police saying “As we speak now, Besigye and Lukwago have been confined in their houses for the last 4 days”
“For the last week Lukwago has not accessed the bank, he asked for money from me but police refused me to give him money” Muwanga Kivumbi said of Lukwago’s ordeal.

Embattled Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago (L) in a verbal exchange with a police officer at his home. Looking on is KCCA councilor Allan Ssewanyana.

However, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi denied this saying “Everyone in Lukwago’s house is being given food, I will not take at face value the accusation that they are not being given food”
There were chaotic scenes at Lukwago’s home on Monday as his supporters battled police in an unsuccessful attempt to ‘free him from preventive arrest’.
Teargas and bullets were reportedly fired to disperse the irate supporters of the may

Back Off Tumwebaze, NRM Caucus Tells MPs

No nonsense Kampala Minister Frank Tumwebaze.

Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has asked its legislators to withdraw from the censure motion against Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister in Charge of Kampala Capital City Authority.
The decision was reached in the NRM caucus meeting Tuesday morning chaired by David Bahati, the Deputy NRM chief whip.
Recently, a group legislators led by Abdi Kisosi Chemaswet, the Kween county Member of Parliament embarked on the collection of signatures to censure the minister following the controversy surrounding the impeachment of Erias Lukwago, the Lord Mayor Kampala Capital City Authority. It came after Justice Yassin Nyanzi ruled the impeachment of Lukwago null and void.
However, the NRM leadership argues that the censure motion against Tumwebaze is unnecessary because he acted within the law. The party also says the injunction issued by the high court registrar to stop the impeachment of the lord mayor was a sham.
According to the sources, the vice president Edward Ssekandi reportedly told the caucus that the court order should be investigated saying it was issued in disregard of the court procedures. Ssekandi reportedly argued that the time when the order was issued is suspect because no court sits before 9 AM yet the injunction was delivered before that time.
He also argued that Allan Ssewanyana, the Makindye councilor was not the right person to serve the order since he doesn’t work in court. Sources further intimated to URN that during the meeting, top party officials asked the MPs to explain why they want to censure the minister. Medard Bitekyerezo, the Mbarara Municipality one of the petitioners reportedly said he had personal problems with the minister. He however accepted to withdraw from the petition as directed by party leadership.
When approached by our reporter, Bitekyerezo confirmed withdrawing from the censure motion but denied telling the caucus that he had personal issues with the minister.
However, Abdi Kisosi Chemaswet, the Kween county Member of Parliament and lead petitioner stuck to his position saying he would continue with the censure. Chemaswet insisted that Tumwebaze violated the constitution and other laws that govern Uganda. The NRM caucus was convened to discuss events that have transpired at KCCA since the impeachment of Lukwago.

Nakivubo Park Yard Market: Vendors Clash With Police

No nonsense commander of Police operations Sam Omala oversees security after the Nakivuubo Park Yard fire.

The Old Taxi Park in Kampala was the scene of running battles between traders and angry vendors of Nakivubo Park Yard market.
It all started after police blocked the vendors from accessing their burnt stalls in Nakivubo park yard market, which was gutted by fire at around 4am in the wee hours of this morning.
Police also sealed off key access roads to Nakivubo park yard market to block the traders.  As a result, some of the traders who were gathered at Ben Kiwanuka street started pelting cops with stones demanding to be allowed to access the market. Police responded by opening fire and teargas to disperse the angry traders leading to running battles.
Some of the traders ran for dear life to Old- Taxi Park with police in hot pursuit.
Andrew Felix Kaweesi, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander later arrived at the market and ordered Samuel Omala, the Officer in Charge of Operation to evict some of the vendors who had made their way to the burnt market.
This followed reports that Erias Lukwago, the embattled Kampala Lord is scheduled to visit the market and empathize with the affected vendors. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established.
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Nakivubo Park Yard Market: Vendors Clash With Police

t’s no idle boast that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill christened Uganda the “The Pearl of Africa.” When it comes to wildlife conservation and eco-tourism, Uganda does command outstanding respect. However, a visit to the country cannot be complete if some time is not set aside to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The park can be reached from Kampala either by air or road. From Kampala, the park can be approached from the south via Mbarara (420 km) or the north passing through Fort Portal (410 km). Three airstrips serve Queen Elizabeth National Park and these include Ishasha, Mweya and Kasese airfield.

This 2,056 square kilometre park was established in 1952 when the two game reserves of Lake George and Edward were merged into Kazinga National Park. Two years later it was renamed Queen Elizabeth National Park when Queen Elizabeth II of England visited Uganda.
It is one of the oldest national parks in Uganda and is designated as a Biosphere Reserve for Humanity under the auspices of UNESCO. Together with Kyambura and Kigezi wildlife reserves, the park forms one of the most diverse eco-systems in Africa.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is really enticing. Take time off and visit it. Visit with your family or that special person in your life, but go prepared to fall in love all over again for the park is blessed with spectacular scenery and attractions to fill one action packed holiday and still leave scores of other experiences to be enjoyed on a return trip.

The low attitude and its location directly on the equator mean that the temperatures can be warm, rising from a mean minimum 18ºC to mean maximum of 28ºC. The park receives up to 1250mm of rain mostly from March to May and September to November. The melting glacier waters of the Rwenzori Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising of two main lakes George and Edward. Edward was named by the explorer Henry Morton Stanley after the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
The two lakes are connected by a 40km long channel whose shorelines are populated by thousands of hippos and birds all year round.
This park is a paradise for dedicated ornithologists as well as the novice bird watcher. The bird list is 612 species including the rare Shoe Bill, the Martial Eagle, Papyrus Gonolek, White tailed lark, Verraux’s Eagle Owl and the Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
The park is an ultimate feast for all senses. There are over 95 mammalian and hundreds of butterfly species. Activities like the launch cruise along Kazinga Channel will offer you a unique unequaled wildlife experience. It puts one right in the heart of nature where many Hippos nest in the water while big herds of elephants can be seen enjoying themselves along the channel banks.
Many who experience it consider it the highlight of their entire African safari. The launch cruise schedules run in the morning and afternoon. The open savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees provides habitat for lions, leopards, buffalos and Uganda kobs. Among the many other animals seen frequently are the water bucks, giant forest hog, hyenas and topi.
Networked by over 200 kilometres of well maintained tracks, the visitors get access to the park’s game as some of the tracks pass through large mating grounds of the Uganda kob.
The Kasenyi sector on the east side of Kasese road is best known for lions which prey on large populations of the Uganda kob while the famous tree climbing lions can be spotted on large fig trees in the Ishasha sector which is 100 km south of the Mweya Penisular.
Another principal feature of the park is Kyambura Gorge. This steep gorge was formed by turbulent waters of the roaring Kyambura River. It provides a lush riverine forest that is home to chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white Columbus monkeys, olive baboons and other primates.
The park also has one of Uganda’s largest tracts of tropical forest – Maramagambo forest which translates as “the forest beyond description”. This forest stretches from the foot of the Kichwamba escarpment to Lake Edward. Pythons are often observed in the crevices of the bat cave floor using the bats as a source of food.

The cave is near the copper rich blue lake and hunters’ cave. Beautiful crater lakes are spread throughout the park, the most notable being the Katwe explosion craters.
This cluster of extinct volcanoes north of Mweya peninsula can be explored by the winding 27km crater drive between the main and equator gates which provide superb views into the numerous craters.
As Christmas is getting closer, I recommend Buffalo Safari Resort, located in Katunguru, Queen Elizabeth National Park, overlooking Lake Rubirizi which is not only a jungle safari resort with a touch of class but it’s also a sanctuary for birds and other animals particularly the buffalo that come to drink.
If you are looking for a vacation get away, a romantic weekend, Buffalo Safari Resort will surely provide you with an extraordinary experience!
Other budget and up market facilities are also available in the park and could be good options for families but also for free independent travelers.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is truly amazing – take your camera, for you will want to record all the wonders you will see!

At least 81 people were injured on Wenesday following protest by Nakivubo Park Yard Vendors, Uganda Redcross Society has disclosed.

At least 81 people were injured on Wenesday following protest by Nakivubo Park Yard Vendors, Uganda Redcross Society has disclosed.

The fire destroyed property worth billions of shillings

The protests started after police blocked vendors from accessing their burnt stalls in Nakivubo park yard market following a fire outbreak.
Among the 81 people, 28 were referred to Mulago Hospital after sustaining serious injuries during city riots and 53 of them sustained minor injuries.
According to Catherine Ntabadde the Public Relations Officer of Uganda Red Cross, the serious injuries included bullet wounds, deep wounds resulting from stones, unconsciousness and body swellings.
Ntabadde said that minor injuries included fainting, effects of tear gas, bruises and cuts.
Red Cross Recovery area was set up at the Uganda Red Cross Society First Aid Post at the Old Taxi Park to provide first aid services before any evacuations were done.
Two Uganda Red Cross ambulances were deployed and about 25 first aiders.
The Park Yard Market fire first broke out at 4am in the wee hours of Wednesday morning completely destroying the market without any merchandise saved.
Police, which was key in keeping law and order in and around the burnt market, was involved in fights with angry vendors who wanted to access the market.
Police commanded by officers like Sam Omala battled to keep vendors and the curious from the scene of the fire in vain.
Kampala Metropolitan Commander Andrew Felix Kaweesi addressed the vendors before an emergency meeting was convened to chart a way forward.
He said Police would continue to monitor the area to ensure criminal elements do not take advantage of the chaos at Park Yard.
By evening the situation was turning back to normal as affected vendors were still desperately searching for remains of their merchandise in the market.