Tag: Uganda News

A simmering disagreement over how Ugandan fuel should be imported from Kenya’s Mombasa port has escalated, with Uganda filing a lawsuit against Kenya at the East African Court of Justice. The dispute centers on Kenya’s demand that Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) register as an oil marketing company in Kenya to utilize the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) network for transporting fuel to Uganda.

Uganda is fiercely contesting this requirement, arguing that it violates various provisions of the East African Community (EAC) treaty and protocol establishing the region’s common market. They claim accessing the KPC system doesn’t necessitate an EPRA license and accuse Kenya of imposing “unrealistic restrictions.”

Furthermore, Uganda alleges that the Kenyan Attorney General intentionally hindered EPRA from issuing UNOC the necessary license, further aggravating the situation. This accusation adds fuel to the fire, suggesting deliberate obstacles placed in Uganda’s path.

The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in the fuel importation issue, potentially disrupting the previously smooth flow of goods between the two East African nations. The Court’s decision will have major implications for regional trade and cooperation, making it a closely watched process across the bloc.

A one Susan Namata and a friend have learnt the hard way that freedom is not entirely free even if you have an Iphone.

The duo recorded a video in which Susan threatened to hit President Yoweri Museveni’s teeth this her ‘private parts’. This was in protest to release Kyadondod East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who was under military detention.

She denied the charges before Buganda Road Grade One magistrate Stella Maria Amabilis who remanded her to Luzira until  later this week.

Bobi Wine’s bodyguard Edward Sebuufu aka Eddie Mutwe, has been granted bail at Gulu High Court.

The court was presided over by Justice Stephen Mubiru.

Eddie Mutwe was charged with treason by Gulu Grade One Magistrate, Yunus Ndiwalana.

They were charged just hours after the High Court in Kampala ordered for their unconditional release because they were being held illegally following their arrest on August 25.

The state contends that the two and others used a grader to block President Museveni’s convoy in Arua Municipality on August 13.

On October 1, the two joined the other 33 suspects on similar charges at Gulu Magistrates Court before their case was deferred to December 3 for further mention.

Uganda police force has named and shamed a Newly wed woman accused of stealing household property, three weeks into a marriage.

Patrick Kusemererwa, a clothes vendor fell victim to a cunning Hasifah Mudondo 22 whom he met at a restaurant and took home for a wife.

Like any scheming thief, Hasifah stayed with Kusemererwa for the past 3 weeks working out a plan to rob him clean. As fate would have it, on Thursday July 19th, the suspect convinced her three weeks husband to give her transportation money to go check on her sick mother in Bududa.

The man gave her money and left for work. But as soon as he left, the suspect packed every household item she could land on including clothes, woofers, a bicycle, among others. She however met Kusemererwa on his way back from work.

The suspect was running away with items on a boda boda. “He immediately reported a case to Old Kampala Police station who swiftly responded, trailed and arrested the suspect. Hasifah revealed that she was tire of being with a mean husband and got a new boyfriend” police says.

She is currently being held at Old Kampala police station on charges of theft.

Musician turned Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Omubanda Wakabaka Owakabi, but mostly referred to as Bobi Wine, hinted that he will not be part of governments nonsense of beefing up parliamentarians security.

The Kyadondo East legislator made the renouncement after President Museveni had suggested that each member of parliament be given a sharp shooter and added an escort police car to tighten their security and reduce on the brutal gunning of politicians.

He also added that he is not interested in being given security yet there have been rampant deaths and kidnaps of women and kids more over 19 each day yet no security measure was improved or stepped up.

He further went on to question the deaths of those that were gunned down with heavy security personals like Afande Kweesi, Hon Ibrahim Abiriga among others.

A police officer identified as Cpl. Amos Opolot attached to Sironko Central Police station has been arrested for allegedly shooting dead a one Richard Matunda, 23, chappati seller, a resident of Busukuya village, Sironko district.

It is alleged that Opolot attempted to arrest Matunda over a debt of Shs15, 000 on Saturday morning. In a bid to resist the arrest, Opolot shot him in the leg and hands and died on his way to Mbale referral hospital due to over bleeding.

Kyadondo East MP, Hon. Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has taunted police that to arrest him, they have to be ready to face “people power.”

Kyagulanyi led a demonstration on the morning of Wednesday, July 11, against Social Media and Mobile Money Taxes escaped arrest by a whisker after the police swang into quelling the demo and arresting some protestors.

When tear gas was unleashed, Kyagulanyi fled for the heels and resurfaced in Parliament where the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Ruhakana Ruganda assured the members that government had listened to the citizen’s cries and was reviewing the Excise Duty Bill on the said taxes.

Members of Parliament will each get a sniper security guards and a follow-up armoured vehicle on top of their usual police bodyguards, President Museveni has revealed.

“Each MP will now have a marksman with a body armour, bulletproof four wheel-drive escort vehical with an open carriage bed, in addidtion to police guards,” a statement signed by the president reads.

This revealation follows an outcry by mostly NRM MPs to the president that lives were threatened and their police bodyguards were afraid to move in the same vehicles with them.

In his response, the president ordered the Chief of Defence Forces to deploy the UPDF to guard the legislators – a directive that caused a public uproar as critics noted that the army should protect all citizens, not just the ‘VIPs.’

Museveni also ordered the Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola to sack police offices that refuse to guard MPs.

Incase you were wondering what your OTT tax is doing, here are your results

Samson Onyango Agutu, a Kenyan national and conductor of Modern Coast bus has this morning kicked the bucket when a vehicle his was travelling in, Modern Coast bus registration number UBA 067Y destined for Rwanda collided with a trailer registration number T467BFX/T714ATW heading to Kenya along Kabale-Katuna road a few kilometers to the Uganda-Rwanda border.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi region police spokesperson says the accident occurred at Kyonyo village in Buranga parish kamuganguzi Sub County around 5:30am this morning.

Maate identified the injured persons as; Phionah Kamikaz and Hamina Jasibu, both residents of Kagarama in Kigali Rwanda, Eridoni Mageto, also a conductor on the bus, David Nyaga, the driver of the bus and Peter Omboga, all Kenyan nationals.

According to Moses Kwehangana, a resident of Kyonyo village, the area was covered with fog when the accident occurred, which could have affected the visibility of the drivers.   Maate says police have started investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident and the deceased’s body and the injured were taken to Kabale Regional Referral hospital.

“We are investigating to establish the right cause, but what I know between that time of 4-6am, because of the terrain of this place, there’s always mist that makes drivers not to see clearly and there is a likelihood that drivers also get fatigued and they sleep but not also ruling out that these drivers who are used to keeping right could have also had the same problem” Maate explained in a phone call with our writer.

The State Minister for Planning, David Bahati has revealed that the one percent tax charged when depositing money on Mobile Money will be scrapped off as it was passed in error.

The tax which took effect on Sunday July 1 alongside the Over the Top (OTT) tax that blocks social media platforms until users pay a mandatory Shs200 daily.

Bahati also noted that cabinet resolved that the rest of the new taxes stay urging citizens and adhere and respect them.

“Government expects to earn over Shs100bn from the new OTT tax in the new financial year and this money will help solve a number of infrastructural problems,” he said.

Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Planning), Hon. David Bahati has stated defended the newly-introduced OTT tax and excise duty tax slapped on mobile money transactions.

While addressing the media today at Uganda Media Centre, he stated that the tax is affordable and should be embraced by Ugandans.

“When we (government) propose a tax it must be affordable and reasonable. We don’t think approx. Shs70,000 a year for social media is unreasonable. A tax is a small but affordable contribution, not a punishment. We should finance our budget fully.  We will account for the resources we get from tax collection”, he stated.

He further stated that the use of VPN to evade paying tax will be countered.

“We have contacted UCC so that usage of VPNs to access social media is stopped. The other good opportunity we have is that it’s more expensive using VPNs than simply paying the social media tax of Shs200”.

Bahati explained that the government needs to raise money to provide services.

Jolly Kaguhangire, the Uganda Investment Authority Executive Director has refused to leave office 24 hours after the board of directors interdicted her for corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office, among other charges.

In a letter dated June 27, 2018, Kaguhangire wrote to the Chairman UIA Board of Directors, Emely Kugonza, contesting his directive on grounds that the 51st Board Meeting that resolved to send her on forced, was illegal as it did not have quorum and was conducted in haste and bad taste.

“The purpose of this letter therefore is to inform you that the Board in the aforementioned meeting to interdict me was irregular, void and illegal. This serves to inform you that I am still in office as the UIA Executive Director carrying out my duties and the mandate of the Authority,” she noted.

Kaguhangire argued that her dismissal fell short of the ethical standards as per the Investment Code of Conduct which include a 7-day prior notice, a clear agenda and no conflict of interest for involved parties.

“The allegations made against me are unfounded, totally baseless and I remain available to answer them satisfactorily in an unbiased forum,” she wrote.

watch the space