FREEMAN NEWS-UG

  The Taliban's leadership and fighters marked the one-year anniversary of the foreign troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan on Wednesday at the Bagram Air base, which was once the largest US military base in the country. Earlier, the Taliban also declared August 15th a national holiday to celebrate the first anniversary of its return to power in Afghanistan.  The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, after the collapse of the US-backed civilian government and mass evacuations.

  Police in Kampala have kicked off investigations into circumstances under which a man who has been missing since Saturday was found dead in the back seat of his vehicle.  Stuart Grace Bakkabulindi went missing on Saturday, August 27th and was last seen at around 9am in Bweyogerere, Wakiso district driving a vehicle. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, Bakabulindi on Saturday went to his sister and requested for a vehicle to enable him visit  “some friends” and since then, he went missing. “Since Saturday, he disappeared and on Sunday relatives approached us and a case of disappearance was entered as investigations commence,” Onyango said.

  Government has started investigations aimed at recovering over Shs100million paid to 60 ghost pensioners in Masindi District as showed in the auditor general report for Financial Year 2021/22. The said individuals are believed to have illegally been on the State payroll for about six months. An external audit report presented to the local government ministry and Parliament public accounts’ committee showed that ghost pensioners paid  cannot be traced.  The state minister for local government, Ms Victoria Businge Rusoke directed the Masindi Chief Administrative Officer to look for and recover the funds from the ghost pensioners.

  The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has resolved to create a special unit, purposely to handle the tourism and hotel-related tax challenges, so as to enable the sector effectively contribute to the country’s national development. The agreement was reached during a meeting between officials from URA and the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, which was held at Protea Hotel in Kampala, where the hotel owners decried harassment from the tax collector’s officials.  In her remarks, Susan Muhwezi, the chairperson Uganda Hotel Owners Association decried the level of harassment usually imposed on their members by officials from URA, despite their contribution to national development. Muhwezi said the hoteliers are made to pay 25 taxes on top of seven licenses, which greatly affects their profitability.

A total of 260 senior UPDF officers have honorably retired from active service today 31st August, 2022  after more than 30 years of services to the nation and region.  The retirement ceremony was held today at the land forces headquarters in Bombo Luwero District. The retired officers included 62 at the rank of colonel, 65 Lieutenant Colonels and 133 Majors. This is batch twelve for financial year 2022/23. While officiating the function, UPDF commander land forces Lt.General Muhoozi Kainerugaba on behalf of the Commander in Chief of the UPDF H.E Gen. Kaguta Museveni thanked the retiring officers for the great work done in preserving peace and stability both in the country and beyond.  He congratulated the retiring officers for serving to the end, saying their journey has been long and remarkable.

  The chief justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo said that the judiciary is in a transformation mission to render more effective and accessible justice to Ugandans.  Justice Dollo made the remarks while presenting the second judiciary performance report 2021/2022 at the high court headquarters in Kampala. The report aims at giving accountability of events to the people of Uganda who are consumers  of justice  with a purpose to transform the judiciary landscape in access to justice.  The constitutional and Justice minister Nobert Mao hailed the judiciary as a pacesetter in the justice,law and order sector.

  Reports from Kween district in Sebei sub region indicate that the downpour of 29th August 2022 led to River Atari bursting its banks and causing flash floods.  The floods are said to have led to the destruction of over 150 houses leaving over 500 people displaced. Images shared on social media show roads that are impassable paralyzing transport in the area.  This is not the first time River Atari bursts banks whenever there is a downpour. In Marchthis year, it burst its banks leaving over 800 people homeless. That time persistent rains pounded the area from a Friday to Sunday, in the two sub-counties of Ngenge and Sundet. The floods also destroyed 1,000 acres of planted maize, sorghum, and beans and killed livestock.  

  AFRIYEA Golf Academy student Edward Rubongoya finished winner of Group A during the KMGC Golf gala held over the weekend in Kasese Municipality, Western Uganda.  Edward aged 16 years, playing off handicap seven (7) returned 34 stable ford points to edge a field of mixed players of both male and female who turned up for the tournament. The 16-year-old was aplomb personified and left an indelible impression in the tournament by beating experienced golfers in this category.   

President Museveni has emphasized peace for South Sudan, as the country reached a milestone in its recovery process from the civil war, during the first batch of unified forces in the country – the national army and the police services graduated on Tuesday. In his speech, Museveni said there is need to have lasting peace in order for South Sudan to  develop, adding that there is need to  focus on interests not identity. “I bring solidarity and congratulations from the brotherly people of Uganda to the people of South Sudan on this landmark milestone, for working in true spirit of the African progressive forces to build the country towards sustainable development based on interests and not identity,” he said. “The four sectors for economic development are Commercial agriculture, industry, services and ICT. However you need peace to achieve all that.” Speaking at the same function, South Sudan President, Salva Kiir  urged  the forces not to pay allegiance to any other ...

  The Police in Mbale has arrested two witch doctors in connection to the murder of 5year-old boy who had disappeared three weeks  from home in Cisse cell, Namatala ward Mbale Industrial city division. The LC1 chairman of Cisse cell in Namatala Mr. Gumono Abedi, identified the suspects as Jamadah Isiko and Ibrahim the witch Doctors and residents of Kiduda cell in Namatala in Mbale City. According to Abedi, one suspect directed police detectives to the scene in the sugar cane plantation near River Namatala along Kabwagasi road at Doko Namabasa in Mbale Northern City division. "While at the crime scene, investigators discovered only the Borns of the body parts and aT-shirt of the deceased covered with grass and sand in the sugar cane plantations." He said.                                                   JOBS IN CANADA   Musamba Lukman the father of ...

  By Weswa Ronnie Leaders at Namabya Sub County in Namisindwa district have raised their fears after residents resorting to open defecations following the delay commissioning of public latrine. This  30 million shillings 4 stance composite latrine located at Bumandri village, Masaka parish, Namabya Sub County in Namisindwa district was constructed by the district under rural sanitation preprogram at the water office and was completed in June 2021. It was meant to be commissioned in July 2021 but the RDC by then Kadunabe Lubega refused due visible cracks, shoddy works and zero value for money which forced him to order for repair before commissioning which has never happened up to now. This has forced area local leaders to continue locking the latrine up to now waiting for repairs and commissioning. According to Michael Mukoya the LCI chairperson of Bumandri village says that his village especially the trading center has at least 500 people doing different business and they have...

  By Weswa Ronnie   Artisans operating at Mbale garage are currently counting loses after a mysterious fire outbreak burned down their shops this morning . Yusufu  Wakibi, one of the affected artisan, says that a total of over 50 shops have been affected due to this  fire outbreak. He adds that the fire was caused by an electricity short circuit from one of their neighbor’s shops at  10.am  this morning which was forced to spread to other shops due to the delay in reaching the police fire brigade vehicle. Rashid Katoo, also the affected artisan at Mbale garage says that property of artisans which were burnt in ash are worth hundreds of millions. He urged Mbale city authorities to come up with permanent solutions of  curbing down fire outbreaks at Mbale garage; another fire  in May this year left their property  million of shilling destroyed.                            ...

  ARUA: The Arua magistrate court on Tuesday evening remanded the three suspects of city 5 gin to prison for one week. The suspects Inzikuru Rose aged 40 years and Adule Gideon aged 45 years were remanded on count of manslaughter while Norman Godfrey, the owner of the Shop in Mvara area and the other two were charged with manufacturing, possession and sale of a local waragi branded as City 5 that claimed the lives of over 12 people in West Nile This followed the advice and the sanctioning of the case file by Resident State Attorney Arua. He advised that one suspect identified as Cadribo Philliam aged 28 years, the Disco Joker (DJ) who was arrested while playing music at the place of manufacturing City 5 was to be set free. He also condemned the act of detaining the suspects in police custody for more than 48 hours, the required time according to the law. He says they will against over detaining the suspects beyond the expected time according to the laws. It should be recalled that ...

  HAWKERS & STREET VENDORS IN ARUSHA Hon. Shamim Malende : It is not illegal to hawk or street vend in Arusha, Tanzania. Unlike Uganda where vendors and hawkers are chased off by their regulator KCCA, in Arusha one is assisted to acquire a permit to operate.  Vendors are strategically positioned and maintain high level of cleanliness, no littering is allowed. Street vendors are not limited to highway streets but are also positioned in high profile places to serve the "Kololo, Munyonyo" class.  All the days of my work in Arusha, I have not spotted a single law enforcement officer running after a hawker or vendor to have him/her arrested and no single gun spotted.  Way back in Kampala Uganda, we must push for release of victims of such arrests. The law must work and it doesn't abolish hawking or street vending but regulation. KAMPALA DO WE COPY? KCCA DO YOU COPY? #ShamimMalende @Malende&Co.Advocates #WomanMPkampalaNUP #PeoplePowerLawyer @JusticeMinister #woman...

  The Supreme Court has ordered a recount of presidential votes in 15 polling stations across the country. The exercise is scheduled to begin this afternoon at an undisclosed location and will take 48 hours to scrutinize the votes. The exercise is expected to end on Thursday at 2 pm and a report filed in court. Each party shall be represented by two agents during the exercises and they shall at times be under the supervision of the Registrar of the Supreme Court and her staff. The Registrar shall file her report by 5 pm on September 1, 2022, and avail copies to all parties. The polling stations include Nandi Hills and Sinendeti Primary School in Nandi, Belgut, Kapsuser and Chepkutum Primary Schools in Kericho County; Jomvi, Mikindani and Ministry of Water Tanks Polling Stations in Mombasa County; Mvita, Majengo and Mvita Primary Schools in Mombasa County; Tinderet CONMO, in Nandi County; Jarok, Gathanji and Kiheo Primary School Polling in Nyandarua Count. The court has also ordered...

  The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, has announced the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) decision to shun the forthcoming election of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representatives, which commences on 19 September 2022 with nominations. The tenure of the current EALA members ends on 17 December 2022. Mpuuga, during the plenary sitting of Tuesday 30, August 2022, said NUP will not be a party to a process he alleged has been turned into a ritual by the ruling party, by fencing six out of nine positions allotted to Uganda. “For some reason without a formula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) believes that it is entitled to six members at EALA, and that entitlement is eternal. As if the six are ordained and that others should look at them in admiration,” Mpuuga said. He castigated NRM for meddling in the nomination of representatives of other political parties, and that it was partly the reason for NUP’s abstinence from the election. “Ac...

  Why "Cake House" was Tumwine's source of pride and joy? In an interview with New Vision in 2019, former security minister Elly Tumwine, who passed on on August 25, expressed pride in his home in Mukuru village, Rwemikoma sub-county, Kiruhura district. “It is my greatest art piece because it is not anywhere. It is my personal design. That house has no corner. It is round and everything in it is round,” he said. It was dubbed the “cake house” by social media users due to its shape.

  UN calls for immediate ceasefire as fresh fights erupt in Libya, 32 dead on day one. The United Nations  has called for an immediate stop to hostilities in Libya following a day of deadly clashes between political factions in the capital, Tripoli. At least 32 people were killed and dozens more wounded during the fighting, the health ministry said. Among the dead was young comedian Mustafa Baraka, an official said. Libya has been in chaos since the Nato-backed uprising in 2011 that ousted long-serving ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Despite this, the country had enjoyed a relatively calm period over the past two years. On Saturday, armed forces of the internationally recognised government tried to push back a convoy of militia loyal to Fathi Bashagha - the man who is recognised as prime minister by a rival, eastern parliament and is vying for control of the country. There were reports of small-arms fire and explosions in several areas of the capital. Black smoke could be seen ...

  Kitgum resident district commissioner (RDC) William Komakech has been interdicted over the reported abuse and misuse of funds meant for the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program. Komakech was interdicted on August 27 by the minister in charge of the Presidency Milly Babalanda on the directives of the Inspectorate of Government. Babalanda says that the interdiction that takes immediate effect, bars Komakech from exercising the powers and functions of the RDCs office and is meant to allow smooth investigations to be undertaken by the Inspectorate of Government.  14 staff of Kitgum district local government were arrested last week by the PDM national secretariat over the alleged misuse of Shs 523.6 million meant for the implementation of the PDM program. Komakech has also been ordered to hand over office to his deputy Hajji Marijjan Welire who shall perform all the duties of RDC until further notice. During his interdiction period, Komakech will continue ...

  The death of Gen Elly Tumwine today means that only eight of the original 42 fighters armed with 27 guns who launched the NRA bush war in 1981 still survive. In the book “ The Mustard seed ” by President Museveni says that it is only these original 27 bush war fighters who were armed with guns. Gen Tumwine passed on in Aga Khan Hospital in Kenya [Nairobi] where he had been flown for treatment after suffering from complications of lung cancer, according to President Museveni. In 1981, when then rebel leader Yoweri Museveni went to the bush to form the National Resistance Army (NRA) after disputing the outcome of the 1980 elections, Gen Tumwine went with him after abandoning his teaching career in 1978. Gen Tumwine joined the FRONASA forces led by the rebel leader Mr Yoweri Museveni and is credited for firing the first bullet that launched the five-year war of the National Resistance Army. “We had earlier got in touch and discussed with Museveni who had taught me in pri...

Uganda world life authority today slashed all crops of over 500 residents at three villages Masaba Sub County in Sironko district for alleging them to have encroached on Mount Elgon national park land.   The affected villages are Kusi, Ngagai and Malara all located at Bufupa parish Masaba Sub County in Sironko district.   According to Patrick Wabugoya, the LCIII chairperson of Masaba Sub County, crops which were destroyed completely are carrots, cabbage, Irish potatoes, maize, and onions among others worth hundreds of million shillings.   He condemned what UWA did by slashing all crops of people saying he is going to mobilize affected people and sue the government for malicious damage.   Deo Nabugodi the area district councilor says that in March this year people neighboring Mt Elgon national park and their area local leaders had a meeting with UWA officers and agreed to leave people plant trees in areas where they have been cut in ...