Day: March 30, 2023

The Electro Commission (EC) has Thursday 30, unveiled temporary offices in Industrial Area, Kampala district. The Official Opening Ceremony was graced by the commission’s Chairperson, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama. He said the changes are as a result of National Housing Construction Company heeding to the government’s directive to get them a temporary place to establish their office. “On behalf of the Commission, I would like to welcome you all to this very historic and important occasion when the Electoral Commission officially opens its new temporary Head Offices located at Plot No. 1-3/5 Seventh Street Industrial Area, Kampala to the public.” He said “As you are aware, in 2022, the Government of Uganda tasked National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC) to provide the Electoral Co...

There is a heavy police presence in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, after the government banned opposition protests that are scheduled for Thursday. Local media outlets have been sharing pictures of water canons and riot police stationed in opposition strongholds across the city. Road blocks have also been mounted on roads leading to the state house – the president’s official residence. Businesses have been opened in the city centre and public transport vehicles are operating. Authorities have, however, suspended train services in Nairobi ahead of expected demonstrations. Protesters in the western towns of Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori have already blocked roads with bonfires and rocks, according to media reports. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arrived at his office at dawn and urged Kenyans to...

Eswatini has denied reports that it committed some public assets as collateral in case the government failed to pay Taiwan loans. A local website had on 26 March reported that the government pledged to forfeit two national assets in case it failed to repay a loan for their construction. Eswatini took a loan from Taiwan’s Exim bank for the construction of the International Convention Centre and Five Star Hotel (Fish) – to host government offices and meetings. In a statement on Wednesday, Eswatini’s Economic Planning and Development Minister Thambo Gina said he was not aware of such an agreement, saying Eswatini laws do not allow pledging public assets as collateral for loans. Mr Gina said the reports created “erroneous and regrettable disinformation campaign against a loyal and steadfast al...

Uganda national roads authority (UNRA) engineers looked confused as the Parliamentary committee on government assurance closed Seeta high main gate, saying that it was illegally built at the dark spot while UNRA officials were watching. The MPs sitting on the Government Assurance Committee led by Mukono legislator Betty Nambooze were inspecting construction works at Kampala -Jinja highway, specifically at the Seeta Mukono stretch. The MPs said that they can't not allow Seeta High school to continue using the gate which was constructed in the road reserve and on top of that it is in the black spot that anytime children might die. During the inspection, MPs found that the newly constructed canals had blocked others with mud and most of the concrete in the trenches were washed away by running...

The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has carried out another surprise attack in which it killed another senior ADF commander inside the thick forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the deputy defence spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki, the Ugandan troops under Operation Shuja killed Seka Wankaba in an operation carried out at around 1:30pm in Mwalika Valley in Eastern DRC. “Seka Wankaba, a Ugandan and Musoga by tribe was part of ADF leader Mularo Seguja’s group and a highly trained Improvised Explosive Divice (IED) expert,” Col Akiiki said in a brief statement. A few weeks ago, the UPDF killed Ssegujja, also known as Fezza, Feeza and Mulalo, one of the most wanted ADF commanders. Over the weekend, the Ugandan army announced it had killed 20 ADF fighters in a surprise atta...

Ghana’s parliament has amended sections of the criminal offenses act of 1960, which makes attempting to take ones own life a crime. Following the amendment on Tuesday, attempted suicide will now be considered a mental health issue requiring assistance by law. Ghanaian health experts have been pushing for the law to be changed, saying attempted suicide is a medical condition that needs health support rather than imprisonment. Some survivors of attempted suicide had also called for resources to be spent on prevention. Local media say about 1,500 cases of suicide are reported nationwide every year.

The two embattled Members of Parliament Allan Ssewanyana of Makindye West and Muhammad Ssegirinya of Kawempe North have refuted rumours that their release from prison was out of negotiations with the government. The duo was arrested and sent to prison in September 2021 and were released on bail on February 13, 2023, by the High Court in Masaka District after spending 524 days in jail, an equivalent of 17 months. Immediately following their release, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao came out and admitted that he played a role in securing their temporary freedom. While speaking to journalists, Mao revealed that he started working for the release of the duo even before he was appointed a minister "“I met the mother of Ssegirinya at Parliament and she fell on...