Author: Our Reporter
Aid workers employed by a US-based Christian charity have been abducted in famine-hitSouth Sudan and negotiations were ongoing for their release. The local aid workers were taken from a village near Mayendit in Unity state, where a famine has been declared, 680km northeast of the capital, Juba. The circumstances of the kidnappings were unclear. “The rebels attacked and abducted eight local staff from Samaritan’s Purse and they are being held to ransom,” Brigadier-General Lul Ruai Koang told Reuters news agency. However, the rebels dismissed as “propaganda” the military’s claim of a kidnapping, The Associated Press reported. The charity confirmed the abductions in a…
Four more political parties from the larger Ukambani region will sign a pre-election pact with the National Super Alliance (NASA) through Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, against President Uhuru Kenyata’s Jubilee Coalition. The Standard reports. Leaders of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc), Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU), People’s Trust Party (PTP) and Muungano Party met and agreed that they would support Kalonzo Musyoka’s bid for the presidency in NASA. Kalonzo is hopeful of clinching the ticket and facing off with Jubilee’s President Uhuru Kenyatta among other presidential hopefuls in the August polls. Among those who attended the meeting were former Lands Cabinet…
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has turned to God and thought for forgiveness for his sins. It is reported that during the last week’s a national prayers held on Friday in the capital Juba President Kiir made an emotional plea to God and South Sudanese for forgiveness for all the sins he has committed as President of South Sudan. “I humbly repent and ask for your loving mercy and forgiveness.” President Kiir said during the National day of prayers taking many by surprise. The National Day for prayers was declared by the President Kiir himself as a day for all South Sudanese…
The Long serving Director of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Mr. Lawrence Kizza Katekyeza has retired. Inside sources at the Ministry of Finance indicated to us that the Tax Policy expert retired on Friday last week after retaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years. Kizza as is always called is said to have handed over office instruments in a 30 page report to his Boss Keith Muhakizi. According to the Lose Minute to all the staff seen by our snoops, Mr. Moses Kagwa who has been the Ministry’s Commissioner in Charge of Tax…
Court has quashed the dismissal of former Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Executive Director Dr. Terry Kahuuma for having not accorded him a right to a fair hearing. Justice Lydia Mugambe of the High Court Civil Division quashed the dismissal after finding that the commission of inquiry which was set up to inquire into allegations against Kahuma did not allow him get services of a lawyer or tell him what particular accusations he was facing or who was accusing him before the dismissal. “By choosing to subject the termination to an inquiry process, there was a cardinal requirement to…
Court has ordered Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to pay Shs10bn to city lawyer Jeoash Ssendege with interest of 6% from 1996 to 2014. Justice Christopher Madrama of the Commercial Court blamed KCCA for wanting to cheat Ssendege of his services it enjoyed from 2001 to 2014 on account that he had not legal agreement with the defunct Kampala City Council (KCC) to which he rendered the service before it evolved into KCCA. “The agreement for remuneration of an advocate dated October 11, 1996 is not illegal, null and void or unenforceable. The applicant (Ssendege) is entitled to payment irrespective…
The National Drug Authority (NDA) is soon paying heavily for having made retrospective laws affecting pharmacists in Uganda. This was after Justice Patricia Basaza Wasswa of the High Court Civil Division refused to quash a case in which over 519 Pharmacies in Uganda led by Signa-Cheme Enterprises Ltd want to force NDA refund over Shs. 519 billion n it has been illegally collecting from them as license fees. NDA lawyer Idah Wadda had raised a preliminary objection asking Justice Basaza to dismiss this case on grounds that it was filed out of the stipulated time (time barred) because NDA is…
Bad blood is boiling between two top government officials Mr. Keith Muhakanizi, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and Mr. Stephen Isabalija the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Insiders say it is this fight that directly resulted into a directive from Muhakinizi calling the Auditor General to investigate the power generator over its usage of billions of shillings in implementing two power dams; the 600MW Karuma and the 185 MW Isimba. The two projects, are expected to add over 700 MW to the national…
US President Donald Trump Tuesday made a phone call to Uhuru Kenyatta, the fourth such call to African leaders since he ascended to the White House. During the call on Tuesday afternoon, the leaders reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries. “The two leaders discussed our economic partnership and mutual dedication to overcoming terrorism and other regional security challenges through close cooperation.” “President Trump expressed appreciation for Kenya’s significant contributions to the African Union Mission in Somalia and recognized Kenyan troops’ sacrifices in the fight against al-Shabaab,” read a statement on White House website. The…
The immigration department has announced it will roll out e-passports from April 2017. The department says the new generation passports will contain a chip that has the details and biometrics of the passport holder. “With enhanced security features, the e-passports will be tamper proof and eliminate data skimming,” the department tweeted. The e-passports are part of a wider East Africa strategy to enhance integration, with the passports set to be rolled out in the other EAC countries in the coming months. Travel documents with the chips are registered with International Civil Aviation Organization and can be tracked via an antenna in…