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.