Watchdog Uganda

Watchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com Latest News in Uganda and the rest of East African Region, Daily news and business from Uganda.Mon, 26 Jul 2021 18:37:52 +0000en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8https://www.watchdoguganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-mobile_Icon-32x32.pngWatchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com 3232Ugandans on social media up in arms as Vision Group rewards longest serving newspaper vendor with ‘cheap’ bicyclehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118054/ugandans-on-social-media-up-in-arms-as-vision-group-rewards-longest-serving-newspaper-vendor-with-cheap-bicycle.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 18:37:52 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118054Ugandans on social media have lashed out at Vision Group for rewarding longest newspaper vendor with a bicycle.

Fred Ocheng, one of the longest newspaper vendors in Kampala was recognized for his great work towards promoting and selling Vision Group newspapers which include among others New Vision, Bukedde and Orumuri.

Vision Group, a government owned media outlet is headed by Don Innocent Wanyama.

Ocheng, who is now 67 years old, started selling newspapers at the age of 27 on Kampala Road before moving to Bugolobi, a city suburb.

“He received a new bicycle as a token of appreciation for his dedication to the company for the last 35 years,” an article in New Vision reads in part.

However, Vision Group’s kind gesture has rubbed netizens the wrong way and they say instead of motivating Ocheng, the media house demotivated him with a cheap gift.

See comments:

Ruhundwa Gafabusa Ronnie Raphael- “Vision group is so mean all those yrs and giving him a bicycle ooohh Uganda.”

Elwanu Phiona- “The audacity of writing an article about it as if its worthied banange let us learn to appreciate rightly n accordingly.”

Kintu Florence- “I was also disappointed by that company giving out a bicycle as a reward to someone who has been their costumer for 35years kyewuunyisa.”

Alfred Matovu- “He should ve burnt it in their presence….balina joogo.”

Joush Gb Muwangazi- “Now a bycicle for what use at 67years?.Maybe for exercise to remain fit.But there was no need to write a full article praising themselves”beswaziza nyo”

Nakaweesa Sharon- “Atleast a motor cycle.Naye banange Newvision mulimba nyoooo.”

Kapyto Alexander Senior- “A bicycle, so he can keep vending,.. Huh.”

Highly Blessed- “Eeeeehhhhh… this is disturbing and sickening . At least they would have given him a fielder Toyota but New vision mwadankana. Wama kakensa followers let’s do what we do best tusonde and buy him a Boda.”

Ntwatwa Daniel- “at first I thought they constructed for him some 4 units of renting houses to enable him retire safe and with dignity kumbe just bicycle; idiotis are so mean!! how is it going to help him to handle his advanced age.”

Kassim Kizito Fatib- “Very bad l saw this man on acertain TV way back in 2019 his dream was to own a house now vision group has rewarded him with a bicycle of 300,000.”

Sharon Ainembabazi- “So for the last 35 years, New Vision has kept this man poor! It means he has been footing from his home for all these years
Catherine Kansiime come see.”

]]>There’s a possibility Ssekitoleko didn’t qualify to go to Japan, Police reveal why they are still holding the athletehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118048/theres-a-possibility-ssekitoleko-didnt-qualify-to-go-to-japan-police-reveal-why-they-are-still-holding-the-athlete.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 17:13:23 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118048The Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations- CID has said they are still holding weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko inorder to conduct proper investigations.

Addressing journalists on Monday at Police headquarters in Naguru, CID spokesperson Charles Twine said the  investigations they have conducted so far show that Ssekitoleko had not qualified to be part of the Olympics game in Japan whuch means thst there could have been an orchestrated fraud behind his flying to the Asian country.

Recently, Ssekitoleko went missing in Japan where he had gone to be part of the Olympics game. However, last week he was found before being flown back to Uganda.

“What is visibly here is that there is a probable fraud of airlifting Ssekitoleko with full knowledge that he had not qualified to go and participate well knowing that he is not going to participate. Now the fundamental question is, was he part of the fraud as a conspirator? And that is the reason why we are still having him,” Twine said.

He added that according to the preliminary investigations it is very clear that since Ssekitoleko did not qualify to participate in his category in Japan, he was even isolated from his colleagues.

“For some reasons upon which we are investigating Ssekitoleko was flown as an athlete to Japan on 16th day of June together with his coach. However, he had not qualified. He was taken to a city called Inzumasano where he was put in a hotel without any activity whereas his colleagues were taken to the Olympics village in Japan. On the 18th day of July, he was informed by one of the officials from the National Council of sports that he never scored to his expectation and therefore he should come back home.”

“ According to his argument, he indicates that he was totally frustrated because he went to participate but he was told  he had not qualified. All his hopes were shattered and he even tried to commit suicide.”

Twine added that consultations and investigations are still going on to find out what made Ssekitoleko to behaviour in such a manner.

“We have acquired some statement from some senior officers within the National council of sports. We are currently in touch with his coach who flew with him well knowing that he had not qualified, he is also coming to make a statement and we are cognizant of the 48-hour rule. So we are doing what is possible to ensure that he gets a police bond.”

]]>Over 680 prisoners considered for presidential pardonhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118036/over-680-prisoners-considered-for-presidential-pardon.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 13:11:32 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118036The Spokesperson of the Uganda Prison services Frank Baine has revealed that they have handed over a total of 682 names of inmates to the prerogative of mercy committee seeking presidential pardon.

Speaking to the media on Monday during the weekly security briefing at Police headquarters in Naguru, Baine said that names have already been sent to the Prerogative of mercy committee which is headed by Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

“Every July of the year, we send in names of prisoners which we think need pardon and it’s the decision of the prerogative of mercy committee to look through and forward to the president or to seat on the list and then the year pass without the pardon but for us, it’s a religious submission of every July and that is what we have done,” he said.

Baine added that names were handed in  different categories such as pregnant women and breastfeeding, minor offenders with illnesses such as cancer.All petty offenders who have served three-quarters of their sentences, convicted of capital offences but are only left with six months of their sentences, and all over-aged (65+) convicted offenders who have served half of their sentence. Convicts of rob and vagabond even those who have started the sentence as long as there were in prison at the time of compilation.

“However, it’s not a guarantee that these convicts should be pardoned but it will depend on the office of Attorney General if they so wish to consider their pardon,”Baine noted.

It must also be remembered that on 22nd April last year, President Yoweri Museveni pardoned 833 prisoners country-wide through the Prerogative of Mercy as a measure against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) by decongesting the prison facilities.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda under Article 121 grants President the power to grant (upon advice from the office of Attorney General) pardon any convicted Ugandan. “Article 121 (4) (b) The President may, on the advice of the Committee of granting a person a respite, either indefinite or for a specified period from the execution of punishment imposed on him or her for an offence.”

]]>Parliament unanimously votes James Kakooza as EALA MPhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118042/parliament-unanimously-votes-james-kakooza-as-eala-mp.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 12:03:30 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118042Parliament has unanimously voted for  James Kakooza as the representative to East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA). Kakooza got 183 votes with no MPs voting against or abstaining.

Earlier before taking the vote, the House adopted the report of the Verification Committee which among other things recommended that Kakooza be elected to EALA.

This va­cancy arose from the demise, on 27th April 2021, of Mathias Kasamba, one of Ugan­da’s rep­re­sen­ta­tives to EALA.

The East African Leg­isla­tive As­sem­bly is the leg­isla­tive or­gan of the East African Com­mu­nity and con­sists of mem­bers elected from out­side the na­tional Par­lia­ments of the five part­ner states, Kenya, Bu­rundi, Rwanda, Tan­za­nia and Uganda.

Recently, NRM Party Caucus in Parliament voted Kakooza to replace the Late Kasamba as EALA MP.

Kakooza defeated the former State minister in charge of Tourism Hon Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, Abbas Mutumba, the former Principle Assistant to Kasamba and four other candidates.

Kakooza emerged victorious with 93 votes which translates into 39.2%, Kiwanda who is also the party vice chairperson Central regions was the first runner up with 85 voted which is 35.9% and Abbas Mutumba came third with 54 votes.

Other candidates who participated in the EALA race include Kenneth Nsubuga Ssebagayunga, Nakato Kyabangi and Lule Umar Mawiya.

For 20 years, Kakooza represented Kabura County in Parliament of Uganda. He also served as state minister for Primary Health Care.

Upon confirmation by the Parliament of Uganda, Kakooza will be joining eight EALA MPs in Arusha Tanzania to complete the last year remaining on their five-year term.

]]>Omubaka Kakooza ayiseemu nga tavuganyiziddwa ku ky’omubaka wa Palimenti ya East Africahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118035/omubaka-kakooza-ayiseemu-nga-tavuganyiziddwa-ku-kyomubaka-wa-palimenti-ya-east-africa.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 11:21:40 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118035ABABAKA mu lukiiko lwe Ggwanga olukulu awatali kwesalamu balonze eyali omubaka wa Kabula mu Palimenti James Kakooza okukiikirira Uganda mu Lukiiko lwa East Africa.

Ono yagenda okudda mu kifo kya Hon. Mathias Kasamba eyafa gye buvuddeko, eyaliyo okuva mu mwaka gwa 2017.

Afunye obululu 183 obwababaka bonna ababadde mu palimenti etudde olwaleero, era nga teri muntu avuddeyo kumuvuganya yadde okuwakanya.

Kakooza yasooka kuyita ku banne ab’ekibiina kya NRM abamuwandako eddusu e Kololo gyebuvuddeko, ne basalawo abakwatire bendera mu kuvuganya okwali kugenda okubeerawo.

Kati ono akyalinayo omwaka n’okusoba nga akiikirira Uganda, nga mu mwaka gwa 2022 bagenda kuddamu okulonda ababaka abalala.

]]>Minister Kasaija: We couldn’t divert money meant to buy cars for MPs to procure Covid-19 vaccines https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118030/minister-kasaija-we-couldnt-divert-money-meant-to-buy-cars-for-mps-to-procure-covid-19-vaccines.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 09:37:29 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118030The minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Matia Kasaija has asked the public to stop blaming Members of Parliament for pocketing Shs200m each because the car money was in already in the 2021/2022 national budget.

During a news interview with CBS FM on Monday, Kasaija said that the argument by most Ugandans that it was not the right time for the government to give out money to MPs before procuring Covid-19 vaccines is totally wrong because the Ministry of Health received the vaccine money even before the legislators getting their car funds.

The minister said the public should instead ask the Health Ministry why it has delayed to procure the vaccines.

“We issue money depending on the need of those who put in their request. secondly this money was in the budget, likewise the money for procuring Covid-19 vaccines and even medical apparatuses. For whatever money the Ministry of Health requested concerning Covid-19 we gave it out, it was our first priority. I even made a supplementary budget for them. As they requested it that is how we gave it. Therefore, for the reasons why the vaccines are not available, the public should ask the Minister of Health but they should not blame MPs for receiving their money because it was in our budget. We budgeted for it and this budget was done during Covid-19,” Kasaija said.

“People should go and ask the Ministry of Health where the vaccines are because me as the minister of Finance I have said that we gave them money.”

Last week, the Director of Communications at Parliament, Chris Obore revealed that the Government had started remitting Shs200 million to each of the 529 legislators and the 26 ex-officio members of the 11th Parliament, to enable them to buy cars. This matter raised a lot of concerns from the public and some civil societies who alluded that all that money would have been appropriated to purchase vaccines and covid-19 gears in different hospitals.

Recently the Ministry of Finance revealed that as a way of enabling the government to raise funds to finance activities meant to help in the fight against Covid-19, a decision was made to compress budgets in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

]]>I rather walk to work! Besigye vows not to pay single penny to ‘dubious & bankrupt’ Russian company hired to monitor movements of Ugandanshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118025/i-rather-walk-to-work-besigye-vows-not-to-pay-single-penny-to-dubious-bankrupt-russian-company-hired-to-monitor-movements-of-ugandans.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 08:10:21 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118025Former presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye has has said that he will not pay a single penny to the Russian company that was last week hired by the government of Uganda to install high tech tracking devices in all vehicles and motorcycles in Uganda. Ugandans are to meet the costs of the services offered by Joint Stock Global Security Company.

But since Sunday, government has been on spot for hiring a company without making due diligence after it was discovered that the tech firm had filed for bankruptcy last year.

And to Dr Besigye, he cannot pay for services being offered by a dubious company.

“Eeh!! I’ll not pay to this dubious & bankrupt company to monitor my movements!I’d rather WALK-2-WORK,” the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president said in a Facebook post on Monday.

What we know so far about the firm:

Joint Stock Global Security Company registered as a small business of 10 employees in 2013 and the firm returns for last year were 637,742 russian rubles equivalent to USD8,000.

Joint Stock Company Global Security was sued by LLC “Rus Prom-Technologies”, another Russian company that wants it declared bankrupt. The case was filed in the Arbitration Court of City of Moscow on September 17th 2020 and accepted on October 20th 2021.

“On September 17, 2020, the Moscow Arbitration Court received an application from Rus-Prom-Technology on the recognition as insolvent (bankrupt) of JSC Global Security,” a ruling by the Arbitration Court of City of Moscow dated 20th October 2020 says. “Having considered the received application and the documents attached to it, the court considers them sufficient for the acceptance of the application for hearing.”

Though the case was accepted for hearing, the hearing sessions have been postponed several times as Global Security fight to pay the debt its owes Rus-Prom-Technology.

In another case filed in March 2019, Rus-Prom-Technology had sued Global Security for failure to pay 16.6 million rubles (Russia currency) which is about $220,000. Rus-Prom-Technology won the case.

After winning the case, Rus-Prom-Technology proceeded to file case in which it wants Global Security declared bankrupt. For Global Security to fight off bankruptcy, court has ordered it to pay Rus-Prom-Technology.

Global Security has also been sued by Limited Liability Partnership “Orken Alem” for a debt of 8.5 million rubles and Gu Main Department of the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for failure to pay 10,000 rubles (about $135) and 455,00 rubles (about $600). All these cases were filed between 2019 and July 2021.

After eyeing a lucrative deal in Uganda, the company registered again on the 10th of this month as a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) in Russia. Meanwhile, the tech company doesn’t even own a digital website.

On Friday, Uganda signed a contract with Joint Stock Global Security Company to provide digital trackers to all vehicles in the country.

At a ceremony held at the Office of the President in Kampala, Waiswa Bageya the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport and Yunus Kakande his counterpart in the office of the President signed on behalf of the government while Ivan Sukraban, the Chief Executive Officer of Joint Stock Company, a Russian digital security company signed on its behalf.

According to Kakande, the President instituted an inter-ministerial committee that for the last four months has been working on identifying and the right company to carry out the task.

Kakande said that President Yoweri Museveni directed that all vehicles and motorcycles be fitted with tracking devices to help deal with criminals who he said use vehicles and motorcycles to kill people and then disappear without a trace. Museveni made similar comments in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the life of Gen Edward Katumba Wamala in June.

Kakande said that the Russian company is going to run the project for two years and recoup their investment and then hand it over to the government of Uganda to manage.

Speaking at the same ceremony, Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi the Minister of Security who witnessed the signing of the contract assured the country that the only purpose for which the government is going to track vehicles is to deal with insecurity. He added that they have no intention of interfering in the privacy of citizens. When challenged on the law they are basing on Muhwezi said whatever they are doing was embraced by government technocrats like the Solicitor General.

He added that those who believe that the government is acting outside the law, have the right to challenge it in court.

On when the project is expected to start and how much money car and motorcycle owners are going to be paying, Muhwezi said the committee will be deciding on these details in the coming days.

“The investor is going to come on the ground to establish centres in the different parts of the country working with Luwero Industries to start and then the public will be informed when each vehicle will be called to be registered to get new number plates with monitoring systems.

The payment will also be communicated because always registration of vehicles is not free of charge; anybody who owns a vehicle will meet that charge,” Muhwezi said.

]]>JOSEPH M. MUMBE: 6 reasons why Only one Bible Verse says Christ stood in Heavenhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210726/118020/joseph-m-mumbe-6-reasons-why-only-one-bible-verse-says-christ-stood-in-heaven.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:46:05 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118020The Bible is full of many amazing things and you may wonder why only one verse records Jesus standing at the throne in heaven. Acts 7:56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Since Christ’s completion of his ministry on earth, his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, the entire Bible, on each mention of Christ in heaven, records him seated on the right hand of the father in heaven except one verse. Why then did he stand in heaven as seen by Stephen alone?

First, the expression “at the right hand of God” implies the throne of God. A throne is chair of state which was occupied by a person of authority, whether a high priest, judge, governor or king as in Greek ‘thronos’. The occupant of the throne arrayed himself in royal robes each time he administered and received homage (Davis dictionary of the Bible, Pg. 822). The throne symbolizes supreme power and authority (Gen. 41:40) and this was usually attributed to Jehovah. Heavenly throne is a reserve of God alone (Christ is fully God cf. John 1:1).

Even in the natural, an honorable judge during a court session can only stand on emergency or at most on medical recommendation. When such is executed, the entire jury and all in court proceeding ought to be aware as such is preceded with an excuse. In the same way, Christ standing at the throne in heaven gives us a couple reasons.

Christ’s ascension to heaven is a continuation of his ministry of priesthood, where he has a session (seated) with God the father and will come a second time on earth as the appointed judge and reign as king. (Acts 10: 42)

Stephen, the first Christian martyr in the New Testament was facing his execution by the Sanhedrin Council when he saw the new posture of Christ in Heaven. The Bible records two instances when Stephen was full in spirit to make us believe authenticity of the statement:

In the first place, Stephen was in full faith at his appointment into the ministry as a deacon (Acts 6:5).

Secondly, he was full in Spirit at his execution testifying about the risen Christ, Lord and God as Jews stoned him ending his ministry (Acts 7:55).

I will give four implied reasons why Christ was standing at the throne in heaven different from the usual sitting as the rest of the scriptures say:

Fondness: As it is very natural for the parent to have affection with his own son, the lord identified with his own, being persecuted. Stephen publicly confessed the as Lord (Acts 7:59) he acknowledged christ in public and Christ too acknowledged him in heaven (LK. 12:8). He also emulated the true character of Christ when he forgave his killers (Lk. 23:54) as Jesus did. So, Christ showed affection to Stephen.

State of honor: Precious in the sight of Lord is the death of his saints (Psalm 116:15). Humanly, standing up can be a sign to honor or welcome one. So, Christ was welcoming the martyr- Stephen.  

Permission to heaven: Confessing Christ to death is a direct ticket to heaven and an act of grace to see through heaven with naked eyes and in bodily form. In the Old Covenant, no one would see God in His glory and live. Such glory would be seen through Angelic beings, fire or other manifestation but Stephen graciously saw full God in His glory.

Christ was rewarding Stephen- overcomer (I John 5:5) for his faithfulness: In Rev. 2:10, Christ promises to reward those who endure persecution to the end and also those who deny the pleasures of this world to receive many times as much not only in this age but also in the age to come â€" eternal life (Lk. 18:29-30).

Unlike you and I who may not undergo same situation like St. Stephen, the word of God is true in all times and all his promises are true and amen (2Cor. 1:20). Paul retorts that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2Cor.4:17). For each one of us has altogether a different call, commission and God takes His own home in different ways but the Saviour stands to receive them as their intercessor and advocate (Mk. 8:38; Rom. 8:34). Continue witnessing.

Joseph M. Mumbe

mumbej@yahoo.com

About author: Theologian, teacher and Pastor

]]>Rukiga: 61 year old murdered over landhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118018/rukiga-61-year-old-murdered-over-land.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:16:08 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118018Police in Rukiga district is investigating circumstances under which a 61 year old man was killed over land wrangle.

The deceased, Mugwanya Kato Ibrahima resident of Kanyeganyega village, Kashakye parish, Kamwezi sub county in Rukiga district was hit on the head using a hoe.

Preliminary investigations indicate that on the 19/7/2021 the deceased found four of his biological sisters tilling his land that was given to him by his late father and when he stopped them,they resisted.

The sisters later picked a quarrel and he was hit by a hoe handle on the fore head that resulted into injuries.

He was taken to Nyakihanga Church of Uganda Health Center II for treatment where he died on Sunday morning.

According to the Kigezi regional police spokesperson Elly Maate, one arrest has been made and other three suspects are still at Large.

]]>Rukungiri: 10 year old boy kills fatherhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118016/rukungiri-10-year-old-boy-kills-father.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:10:17 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118016Police in Rukungiri is investigating circumstances under which a 10 year old child killed his father using a hoe.

The deceased identified as Pius Tugumisirize,33, is a resident of Rwesigiro village Kikarara parish, Rukungiri district.

It’s alleged that on Saturday at around 10pm the deceased developed a quarrel with the wife, a one Ruth Owakubariho aged 29 and as a result, the deceased hit her badly with a hoe on the head and bleed furiously.

After the incident, Tugumisirize took off and hid himself in the park, not knowing that his 10 years old son had picked the same hoe he used to hit the mother and followed him ( the father).

The son later met Tugumisirize hiding and hit him with a hoe which led to his death.

Elly Maate,the Kigezi regional police spokesperson confirmed the development.

“The son later went home, informed them of what he did to the father, they went picked and rushed him to a clinic in Kikarara where he died today morning.

“As all this was happening, the woman went and reported a case of domestic violence not knowing the son had followed the father, ” Maate said.

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