The Monitor (Uganda) articles from November 2008

The Monitor (Uganda) archives from November 2008

Makubuya Defies MPs on Buganda Kingdom Assets.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa The Attorney General, Dr Khiddu Makubuya, has defied a parliamentary order demanding for a detailed list of all assets Buganda wants returned to the Kabaka. In a letter dated October 30 to the Speaker, Kampala...

Panic As Nile Perch Stocks Dwindle.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Ephriam Kasozi Uganda government is pushing for a regional policy to oblige investors in the fishing industry to immediately start contributing to fish breeding to save particular species that earn big on the world market from...

Kanungu Celebrates Mbabazi's Clearance By Parliament.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Patson Bareire Residents of Kinkizi West in Kanungu District yesterday took to Kihiihi Town Council streets to celebrate Security Minister Amama Mbabazi's exoneration by Parliament of any wrongdoing in the controversial Shs11...

In a Nilotic Embrace; From Obote to Obama.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Prof. Ali A. Mazrui When I started my career at Makerere College in Uganda in 1963, Barack Obama was two years old. His Luo father was about to win a scholarship to Harvard University, a temptation that made him leave his wife...

Armed Thugs Return to Terrorise Citizens.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Andrew Bagala and Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa Armed robbery is on the increase in urban areas and on highways in the central region causing fear among travellers and the business community, Saturday Monitor can reveal. Central...

Images of Conflict And Peace.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Edwin Nuwagaba The peace film festival came with many surprises. First, the films that were projected in the auditorium of the National Theatre were less entertaining and more depressing. Secondly, most panel discussants were...

Cricketers Beaten Again.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula Even a powerful 81 off 74 balls from left handed opening batsman Arthur Kyobe couldn't save Uganda from succumbing to its second loss on the ongoing South African build up tour in Benoni on Thursday. Joel...

Iganga FC Appeals to Refs Appointment Committee.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Douglas D. Bugingo Iganga FC officials have appealed to the Fufa referees appointment committee to be prudent while making appointments for up country fixtures. The Eastern region based club's secretary Issa Magoola...

Ruterana Takes Early Lead in Rwanda Open.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula As the Ugandans were left cursing the inconsistent greens and lounging in the forbidden zones, homeboy Emmanuel Ruterana was savouring an early two stroke lead on day one of the $35,000 (Shs68m) cash rich Mutzig...

Team Aims High in Hima 10s.
November 8, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula and Ismail D.kigongo As the curtain falls on the 2008 Uganda rugby calendar, there cannot be a bigger way to crown another great year of breathtaking action than the biggest regional club tournament- the...

Your Time is up, Mediators Tell LRA's Kony.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Tabu Butagira and Grace Matsiko The Lord's Resistance Army, leader, Joseph Kony, has been given until end of this month to sign the Final Peace Agreement. He also has to immediately gather his fighters at Ri-Kwangba, the...

Sudhir Sues Govt Over CMI Land.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Lydia Mukisa Kampala tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia has sued the government, demanding that it vacates land currently occupied by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. The land measuring 6.204 acres is located on Plot 1 Yusuf...

UIA Investor Awards Set.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Dorothy Nakaweesi Businessmen investing in Uganda are bracing themselves for recognition at the forthcoming investor of the year award where they will have to convince a panel of judges of their contributions in the country. ...

What is Busoga Regional Tier Govt Doing?
November 7, 2008... Byline: Joachim Buwembo It was reported last weekend that the Kingdom of Busoga had got a new Kyabazinga, to succeed the late Henry Wako Muloki. I am yet to learn or master the name of the new Kyabazinga. I should, when the dust...

Country in Ten Worst Global Fund Ratings.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Kakaire A. Kirunda Uganda is among the 10 lowest-ranked countries in terms of average grant performance, according to a new report by Aidspan, a Nairobi-based independent watchdog of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and...

Cricketers Beaten.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula Uganda's national cricket team got off to a wrong start on their South Africa build up tour ahead of the Division III International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) scheduled for January 2009 in...

Bobi Wine Secures Pro Boxing License.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Douglas Bugingo Singer Bobi Wine has been given the green light by the Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) to turn join professional boxing ranks. He will consequently feature on a December 19 card dubbed 'Question...

Taking It to the Next Level.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Robert Kalumba The biggest award ceremony in Uganda, took place last weekend, with its usual trappings of pomp. From the décor, to the beautiful outfits donned by the guests, the Pam Awards lived up to their billing as one...

The Philosophical Orator is Back Home.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Robert Kalumba He was full of smiles, as he met the media, at a press conference held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Wednesday. He didn't disappoint, as his press conference was peppered with his usual one liners....

Kasese Farmers Threaten to Sue Government Over Land Grabbing.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Michael Karugaba Over 150 farmers in Kitswamba Sub-county in Kasese District have written to the Attorney General threatening to drag the government to court for grabbing their land. In a notice dated October 28, the farmers,...

Political Parties Must Get Their Act Together.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Samuel Olara At the height of "operation freedom; bringing democracy and freedom to the people of Iraq," the then US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, when asked if democracy and freedom had been achieved in Iraq, said; "there...

Byamukama Aims to Win in Rwanda.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula 2007 Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) Golfer of the Year Vincent 'Alali' Byamukama is determined to throw a spanner in the works of the locals and snatch the coveted Mutzig Rwanda Open title that tees off...

'Day Power Cuts No More'.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Emmanuel Gyezaho Day load shedding is now a matter of the past, President Museveni said on Wednesday as he commissioned a 50-mega-watt heavy fuel oil thermal power plant at Namanve in Mukono District. The plant, run by...

It's Hard Times; the Monster is Out of the Cage.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Augustine Ruzindana In Colombia, South America, the chief of intelligence has resigned because it was found out that security operatives were surveilling and tapping the conversations of an opposition leader. This is a...

NRM Should Act for Civilians, Not Itself.
November 7, 2008... Last Friday, the Cabinet convened a special session and exonerated ministers Amama Mbabazi and Ezra Suruma of any wrongdoing in the NSSF-Temangalo land transaction. Then three days later the President met the NRM Parliamentary Caucus...

Race for GTV Golden Boot in High Gear.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Yasser Kalyango At an average 2.3 goals so far in the league, Andrew Mukasa's long standing record of 45 goals in one season appears achievable. The league has so far produced 273 goals from 117 games which is almost one...

Toniks Scoops MTV Awards Nod.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Rafsanjan Abbey Tatya New R&B sensational duo Toniks have taken the word 'breakthrough' to a whole new level. For their debut hit Beera Nange, the pair has not only won this year's Pam Awards Best R&B Single award but has...

Underfunding Frustrates UPE Use -Says MPs.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Joseph Miti Under-funding and absenteeism by teachers and pupils are some of major constraints still facing the free primary and secondary education schemes, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports has...

Aya Land Sale Stayed Pending Court Ruling.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Ephraim Kasozi and Alfred Nyongesa Wandera The High Court has halted the sale of the land where the Kampala Hilton Hotel is being constructed in Nakasero, pending its ruling slated for November 10. Justice Yorokamu Bamwine...

MPs Quiz CID Chiefs.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa CID Police chiefs were yesterday quizzed for hours in a brutality inquiry largely tainted by conflicting evidence. Senior Police Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department led by Mr Edson Mbiringi, now...

Museveni Tells Bankers to Stop Asking for Land Titles.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Martin Luther Oketch President Yoweri Museveni has advised banks in Uganda to refrain from the practice of asking for land titles as security from credit seekers saying the practice hinders economic growth. "Our banks have...

Bunyoro Rejects New Buruuli Chief.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Francis Mugerwa Bunyoro Kingdom has protested Buganda's intention to install Ms Hajati Nsungwa as a Chief of Buruuli thereby diposing Isaabarongo Mwogeza Butamanya as the cultural leader of the Baruuli. The Bunyoro Kingdom...

Falcons, Warriors to Clash in Last Four.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Sande Bashaija Kyambogo Warriors have a chance of inflicting revenge on Falcons when the two sides clash in the MTN-Fuba League semifinal play-offs that get underway on June 11 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium. Warriors bitterly lost...

17 Charged Over Exam Malpractices.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Ephraim Kasozi Three teachers who allegedly masqueraded as primary school pupils during the PLE were yesterday charged with examination malpractice. The teachers of Happy Angel Primary School; Peter Mutebi, Godwin Mark Ongeso...

Leaders Should Reverse Decision on Cement.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Mbatau Wa Ngai It is sad but true that Ugandan leaders, together with their counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania, failed to walk the talk of industrialising their countries when they inexplicably decided to phase out suspended duty...

Gender Activists Want More Girls at School.
November 7, 2008... Byline: James Eriku Gender equality activists have expressed shock at the rapid declining enrolment of girls at higher institutions of learning in northern Uganda compared to their male counterparts. They said the trend is negatively...

MP Survives Being Lynched.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Fred Muzaale The Nakifuma County MP, Mr Joseph Mugambe, on Wednesday survived being lynched by a mob. The angry residents accused their MP of poor representation, which they claimed was the reason why the bridge on River...

Army Implicated in Human Rights Abuse in Teso.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Joseph Malinga A human rights group has accused the army of torturing people and extorting money from them as it carries out its disarmament exercise in Teso. A report compiled by the Uganda Human Rights Activists [UHRA]...

Opposition Walks Out as Mbabazi is Cleared.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Mercy Nalugo and Richard Wanambwa Parliament yesterday absolved Finance Minister Ezra Suruma and Security Minister Amama Mbabazi of any wrongdoing in the controversial Shs11 billion NSSF-Temangalo deal, but the decision was marked...

Overcoat Uhuru Vows to Oust Mindra From UPBC Presidency.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Sande Bashaija Salim Uhuru has said Celestine Mindra has no chance of leading Uganda Professional Boxing Commission (UPBC) as president again. UPBC members go to polls on December 6 and Mindra is said to be interested in...

Army Screens DR Congo Refugees.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Francis Mugerwa Security agencies are screening thousands of Congolese refugees who are fleeing their home country and entering Uganda. The refugees are fleeing the fighting between the troops of the renegade General Laurent...

Obama Unlikely to Shake Things Up for Country.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Angelo Izama There is so much enthusiasm about Barack Obama among Ugandans, but the mood is not shared in Kampala's corridors of power. Angelo Izama examines why Uganda's leadership preferred a Hillary Clinton presidency to that...

World Welcomes President Obama.
November 6, 2008... The American people yesterday made history by electing the first ever black man to be their president. The many fears, doubts and moments of despair of many especially black people in the Diaspora and on the African continent specifically...

Sugarcane Farmers Demand Policy.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Tom Magumba and Joseph Miti The dark side of a liberalised economy is starting to emerge with sugar cane out-growers venting their frustrations over lack of harmonised prices. The out-growers want the government to formulate a...

Fish Depletion in Lakes; Let's Go Fish Farming.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Alex Turihohabwe Ugandans are entrepreneurs. However the businesses they engage in do not last long. This means that we are citizens who can wake up and perform, given support in terms of sensitisation and training skills in...

Kiprop, Kipsiro Plot for IAAF Cash.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Sande Bashaija After a disappointing season, Uganda's senior athletes are looking to the IAAF World Cross-country Championships due next March in Jordan to revive their careers. The cross-country event marks the beginning of the...

DRC Accuse Uganda of Blocking Rwanda Debate.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Grace Matsiko The Democratic Republic of Congo is unhappy with Uganda for blocking a discussion on her report accusing Rwanda of aggression at the recent Tripartite Summit held in Kampala. Diplomatic sources said yesterday,...

When a Hospital Lacks a Place to Keep Dead Bodies.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Michael J. Ssali Masaka Regional Referral Hospital is not a place to bid life fare thee well, as friends and relatives may never identify their loved one beyond two days of their passing on. One has an extra reason to thank...

Views for Whom Obama's Victory Would Be Bad News.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Charles Onyango Obbo At the start of August, with the Democratic Party convention a month away, I could only find a sprinkling of Africans who thought Illinois Senator Barack Obama was going to beat Senator Hillary Clinton in the...

Optimism, Caution Greet Obama Election in Kampala.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Gerald Bareebe, Y. Mugerwa and Patrick Matsiko Barack Obama's victory in the US Presidential elections yesterday sparked off celebrations in several parts of Uganda. The historic win, which saw Obama become the first African...

Kenyan Students at Makerere University Riot.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Richard Wanambwa Kenyans students studying at Makerere University yesterday rioted and blocked the main entry to the main building forcing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi and other senior staffs to lock themselves...

Kibaki Salutes Obama, Declares Holiday.
November 6, 2008... President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya yesterday morning sent a congratulatory message to President-elect Barrack Obama upon his election as the 44th President of the United States of America. At the same time, President Kibaki declared Thursday...

You Can't Divorce the Army From Politics.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Lt. Felix Emojong It is undisputed that the army in Uganda has been variously misused by the successive governments since independence. The scars left behind by what has often been labelled Idi Amin's, Obote's, Tito Okello's and...

Nsumba Back on Duty at Villa Park.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Douglas Bugingo Overwhelming joy engulfed SC Villa fans last evening when midfield maestro Augustine Nsumba showed up for his first training session since returning from Iceland two months ago. He has put pen to paper on a...

Diplomats, MPs Celebrate President Obama's Victory.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa The American Ambassador to Uganda, Steven Browning, members of Parliament, diplomats among other bigwigs yesterday praised Senator Barack Obama's victory as the newly elected first African-American President of the...

Water Hyacinth Threatens Fishing on L. Kyoga.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Dan Wandera Fishing activities on Lake Kyoga have been threatened by the fast spreading water hyacinth. Nakasongola District chairman James Muruli told Daily Monitor yesterday that the weed had spread to six landing sites,...

GroFin to Fund Smart Ideas.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Edwin Nuwagaba Entrepreneurs with smart business ideas have a chance to turn their dreams into reality through GroFin's business model of financing start-ups. GroFin, a finance company, which has been in operation since 2005...

Gov't to Start University Students' Loans.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Risdel Kasasira The government will soon start a university loan scheme for poor but qualified students to access university education, Parliament heard on Tuesday. The proposed scheme, according to State minister for Higher...

Country Needs Revamped Land Use Attitude.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Dr Pascal Odoch If you had the opportunity to fly over Uganda's countryside, the most fascinating aerial phenomenon you would observe through the aircraft window is the "match-box-type" plots. It arises from parents who keep...

Finance Top Officers Fail to Meet.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Sheila Naturinda The Ministry of Finance is having an administrative crisis since the Minister, Dr Ezra Suruma, got involved in the NSSF-Temangalo crisis three months ago. Inside information within the ministry headquarters...

Debate on NSSF Report Begins Amidst Chaotic Scenes.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Emmanuel Gyezaho and Sheila Naturinda Chaotic scenes greeted the beginning of the long awaited debate of the NSSF-Temangalo report during Tuesday's sitting of Parliament. But there was every indication that Security Minister...

LRA Attacks in DRC.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Angelo Izama A diplomatic meeting to end the Northern Uganda crisis is under strain in Kampala after repeated attacks by the LRA in Congo which humanitarian agencies, worried about the flare-up of a conflict in North Kivu, fret...

DR Congo Rebels Castrating Civilians, Says Kabwegyere.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Grace Matsiko Rebels forces fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are castrating men and using civilians as human shields, a senior Ugandan official has said. The Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees,...

Okhuti Nets Five in Bunna'ya Rout.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Douglas Bugingo and Yasser Kalyango Caesar Okhuti yesterday boosted his pursuit of the Super League golden boot with a give-goal haul as Bunnamwaya hit Sharing 10-1 at Nakivubo Stadium. The goals propelled him to 12 goals and...

High Court Judge Anup Choudry in UK Scandal.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Rodney Muhumuza The London firm of Mr Anup Choudry Singh, the Ugandan-born Sikh lawyer who became a High Court judge in May, was closed down over alleged unethical practice in 2000, but the Judicial Service Commission found out...

Kisenyi Metal Fabricators Tiptoe Into Motor Spare Parts.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Tom Magumba Jua Kali artisans have for a long time been accused of lacking innovation. But it appears times have changed as they emerge with a long list of innovations. A visit to Jua Kali Aluminum Molders Association in...

Hydropower Project Gets $49 Million Boost.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Elias Biryabarema Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, EAIF, an international private infrastructure financier founded by the governments of UK, Sweden, Netherlands and Switzerland has offered a $49 million loan to the developers...

Makerere Lights Up Path for Small and Medium Businesses.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Tom Magumba Makerere University Faculty of Technology has introduced a programme to help Small and Medium scale Enterprises in the country to develop cost-effective and creative ways of gaining visibility in the market. ...

Quack Architects Hamper Industry.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Beatrice Wanja A great number of architecture graduates in Uganda lack practical skills needed to match challenges of the ever increasing needs of a blossoming housing industry. This has resulted into numerous collapsing...

KCC, Victors Submit Lists of Players to CAF.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Douglas Bugingo and Yasser Kalyango Uganda's representatives in the MTN Caf Champions League Kampala City Council (KCC) FC have submitted the list of players they are to use in the competition. Confederations Cup...

After the Election, America's God Needs to Return Quickly.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Karoli Ssemogerere In the end the clock ran out. Americans have voted in droves to send Mr Barack Obama to the White House. Arriving from Uganda less than 20 hours before the election, a sense of calm had fallen over this...

Four Nominated For Kyadondo Seat.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Joseph Miti, Martin Ssebuyira & Gerald Bareebe Four people were yesterday nominated to contest for Kyadondo North constituency, which fell vacant following the death last month of the Agriculture State Minister, Dr Kibirige...

Let Parliament Probe Team Deposit Scam.
November 5, 2008... Reports that thousands of people in eastern Uganda face the risk of losing billions of shillings in a deposit scam masterminded by TEAM Ltd, warrant an outright Parliamentary investigation. The victims are right to form a task force and...

Soroti Scientists to Revive Cotton Growing.
November 5, 2008... Scientists in Soroti are set to start a research in the genetically modified cotton in a bid to rescue farmers from the conventional cotton which had suffered a set back in production due to the ball warm pest thereby resulting into poor...

Netherlands to Commit Fifty Million Euros to Education Sector.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Jeroen Verheul It is not difficult to picture an ideal school. Think of school children entering their classes, to find their teachers present and ready to teach. Imagine them having textbooks, pencils and exercise books, a...

Kenya Airways' Profits Drop Sharply.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Elias Biryabarema The fuel price escalation crisis that peaked in July and Kenya's post-election violence in January this year shook Kenya Airways business stability, crimping its profitability by more than half and leaving the...

Thirteen Students Arrested Over Ple Malpractices.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Andrew Bagala Police have arrested 13 students of Happy Hours High School and three teachers for sitting Primary Leaving Examinations. The students, whose identities had not yet been revealed by press time, were arrested at Happy...

Hope in Fight Against Coffee Wilt.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Jude Lugya The war against coffee wilt disease in Uganda may not be over yet, but research into the development of resistant crops shows that there is a significant breakthrough. Scientists at the National Crop Resources...

Varsity Students Want Food Allowance Increased.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Sam Lawino Students of Gulu University have gone on strike over food allowances. The students have vowed to continue with the strike until the university administration meets their interests. The students say the current food...

Ambassadors Con Government of Four Billion Shillings.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Yasiin Mugerwa At least Shs4 billion worth of taxpayers' money meant to facilitate Uganda's missions abroad was abused by a host of ambassadors, MPs heard yesterday. At a stormy Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee meeting...

'Low Varsity Standards Are Costing Uganda'.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Emojong Osere The dwindling academic standards in Ugandan universities should urgently be addressed if the country is to have a productive graduate population, with ideas sufficient to jack the current staggering economic growth....

Omo Clinics Attract 100 Schools.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Innocent Ndawula After being inaugurated in Kampala by African football star Samuel Eto'o, the Omo Soccer Clinics have expanded their initiative by involving 100 primary schools in rural areas all over Uganda. The Barcelona...

Ruhiira Residents Reap Wealth From Goat Rearing.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Otushabire Tibyangye A visit to Kabuyanda and Nyakitunda Sub-counties is not an easy exercise, as one has to climb steep hills and at times gently rolling hills to reach their destination. In these hills live friendly people who...

Americans Aid Tororo Schools.
November 5, 2008... Byline: John Augustine Emojong The Church of God, a Christian organisation from Alaska, USA on October 29, donated a computer to Aturukuku Primary School in Tororo Municipality. The donation of the computer followed an earlier...