FREEMAN NEWS-UG

Ugandan Parliament Speaker Anita Among, 49, hints at pregnancy as Pope blesses her belly. Ugandan National Assembly Speaker Anita Among, 49, appeared to hint at being pregnant when she asked Pope Francis to bless her belly. Among was at the Vatican on August 25, 2023, for a meeting with the Pope and managed to have a private meeting with him. “I briefed him on our country and our people’s efforts to uphold Christian values and norms in line with our motto and the scriptures"- The holy father commended President Yoweri Museveni, the Parliament of Uganda, and the people of Uganda for always putting God first and for their efforts in preserving family values. He also sent warm greetings to President Museveni and congratulated him and the First Lady upon their 50th marriage anniversary,” said Speaker Among. In a video of their interaction, it was at one point during their interaction that Among hinted at being pregnant. She and the Pope had been speaking when she asked for blessings f...

 If Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was living in the ancient African days, he would have died of canes. The conduct of the young NUP legislator continues to shock not only his fellow opposition MPs but the entire public and is a pain to the people of Mityana whom he represents in the August House. Zaake has for the third time in a space of 4 years been sent to the Parliamentary Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline for his continued unruly, foul-mouthed, and ill-mannered conduct within and outside parliament. It all started when Zaake made outrageous defamatory statements against Rakai Woman MP, Juliet Ssuubi Kinyamatama in the latter’s constituency on 9th October 2023. Kinyamatama on Thursday, took to the floor of parliament to raise a procedural concern regarding the conduct of Zaake, who in a video clip circulating on social media labeled Kinyamatama as a “useless” politician and “prostitute” who doesn’t deserve to be voted back in 2026. MPs were left in utter sh...

Following a video that captured Hon. Zaake Francis making derogatory statements towards some of his fellow legislators, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has referred the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on Rules. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake Butebi called President Yoweri Museveni a “rotten man”, old and full of illnesses and undergoing degeneration. Zaake made these statements last week while speaking in Lwamagwa sub county, Buyamba Constituency, Rakai District as he canvassed support for the opposition National Unity Platform. He also said, Buyamba County MP Gyaviira Ssemwanga is the most useless Member of the 11th Parliament, “destructing serious business in the house since he over gasses.” Zaake who was accompanied by a number of NUP foot soldiers also called the Rakai Woman MP Juliet Suubi Kinyamatama a prostitute who adds no value to the people of Rakai and Parliament in General. “Don’t you see that whoever ...

Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zaake Butebi has called President Yoweri Museveni a “rotten man”, old and full of illnesses and undergoing degeneration. Zaake was speaking in Lwamagwa sub county, Buyamba Constituency, Rakai District as he canvassed support for the opposition National Unity Platform. He also said, Buyamba County MP Gyaviira Ssemwanga is the most useless Member of the 11th Parliament, “destructing serious business in the house since he over gasses.” Zaake who was accompanied by a number of NUP foot soldiers also called the Rakai Woman MP Juliet Suubi Kinyamatama a prostitute who adds no value to the people of Rakai and Parliament in General. “Don’t you see that whoever goes to him (Museveni) first undergoes a COVID test? He has all illnesses. You people do not even have MPs here. They do nothing save for sweating in the chairs at Parliament.” He said. Zaake added; “We also have this Nalumansi (Kinyamatama), as if she went to Parliament for prostitution...

The Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Anita Among, has accepted the appointment of Yusuf Nsibambi, the Member of Parliament for Mawokota South, as the new whip for the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party in Parliament. This change follows the removal of Ibrahim Ssemujju, the Member of Parliament for Kira Municipality, from this role by the FDC’s Secretary General, Nathan Nandala Mafabi. The announcement of this change in FDC leadership was made during a plenary sitting on Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa. In a letter addressed to the Members of Parliament, Ms. Among acknowledged the decision of the FDC delegates’ conference to appoint Yusuf Nsibambi as the new FDC Party Whip. She stated, “The Secretary General has, via his letter on October 7, 2023, written to me communicating and confirming the decision of the FDC delegates’ conference appointing Yusuf Nsibambi as FDC Party Whip in Parliament. In the circumstances, I do accept the designation of Nsibambi as FDC...

The opposition members of parliament led by the leader of Opposition Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, have vowed not to step again in any plenary sitting until government issues a statement and an apology to them regarding the attack on NUP party headquarters on independence day where some of their leaders including Joel Senyonyi, Lewis Rubongoya, religious leaders among others were arrested and taken to police. Speaking before members of the fourth estate today, the leader of opposition Hon.Mathias Mpuuga said the act of launching an attack on their headquarters showed the high levels of impunity and disrespect aimed towards them, something he says will not be entertained.   "Us stepping out of parliament yesterday isn't an act of weakness but it was act of resilience, strength, commitment and a message out there that we shall not accept any attack on our headquarters, abuse of our leaders with impunity." He revealed  It's from this context that he's come out to urge the gov...

Kampala – The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction headed by the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has criticized High Court Judge Musa Ssekaana for mistreating them when they appeared before him seeking an interim order stopping the delegates’ conference of the Najjanankumbi faction. Last week the Najjanankumbi faction held a delegates’ cxonference in Kampala where they renewed the term of party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and and Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi. Speaking today at their Katonga Road-based offices, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda their spokesperson said Ssekaana who declined to grant the orders arguing that the applicants had filed their application late, treated them as though they were second-class citizens. “We know judges are given a lot of power under the Constitution, but this power must be exercised judiciously. We are not happy with the way, Judge Musa Ssekaana treated us when we appeared before him. He made us wait for two hours because he had ...

KAMPALA — The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa reminded Members of Parliament of their right to free entry and exit of the House adding that they don't the permission of the presiding officer to enter or leave, if they feel uncomfortable conducting business of the house.  Tayebwa was reacting to walkout protests by opposition MPs—, protesting what they described as continued arrest, kidnap, and detention of their leaders' supporters. "This is a level you reach on after interacting with the presiding officer, you don’t ambush the presiding officer that way on the floor. When we are in this House, no one asks me for permission, no one has given me warning that they are walking out, so whoever is to sit and handle business should continue, those who are uncomfortable can move out," the Deputy Speaker said.  This was after his attempts to call for calm amongst the Opposition to allow the Government table a statement, explaining actions of security forces were ...

The opposition foreign shadow minister in parliament and Kyadondo East member of parliament Hon. Muwadda Nkunyingi has condemned the manner in which the government security agencies handled their president Hon. Robert Kyagukanyi Sentamu upon arrival at the Entebbe international Airport Earlier today. Kyagukanyi who had touched down at Entebbe international Airport was arrested by security and secretly driven to his home in Magere where he's now under house arrest according to the leadership of National unity platform. According to Muwadda the act in which their principle was whisked away by the security at the Airport is against the law and violates his rights to freely move in his country. "We strongly condem the manner in which our president was arrested at the Airport, because it shows that there are no human rights and putting that aside there is no law that prohibits anyone from being received by his or her people from the airport upon arrival."he said Additionally, ...

Accra, Ghana. Uganda has rallied members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to support its bid to host the group’s headquarters in Kampala. Ugandan Members of Parliament led by Kabula County’s Enos Asiimwe on Wednesday submitted the country’s bid to host the CPA headquarters at the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (66th CPC) in Accra, Ghana. While presenting the bid, Mr. Asiimwe and his colleagues, who represented Speaker Anita Among, said Uganda is strategically situated and has all the requirements necessary to host the headquarters. The legislator added that there are immense economic opportunities associated with having CPA headquarters in a first-developing country like Uganda.   “The opportunities of hosting the headquarters include hosting conferences, the jobs at the Secretariat, and infrastructural development opportunities given that CPA is a rich organization that would put up its headquarters in the new country,” he said.  The flagsh...

The deputy speaker of parliament of Uganda, R.t Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has ordered the Minister of foreign affairs to appear before the floor of parliament this Thursday with an official statement regarding the conflicts surrounding the criteria under which the 71 members were delegated to represent the country in the recent United Nations General Assembly, an issue that has caused havoc between the prime minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabanjja and Hon. Kasule Lumumba. The decision came following today’s plenary sitting that resumed after a long recess, where the shadow minister for foreign affairs Hon. Muwadda Nkunyingi expressed concerns over the huge amounts of money that was spent on the 71 members, who were delegated to represent the country in this year's United Nations General Assembly meeting, something he described as incentive towards the tax payer's money. "Rt. Hon. Speaker we've heard contradicting media reports with voices of the prime minister alleging that she ...

  A section of Kampala Members of Parliament has threatened to organise protests against “rampant” floods and potholes on roads in the city. The MPs have thus issued a two week’s ultimatum to government to fix the roads and drainage in Kampala or they launch protests. During Friday plenary sitting, the MP for Rubaga North, Abubaker Kawalya noted that due to the poor drainage in Kampala, the city is being overwhelmed by floods. He warned that failure by government to fix the challenges in 14 days will prompt them to organise protests. “We shall not sit down and see all these challenges, we are giving them an ultimatum of a maximum of two weeks to work on most of the challenges that have affected our people, most especially when it comes to flooding. We all know what causes flooding, the status and quality of our drainage is in bad state,” Kawalya said. Kawalya also questioned the proposal by the First Son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba of deploying Special Forces Command (SFC) to fill Kam...

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Thomas Tayebwa is using this recess period, to monitor various development projects in his Ruhinda North Constituency in Mitooma District.  Mr Tayebwa is currently traversing his Constituency, holding strategic  meetings on wealth creation with a major focus on the Parish Development Model (PDM). " The meetings at parish level have helped me pick useful information from both beneficiaries and those who are yet to benefit. So far I have covered Rutokye Town Council and Kigyende Subcounty. Today I am in Kanyabwanga Sub County on the same mission" He said.  "I want to make Ruhinda North a model constituency for the implementation of PDM. We want all the service delivery gaps fixed so that our people join the money economy ." Mr Tayebwa explained that the  feedback so far received, is a testimony that the PDM is going to change the fortunes of his constituents and Ugandans in other parts of the country.  "Apart from a few implem...

Half of the Members of the 11th Parliament were seen hanging around parliament today amidst recess time. Our reporter at parliament confirmed to us that the majority of these members of parliament were spotted keeping themselves busy by moving up and down, while others were seen at the parliament canteen. According to our reporter at parliament, most of the legislators are dodging their voters due to heavy loans.  "I've failed to go back to my constituency because I have no money to give to my voters, I invested over a billion in the 2021 general election, all this money was borrowed and I thought I would clear the loans in just a year but all in vain" - An Mp told our reporter.  Another MP withheld told our reporter that his voters are so demanding and as soon as they see an area member of parliament, all they think of is money.    "Leadership has been commercialised, We are the ones to buy coffins whenever any voter passes on, we are the on...

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has called for heightened vigilance as security agencies report plots by terrorists to attack Uganda.  In her communication to Parliament during plenary on Tuesday September 5, 2023, Speaker Among commended security for efforts to keep country safe, and urged collaboration and vigilance from all.  “…over the weekend, our security agents foiled a suspected terror attack at Rubaga Miracle Center Cathedral in Kampala; the security agencies reportedly recovered some bomb making devices in other localities,” she said.  “I commend security for their swift response and urge the general public to always remain vigilant and always collaborate with security,” she added.  MP Henry Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula South) said the focus is almost entirely on the city and its environs, leaving upcountry cops under-facilitated and making the countryside vulnerable.  “The Police officers [in the countryside] are not facilitated; can we have police come t...

Parliament has asked the Government to present statements on efforts to combat rising fuel prices that have rocked the country in the past week.  Speaker Anita Among said whereas inflation had been contained, there are worrying signs with the escalation of fuel prices, which she said has the effect of causing general commodities inflation.  “…in the last few weeks, we have witnessed a spike in the pump price of fuel; this poses a risk of cost-push inflation which will inevitably erode the disposable income of the population,” she said while chairing plenary on Wednesday, 30 August 2023.  “I urge the executive to urgently address the situation and update the House on action taken,” she added.  At the beginning of this year, fuel prices had spiked, reaching highs of Shs7000 per litre, which Government successfully contained, bringing down general inflation in the country.  With the recent rise in pump prices, MPs are concerned inflation could be in the rise again....

The Parliament Committee of Education and Sports has stopped the transfer of Sister Rose Nelima from Mbale School for the deaf. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: On the 23rd of August 2023, the  Permanent Secretary  Ministry of Education, Mr. Richard Enyomu issued a transfer letter which indicated that sister Rose had been replaced with Mr. Wandulu Dismus, the HM of  Namawanga Secondary School. Though Mr. Wandulu still confirmed to us that he is to officially start work on Monday next  at the School of the deaf, where he was deployed by the ministry. WHY IS THE ISSUE BEFORE PARLIAMENT? The sagas at Mbale School for the Deaf have existed for over three years.  This prompted the Parliament Committee of Education and Sports to visit the school a few weeks ago to establish facts into various allegations Including:- Corruption, Mismanagement of funds & other irregularities.  Upon getting to the school, all members of the committee were shocked after seeing th...

PHOO: Geraldine Ssali (right) and other officials Another official is in trouble for creating ghost fuel cards worth sh362m. The parliamentary committee on trade has asked Secretary to Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi to sack Trade Ministry permanent secretary Geraldine Ssali for reportedly inflating the price of renovation works at the Ministry offices at Farmers House to a tune of sh2b. “The Committee therefore finds that Geraldine Ssali is personally liable for the dubious and mysterious inflation of the estimated contract price from sh4.664b to sh6.2b without any formal or legal justification,” Mpaka Mwine, the committee chairperson, said. Parliament’s Trade Committee also recommended for the prosecution of Daniel Kalule (Transport Officer, Ministry of Trade) for creating seven ghost fuel cards, resulting into the loss of sh362m. Kalule had claimed the fuel was utilised by three officials at the ministry, but these denied ever seeing the said fuel cards. Trade minister Francis Mwebesa rece...