RUREKYERA GEOFREY

• Seven Directors of the Red pepper publication have been charged before Buganda Road Court with 7 counts including;  publication of information prejudicial to security  , libel,  and offensive communication.  The 7 include ;   Richard Tusiime , Johnson Musinguzi ,  Patrick Mugumya ; and   Arinatiwe Rugyendo . • Others are Richard Kintu ; the Deputy News Editor , James Mujuni a journalist ,  Ben Byarabaha ,  a senior Editor and Francis Tumusiime ;  the special project Editor . • A prosecutor from the Uganda Communications Commission handled the case to fill the gap created by the striking state prosecutors.  Prosecution states that on the 20th / Novemever 2017  at the Red pepper offices in Namanve Mukono district, the accused  unlawfully caused publication and distribution of a newspaper  head line regarding the military operations, strategies and troop location well knowing that such publication can dis...

• Pope Francis has arrived in Myanmar, becoming the first pope to ever visit the southeast Asian nation . The world's most high-profile Christian takes center stage in a staunchly Buddhist country accused of horrifying acts of brutality against its  Rohingya  Muslim minority. • The Pope has previously  decried violence against the Rohingya ,  calling them his persecuted "brothers and sisters." • Experts warn that this trip will require balancing a uniquely complicated set of humanitarian, diplomatic and religious questions. Even his own cardinal has advised the Pope to steer clear of the word Rohingya for fear of stalling his message of reconciliation before it has even begun .

Major General (Rtd) Mugisha Muntu, now the outgoing President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) early this morning made a concession speech after losing the top seat of the party; that left more questions than assurances on the hearts of his supporters.Gen Muntu failed to clench a second term in office, losing to former MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi 641 to 463 votes The other two candidates Moses Byamugisha and Dan Matsiko managed only 3 and 2 votes respectively. Instead he warned of “interesting times ahead of the FDC,” and announced that he will be making a major decision in the coming weeks. “I take this opportunity to congratulate you Hon. Oboi for your victory,” he started his address. “May I also take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to those who don’t trust in me; I sincerely apologize. It wasn’t my intention to waste your time up to this time.” “It has been a pleasure working with you all. Where we are heading, there are going to be quite interesting times ...

• At least 1000 delegates at the FDC delegates conference in Namboole stadium are currently casting their ballot in an election to choose the party president . Voting started at 1.00pm after the candidates had been given time to make last minute campaign  to the delegates. • The election and the conference has so far been smooth with no major incident of violence . The main contest is between Maj .Gen Mugisha Muntu , the incumbent and Partick Oboi Amuriat . • The two embody different political styles with Muntu being moderate while Amuria is a radical . Before the electio , n Muntu and Amuriat made last minute attempts to woo delegates. Muntu told the delegates that he wants to build an institution that supersedes individuals while Amuriat said if elected, he will strengthen the structures of defiance within the party.

Patrick Amuriat, the FDC presidential candidate has said his presidency will concentrate on building structures that will further the defiance campaign.Making his pitch before thousands of delegates at Namboole stadium today, Amuriat said his first act as president will be to reclaim Dr Kizza Besigye’s victory, allegedly stolen after the 2016 elections. Amuriat faces stiff comeptition from the incumbent, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, whose moderate style of leadership has been lauded and criticised in equal measure. He said time for putting on neck ties and suits is over since he is going to be in the trenches.He said FDC is a divided party where there is “alot of pushing and pulling, where when one of you falls, the others laugh.” In an energetic speech, Amuriat said his presidency will not wait for an election before it mobilises the people at the grassroots.Amuriat said he will financially empower members by spearheading the formation of SACCOs. He said he will set up a leadersh...

• Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party  is today electing its party president who will steer the party for the next five years. • • The election is being conducted at Mandela National stadium Namboole with four candidates vying for the party’s top job. • • These include; incumbent FDC party president Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu who is seeking the second and last term, former Kumi Municipality MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi , Dan Malcom Masiko and  Moses Byamugisha . • • A ccording to the party’s deputy secretary general, Harold Kaija , more than 1,200 delegates are expected and all is set for the day.

• Police in Kabale is investigating circumstances under which a quack doctor was treating people . The suspect has been identified as Alex Arineitwe 47 , a resident of Kashakyi village,  Bubare sub country Rubanda district. • • Preliminary investigations show that this fake doctor was traversing villages with government drugs treating people on mobile basis . According to Elly matte,  the Kigezi regional police spokesperson , his arrest came when he failed to pay  Bodaboda rider who  was  moving him around villages. • • To settle the disagreement, they went to police which later discovered that he was treating people yet he is not a doctor . On checking, the suspect had several drugs including coartem tabs, septrin tabs, vitamin c tabs, inject plan, dental equipment’s among others .

• President Museveni has promoted senior army commanders, a move seen as aimed at boosting morale and rewarding excellence in the armed forces. • • Officials say the Commander Special Forces Command Colonel Don Nabaasa has been promoted to Brigadier while the Director Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI) Col Abel Kandiho   has also been promoted to the rank of Brigadier. • • Army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire is expected to release the entire promotions list comprising over 300 officers. The promotions come at a time the military is intensifying training of infantry forces and armoured warfare teams in what President Museveni says is part of NRM’s strategy to create a powerful army.

• Members of Parliament asked Uganda’s foreign Minister and also former president of United Nation Sam Kutesa   to resign. This followed allegations that he received a bribe from a Chinese business man worth 500,000US dollars equivalent to 2.8bn shillings  to enable him win a business contract. • Mps who included  Theodore Ssekikubo and Gerald Karuhanga said  Kutesa is a re-know corrupt officer further citing the earlier oil bribe in 2010 in which he was named with former Prime Minister,  Amama Mbabzi and Hilary Onek and they were exonerated on orders of  President Museveni .

• President Museveni's convoy was  today morning stopped by striking taxi drivers at the Clock Tower in Kampala as they demonstrated against monthly taxes that are levied by Kampala Capital City Authority. The drivers blocked roads that lead to the Clock Tower and vowed not to go away. • • They claim President Museveni suspended KCCA from collecting monthly taxes because they pay annual licenses for their vehicles. After about 10 minutes, President Museveni who was travelling from Nakasero   State House to Entebbe State House was forced to stop and address them on the matter. • • He, however, did not pronounce himself on the issue since he was late for other engagements before promising to meet them in future. •

• The directors and editors of Red  Pepper Publications were who were picked from their offices  yesterday by police, are detained at Nalufenya Police Detention Centre in Jinja . The Tuesday operation was led by Kampala Metropolitan Commander, Frank Mwesigwa . According to the company’s lawyer, Dickens Byamukama , all the five directors and top editors were driven to Nalufenya at around mid-night. • The five directors are; Richard Tusiime , Patrick Mugumya , Arinaitwe Rugyendo , James Mujuni   and Johnson Musinguzi Byarabaha .   The editors are; Ben Byarabaha , Richard Kintu   and Tumusiime Francis Tinywana . A statement issued by Police spokesperson, Emilian Kayima , the operation came on the heels of the publication of story that had grave implications on national and regional security and stability . The story was titled “M7 plotting to overthrow Kagame -Rwanda.”

• The chairperson of the national league of veterans NRM Jim Muhwezi , has supported the lifting of age limit in the constitution . Muhwezi while giving his views on the constitutional amendment bill number two has told the committee that all the unfortunate incidents the country has gone through have not been a result of having leaders above 75 years in power and hence it should be amended. Muhwezi says the article is not important, adding that it  can be amended . Muhwezi has also denied claims that the amendment is meant for president Museveni saying this will benefit every one including Kiiza Besigye who will have an opportunity to keep on trying. He adds that term limits should not be returned in the constitution as they deny able leaders a chance to keep contesting.

The Bank of Uganda officials led by the deputy governor bank of Uganda Louis Kasekende have faced it rough before the parliamentary committee on commissions, statutory Authorities and state enterprises over hiring external lawyers to battle court cases which are against central bank. The committee chaired by the mp for Bugweri county Abdul katuntu had summoned the bank of Uganda governor to explain why they seek services of private lawyers to represent BOU in court yet the bank has a legal department with legal officers who could have battled the cases in court Among the notable cases is the ongoing crane bank case against bank of Uganda which is being pursued by the private lawyers on behalf of bank of Uganda. The committee members who include the woman mp koboko district Margaret Babadiri,kitgum municipality mp Beatrice Anywar, Bukedea district woman mp Anita Among and Abdul katuntu pinned Bank of Uganda officials for not utilizing the services of the office of the Attorney ge...

• Police in Koboko district  has arrested a South Sudanese Colonel for alleged recruitment of South Sudanese living in the district into rebel forces to fight the South Sudan government. • 51 year old Col. Data John Taban , a member of one of the South Sudan military groups, hailing from Yei has reportedly been luring the youths promising them jobs both in Arua and South Sudan . Josephine Angucia , the West Nile Police spokesperson confirms that he was arrested by joint military forces and handed over to police for further investigations and prosecution. Angucia says the recruits are mainly Kakwa of Uganda and South Sudan origin . She adds that the two countries are working together to ensure that both government forces and rebels do not use West Nile region as recruitment centre to fuel armed conflict in South Sudan.

Tension is high in Katuna Town Council, Kabale district after the reported kidnap of a prominent businessman by unidentified gunmen while in Rwanda. The victim has been identified as, Justus Tweyogyere, a prominent Money Changer at Katuna Border post. William Asiimwe, the Chairperson of Katuna Money Changers Association says Tweyongyere was yesterday kidnapped while at the Rwandan side of the border. Kabale District Police Commander Dickens Bindeeba says they are trying to liaise with officials from Rwanda National Police so that the matter is followed up.

• Mukono Municipality MP Betty,  Nambooze is set to return to the country from India, where she underwent a major operation on her spine . Nambooze was flown to  India  early this month for specialized management of the injuries she suffered on her back bone, in the age-limit scuffle that broke out at parliament on September 27th. • The operation, a posterior spinal decompression was successful and the MP  has announced her scheduled returned tomorrow. The hospital in Manipal India, issued a certificate to the Mukono MP, confirming that she has metal implants in her back. • Hon Nambooze , who is now able to walk on her own , has vowed  to start from where she had stopped in the fight against the constitutional amendment to remove the presidential age limit.

Two businessmen have been charged in New York for paying millions of US dollars in bribes to secure business deals in Uganda and Chad.  The Department of Justice  has charging the head of a Hong Kong-based NGO Dr. Chi Ping Patrick Ho, 68, of Hong Kong, and the former foreign minister of Senegal Cheikh Gadio , 61, with bribing high-level officials to help a Chinese oil and gas company to gain business advantages in Africa. Gadio was arrested in New York  on Friday afternoon while Ho was arrested Saturday. The two were charged in a criminal complaint in Manhattan federal court on Monday with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, international money laundering and conspiracy to commit both.  One of the schemes was relying on gifts paid to Sam Kutesa , the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs who recently served as President of the United Nations General Assembly.

• The nationwide sit doctors’ down strike which paralyzed the health sector in the country for more than two weeks is set to come to an end, government officials have revealed . Resumption of normal service at government hospitals is expected as early as tomorrow Wednesday after government and medical doctors who went on strike over poor working conditions and low pay reached a compromise. • According to sources in government, the leadership of Uganda Medical Association has accepted to call off the industrial action which was announced on 6th November 2017 . A special Cabinet sitting was convened on Monday morning to ease the impasse, which left government with no choice but to call in doctors from the armed forces to save the patients who cannot afford treatment from private facilities. • Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting  reportedly agreed that the salary of a starting doctor currently at Shs1.3million should be increased to Shs . 5million in the coming financial year.

• Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Rwego Muhoozi , the commander Flying Squad for Mukono died instantly after being involved in a nasty accident along Mukono-Katosi road. • According to police spokesperson Emilian Kayima , Rwego , together with other colleagues were running after thugs before getting involved in the accident that claimed his life. • Kayima said other police officers with whom the Flying Squad commander was travelling with  in the vehicle sustained injuries before being rushed to various hospitals for treatment . He added that the deceased’s body was taken to the city mortuary for postmortem.

• Police in Namayingo  district is hunting for a 34-year-old man for allegedly defecating at the home of his ex-girlfriend in a bid to sabotage her   introduction ceremony. Joseph Obwori , a peasant farmer in Dohwe village, Buhemba sub-county, reportedly defecated all over the compound of the home of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.  He also allegedly dumped three carcasses of dogs and cats in the compound, with a hope of blocking her introduction ceremony. The Police were alerted and the accused is being sought to answer charges of criminal trespass.

SCP Nixon Agasirwe, one of the senior police officers charged before the General Court martial with kidnapping a Rwandan national has asked Court Martial Chairman Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti to be tried separately from his co-accused. Agasirwe, through his lawyer Frank Kanduho told court that trying him with the others may prejudice this case since he intends to call some of them as his witnesses. In reply to this, lead prosecutor Raphael Mugisha termed the request as an “ambush” and said he was not ready to respond to it. Mugisha later requested the applicants to file a formal application so that they can reply them. Meanwhile, Agasirwe and all the co-accused told court today that they were ready to take their pleas on the accusations, having refused last time on grounds that they had some concerns they needed to raise before the court first.

• The Kenyan supreme court has declared Uhuru Kenyatta the validly elected president of the Republic of Kenya following a repeated election on October 26. • The Court dismissed two petitions challenging the October 26 repeat election, with all Judges unanimously saying Uhuru Kenyatta was validly elected. • Njonjo Mue , the chairman of the International Commission of Jurists ran to court seeking the nullification of Uhuru’s election,  arguing that the fresh poll was not held in strict conformity with the Constitution. The verdict by supreme court ensures the opposition Chief Raila Odinga will have to seek new means to unseat Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru Kenyatta was announced president elect in the October 26 repeated election in which he got 98.26% of the votes.

Buganda road court has issued Criminal Summons to Social commentator,  Frank Gashumba after he arrived at court at 9:30am long after his case was adjourned. Gashumba told journalists outside court that he was not feeling well and that there was a lot of traffic jam on his way to court. Grade one Magistrate Samuel Kagoda   asked Gashumba's co-accused persons to come back on 11/December since both the trial Chief magistrate James Eremye Mawanda and the Prosecutors were indisposed. Gashumba and his brother Innocent Kasumba are facing charges of  personation , forgery and being in possession of narcotics . Gashumba and Kasumba are also jointly charged with a Tour and travel guide officer from MJ Safaris company Ismail Kiyingi , for attempting to fleece an investor, posturing as ministry officials.

Zimbabwe's ruling party Zanu-PF has sacked Robert Mugabe as its leader.It has appointed former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa - sacked by Mugabe two weeks ago - as leader. The sacking of Mnangagwa had prompted an extraordinary chain of events as the military intervened to block Mugabe, 93, from installing his wife Grace in his place.Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans attended street protests on Saturday to demonstrate against the Mugabes. Mugabe is set to meet military leaders today and a motorcade has been seen leaving his private residence.