Fazila, not her real name who hails from Gobero Mukono, Uganda has just returned from Jordan. She narrates how her free time was utilized while still in Jordan. Fazila first worked as a maid before being given a child care work at her Boss’ company.
The evening was always for making extra money. She washed blood stained panties for women and girls. Some Jordanians without maids would bring their laundry to Fazila .
She earned 1 to 8 dollars per evening which increased her earning.
She advises Migrant workers to utilize their leisure in doing active work but also have enough sleep to refresh for the next day’s work.
However, leisure moments for one Migrant worker may not be the same for another. Joy Masika who is currently working in Jordan as a domestic worker spends her free time on social media. She says social media especially TikTok relieves her sadness.
She creates TikTok videos to entertain herself and her fans. Joy also uses the leisure time to communicate with her family in Uganda through WhatsApp video calls and voice notes enabled by access to WiFi available at work place.
“My Boss granted me access to WiFi and freedom of internet” stresses Joy.
Joy dancing in her leisure time. Dancing is one way of re energizing after work.
What is leisure? This is time when you are not working, time when you can do whatever you want, or enjoyable activities that you do when you are not working.
“A free time is an entitlement in the contract between the migrant worker and the Boss” explains Mr. Zaif Ssekazi, the systems Administrator at Leaven Holdings limited recruitment Agency Uganda. Leisure does not only include resting after work but also having off days on weekend.
“Their weekend is different because their Monday is our sunday” stresses Zaif.
He further says the worker makes a choice of how to spend leisure. Either the worker chooses to spend free time indoors, call her friends or goes out.
According to International Labour Organization Regulatory frameworks governing migrant workers in Jordan, resting periods are agreed upon between the domestic worker and the Boss.
The working period is eight hours per day excluding breaks. Women are entitled to a minimum 10 hour rest between each working day.
Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays, good company, good conversation – what are they? They are the happiest people in the world.
Employees allover the world need leisure to reenergize and satisfy psychological needs. Despite the negative stories flooding in media, the fact is that without leisure, these workers would be in a terrible health state. Imagine a machine that works without repair! Leisure re energise them. Do not forget,” Work without play makes Jill a dull boy.
Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.
On the 18th of March 2020, the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni suspended all religious gatherings alongside other places like schools. For a period of six months Christians and Moslems all over the country were worshiping from their homes. On the 1st of October 2020 the President eased lockdown on the places of worship by allowing 70 people to attend prayers.
The President of Uganda
The ministry of health come up with standard operating procedures to be followed by religious places and urged them to follow these guidelines so as to help curb the spread of the corona virus which started in Uganda on the 21st of March 2020. From only 70 people to200 people , we find out if these guidelines are being followed.
At St Francis Chapel Makerere, a few Christians gather to attend the first service of the day which start at 7:00am. Everyone is required…
Men enjoying wine in a bar. Photo Credit: Eagles online.
A number of institutions in Uganda were put under lockdown due to the outbreak of COVID19 global pandemic just as in other parts of the world. The lockdown was imposed to curb down the drastic spread of the deadly corona virus.
This action however affected the activities of these different institutions as their businesses came to a standstill. The ministry of health decided to rethink their decisions as the disease took longer the estimated time, partial reopening of some institutions with strict guidance on the following of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were made.
This gave hope to the affected institutions because they were sure of restarting their businesses once again. The reopening of the bars and drinking places has however remained a mystery because the ministry of health believes that in these two places, the SOPs will be neglected.
It is believed that when the bar attendants gets intoxicated, they will soon forget that COVID 19 exist hence risking their lives and the lives of others as well. The incident has however happened at a very crucial time that bar services were highly needed.
This is because in Uganda, there is a great culture of marrying alcohol with political campaigns. Politicians often met their voters at the drinking places, bought for them drinks as they lay out their manifestos.
This has been barred due to the continued lockdown on the bars and drinking places which is making it very hard for some politicians to gather their electorates in order to carry out their campaigns.
Bar owners are so much disappointed on the continued lockdown on their business while others have been reopened adding that they would be making money as politicians come to their bars in search for electorates at bars.
Video Credit: Kasuku Live
On November 13th this year, the association of bar owners, with approximately 200 active members, told reporters in Kampala that they felt their business was being discriminated in the reopening process yet, they can also apply the SOPs to contain the spread of the virus as they bring back their businesses to life.
“We therefore wish to make a plea to the government to allow us re-open our businesses with strict adherence to COVID 19 Standard Operating Procedures,” they said, adding: “the unprecedented nature of the pandemic has changed our way of life and how businesses operate and bars are not an exception.”
Bar owners also launched a face mask with a zipper called “munywa beer” which literally means “you drink beer”. (Photo-munywa mask).
Video Credit: Urban TV Uganda
Although this period used to be the favorite for the bar owners who would receive a number of guests and most especially the politicians hosting their electorates, this year it is impossible because bars still remains under lockdown. Manager A1 Pub bar and restaurant in Apac Mr Daniel Okello gives his view about the effects of continued closure on bars in Uganda.
Christian leaders in Uganda are protesting “uneven” coronavirus restrictions they say violate their freedom to worship. Photo Credit: Uganda Christian Online
The outbreak of COVID19 global pandemic affected the activities of different institutions across the world. Its threat led to the locking down a number of institutions across the world in order to curb down the spread of the deadly virus. Worship places has been among the institutions under lockdown.
Government re-opening churches. Photo Credit: Nile Post
The government of Uganda imposed a lockdown on churches in March to reduce the spread of the virus most especially at the worship places. However, after six months of a total lockdown, a partial reopening of the worship places was made with strict guidelines from the ministry of health and a limited number of congregants per service.
The ministry restricted the number of people attending each service 70 in order for them to observe social distance during the service. Religious leaders however complained that the policy is unfair because there are different worship places with different sizes.
“My own cathedral, for example, averages 4,000 people on a Sunday spread across three different services. To cater for all 4,000 people in groups of 70, we would need to schedule 57 different worship services, which is simply not practical”. Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba
Religious leaders appealed to the government to reconsider the guidelines and offer maximum seating based on the number of square meters in the worship space rather than a fixed number of people, regardless of the size of room. The ministry of health reacted to the complaint by lifting the number of congregants to 200 people per service.
St. Francis chapel C.O.U Makerere university is one of the churches that have closely adhered to following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).At the church entrance, every Christian must wash their hands before entering the church. While in church, social distancing is highly observed, sanitizers are plugged on the wall in order for Christians accessing the church to sanitize regularly and wearing of face masks is also compulsory in St. Francis chapel.
Washing hands utilities at the entrance of St. Francis Chapel. Video Credit: Ajok Dilish IsabellaA christian sanitizing after a service: Photo Credit: Ajok Dilish Isabella
After each session, the church is thoroughly sanitized to disinfect the environment for the next session.
Church being sanitized. Video Credit: Ajok Dilish Isabella
The Chaplain St. Francis, Reverend, Onesmus alias uncle O urges the congregation to continue following the SOPs for their own safety.
However, not all the worship places are observing the SOPs, some have completely abandoned them, they do not bother to put on face mask, social distancing is not observed and the service runs normally like the days before COVID 19.
Christians fail to observe the SOPs during fellowship. photo credit: Biira Hellen
The leader of these group gives us the reasons as to why the congregation cannot abide by the rule imposed by the ministry of health.
Allan Odongo, ministry leader- Lango Gospel Outreach ministries says he often advises the members to follow the SOPs but often time, they forget to carry their masks and it becomes very hard for him to chase them away from fellowship. He adds that the members are strong believers and strongly believe that God will protect them from COVID 19.
On April 3rd this year, Kampala Capital City Authority closed Kalerwe market alongside other markets like due to poor public health practices amid the global breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic. Later on April 21st, the market was reopened after the vendors cleaned and reorganized their stalls.
Video credit:NTV Uganda
However, it seems the Kalerwe market vendors have forgotten nothing and learnt nothing about the previous closure. They have abandoned the standard operating procures of maintaining the four meter physical distancing, having water tanks at the entrance of their stalls, wearing masks and sanitizing. these were the guidelines that the Minister for Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng recommended.
A snipped picture from the MOH guidelines on markets.
When one enters Kalerwe market, it seems as if there is no Covid 19 in the country since the the strings that were once used to enforce social distancing and control contact between vendors and customers have been removed allowing free entry and exit, a precursor for contact transmission of the virus.
photo credit: chimreports
The markets have also stopped enforcing the handwashing and removed some of the handwashing stations that were initially set up, even though Hand hygiene has been fronted as extremely important to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 the virus which is transmitted through respiratory droplets or contact. Hand Washing has been used over the years to interrupt the transmission of all viruses and bacteria causing common colds, flu, and pneumonia.
They have forgotten masks. Video Credit: Biira Hellen
Market vendors and buyers still transact as if there are no guidelines that they need to follow. Street vendors, market stalls and shops have no washing utensils at the entrance, there is no social distancing between the vendors themselves and their buyers. On the issue of masks,both sides seem to have forgotten about masks.
No social Distancing in the Market. Video Credit: Biira Hellen
Abbey Kimtai, a vegetable vendor in Kalerwe market says that Corvid 19 is a political intention by the President of Uganda noting that social distancing cannot favor bargaining with customers.
NAMULINDWA explaining how they are tired of SOPs: Audio Credit: Biira Hellen
Basing on what Abbey and Namulindwa say, there is need for intervention by KCCA, Ministry for Health and even the uganda police to enforce the SOPs in market vendors since they take Covid 19 to be a political intention.
No washing facilities, no masks and no social distancing. Photo credit: Biira Hellen
As Ugandans await to cast their valuable votes to choose a leader, they need to be aware of which leader is capable of taking Uganda ahead. Voters don’t need to cast their votes because of how much a candidate has offered but what the candidate views Uganda in 2021.
“The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in democratic society, and we must use it” John Lewis
Here are the nominated presidential candidates, their backgrounds, Manifestos, the nature of their campaigns, Police/Military actions towards them and finally their reactions towards the brutality.
1.Gen.Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, National Resistance Movement(NRM).
PHOTO CREDIT: Nettech Reliable Media
President Museveni, who has been Uganda’s president since 1986, is seeking another five year term after successfully removing a clause in the Constitution that would have, otherwise, barred him from standing on account of his age (he will be 76 next year).
He was the first to be successfully nominated on Nov. 02. Later in the evening, Museveni unveiled the National Resistance Movement 2021-2026 manifesto whose theme is: “Securing Your Future”.
Museveni says the NRM government has an unmatched record of performance and a clear vision of securing future of all Ugandans.He says the manifesto is only building on the success of NRM. “We are now ready for takeoff,” he said. Museveni says after years of turmoil, it is the first time ever that Uganda is enjoying more than three decades of uninterrupted stable democratic process based on the ruling party’s core principles of democracy, patriotism, and Pan-Africanism.
2. Hon Kyagulanyi Robert, National Unity Platform (NUP).
Photo credit: CBS FM Buganda
He is the incumbent Member of Parliament Kyadondo East. Bobi Wine as commonly known is a graduate from Makerere University with a degree in law and Music Dance and Drama. Bobi Wine started revealing his activism in his songs like Jennifer, and Freedom. he promises to lead a people centered government with full enjoyment of rights and freedoms by the citizens..
Kyagulanyi has promised to run a people-centred government where all Ugandans will fully enjoy all their freedoms. Kyagulanyi said shortly after his nomination that his would open a new chapter of action and close that of lamentation. Kyagulanyi says his government intends to increase the pay of the security forces (soldiers, police and prison officers) which he claims is miserable. He also intends to improve access to affordable quality health care for all Ugandans.
Video credit: Cavton Music
Nature of Kyagulanyi’s campaigns. On most occasions, his campaigns are brutally suppressed by the Uganda Police. The campaigns are characterized by teargas, brutal arrests of supporters or Kyagulanyi himself, denial to access the already booked campaigning venues or lodges. Bobi wine halted his campaigns and reported all the brutalities to the Electoral Commision which later gave him new security guards. However, as if this ignited the Uganda Police to brutalise Bobi Wine and even extended the brutality to journalists covering the campaigns he resumed.
The campaigning military environment. Bobi wine forced to spend night in a car after being denied access by Uganda Police. Photo: Gossip Spot
On Friday 11th this month, the Electoral Commission has summoned National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine for alleged persistent breach of the electoral guidelines and standard operating procedures to control the spread of Coronavirus.
3. Gen Mugisha Muntu, Alliance for National Transformation (A.N.T)
PHOTO CREDIT: PML Daily
Gen. Mugisha Muntu is a former Guerilla National Resistance Army with Yoweri Museveni. In 2008, Muntu unsuccessfully contested against Dr. Kiiza Besigye as party president. He lost to Dr. Kiiza Besigye in three consecutive flag bearers race. He lost his seat to Patrick Amuriat Oboi, a former Kumi Lawmaker in 2017. In September 2018, Mugisha Muntu and his supporters quit the FDC party to form a new party called Alliance for National Transformation.
Inside Muntu’s draft Manifesto
https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/muntu-unveils-campaign-team-hints-on-manifesto-ahead-of-launch-2733606 Muntu promises tolerance of divergent views, Respect, mobilize people to embrace national development, Preach peace and foster conflict resolution, anti-corruption; creation of public awareness, enforce punishment after conviction, demonstrate exemplary leadership and strengthen Anti-Corruption institutions to recover proceeds of corruption and make corruption very risky.
Muntu too has not survived Teargas and police brutalirty.like other opposition and independent presidential candidates especially Robert Kyagulanyi of National Unity Platform.
Police foil early A.N.T rally.
4. Nobert Mao, Democratic Party (DP)
PHOTO CREDIT: BRUCE NUWAGABA
Nobert Mao is a politician, lawyer, and currently the presidential flag bearer for president of DP since 2010. Nobert is a former Makerere University Guild President from 1990-1991. He played a very big role in uniting the LRA and the government of Uganda in 2006 when he was the Local council v for Gulu District. He preached reconciliation between the government of Ugandaand the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.
LRA Vincent Ottii (right) chating with Gulu with the then Lc5 Chairman Nobert Mao when the leaders from Northern Uganda visited Garamba. Photo by Alex Odongo
DP Manifesto. Reclaiming your future
Mao too has not been left out by teargas, bullets and venue blocking by the uganda police. however sepite all those acts by police, he is still firm and ready to lead ugnada in 2021.
5.Patrick Oboi Amuriat, Forum for Democratic change (FDC)
Photo credit: stella nyanzi @twitter
Patrick Oboi Amuriat is Third President of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) since 2017 when he won Gen Mugisha Muntu on the same seat. He is a former Kumi Municipality FDC Chairperson and former Kumi County MP (2001 – 2016). He is an enginner by profession. Patrick started experiencing police brutality on the nomination day in kyambogo where he had to walk bear foot to the nomination grounds.
Last Friday, Amuriat was summoned by the Electoral Commision for alleged persistent breach of the electoral guidelines and standard operating procedures to control the spread of Coronavirus.
Patrick Oboi Amuriat walking bear footed after police seized him. Photo credit: PML Daily
Despite all the brutalalities, Patrick is still patriotic and ready to lead Uganda no matter how the police tries to intimidate him.
6. Pastor Joseph Kabuleeta, Independent.
Pastor Joseph Kabuleeta who is commonly called the financial liberator is a former sports journalist. In July last year, he was arrested because of his social media posts. He was accused of using offensive messages to critique the regime of President Museveni. This instead increased patriotism in him as he intends to liberate ugandans financially.
He is an opinionated writer but this time was arrested because that article.
The first real problem, he said, is reviving the economic welfare of Ugandans, saying the issue of financial liberation is crucial because “there has been an intentional design by the government to impoverish everybody”.
Mr Kabuleta pledged to use his first days in office to reverse what he termed as deliberate impoverishment of Ugandans and focus on putting money in the pockets of Ugandans, especially the young people. He also stressed that economic conversation is the most important dialogue Ugandans should engage in under his slogan, reclaiming our Country.
7. Nancy Kalembe, Independent
photo credit: uganda Radio Network
Nancy is the only lady in the race and is mostly called the “iron lady”. As Africnas think a woman is inferior, Nancy is boldly campaigning on the same seat with 10 men. In 2003, she joined the Miss Uganda contest and although she did not emerge winner, she was voted Miss Intelligence, earning her a job with Sanyu FM.She is the founder of Spring Clean, a cleaning company, and Mbalimbali Ltd, a pineapple juice and jam-producing company based in Nakawa. Before reaching these heights, Kalembe, 34, tasted the varied waters of employment. She worked as a news anchor at the then Uganda Television (UTV). All the above potray Nancy as a competent woman who can also lead uganda in 2021.
Nancy on what she will do for Ugandans. Video CREDIT: NTV Uganda
Nancy too has also been teased by the uganda police. Being a woman, she potrayed the sense of stregth and still holds on to the goal of being the president of Uganda.
8. Pator Fred Mwesigye, Indpendent
Photo credit: Uganda Elects 2021
Fred Mwesigye, a born-again Ugandan Pastor and father of 5 children, is among several individuals who intend to challenge veteran leader Yoweri Museveni for the presidency next year.
The 39-year-old recently declared his intention to run for president in the 2021 polls, and also unveiled his manifesto saying this is the time for Ugandans to “resolve and get the nation back to its foundation.”
“You can draw this from the National anthem where it’s stated, “Oh Uganda, may God uphold thee.” They further had it in mind that leadership is supposed to be in service to God first
For him, this will achieve by working with all God-fearing people without discrimination or favor, but recognizing individual merit, personal abilities and credibility. “I’m non-partisan. I neither belong to the ruling NRM party nor the main stream opposition. I stand as an independent with a Godly impulse to make a difference through the political sphere that will have a positive impact and effect on Uganda and on Africa as a whole,” he says.
Pastor has no manifesto about what he will do for ugandans but bases on God’s love as his campaign slogan is called “the era of love”. he says that with love, everything is possible. He too has also exchanged bitter words with police.
9.Katumba John, Independent
John is 24 years old and the youngest in the race and he as promised to develop and boost the Boda-Boda Industry saying the industry employs millions of youths.
According to Katumba, the Boda-Boda industry that employs both the educated and the uneducated youths must be looked at critically as one of the ways of dealing with unemployment in the country.
He says despite the fact that the industry plays a pivotal role in uplifting the standards of youth employed in the sector and fighting unemployment, the current regime has not bothered to consider the youths in the Boda-Boda industry in its development plans.
He too has exchanged bitter words with the uganda Police.
Katumba beat security to address mini-meetings in Jinja central market: photo credit by capital times.
10. Gen Henry Tumukunde, Independent
photo credit: Watchdog Uganda
Henry Tumukunde is a retired senior military officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). He was the Minister of National Security in the Cabinet of Uganda.
He was appointed to that position on 6 June 2016. On 4 March 2018, he was relieved of his duties in a cabinet reshuffle.
On November 18th, he joined other opposition presidential candidates to suspend campaigns due to police suppression as a sign of solidarity and dissatisfaction with the Uganda police that is harassing other presidential candidates. Tumukunde however has resumed with campaigns though his supporters turn in low numbers. On some occasions, Gen Tumukunde has resorted to abandoning campaigns due to empty campaigning venues.
11. Willy Mayambala
photo credit: Independent
Mayambala, who has severally confessed about the heavy financial burden he is experiencing to run his campaigns, has only covered districts in the central region since he was nominated and cleared by the Electoral Commission to canvas for votes.
Mayambala said he has been forced to cancel most of his long-distance campaigns because of transport challenges.
According to Mayambala, he has opted to spend much of his time on radio and television talk shows and interviews in Kampala to disseminate his message to voters across the country.
A week after Lt. Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde launched himself on the frontlines of next year’s presidential election, Intelligence agencies have begun viewing suspiciously activities of at least 10 members of Parliament believed to be working closely with the former security minister.
A well placed security source told The Observer that President Museveni got wind of Tumukunde’s presidential ambition at the close of last year when the former head of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Internal Security Organisation (ISO) met clandestinely with a former losing presidential candidate.
The former presidential candidate, according to insider sources, was approached by Tumukunde in his attempt to expand his political mobilization network across the country.
After meeting the retired general, the former presidential candidate alerted the president weeks later, insider sources say. In the process of verifying the information volunteered by the former presidential candidate, security officials picked information that the former spymaster was also in contact with some MPs from central Buganda and the eastern Bukedi regions.
Security officials are now interested in the November 2019 trip Tumukunde made to Mukujju in the eastern Uganda district of Tororo for the funeral of Ronald Asangai. The deceased was a brother to Tororo North MP Annet Nyakecho.
Map showing Mukujju, Tororo District.
“We understand that she invited him to the funeral so he could get a platform to put across his message,” the source said.
At the funeral, Tumukunde urged Ugandans to take the future of their country seriously.
“You seem to be obsessed about today, not thinking about tomorrow. To me, that is absconding from responsibility. All the time think about tomorrow and address your persons and self to tomorrow,” Tumukunde told the mourners.
Besides Nyakecho, the source also said Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko, an NRM leaning independent and Buikwe South’s Ronnie David Mutebi are on the intelligence watch list.
“It is true; I work with him as a volunteer mobiliser, and a volunteer national coordinator. Gen Tumukunde has been a long term colleague of mine, not just a colleague, but a friend-colleague with whom we have been doing a lot of work for NRM,” Nyakecho said.
She said their working relationship started in Parliament when Tumukunde, as Security minister sat as an ex-officio member. Interviewed for a comment, Mutebi roundly denied any dealings with Tumukunde. He said, “I am still the NRM flag bearer for Buikwe South and firmly an NRM supporter. I am therefore not involved with him on anything.”
Nsereko however, said that although Tumukunde hadn’t contacted him yet, he doesn’t mind working with him.
“If he has joined the opposition, the question would be, what would be wrong with him working with Bobi Wine [Robert Kyagulanyi], [Kizza] Besigye, [Mugisha] Muntu to achieve unity?” He has not yet contacted me but if he does so, I will discuss with him with a warm heart just like all the others. I know that is reverse psychology from [the security] but if it were the case, as shadow minister for Security, I welcome him. What we ask for is unity,” Nsereko said.
Winnie Babihuga, former Mp Rukungiri : Photo credit: Gurtog Trust
Tumukunde is also understood to be working with former MPs; Beatrice Kiraso (Kabarole) and Winnie Babihuga (Rukungiri). Babihuga who currently works with the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is not new to opposition politics.
As a member of the sixth Parliament, Babihuga backed homeboy Dr Kizza Besigye after he authored the famous 1999 missive that called for an overhaul of the Movement ideology.
When Besigye chose to challenge Museveni in the 2001 presidential election, Babihuga joined the Reform Agenda campaign team.
Currently, she is a member of Tumukunde’s central committee chaired by Kiraso, a principal policy advisor for the Addis Ababa based UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and former deputy Secretary General of the East African Community.
“Some of us got shocked when Mzee appointed him as minister for Security. Knowing what he did during the [2016] campaigns, putting him in such a sensitive docket wasn’t a good idea,” the security source said.
Tumukunde allegedly, used to his benefit, the resources Museveni gave him to dismantle former Prime Minister and 2016 presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s mobilization networks.
“We had two teams in that campaign that would move ahead of [Museveni] to assess the mood on the ground and brief him on the issues that would inform his campaign message. But I can tell you that everywhere we went, talking to the clusters, Tumukunde’s presence would be felt,” the source said.
The source said Tumukunde had listening posts in all the clusters and surprisingly the reports he compiled were never submitted to the president.
Though at first the retired general was deployed largely to serve the interests of a member of Museveni’s household who harboured presidential ambitions, it still puzzles the intelligence community how he cleverly upstaged the supposed beneficiary of his political activities.
The other area of interest is Tumukunde’s new found love for Rwanda. During his appearance last Thursday on NBS TV’s Morning Breezeshow, Tumukunde said the best way to end the Uganda–Rwanda tensions was for Rwanda to support someone who wants to cause change in Uganda.
Tumukunde is known to have authored reports that exposed former Police Chief Gen Kale Kayihura’s close contact with Kigali. The reports resulted in the October 2017 arrest of Kayihura’s men in the police and their arraignment before the Makindye based General Court Martial.
Kayihura was sacked 16 months later before his arrest and trial before the same court.
WHO IS TUMUKUNDE?
Tumukunde is a retired high ranking military officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). He is a former minister for security –appointed to the position on June 6 2016 and dropped on March 4 2018.
He is also a qualified lawyer. He has served as the UPDF’s chief of personnel and administration, chief of military intelligence as well as commanding officer of the UPDF Fourth Division, based in Gulu. He has also previously served as the director general of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). Tumukunde was also a Member of Parliament representing the Army in the Parliament of Uganda between 1995 and 2005.
He was born on February 28 1959 in Rukungiri District. He attended Bishop Stuart College Demonstration School for his primary schooling. He studied at Kigezi College Butobere (Siniya) and Kibuli Secondary School for his O-Level and A-Level education, respectively.
Tumukunde graduated from Makerere University with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1981. He obtained a Diploma in Legal Practice awarded by the Law Development Centre in 2010. He also holds an Executive Masters in Oil and Gas Management, awarded by the Graduate Institute of Geneva in 2013.
On March 3 2020, Tumukunde declared that he will be challenging Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the seat of presidency come 2021. This comes after a cabinet reshuffle left him without a position in the cabinet. In a press briefing, Tumukunde attributed his decision to the fact that NRM party and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni were not ready to discuss a peaceful transition of power.
During his time at Makerere, Tumukunde was involved in anti-government politics, which subsequently led him to join then rebels, the National Resistance Army, led by current Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
GETTING SHOT
In 1985, during one of the bigger battles with the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) in Luweero District, Tumukunde was shot multiple times in his legs.
The wounds were so major that it was thought he would not survive. He was, however, smuggled out of the country to Nairobi and eventually to London where he was operated on.
makerere campussers dressed in mini dresses, crop tops and bikins.
What is the unique feature of public universities in Uganda? Well, you may not know but its freedom to do whatever one feels. Its manifestation is freedom to dress in any way one wants. Students are free to dress in mini dresses, transparent scars, crop tops, damaged trousers, and mini skirts. well, one may refer to it as indecent dressing but its the utilization of their freedom. Some people are irritated by that kind of dressing and some just ignore while others hail them for exercising their freedom.
makerere students during a finalist dinner.
An anonymous professor once proposed uniforms for campussers arguing that their immoral dressing entices some members of the institution staff to end up sexually advancing them. his suggestion has been backed up many opinions and arguments who include Ms Okwal Ruth. Ruth argues that the dressing is a symptom of another bigger problem, that the students are trying to communicate to the public. Either in the university or in the country. But I guess, they are striking silently against certain course. Its prudent for the university and the police to find out why other than threatening them with disciplinary or other court procedures. These are learnt fellows, they know what they are doing. They look determined for better or worse. So???? Treat the cause but not the symptoms
Oyinkansola Bolanji explains the different indecent dressing among women.
“Freedom too must have a or some limit, otherwise it would be meaningless” stresses MK Akankunda.
Judas who prefered his surname anonymous says that MUK should know that they are admitting hot excited young girls these days and so the rules should change from the laissez fais of the old geezers of the 70s to suit the age bracket of their clients.
“There is too much freedom for these young girls at our universities which is not healthy for their personal development” stresses Judas. Introduce some strict rules like UCU has done. Otherwise I don’t blame her for wanting to share her ‘hotness’ in an environment that enables her to do so. It is MUK to shape up.
What is your opinion on this?
Drop your opinon : Biira Hellen on Twitter, Instagram and face book
Photo of the MV Templar: Photo Credit- Uganda Radio Network
What caused it? what next for water transport in Uganda?
A year ago, on the evening of Saturday 24th November 2018, MV Templar, a boat carrying over 100 revelers from KK beach Kampala to K-Palm Beach in Mpatta Subcounty, Mukono district capsized on Lake Victoria before it could reach its destination leaving over 30 people dead. Through investigations and confessions from locals, the cause of the marine accident was due to the poor condition of the boat.
According to Uganda Radio Network, a welder who was only identified as Umar at Ggaba beach says he was called to help fix the MV Templar boat that same afternoon. The vessel had been grounded for two weeks while undergoing repair and it is on that day that it was released from K- Palm beach to go to KK beach to pick the revelers who would spend their afternoon partying at K-Palm Beach. Since it was not in its perfect condition, it was pushed from the land by a tractor which is believed to have punctured it in the process.
Joseph Harold, a survivor of the fateful accident in an interview with NBS investigative journalist, Raymond Mujuni said that the boat could not reach the shoreline and so they had to board small canoes to reach it. He also noted that while on the way, they stopped for about 30 minutes while the boat was being repaired.
“There is a time it actually stopped in the middle of the water before it actually got dark. It stopped for like 30 minutes and you could see the captain and the gentleman who had prepared the boat for us would go under some part and then they would be asking for certain equipment and try to fidget with the boat. That’s when we realized that something was missing,” said Joseph in an interview.
Marine Accidents in Uganda
The MV Templar tragedy is one of the many tragedies that have happened on Lake Victoria and other water bodies in Uganda leaving many people orphans, widows and widowers. According to the 2013 Annual Crime Report, cases of drowning in Uganda’s water bodies including rivers and lakes rose by 27% in 2013.
Mary Twesigomwe, a Makerere University student doing a Master’s Degree in Law said that these accidents have been happening overtime. In her thesis about Twesigomwe traces the history of such tragic accidents in Uganda. In May 1996, a ferry sank in Lake Victoria on its way to Mwanza in Tanzania, killing about 800 people and on 10th August 2010, the New Vision Newspaper reported that 70 Ugandans perished on Lake Albert. On 21st July, it was reported that one person died and three rushed to hospital after a boat capsized on Lake Victoria and on 3rd February 2012, the New Vision Further reported that five people were killed on Lake Bisina after a boat capsized. On 3rd March 2012, the New vision Newspaper reported that 60 people died after a boat from Kiyindi to Buvuma Islands on Lake Victoria capsized.
What has been causing these accidents?
According to a Transport Sector Review Report for 2016/2017, Uganda’s water transport sector is messy, mainly governed by archaic laws. The report says that most of the boats that transport between six to eight million people annually are informal, mainly modeled by local fishermen and can hardly meet safety standards.
The government report, signed by the Cabinet Minister of Works and transport Monica Azuba Ntege further said that the overall navigation on Ugandan waters remain risky.
“This is largely because of 90% of the vessels are of traditional build and our waterbodies lack hydrographical and bathymetrical charts, except those that were conducted on Lake Victoria charted in 1901,” says the report.
The report further added that the charts on Lake Victoria are too old to be relied on for safe navigation especially around populated islands.
The law
It’s because of such reasons that one wonders whether there is a law on marine transport in Uganda and whether it is effective. In Uganda, the major laws governing water transport are, the Inland Water Transport Control Act revised edition 1964, the Vessel Registration Act 1904 and the Ferries Act.
Has anything been done?
The causes of the MV Templar tragedy clearly show that there is lack of monitoring of the vessels that go on water. According to the sources interviewed, the boat had mechanical problems which led to the accident. Maybe the accident would not have happened if there was an authority that had put a stop to this boat cruise considering the condition of the boat.
In an interview done by NTV journalist, Andrew Kyamagero, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Charles Twine said that the boat owners and its captain cannot be prosecuted because they are dead. He therefore called upon Ugandans to be careful while planning on sailing on water.
“So, we are basically sensitizing people to take caution before they go to any water,” said Twine.
The State Minister for Transport, Aggrey Bagiire, in the same report said that the government has already taken action to skill people in monitoring and evaluation of vessels that sail on water.
“We have established a department in the Ministry of Works and Transport headed by a Commissioner. Now we are recruiting staff and some of the young men and women who were recruited have been taken out and some are back. They have really got the skills to manage, monitor and evaluate, giving regulations and guidelines on what kind of vessels, how many numbers, when to move, where to move on our waters,” said Bagiire.
“We started on inducting the law, this law is going to tackle on all aspects of giving guidance on how we can operate on water,” he added.
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