Author: Our Reporter
Tanzanian rapper Emmanuel Elibariki, known as Nay wa Mitego, has been released just a day after he was arrested for releasing a song deemed insulting to the government. The song emerged last week and has been widely shared on social media. One line in it asks: “Is there still freedom of expression in the country?” and refers to a “doctor” who can’t tolerate criticism. The information minister said President John Magufuli “loves” the song. He also suggested that it be “improved” to take on other issues, such as tax evaders, corrupt businesspeople and drug traffickers, said Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe.…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) may not seem such an exclusive club to many of its own citizens. After all, a few of its members – Swaziland and Zimbabwe spring to mind – systematically violate the club’s ostensible rules, regarding respect for democracy, the rule of law and governance especially, without evident fear of expulsion. But the SADC club is nonetheless turning up its nose at two other countries that are trying to join. Burundi and Comoros have both been banging on the door of the club for many months. But SADC, at least for now, is not…
The Collective of Lawyers of civil parties and victims’ families of alleged human violations in Burundi has lodged new complaints to the International Criminal Court against the government of Burundi. In a press release issued on Wednesday 28 March, the Collective said it had filed 124 new complaints it received from the victims’ families on 27 March. It also said it submitted to the Bureau of the ICC Prosecutor a collective mandate issued by the leadership of FNL party about 431 victims’ families “of crimes committed by the Government”. The allegations of human rights violations against political opponents by members…
If you are in Rwanda and plan to sell drugs, traffic humans or attempt to embezzle funds meant for the public, just know that could attract a 50-year prison sentence once found guilty. The ministry of Justice (MINIJUST) has tabled a new bill seeking to completely overhaul the current penal code – with tougher and tighter punishment and deter citizens from getting involved in such crimes. Currently, article 594 of the Rwandan Penal Code states that; any person who unlawfully makes, transforms, imports, or sells narcotics and psychotropic substances within the country, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment from…
President Paul Kagame has said that relations and engagement between Africa and the United States ought to shift from aid and humanitarian basis to mutually beneficial partnerships in aspects such as business, strategic development and security. President Kagame made the case on the need to shift engagement approaches while speaking at the Atlantic Council Roundtable in Washington, U.S yesterday. The Atlantic Council is a think tank that encourages constructive leadership, engagement and discussions in the field of international affairs engaging leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. The platform’s deliberations are often around navigating the economic and political changes…
A Rwandan court has released a pregnant woman from the United Kingdom who was accused of involvement in a plot against Rwanda’s government. Violette Uwamahoro appeared last week in court in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, charged with spreading state secrets. A judge said there was no evidence to warrant the detention of the expectant mother and released her on bail. Mrs Uwamahoro, from Leeds, was arrested in February after going to Rwanda for a family funeral. The prosecution has a window of five days to appeal against the court’s decision, Mrs Uwamahoro’s lawyer Antoinette Mukamusoni told the BBC. She was immediately…
Two senior officials in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, were yesterday arrested by Police on charges of soliciting for bribes from Chinese Investors. Head of Aid, Charles Ogol and a senior economist Godfrey Turyamuhika, a were arrested by the Police’s Flying Squad Unit at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala. A source in the ministry has revealed that their arrest came after the Chinise investors tipped off police. It is reported that at the time of arrest, the two were found with about USD30.000 dollars they had solicited from the investors, for them to be helped with a…
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame hailed Rwanda-Israel friendship Sunday in an address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference. He was the first African head of state ever to address the pro-Israel forum that brings together thousands of activists, experts and elected officials. “My message today is simple: Rwanda is, without question, a friend of Israel,” said Kagame,who is credited for putting an end to the 1994 genocide in his country. In a refence to the genocide perpetrated against the Jews in Europe during World War II, he told an audience of close to 18,000 delegates that the…
The investigative officer from the office of the Inspector General of government (IGG) of the Katosi road scam case against former Minister for works Eng. Abraham James Byandala has admitted ignoring Attorney General (AG) advice not to cancel contract. Lisa Mwagali admitted during cross-examination by Apollo Ssenkeeto’s lawyer Peter Mulira that the Inspectorate did not follow the AG Peter Nyombi’s advice despite seeking for it. During cross examination, it was established that the then Attorney General warned the office of the IGG against causing financial loss to government by cancelling Eutaw contract. Counsel Mulira tasked the IGG’s investigating officer to…
A group of officials of the SPLM-IO faction allied to former First Vice President Riek Machar defected to South Sudan’s government and arrived in Juba today morning. The officials, who are led by the SPLM-IO’s former chairperson for agricultural affairs, Tijwok Hadhir Aguet, said they left Machar’s faction to join the national dialogue that President Salva Kiir initiated in December last year. Speaking To reporters at Juba International Airport, Tijwok who hails from Fashoda area, said they joined current First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to implement the country’s peace agreement. “We see that peace has already come and there…