The Monitor (Uganda) articles from August 2009

The Monitor (Uganda) archives from August 2009

Use Community Policing to Fight Electricity Vandalism.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Julius J. Wandera The media on August 14 carried pictures of wires recovered by police from suspected thieves who vandalise electric installations and sell them cheaply. Thanks to the police for doing a good job. Vandalism of power...

New Infections Worry Aids Activists.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Francis Mugerwa The Aids support organisation (Taso) has expressed concern over the increase in the number of people contracting HIV /Aids. According to a report released recently by the Taso Masindi branch, there is an increase in...

UPDF Courts Fresh Land Row in Arua.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Warom Felix Okello The ownership of a piece of land in Arua Town has drawn a rift between the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and the district local government. The land in contention between Ediofe Road and 409 Brigade Barracks...

Court Upholds Death Sentence Against Two Men.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Alfred Nyongesa Wandera The Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed prayers of two men to overturn decisions of lower courts in western Uganda in which they were convicted of aggravated robbery and handed the death sentences. Mbarara...

Carbon Trading Will Help Stem Climate Change.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Sarah Akankwasa Carbon trading is a market-based mechanism for helping to mitigate the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the main gas contributing to climate change and it is usually emitted through...

NAADS Co-ordinators Ordered to Reside at their Stations.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Uwera Runyambo All sub-county National Agricultural Advisory Services coordinators in Kabale District have been directed to reside in the sub-counties where they operate for easy supervision of farmers and other projects. Kabale...

Kisoro State Attorney Denied Bail.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Robert Muhereza The State Attorney for Kisoro District and two employees of Stanbic bank facing charges of robbery, were last Friday denied bail by the Chief Magistrate's Court in Kabale. Kisoro State Attorney Dan Rwabugaire, 27,...

Transport Fares to Kalangala Shoot Up.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Martin Ssebuyira Transport costs from Entebbe to Kalangala have more than doubled after Uganda's only active vessel on Lake Victoria, MV Kalangala, recently temporarily suspended operations to pave way for its inspection. The vessel's...

Findings Into the Inquiry of the National Social Security Fund.
August 31, 2009... In the 62nd EXCO meeting held on 21st March 2007, it was recommended that a tender advert be placed in the media with the requirement that bidders respond to the invitation within a week of the publication. The justification for the one week...

Four Land Merchants Survive Lynching by Bwerenga Residents.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Martin Ssebuyira Land merchants survived being lynched on Friday by residents in Bwerenga in Katabi Sub-county after a land disagreement. The property agents, who work with a Kampala-based real estate company, Hosanna Real Estate, had...

Kipsiro Finishes Fifth in Zurich.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Sande Bashaija Moses Kipsiro's agonising failure to get a medal at the just-concluded World Championships held in Berlin seems to have shattered his confidence. The Ugandan 5000m runner, fourth in Berlin, this time declined to fifth...

Pregnant Women Require Quality Care.
August 31, 2009... A midwife and three nurses of Mityana Hospital were last week arrested over neglect of duty that led to the death of a woman in labour and her baby. The patient was allegedly neglected after failing to raise Shs50,000. This incident that...

Ssendawula Holds Nerve to Win Open.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Innocent Ndawula It was a battle between homeboys Peter Ssendawula and Vincent 'Araali' Byamukama and in the end either had to give way. But Byamukama didn't give way easily. Clearly the better golfer of the two, Byamukama (handicap...

War Heroes - Otafiire Cautions Museveni.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Richard Wanambwa Trade Minister Kahinda Otafiire has told President Museveni to stop sidelining the bush war historicals, reminding him of their contribution to the struggle that brought him to power 23 years ago. Maj. Gen....

Ministry - Building Control Bill in Pipeline.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Robert Mwanje The Works Ministry has put forward a Building Control Bill to guarantee decent, secure and planned building structures in the country, the State Minister for Works has said. The Bill, currently before the cabinet...

Auditors Query NSSF Deals.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Tabu Butagira and Mercy Nalugo A new audit report has unearthed cases of serious mismanagement of workers' provident fund by top managers, raising the issue of irregular procurement of some 67 vehicles and questionable payment of...

Serugo Excited By Scoring System.
August 31, 2009... Byline: James Ssekandi As he awaits the draw to learn his opponent at AIBA World Championships in Milan, Italy, Uganda's lone representative Ronald Serugo is banking on the new system to do well. Starting tomorrow, fans will be able to see...

New Audit Report Finds URA Operations in Mess.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa Billions of tax proceeds collected by Uganda Revenue Authority cannot be traced from various bank statements, whose details are still unknown, the Auditor General has said in a new report. "Shs5.1 billion indicated...

Museveni - Mumbere Crowning for Oct.
August 31, 2009... Prince Charles Mumbere of the Rwenzururu Kingdom will be crowned King in October, President Museveni has announced. "Am now happy to inform you that I have written information that now you all agree on Obusinga, since you agree, I also agree,"...

Stanbic Bank Sets Aside Shs27 Billion for Dividends.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Peter Nyanzi Stanbic Bank's shareholders will smile all the way to the bank at end the year following a declaration that they will be paid an extraordinary dividend of Shs5.27 per share in what appears to be an excellent year for the...

High Costs, Recession Dampen EABL Profits.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Walter Wafula East African Breweries Limited, the region's larges beer maker has announced a decline in its group profits citing high production costs and the impact of the recession as pressures behind this year's performance. The...

Government Signs Shs650 Billion Development Agreements.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Faridah Kulabako and Martin Luther Oketch Uganda's rural population is set to benefit from improved communication facilities and quality education following the signing of a $325 million (Shs650 billion) agreement between the...

Obua Defiant Despite European Exit.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Innocent Ndawula Ugandan international David Obua certainly has had a patchy start to his soccer career in Europe but the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is happy with his progress at Scottish club Hearts FC. Despite a 2-0 win at...

Mildmay Passes Out HIV/Aids Counsellors.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Joseph Miti A total of 24 students have been awarded diplomas in HIV/Aids care and management. The group was trained by Mildmay Centre under their short course training programme. Of the 24 students, 14 were Uganda while others...

Teacher Body Attacks Bbumba Over Salaries.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Joseph Miti and Al Mahdi Ssenkabirwa Teachers have angrily responded to Finance Minister Syda Bbumba's warning to them to stop clamouring for a pay rise since the Shs 200,000 they currently receive is already exorbitant. The Uganda...

Report Poor Service Delivery to NRM District Offices.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Moses Byaruhanga A few days ago, papers reported that some Mityana Hospital health workers were arrested for negligence of duty among other charges. The story is that a mother gave birth to a baby at Maanyi Health Centre and when it...

Trying Times for Local Rugby After Kenya Triumph.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Ismail D. Kigongo and Innocent Ndawula This is probably the most trying time for Ugandan rugby as a very successful spell that was set rolling about four years ago seems to be nearing a dreadful end. Rugby Cranes are the reigning...

Uncertainty Over Kiprop's Career.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Sande Bashaija Will Boniface Kiprop ever make a strong comeback to international competitions? This is a question that is puzzling many in the athletics fraternity. A few years ago, Kiprop was a force to reckon with in world...

Madhvani Hands Out 175 Scholarships.
August 31, 2009... 175 students have been awarded scholarships totaling Shs516m by the Madhvani Foundation. The scholarships for the 2009/10 academic year were awarded after a highly competitive selection process that culminated in personal interviews held at...

The Puzzle of Nalubaale, Proline Academy and FUFA.
August 31, 2009... Byline: Mark Namanya Fufa's best efforts to convince the country that Proline - or Nalubaale for that matter - was legitimately thrown out of the National Super League have rapidly descended into a befuddling farce. First, the federation...

Another Official Jailed over Ghosts on Police Payroll.
August 31, 2009... The Under secretary in charge of police at the ministry of Internal affairs Winnie Kabogoza Musoke has been charged and remanded to Luzira prison for causing financial loss to the government. Kabogoza who is alleged to have been involved in a...

Three Killed in Robbery Attempt.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Michael Karugaba Three people including two suspected robbers and a turn boy were on August 26 killed in an attempted robbery in Kikura village in Kasese. The district police commander, Mr Christopher Kasalawo, said that the...

Museveni Backs Elevation of Mbarara to a City Status.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Alfred Tumushabe Mbarara leaders have appealed to President Museveni to get involved and quicken the process of elevating the municipality to a city status. "We urge you to declare Mbarara and Jinja cities this financial year and we...

Court Summons Kirumira Over Collapsed City Building.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Lydia Mukisa Court has summoned city businessman Godfrey Kirumira to respond to the case filed by three people, who sustained injuries when his Mirembe Shopping Arcade building collapsed early this year. Tonny Okise, Hannington...

Mutale's Men Kidnap Man in City.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Alfred Nyongesa Wandera Security agents attached to President Museveni's senior advisor on political affairs, Maj. Roland Kakooza Mutale on Friday kidnapped a man in Kampala; causing relatives to raise the alarm after they failed to...

Mbale DSC Hit By Rifts.
August 30, 2009... Byline: David Mafabi Although interviews for the post of District Service Commission (DSC) were done on July 23, it is yet to be filled due to controversies that allegedly marred the exercise. The chairperson of DSC, Mr Christopher Wetaya,...

Police Arrest Four Suspects Over Conning Families.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Francis Mugerwa Police in Kibaale District are holding four people suspected to have conned families evicted from Guramwa Forest Reserve in Bugangaizi County. The mid-western region police commander, Mr Marcelino Wanitto, said the...

Reaping From Otunnu.
August 30, 2009... Whether Dr Olara Otunnu gets to lead the Uganda Peoples Congress and later captures state power or not, the north appears set to reap from his return to the country after decades in exile. Grapevine has learnt that although state actors...

Araali Unfazed By Challengers.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Innocent Ndawula Vincent 'Araali' Byamukama has been baptized all sorts of names in his short-golfing career. Referred to as a choker and nearly man by many, Byamukama has scoffed at his critics as he chases an elusive Uganda Open...

Country, Kenya Battle in East Africa MX Challenge.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Fredrick Musisi Kiyingi Uganda's team of 20 riders will have to put up a super performance to beat arch rivals Kenya in the second leg of East Africa MX Challenge. The event which has also attracted Tanzania takes place at Jamhuri...

'My Tribe Does Not Matter'.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Jack Sabiiti The uproar caused by President Museveni's infamous letter, devising ring-fencing of political positions in Bunyoro against Bakiga otherwise called "Bafuruki" remains unmitigated. Apart from being inexpedient, the...

Why the Country Needs Dr Olara Otunnu.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Okello Lucima In Gambling on Otunnu, published in The Independent, Ms Melina Platas takes the political pulse of the country on the homecoming of Dr Olara Otunnu. She sounded out a number of prominent Ugandans on what role if any, he...

Otunnu Warns of Homosexual Lies.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Tabu Butagira The probable dirty outline of 2011 election campaigns began shaping up yesterday with reports that State actors plan to jolt voters by portraying former top UN diplomat Dr Olara Otunnu, a potential presidential...

Amuru Case Sounds One More Alarm Bell.
August 30, 2009... The Tuesday incident in Amuru District serves as one more warning and likely precursor to where things are headed in this country as more and more Ugandans make the direct connection between their unhappy social circumstances and the profligate...

Museveni Criticises Ministers for Not Following His Orders.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa President Museveni has launched a stinging attack on some of his ministers who fail to execute his directives. Without mentioning names, Mr Museveni singled out the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as the...

When Land Disputes Turn Very Violent And the State is Helpless to Act.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Jenny Vaughan On the evening of December 1, 2007 Byron Taremwa and Richard Kakuru returned home from a party where they were met by a group of bodaboda drivers in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb. Within minutes both men were dead. Taremwa...

Woman Hunted for Luring Girls Into Lesbianism.
August 30, 2009... Local Council officials in Ndwaddemutwe in Nakifuma, Mukono District, are hunting for a woman who has allegedly been recruiting young girls into lesbianism. Mr Hamid Magombe, the secretary for defence, said they have information that Ms Diana...

Kayihura Concedes Failure By Police Force to Fight Crime.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Issa Aliga The insecurity in the country is due to the failure by the Police to fight crime, the Inspector General of Police has said. Gen. Kale Kaihura said on Friday that the security systems, right from the village up to the...

Climate Change - Hoima Boss Urges Residents to Plant Trees.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Francis Mugerwa The Hoima District chairperson, Mr George Bagonza has expressed concern over the high rate at which water sources are drying up in the district. He made the remarks while handing over piglets and chicks to 30 private...

Kabaka Urges Baganda to Support UPE Programme.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Robert Mwanje Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has asked the Baganda to support the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme to fight ignorance in the country. Addressing hundreds of his subjects at Mengo, the Kabaka said...

'Strong Leaders Will Stop Acholi Land Grabbers' Museveni Has Broken My Country'.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa As rumblings resulting from land disputes in Acholiland continue to be heard, Sunday Monitor spoke to Aswa County MP, Reagan Okumu. Mr Okumu is also vice-chairman Acholi Parliamentary Group. Have you bought any land...

Serugo Set for World Championships.
August 30, 2009... Byline: James Ssekandi Olympiad Ronald Serugo will be Uganda's lone flag bearer when the 15th edition of the World Boxing Championships gets underway on September 1 in Milan, Italy. With no activity for the embattled Uganda Amateur Boxing...

Sserunkuma Will Spur On Villa - Kato.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Andrew Mwanguhya Sports Club Villa coach Sula Kato reckons new acquisition Simon Sserunkuma will fill the huge void left by the side's most influential player last season, Stephen Bengo. Sserunkuma joined Villa from Victor FC after...

NRM Looks West for Votes.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Joseph Mazige The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) last week concluded district party conferences in the south-western region with Secretary General Amama Mbabazi declaring it successful. The purpose of the conferences was...

Killings in Acholi - Who is to Blame?
August 30, 2009... Byline: Risdel Kasasira Following MP Reagan Okumu's release of a list of names of Acholi killed during the two-decade war in northern Uganda, people are asking pertinent questions including who, especially between the NRA/UPDF and the LRA,...

Scramble for Votes in Eastern Region.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Solomon Muyita and Pauline Kairu As campaigns for the number one job in the country kick off, it is apparent that key contenders particularly those from Opposition parties, are scrambling to set their launching pad in Busoga...

Rena Shimmers On New Album.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Rafsanjan Abbey Tatya When she left Dream Gals, many people thought that was the end of Rena's musical journey, but her current success suggests otherwise. Over the years, Rena's best work has often been under the now defunct...

Police Probe Prime Minister's Office Over Stolen Food Aid.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa Police has begun investigating whether the Office of the Prime Minister had a hand in the disappearance of large quantities of emergency relief food the government said it dispatched to Teso in Eastern Uganda. In an...

Visit Bushenyi District, a Tourist Hub.
August 30, 2009... Byline: Paul Aruho Bushenyi, located in Western Uganda, is endowed with several tourist attractions. When you visit, expect to enjoy the following key tourist attractions. Bunyaruguru Crater Lakes These are an amazing sight; 52 in...

2011 Polls - Battle Lines Drawn.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Gerald Bareebe Ugandans should prepare for a heady 2011 general elections as potential presidential candidates storm the countryside to court voters largely left in the cold since the last elections more than three years ago. The...

Boxing Polls Today as MP Kikungwe Claims Nyakana 'Alliance'.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Andrew Mwanguhya and James Ssekandi The latest ahead of today's Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation's elections is that two of the three members vying for presidency have apparently merged. Kyaddondo South Member of Parliament Issa...

Separated at Birth - Mothers Cry Foul Over Baby Theft.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Eunice Rukundo Many mothers labour a whole nine months hoping to give birth to their own babies. However, some never really share that experience. Eunice Rukundo writes about the vice of baby theft at Mulago Hospital by unscrupulous...

A Platform for Female Poets.
August 29, 2009... There has been an on-going debate among my friends about the awards that are coming up everywhere in Uganda these days. And so you can imagine the not so nice words that were said when we heard that there were more awards, this time for poets....

Government Stops Exportation of Food.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Ismail Musa Ladu Government has secretly halted food export to Southern Sudan in a knee-jerk response to tamp down criticism over the worsening famine in the countryside, Saturday Monitor can reveal. Pundits, however, warn that the...

The Future of Writing Industry Looks Bright.
August 29, 2009... Julius Ocwinyo is an award-winning Ugandan author with a novel, Fate of the Banished, on the literature syllabus. He told Dennis D. Muhumuza why creative writing still has its place in modern society. Who or what inspired you into writing? ...

USPA Head in Lugazi to Save Lives.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Andre Mwanguhya The Lugazi community this morning joins journalists in a road safety campaign to commemorate lives of four sports scribes who died in a tragic accident in 2001. Francis Batte Junior, Leo Kabunga, Simon Peter Ekarot...

Soroti Town Clerk And Engineer Get Death Threats.
August 29, 2009... Byline: Ricahrd Otim Police in Soroti are investigating circumstances under which two sealed letters each containing a bullet were on August 24 delivered to Soroti Municipality Town Clerk Jimmy Ambrose Atwoko and the Acting Town Engineer...

Instead of Yelling About Tribe, Let's Talk About Clan Because It is Closer.
August 28, 2009... I love my tribe. Whichever it is. I hope you love yours too. Whichever it is. Never mind those who use the word tribe pejoratively, as Ngugi wa Thiong'o reminds us in the current issue of Transition magazine, to connote "the primitive and the...

I Will Block Besigye Rally - Jinja RDC.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Solomon Muyita, Richard Muzaale and Fred Siminyu Forum for Democratic Change leader Kizza Besigye's tour of the Busoga region faced its first major hurdle yesterday with Jinja deputy RDC Apollo Bwebale warning that he will not permit...

Asian Businessman Remanded Over Shs1.4 Billion Fraud.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Kasozi A city businessman, who allegedly forged work permits for over 300 Asians, making the government lose over $700,000 (about Shs1.4b) since 2006 was yesterday sent to Luzira Prison on remand. Nakawa Grade Two...

University Students Threaten to Strike Over Fees Increment.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Isaac Khisa and Flavia Nalubega Students in public universities have threatened to strike over President Museveni's failure to respond to their petition over tuition fees increment two weeks ago. The five public universities,...

Punish Kabarole RDC Kambarage.
August 28, 2009... The Resident District Commissioner for Kabarole, Mr Kambarage Kakonge, recently humiliated the Kibiito Sub County Naads coordinator, Dr Ephraim Basaliza, when he made him kneel before a packed meeting of over 100 people in Fort Portal town. ...

'ICC Cannot Handle Serious Crimes'.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Mercy Nalugo A senior Kenyan minister has questioned the International Criminal Court's (ICC) ability to arbitrate over serious crimes and crimes against humanity. Kenya Minister for Justice, Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs...

City Tyres Supports USPA.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo For the third year running, City Tyres have backed Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Road Safety Campaign set for this Saturday in Lugazi Town. City Tyres Managing Director Ahmed Abdullahi reiterated his...

Byamukama Leads.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Innocent Ndawula An eye-catching eagle on hole No. 15 helped top favourite and homeboy Vincent 'Araali' Byamukama take a slim one-shot lead on day one of the uganda telecom (utl) sponsored 69th Uganda Open edition in Entebbe...

Woman Gets Lifeline After Ten Years in Prison.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Alfred Nyongesa Wandera and Lominda Afedraru Rejected by relatives including her own husband, Ms Jenty Koli at last found solace in the Court of Appeal. Nine years ago, the High Court in Lira convicted her of murdering a neighbour's...

Ruggers Set As Kenyan Team Arrives.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Ismail Dhakaba Kigongo and Andrew Mwanguhya Coaches Yayiro Musisi Kasasa and Sam Ahamya will take some tough decisions on team selection for the Rugby Cranes' second leg clash with Kenya at Kyadondo RFC fixture tomorrow. Beaten...

EAC Lauds U.S. Cooperation.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Alfred Wesaka The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Juma V. Mwapachu has lauded the USA-EAC cooperation in transport and infrastructure development. Amb. Juma Mwapachu, who on Wednesday officially opened a...

Stanbic in Drive to Boost Savings Culture.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Justus Lyatuu On realising that most Ugandans have a poor savings culture, some banks have turned to publicity campaigns, which are intended to boost the savings cultur. Stanbic Bank yesterday rewarded four customers who won raffle...

UNBS Issues Alert On Contaminated Pasta.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Beatrice Wanja The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has issued an alert, warning pasta consumers against purchasing particular brand of pasta which is suspected to be contaminated and unfit for human consumption. ...

Kenolkobil Buys Burundian Oil Firm.
August 28, 2009... Byline: Isaac Khisa Petroleum company KenolKobil has announced that it acquired absolute shareholding of Oil Burundi, which was formerly owned by South African Petroleum Giant ENGEN International Holdings. The acquisition by Kobil Uganda's...

Eskom Engineer Crushed in Owen Falls Dam Power Turbines.
August 27, 2009... Byline: Solomon Muyita Panic gripped workers at the hydro generation plant in Jinja when one of Eskom's engineering staff on routine maintenance work was crushed in one of the units, dying instantly. Henry Semei Isabirye, a 41-year-old...

Besigye Urges Busoga to Rally Behind Him.
August 27, 2009... Byline: Fredrick Sooma Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kiiza Besigye has asked the Basoga to vote for his party in the next general elections. Addressing a rally at one of the FDC strongholds in Idudi Trading Centre...

Counterfeits Greatly Hinder Economic Growth.
August 27, 2009... Byline: Solomon S. Ndugga As a village dweller, I have always wondered where the peasants bought their shoes that only lasted about a month. I later discovered that after pay day, they would flock to Nabugabo, Kampala to buy the sharp pointed...