Watchdog Uganda
The deceased, Mugwanya Kato Ibrahima resident of Kanyeganyega village, Kashakye parish, Kamwezi sub county in Rukiga district was hit on the head using a hoe.
Preliminary investigations indicate that on the 19/7/2021 the deceased found four of his biological sisters tilling his land that was given to him by his late father and when he stopped them,they resisted.
The sisters later picked a quarrel and he was hit by a hoe handle on the fore head that resulted into injuries.
He was taken to Nyakihanga Church of Uganda Health Center II for treatment where he died on Sunday morning.
According to the Kigezi regional police spokesperson Elly Maate, one arrest has been made and other three suspects are still at Large.
]]>Rukungiri: 10 year old boy kills fatherhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118016/rukungiri-10-year-old-boy-kills-father.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:10:17 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118016Police in Rukungiri is investigating circumstances under which a 10 year old child killed his father using a hoe.The deceased identified as Pius Tugumisirize,33, is a resident of Rwesigiro village Kikarara parish, Rukungiri district.
It’s alleged that on Saturday at around 10pm the deceased developed a quarrel with the wife, a one Ruth Owakubariho aged 29 and as a result, the deceased hit her badly with a hoe on the head and bleed furiously.
After the incident, Tugumisirize took off and hid himself in the park, not knowing that his 10 years old son had picked the same hoe he used to hit the mother and followed him ( the father).
The son later met Tugumisirize hiding and hit him with a hoe which led to his death.
Elly Maate,the Kigezi regional police spokesperson confirmed the development.
“The son later went home, informed them of what he did to the father, they went picked and rushed him to a clinic in Kikarara where he died today morning.
“As all this was happening, the woman went and reported a case of domestic violence not knowing the son had followed the father, †Maate said.
]]>Museveni: Prof Mbonye’s death is a big disappointment for Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118014/museveni-prof-mbonyes-death-is-a-big-disappointment-for-uganda.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:01:02 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118014President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has eulogized Prof Anthony Kabanza Mbonye who died on Sunday from Kampala Hospital.Prof Mbonye, the former director-general health services at the Ministry of Health lost the battle to cancer.
Through his official Twitter handle, Museveni described the death of Prof Mbonye as a big disappointment for the country and all those who knew his work in the medical service.
“I want to express condolences to our incoming Head of Civil Service, Lucy Nakyobe on account of the death of her husband, Dr. Mbonye. His untimely death is a big disappointment for the country and all who know his work in the medical service. He still had a lot to contribute. I salute Lucy Nakyobe because she did everything possible to support him during the time of his sickness. She was always briefing me. May his soul rest in eternal peace.†Mr. Museveni tweeted yesterday.
Prof Mbonye has been husband to former State House Comptroller and in-coming head of Public Service, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye.
Prof. Mbonye, who joined the public service in 1986 left the Ministry of Health as Director-General of Health Services, in 2018, after he opted for early retirement following serious disagreements among the top technocrats.
Born in Rwenkobwa, Ibanda District, Western Uganda, and a graduate of Makerere University, The University of Copenhagen and The University of Liverpool, UK, Prof. Mbonye has authored numerous books in his medical career.
]]>Uganda Airlines to sign pacts with global carriers to boost revenue, connectivity https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210726/118012/uganda-airlines-to-sign-pacts-with-global-carriers-to-boost-revenue-connectivity.html Mon, 26 Jul 2021 05:48:56 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118012As a way of enhancing its connectivity and revenues, Uganda Airlines is set to enter into interline agreements with Emirates, Qatar Airways and KLM among others.Interline is an agreement between airlines that allows one airline to sell services to customer services that are provided by another airline. Airlines use interlines to sell routes that they would otherwise not be able to serve alone.
Agreements between Uganda Airlines and Emirates will be a Unilateral one, whereby Emirates will sell Uganda Airlines operational routes.
“Unilateral means Uganda Airlines will not be able to sell Emirates routes yet as the former is a new entrant. Since Uganda Airlines is new, it takes time for some airlines to open up fully,†a source said.
It has also been established that the agreement between Uganda Airlines and Qatar Airways will be a bilateral one where both airlines will sell each other routes.
However, for KLM, discussions are still at infant stages but with the intention of signing a bilateral agreement. “The final decision whether unilateral or bilateral depends on the other airline (KLM),†a credible source revealed.
Meaning of these agreements
For Unilateral agreements, sources say, Emirates will feed passengers into Uganda Airline routes out of Entebbe and Dubai.
“For Bilateral, we shall market each other and sell routes that each Airline operates,†an inside source said, adding: “They will connect our clients worldwide, feed into their other destinations beyond their hub Airports and their destinations where we do not fly to at the moment.â€
The agreements also mean wider market visibility of Uganda products in Africa, America, the far East, Australia and other parts of Europe.
It will also give a bigger global tourism reach for Uganda, a source said. The agreements will also mean network growth for the nascent Uganda Airlines.
“In simple terms, these agreements mean increased passenger numbers on our flights,†a source said, adding that this will boost the airline’s revenues.
Other partnerships
Uganda Airlines has other key partnerships including bilateral Interline E-Ticketing (IET) agreements with Hahn Air and APG which are used as plating carriers in markets where Uganda Airlines is not active on BSP (Billing and Settlement Plan).
Sources say Uganda Airlines is also “in the process of signing the Multilateral interline Traffic Agreement (MITA) as it’s a prerequisite from some Global Airlines before they can sign with the national carrier and this will enable the Airline to sell on any airline which is a member of MITA and vice versa.â€
For IATA (International Air Transport Association) full Membership, sources say Uganda Airlines needs IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration, an administrative review by the Membership Department and payment of all applicable fees and dues.
]]>Prosecutors angered by increased government neglect during covid-19 lockdownhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/118005/prosecutors-angered-by-increased-government-neglect-during-covid-19-lockdown.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 17:27:38 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118005Prosecutors under their umbrella, the Uganda Association of Prosecutors have decried increased neglect by the Government of Uganda during the Covid-19 lockdown.The Prosecutors raised the concerns through a statement by the Association to the public.
Prosecutors are vital in the administering of justice, acting as lawyers of all accused persons in court. They are also referred to as State Attorneys.
“As frontline workers in the Justice Law and order sector, we express our disappointment over government’s oversight in catering for prosecutors in the Covid 19 supplementary budget,†notes part of the letter.
The prosecutors are worried that even when they have heard several cases of Covid 19 at the Head office and the several outposts in the country, no one has come out to recognize their relevancy in the country’s budgeting processes.
“In the past months, we regrettably lost Omyulo Isaac, the state prosecutor in Mbale. UAP calls upon the top officials in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to address the issue of covering risks for our members who are exposed to Covid 19,†part of the document reads.
The attorneys claim, unlike the other stakeholders in the Justice Law and Order sector including the Police, Prisons and, the Judiciary who have been catered for in the previous Covid supplementary budgets, the prosecutors have never been, although they are frontline workers in their sector.
“To make matters worse, there have been further budget cuts in the quarterly release of the new financial year. This has significantly impacted on the delivery of the Criminal Justice in the country.†The statement reads.
The neglect comes years after they demanded a salary increment which was never honored by the Head of State, Judiciary and Government.
In 2017, then President of the Uganda Association of Prosecutors David Baxter Bakibinga led a month-long strike demanding a salary increase for all prosecutors, Senior Prosecutors and the resident State Attorneys across the country.
Government never honored the demands from the team ordering all to return to their duties until the government finds money to improve their pay.
]]>SHOCKING! Russian company hired to install digital trackers in all vehicles in Uganda filed for bankruptcy last yearhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117987/shocking-russian-company-hired-to-install-digital-trackers-in-all-vehicles-in-uganda-filed-for-bankruptcy-last-year.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:05:15 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117987Joint stock Global Security Company, a Russian firm which has been hired to install high tech digital tracking devices in all vehicles and motorcycles in Uganda filed for bankruptcy last year, according to information making rounds on different media outlets.Joint Stock Global Security Company registered as a small business of 10 employees in 2013 and the firm returns for last year were 637,742 russian rubles equivalent to USD8,000.
After eyeing a lucrative deal in Uganda, the company registered again on the 10th of this month as a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) in Russia. Meanwhile, the tech company doesn’t even own a digital website.
On Friday, Uganda signed a contract with Joint Stock Global Security Company to provide digital trackers to all vehicles in the country.
At a ceremony held at the Office of the President in Kampala, Waiswa Bageya the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport and Yunus Kakande his counterpart in the office of the President signed on behalf of the government while Ivan Sukraban, the Chief Executive Officer of Joint Stock Company, a Russian digital security company signed on its behalf.
According to Kakande, the President instituted an inter-ministerial committee that for the last four months has been working on identifying and the right company to carry out the task.
Kakande said that President Yoweri Museveni directed that all vehicles and motorcycles be fitted with tracking devices to help deal with criminals who he said use vehicles and motorcycles to kill people and then disappear without a trace. Museveni made similar comments in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the life of Gen Edward Katumba Wamala in June.
Kakande said that the Russian company is going to run the project for two years and recoup their investment and then hand it over to the government of Uganda to manage.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Maj Gen. Jim Muhwezi the Minister of Security who witnessed the signing of the contract assured the country that the only purpose for which the government is going to track vehicles is to deal with insecurity. He added that they have no intention of interfering in the privacy of citizens. When challenged on the law they are basing on Muhwezi said whatever they are doing was embraced by government technocrats like the Solicitor General.
He added that those who believe that the government is acting outside the law, have the right to challenge it in court.
On when the project is expected to start and how much money car and motorcycle owners are going to be paying, Muhwezi said the committee will be deciding on these details in the coming days.
“The investor is going to come on the ground to establish centres in the different parts of the country working with Luwero Industries to start and then the public will be informed when each vehicle will be called to be registered to get new number plates with monitoring systems.
The payment will also be communicated because always registration of vehicles is not free of charge; anybody who owns a vehicle will meet that charge,†Muhwezi said.
]]>14 thugs riding on bodabodas attack Indian accountant during broad daylight in Kampala, steal Shs5m from himhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117981/14-thugs-riding-on-bodabodas-attack-indian-accountant-during-broad-daylight-in-kampala-steal-shs5m-from-him.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 11:58:09 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117981The territorial Police at Kira road are investigating a robbery incident that happened on Saturday 24/7/2021.The incident happened at around 12pm along Mawanda Road in Kamwokya.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire said the victim Jiwan Lal an accountant working with Rigil agro peck limited in Kololo was attacked by 14 men travelling on seven motorbikes.
“The victim was surrounded and assaulted continuously until his money amounting to 5 million Uganda shillings and 2 phones were stolen from him,†Owoyesigyire said on Sunday.
“The police recorded statements from eye witnesses and has started following up on leads that have proven helpful in identifying the suspects for arrest.â€
]]>How Minister Kasaija saved USD12m taxpayers money from being lost through KCCA infrastructure dealshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117977/how-minister-kasaija-saved-usd12m-taxpayers-money-from-being-stolen-by-mafias-in-kcca-metu-bus-industries.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 11:41:47 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117977A few years ago, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) requested for USD280 million loan from African Development Bank for infrastructural development. If completed, KCCA forecasts a facelift on Uganda’s capital city, with an improvement in the mass public transport system of Uganda’s capital.However, the African Development Bank through research found out that it was better for KCCA to first consider the issue of decongesting the city before agreeing to give them first, a loan of USD12 million (approximately Shs43.2 billion) to kick start the project.
And before giving out the loan, African Development Bank put on table a number of suggestions, inclusive of one of importing buses, something which wasn’t well perceived by President Yoweri Museveni since to him building local content was one of Uganda’s priorities.
On 19 August, 2020, Mr Museveni directed the then Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda to call for a conference comprising Kiira motors, Luwero Industries, Metu Katabaazi and others to forge a way forward as far as building indigenous motor vehicle industry for both fossil and electrical sources of power.
“In the matter of vehicles, we must aggressively get out of the practice of importing not only built-up vehicles but even the knockdown vehicles. Neither is the practice of importing ready-built vehicles nor is the practice of vehicles assembly acceptable to us because we end up exporting money and jobs when we should not. The correct strategy is vehicle fabrication, for buses, lorries, pickups and cars etc.,†Museveni told Rugunda.
In September, 2020, President Museveni also told Dr Rugunda that after some consultations, he was convinced that Uganda must move decisively on the the issue of of the automobiles and that was to be done following two lines;- the Kiira- Kayoola electric vehicles’ and the Metu Katabazi bus fabrication lines.
“This is therefore, to direct all concerned , that there will be no more importation of ready-built buses or building of assembly plants. The Private sector, KCCA, schools etc, work with Kiira motors and Metu Katabazi to make these automobiles here.â€
However, despite receiving a Presidential nod, investigations have since revealed that Metu could not be ready to fabricate buses on a large scale.
And because of such setback Metu with the help of some top KCCA officials have been pestering the Ministry of Finance to release the Shs43 billion which the authority received from Africa Development Bank.
Metu claim they need the money to kickoff the project since they have a Memorandum of Understanding with KCCA.
However, Metu Propertor Mr Katabaazi has distanced himself from doing business with any government agency.
“I am private sector 100%. I am responsible for all the money we are injected in the bus business. We are not sharing anything.†Metu said, adding, we only expect government to do its part of regulation.
However, according to sources, the bus industry is conniving with some top KCCA officials to fail the project, that is why the Ministry of Finance has been reluctant to release the money.
Metu has not made matters better, but delaying to launch the project three years down the road.
Although Museveni had commissioned the Metu Zhong Tong bus assembling plant which was started in 2017 by Katatabazi, its Chairman and proprietor of the Namanve based industry, he remained very straight to the point that whoever has capacity has the right to assemble and manufacture vehicles as he had put a stop on importing the buses. He clearly meant that government was not going to fund private companies wishing to produce and those without money should leave those with the capacity to produce or even fabricate buses.
Apart from having a less productive plant in Namanve, Metu also has a large chunk of land in Kasese on which they have failed to set up another project.
Early this week, President Museveni once again met Metu Katabazi at State House Entebbe to find out why there’s a delay in the project and to finalize plans for the company to assemble and manufacture buses to ease transport needs in the greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
The meeting was also attended by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister Kasule Lumumba, the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija, Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite, the Minister for Kampala Misi Kabanda and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka.
During the interaction, Mr Katabazi said the project would have kicked off already but it was frustrated by some top officials government.
“I handed this matter to the Ministry of Finance, Attorney General’s office….nothing moved. I hear some people asked for bribes. Later I heard that people from Finance wanted loans from Africa Development Bank but condition was that we import buses. How can we import buses? I have called you here to finish this today,†Museveni said after being lied to by Katabazi.
However, Minister Kasaija said the project delayed because they were waiting for KCCA to work on the roads which are narrow and may inconvenience or cause accidents.
“Projects go hand in hand. We had to work on the roads and widen them for the buses to open. If roads are too narrow, it may cause inconveniences and cause accidents. I also wrote to the bank to inform them that the US$12million that was meant for importing buses should be added on the roads,†he said.
The wise decision by the finance minister to clearly state it In front of the President that the USD12 million is entirely meant for KCCA to work on the road network and necessary infrastructure to enable whoever is ready with the buses to use the infrastructure, though it angered Metu, it saved the taxpayers money which mafias wanted to swindle.
“Mafias usually misinterpret president’s statements and also accuse government officials of frustrating their projects, yet in most cases they are only intending to find ways of stealing, hiding in hoax projects. If Metu has the funds and not intending to burden the government, let them manufacture buses and then bring them on the road because Uganda is entirely liberal as far as doing business is concerned,†a source told this news website.
]]>Bazadde b’abaana 14 abasangiddwa mu kiyumba e Muyenga nga batendekebwa obuseegu Poliisi ebayise babatwalehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117966/bazadde-babaana-14-abasangiddwa-mu-kiyumba-e-muyenga-nga-batendekebwa-obuseegu-poliisi-ebayise-babatwale.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 08:56:32 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117966POLIISI mu Kampala esazeewo okuyita bazadde b’abaana 14 abaazuuliddwa mu kiyumba ekimu e Muyenga mu Makindye, bajje n’obukakafu obulaga nti bebalina obuvunanyizibwa ku bo babatwale.Kino kiddiridde okunonyereza kwa Poliisi okulaga nti omukyala Dorothy Ndagire 27, omutuuze we Kawala mu Lubaga nti yabadde emabega w’okusolooza abaana bano okuva mu bazadde baabwe ne kigendererwa eky’okubayamba, kyokka bwamala okubafuna nga asalako empuliziganya n’abazadde, nga atandika okubayigiriza ebikolwa eby’obuseegu.
Kitegerekese nti Ndagire abadde yagunjaawo ekitongole ky’obwanakyewa ekimanyiddwanga Maya Project Uganda Chapter, ekitali kiwandiise mu mateeka n’ekitongole ekifuga ebitongole by’obwanakyewa mu Ggwanga okusinziira ku kunonyereza kwa Poliisi.
Era kyazuuliddwa nti Ndagire abadde amaze akabanga nga akolagana ne bitongole ebitumbula obuseegu ebisangibwa e London mu Bungereza, nga eno gy’abadde ajja ensimbi eziyimirizaawo emirimu gye mu Uganda.
Amyuka Omwogezi wa Poliisi mu Kampala ne miriraano Luke Oweyesigyire mu kiwandiiko kye yafulumizza ku lw’omukaaga agamba nti abaana abasangiddwa mu kiyumba baabadde wakati wa myaka 4-19 nga bano kigambibwa nti baabadde bagenda kukukusibwa Ndagire batwalibwe ebweru we Ggwanga.
Yagambye nti mu kiseera kino bagezaako okulondoola balabe abaana bano gye bajjibwa saako ne bazadde baabwe basobole okubazaayo mu maka gye baava.
“Omuzadde yenna eyakolaganako ne Ndagire n’amuwa omwana nga yeyagalidde oba nga yakakibwa bukakibwa jjangu ku Poliisi ye Kabalagala tulabe bw’oddizibwa omwana wo nga okunonyereza bwe kugenda mu maaso okumanya ebigendererwa ebituufu okuva ku Ndagire.
Abaana mu kiseera kino baliko amaka agalabirira abaana gye bakuumirwa.
]]>How Government has prioritized political administration over citizen’s welfarehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210725/117964/how-government-has-prioritized-political-administration-over-citizens-welfare.html Sun, 25 Jul 2021 08:30:30 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=117964Information concerning Ugandans having received suspected fake COVID-19 vaccines is an indicator of a state failing to police social service delivery.The interpretation of a private sector-driven economy by the government needs to be re-visited to appreciate that social services like Health and Education can’t be left to the private sector for the very reason of profit maximization being preferred over the quality of life and welfare.
To understand how toxic the private sector-led economy can be in absence of regulation from a strong arm of government, just take look at how private health facilities are pricing treatment of COVID-19, albeit the reasons they advance. Again, examine how the prices covid treatment drugs have escalated as if the market is run by a cartel.
Ugandans seem to be in a hopeless situation of an absent government when it comes to the welfare of its citizens but very present in political and military administration.
For instance, Uganda’s wage bill on public administration over ailing and underfunded public facilities fails logic in all ways. For the last two Financial Years 2019/20 and 2020/21, the government has allocated over Shs 600bn ($168.6m) on Public Sector Management.
This investment is a reflection of what the public is currently seeing in the health sector concerning staffing and remunerating health workers. Because the market dictates, most health workers have sought greener pastures in private practice.
Conversely, according to reports by Alliance for Election Campaign Finance Monitoring (ACFIM), Uganda’s biggest problem is its politics.
Maintaining the political machinery under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is at the expense of the welfare of Ugandans. According to the findings by ACFIM, most of the public resources are invested in the burgeoning political administration.
Consider the resources government spends on maintaining the bloated parliament, cabinet, advisors, Resident District Commissioners, Local Council leaders with a minimum return on investment.
Government’s expense on administrations only
For instance, over Shs158bn ($44.2m) is going to be spent annually on the monthly remuneration of the 11th Parliament that has 527 members. On this add the 130 advisors of the president on average, each of the advisors earns a gross monthly salary of Shs 2.2 million ($616) totalling over Shs 2.8 billion ($784.3 thousand) annually.
Currently, according to the records from the President’s office, Uganda has 145 Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and 87 deputy RDCs Every month, RDCs earnShs2.2m ($616), while their deputies earn Shs1.8m ($504) cumulatively amounting to Shs3.8 bn ($1.6 m) and Shs163.4m ($45.7 thousand) respectively annually.
District chairpersons countrywide earn Shs1.5m ($420) monthly minus allowances which translates into Shs2.62bn ($732.882) spent annually. The figures are higher for Municipal and City mayors plus the 82-member cabinet remunerations the expenditure on political offices burgeons.
Budget allocations to security even when the country is considerably at peace with most of its neighbours in the region presupposes whose priorities are on entrenching regime survival through military presence and control of masses including quelling political dissent and alternative voices. Politics aside; Where is the government when Ugandans are vaccinated with fake COVID vaccines? Where is the government when Ugandans are facing an oxygen crisis?
Where is the government when prices for COVID-related treatment drugs including the indigenous innovation of covidex, keep rising like it’s a stock market of cartels? Where is the government when critically ill covid patients are turned away from hospitals because they have run out of hospital beds and ICU facilities?
The government’s silence, while ruthless owners of private hospitals are charging exorbitantly to treat COVID, is a piece of clear evidence that the welfare of Ugandans is not among the priorities. Even in isolated circumstances when the government is present in the welfare of its citizens, it’s always playing catch up after deafening public noise. (The best example is the Covid-19 relief funds).
According to Makerere University don Prof Mwambutsya Ndebesa, Uganda is such a state because of a political system that is underpinned on patronage which makes it very impossible to fighting corruption which is the root cause of the unfair treatment by the state.
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