RUREKYERA GEOFREY

President Yoweri Museveni has sworn in new Deputy Chief Justice, Alfonse Owiny Dollo, in a Saturday afternoon function at State House, Entebbe. Different stakeholders who included justices, members of the Judicial Service Commissioners, representatives of security agencies, the Minister of the Presidency Esther Mbayo and the Head of Public Service, Mr. John Mitala, were in attendance. The President appreciated the outgoing DCJ, Steven B.K. Kavuma, who was also in attendance with his wife, Ruth Kavuma, for his long service for both the country and the Judiciary. He also congratulated Justice Owiny-Dollo on his new appointment. Mr Museveni called for discipline within the three arms of the state: Executive, Judiciary and Legislature. “Discipline is crucial. If implemented by all the arms of the State, the country will move forward,” he said, adding that he instilled discipline in the armed forces, in spite of their low salaries. “If the Judiciary is disciplined in fighting corruption, th...

• Kenya's National Super Alliance (NASA) deputy leader, Kalonzo Musyoka , has applauded President Yoweri Museveni's passion for East Africa Community, joking that he should be the first president of East Africa."    Museveni is currently in Brussels, Belgium, leading a delegation from the East African Community member states to discuss the issue of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with European Union (EU) that has stalled for years.  Musyoka ,  who is also Chancellor of Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU), also described himself as passionate about (EAC issues. He made the remarks today while presiding over the fourth graduation ceremony of UTAMU at Silver Springs Hotel, Bugolobi . He challenged graduands to be passionate about solving problems affecting the region. 

The current excitement and debate about possible plans for a Museveni “Life-Presidency” started at the beginning of July 2017. It was started by The Observer newspaper story about a Uganda Gazette of 8th June 2017 listing the Constitutional Amendment Bill as one of the bills to be published. The targeted provision Article 102(b), says “a person is not qualified for election as President unless that person is not less than 35 years and not more than 75 years of age”.This was followed by confirmation by Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the regime’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, who said that a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was to be appointed as soon as the bill had been gazetted. The CRC was then expected to gather views on all matters, including the age-limit for presidential candidates. In mid July the NRM Junta tabled a Constitutional Amendment Bill seeking to amend Article 26(2) that deals with compulsory acquisition of land only. Mr Museveni subsequently s...

• The tenure of outgoing Deputy Chief Justice,  Steven Kavuma officially comes to an end today when he clocks the mandatory retirement age of 70 . Justice Kavuma’s last day in office would have been tomorrow when he turns 70 but being a weekend, today then becomes his official last day in office. • The outgoing number two of the Judiciary is expected to concentrate on the pending parliamentary election appeals and have them disposed of since he took on the biggest number. The Constitution demands that a justice of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court should retire upon clocking 70 years and the same Constitution demands that a judge of the High Court retires upon clocking 65 years . Justice Kavuma retires at the time when the Supreme Court has not yet determined the case filed against him, challenging his appointment for allegedly being irregular. Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga , who lodged the suit against Justice Kavuma , had claimed that President Museve...

The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Winnie Kiiza, has announced that the opposition will boycott three parliament sessions, in solidarity with their colleagues who were suspended on Wednesday. The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga suspended 25 members of Parliament for instigating chaos which led to the suspension of the plenary proceedings on Tuesday. Security forces stormed into parliament as the House descended into unprecedented chaos after the suspended MPs defied Speaker Kadaga's directive to leave.   Kiiza says they will use this time to think and strategize to deliver the country from what she called the hands of President Museveni.   

• The Highcourt in Kampala has summoned KCCA executive Director Jennifer Musisi ,  to respond  to claims that she terminated  a clerical officer of the authority without paying his emoluments amounting to 1.9billion shillings . Patrick Kisoke claims he was in 1990 employed as a clerical officer with the former KCC, until July 2012  when his services were terminated  by  KCCA on grounds that his office had been abolished by the new statute. Kisoke   however  contends that his termination was irregular arguing that the   letter sacking him was backdated to read that, the defunct  KCC had retired him and therefore he is a stranger to KCCA.   But he mantains his office still exists. Now the Court's deputy Registrar,  Sarah Langa has signed the summons giving Jennifer  Musisi   , KCCA and Attorney General   15days to file a defence. 

• Fort portal Municipality Mp,  Alex Ruhunda has appealed to his fellow NRM members to think of proposing a bill that will allow President   Museveni to retire with immunity . • • Ruhunda says instead of amending the constitution to suit one persons benefit, an alternative should be thought of by NRM to allow either Museveni to front his successor or rest knowing that no charges will be imposed on him, and other  privileges. • • He further says NRM should also consider consultations on the motion from the public than leaving it to MPs for approval. • Meanwhile he has also condemned the brutality by Security that was exhibited yesterday to the extent of undressing some female Mps . • Meanwhile, Parliamentary director of communication,  Chris Obore has denied knowing yesterday’s plain cloth security officers who evaded the champers of parliament.

• Six men arrested for suspected cannibalism are expected to appear in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court in South Africa's eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal today. • Five of the men have been behind bars since last month when they abandoned their bail application. They were arrested after they were found in possession of human flesh. • The men - two of whom are traditional healers - were caught with body parts in their houses including eight ears in one pot.

Uganda today joins the rest of the world to mark the World Tourism Day. The World Tourism Day is internationally commemorated every 27th of September as a way of bringing people together to reflect on the importance and benefits that accrue from tourism. This was preceded by a weeklong domestic tourism promotion campaign at the Island aimed at encouraging Ugandans to tour places around Uganda in order to become Uganda’s tourism ambassadors themselves. The celebrations are to be held at the Golf Course, Lutoboka, Ssese Islands (Buggala) under the theme, “Sustainable Tourism – A tool for Development

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has been forced to suspend the house plenary after she failed to tame Members of Parliament, opposed the removal of the Presidential Age Limit. With several dozen MPs on the opposition side of the house singing on top of their  voices , the speaker adjourned the house  to tomorrow Wednesday at 2PM Chaos resumed on the floor of parliament after two hours of sanity and normal debate; after Speaker Kadaga invited Igara County West Member of Parliament Raphael Magezi to file a motion seeking permission for leave of parliament to go and prepare a  constitutional   amendment bill which among others seeking to remove presidential age limit. The Item which was supposed to be one of the last was met with contest from especially members of parliament opposed to the amendment, some of who claimed the rules of procedure were flauted. The MPs claimed Magyezi’s motion was unfairly given priority.According to  Hon   Theo...

• MPs have  resorted to fights, throwing of chairs and trading accusations in Parliament after Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said the Order Paper had been amended to include the controversial motion to amend the age limit cap on presidential candidates • After Kadaga had spoken about the amendment, Opposition members alleged that one of the legislators had entered the House with a gun. The Busongora North MP William Nzoghu , claimed that some members had entered the House with guns, adding that even the Speaker was not safe to debate in such an environment . Medard Sseggona asked the Speaker to adjourn the House and ask security to conduct a thorough search. • However , Right Honorable  Kadaga said she could not adjourn the proceedings on mere allegations. Proceedings were at this point stopped for about 20 minutes as the legislators shouted at each other, made noise and at some point threw chairs around. • State Minister for Water, Ronald Kibuule was specifically ...

Mbarara police is running battles with Ingrid Turinawe the leader of FDC women league as she attempts to organise a procession over the age limit in town. According to Rwizi regional police spokesperson, Samson kasasira, police is working around to get Turinawe arrested so as to avoid any commotion. The police mouth piece adds that she is attempting to convince people to stage a procession which will bring business in town to a stand still something police is fighting against.

• The State Minister for Animal Industry ; Joy Kabatsi and local leaders in Kiruhura district have expressed disappointment over government plans to lease out ranches to private investors. • Members of parliamentary Committee on Agriculture were at Ruhenyere and Nshara government ranches in Kiruhura district to assess the status of the ranches and seek people’s opinion over government decision to give part of ranch land to private investors in the country. • The ranches whose land has been earmarked for lease to private investors include Malunzi , Aswa , Nshara and Ruhengyere . • Kabatsi who insisted that help from private investors is not needed, said ranches were put up strategically to help people and leasing them out to private individuals will frustrate their original purpose. • The district chairperson Kiruhura ; Sam Katugunda says as local leaders,  they are equally disturbed by government secret move and vowed to totally reject it. •

Police in Mbarara has deployed at the home of democratic party vice president for western region, Imam Makumbi in Masha, Isingiro district to prevent him from coming to Mbarara town ahead of the planned demonstration on the removal of age limit from the constitution. Makumbi was slated to lead a protest in Mbarara town today ahead of the parliamentary debate on the matter in the afternoon. He says they wrote to police informing them of their intended demonstration, but expresses disappontment that police has put him under house arrest. Meanwhile, Samson Kasasira, Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson says they have deployed to ensure there is sanity in the town. He further discloses that police has information that a group of people have moved from Kampala and Kasese to champion demonstrations in Mbarara town.   

Youth leaders from Lira District are asking Parliament to respect the rule of law as advocates of lifting of the presidential age limit are expected to return to the House today to table a motion seeking leave of parliament to table the Bill. Led by a one Peter Abal, they argue that the plan to amend Article 102 (b) of the Constitution is fast “drifting the country to the negativity and a cycle of abuse, intimidation, abuse of the rule of law. Last Thursday, a group of people believed to be opposed to the lifting of the presidential age limit burnt a coffin in front of Lira Main market to express displeasure. Lira Resident District Commissioner, Robert Abak has warned the youth against disrupting business saying security remains tight to avoid chaos.

Police have heavily deployed in various parts of Kampala ahead of the anticipated motion for a constitutional amendment to lift the cap on the presidential age limit. The headquarters of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Uganda's biggest opposition party is under siege by regular, riot and anti-terrorism police. They have deployed all-round the headquarters at Najjanankumbi along Kampala-Entebbe road. Police Spokesperson Asan Kasingye  insists  that police would deploy in the city to ward off any threats. There is equally visible deployment at a number of strategic locations in the central business district including Parliament. Military police have deployed heavily at the Constitution Square where they have also erected several tents and at parliament, the centre of all political action for the day.Workers, pupils, students, traders and other commuters are, however, going about normally. Traffic flow is also still normal, but a bit lighter than on a typical ...

• Aruu County Member of Parliament,   Odonga Otto said he was  suing his Koboko Municipality counterpart Evelyn  Anite for defamation. Otto accuses   Anite of calling him a drunkard and claiming he begged money from President Yoweri Museveni . • • Through his own law firm of Odonga Otto and Company Advocates, Otto wants Anite , who is also the investment and privatization junior minister of publicity apologize to him and also pay him 300 million shillings. • • On Thursday last week, Minister  Anite accused Otto of coming to parliament while drunk. She suggested the following day that members of parliament should be subjected to breathalyzer tests at the start of parliament business. • • Anite in a televised interview also accused Otto of begging for money from Museveni to support the Age Limit Bill, and that when he failed to get it, he became bitter with her. The Aruu legislator  said  Ani...

• The Anti- age limit coalition of MPs put on notice the Uganda police that if any arrests are done on a single mp, it will hamper with business in parliament tomorrow. • Speaking at a joint press conference at parliament  through their lawyers Medard Lubega Segona and Caleb Alaka , the legislators noted that parliament will not fully be constituted, business wouldnot go on when some of their colleagues are in custody hence they are not to entertain any arrests. • They said there  were  rumours that police  was planning individual arrests of MPs which they termed as partisan,  given the ongoing debate surrounding the lifting of  age limit proposal. • Ssegona called on the police to systematically come up with list of MPs they intend to arrest, and charges they intend to place on them then meet in courts of law.

• President Museveni today visited Katabi Town Council; the area hit by mysterious killing of women over the last three months.  At least 15 women have so far been killed in the area. With the killings in Nansana Municipality, the number of victims has reached 24. The president  visited some of the crime scenes and met the relatives of some of the victims and residents. He assured the locals that security will be reviewed and the situation arrested. Today residents of Kitooro Township in Entebbe Municipality held a demonstration after the police arrested their leaders who wanted to address a press conference at the Children's Park to voice their concerns over the killings. The group, under the umbrella body Entebbe Community Initiative was intercepted by anti-riot police while marching from a place called Lugonjo to the Park. 

What Now Life? I live it as it is I tap the air Breathe in and out And move on. Trouble? I never look for it                                I avoid it when I can And face it when I can’t But I know it always lurks about. Joy? I find it And embrace it When it’s off, I hope for it again. Women? I know them I admire some If need be, Love those I should.                         Rurekyera Geofrey        

A prayer for A youth   Now, God be thanked who has matched us with his hour, And caught our youth, and awakened us from sleep, With hands made sure, clear as eyes are, and sharpened power, To turn as swimmers in fleshy waters. Glad from a world grown old, hotter and weary, Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move, And seemingly leaders, and their deceit routine promises, It’s all high sounding emptiness. Oh, we who have known shame, have found release Where there is no ill, no grief, sleep And the laughing heart’s long peace there. But only agony, and that has ending, And worst friend and enemy,death.                                                   Rurekyera Geofrey

Pearl Gone Sour            What shall I tell you of?       Of the new sad memories,      Of the strikes that the love for you bring, Or of the hell that follows that love. Of these shall I tell you? I have not forgotten you yet, You the dust laden, hot and dry Garbage heaped without pity You with a rancid stench of stale food. How can I forget you?  You, whose treasury is drained to irrigate your ‘first class citizens’ pockets, You who weep for the great love given you in vain When I have laid my head upon you, with infinite stars hanging quietly above   In the sky, weighing heavy on my eyes, and bringing me rest from my sins and sorrow, Then I remember that   you, The pearl of Africa, Are my protector, Liberator and Home I love you Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.                     ...