Day

By Our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala

The chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC),Sylvia Ntambi was today remanded to Kigo Prison until November 4, 2020 by the Anti-Corruption Court.

Ntambi appeared before court to answer 25 charges related to abuse of office. She arrived at court amidst heavy security.

Previously, Ntambi had failed to appear in court after her lawyer MacDusman Kabega said she was unwell and had been admitted at Medik hospital.

However this version was challenged by one of the witnesses today at court, a medical assistant at the facility, who said Ntambi was never admitted at the facility.

“We did not have any patient by the names of Sylvia Ntambi,” the assistant said, leaving many people stunned.

Later she was remanded to Kigo prison by Magistrate Lamunu Ochaya.

Among other charges, Ntambi is accused of “neglecting her duties of directing the affairs and administration of the commission thereby leading to gross mismanagement of the commission’s funds.”

Ntambi is charged with other nine suspects from the same commission.

At first, she had been expected to appear before court on September 30 to plead to the charges but she did not citing a busy schedule. Later her lawyer said she was ill.

According to the charge sheet, her co-accused are: Agnes Enid Kamahoro, 48; Moses Mugabe, 38; Mujuni Mpitsi, 49; Harriet Byangire, 37; Ronnie Kwesiga, 33; Evans Jjemba, 35; Manasseh Kwihangana, 39; Sarah Nassanga, 43 and Nicholas Sunday Olwor, 51.

By our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kampala

Shock has engulfed Labour Externalization Sector after a fresh letter signed by Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development’s ‘Commissioner of Labour, Lawrence Egulu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary approving a job order of Saliwa Recruitment Agency Uganda Limited leaked.

 It should be noted that export of workers is still under temporary government suspension ever since COVID-19 lockdown.

The letter dated 26^th October, 2020 to the Managing Director of Saliwa Recruitment Agency titled “Job Order Approval For Saliwa Recruitment Agency Uganda Limited “, leaked on social media on Wednesday morning indicating that it was responding to a submission dated 20^th October 2020 requesting clearance of a job order to take 50 Ugandans to work as cleaners in United Arab Emirates under AL AQSA FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

“Reference is made to your submission dated 20th October 2020 on the above subject and accompanying details,” the letter reads, adding: “This request has been evaluated and found to meet the requirements of the pertinent provisions of the Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers Abroad) Regulation, 2005 and Guideline 13.0 of the Guidelines on the Recruitment and Placement of Uganda Migrant Workers Abroad, 2015.”

It continues that  “The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to inform you that the (50) employment opportunities offered by AL AQSA FACILITIES MANAGEMENT in United Arab Emirates have been posted and are advertised on our website”.

The same letter signed by Lawrence Egulu on behalf of Permanent Secretary thus concludes “Your Company is urged to continue following the provisions of the Regulations and Guidelines throughout the recruitment and deployment process of this category of Ugandan migrant workers”.

Players in the labour externalization sector have questioned the ownership of this ‘special company’, claiming that it is owned by some top government officials including Labour Ministry staff.

Sources add that ever since the re-opening of the airport, the company in question has been taking Ugandans out of the country to different countries in the Middle East yet the entire industry remains closed.

The source added that the 33 girls that were recently intercepted at the airport being sneaked out of the country to UAE belonged to Saliwa Recruitment Agency.

It should be remembered that recently before Labor recruitment agencies closed shop, there had been forces of push and pull between the licensed recruitment agencies and ministry of Labour who is their regulator, with agencies accusing the ministry of deliberate continuous closure of labour externalization even after government opened airport and borders.

Labour exporting companies say this has caused them huge losses and increased human trafficking in the country.

This followed Ministry’s communication in a press release that they (MOGLSD) were reviewing the current suspension of externalization of labour.

“Accordingly, the Minister of Gender, labor& Social Development has written to the Minister of Health seeking advice on the feasibility of reopening externalization of labour,” the release read, adding: “This should of course be subject to fulfillment of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures put in place by Government of Uganda and other authorities in the respective destination countries:

The Minister of Labor Gender and Social Development Frank Tumwebaze suspended operations of Labor externalization in late March as the country was getting into COVID-19 induced lockdown and it’s estimated that so far, over 35,000 Ugandans have lost job opportunities in the last seven months of continuous closure of the sector.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Elly Karenzi

www.mknewslink.com

In Ibanda

Several mourners from Ibanda , Ankole and Buganda regions yesterday thronged at Kyarutanga cell in Ibanda municipality  to mourn and bid farewell  to a renown British lawyer who succumbed to lung cancer and high blood pressure which he has battled for over one year.

Mr. John Yahaya Prescort, a renowned lawyer who has been living in Crisdon town, London in United Kingdom passed away on 14^th July 2020 at the age of 71.

Prescott’s body has been lying in the Hospital in London due to Covid-19.

His body was escorted by many friends and well-wishers from London to Kampala and it arrived at Kyarutanga cell yesterday where it was buried in Moslem faith.

According to the wife of the late, Ms Failida Nakazibwe Prescort, her husband left a will behind that his body be cremated to ashes not to be buried in London ,but should be laid to rest at Kyarutanga village at the home of Hajji Amuza  Muganda in Ibanda municipality, Ibanda district.

Ms Failida Prescort said that her husband’s dream and wish were to be buried in Uganda as he loved Africa so much and his wife is born in Ibanda district.

The couple tied the knot in the Moslem’s faith in 2005 in London where they promised to be together till the death separates them.

Hajji Amuza Muganda described the late Prescott as his brother in law, because his sister Failida Nakazibwe is a Ugandan woman who was married to Mr. Prescort in Moslem faith.

The funeral function was conducted by Ibanda District Khadi, Sheik Yusuf Kalule who described the late Prescott as a dedicated moslem who liked his faith.

He said that the lawyer built a strong legacy of Muslims in the world who contributed his wealth in constructing mosques, schools and helped the poor ones.

 www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Mitooma

Former deputy government spokesperson late Col Shaban Bantariza has been laid to rest today.

Banatariza was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kagorogoro village Rutookye town council Ruhinda North County, Mitooma District at a scientific burial with a limited number of mourners comprising of mostly family members.

Col Bantariza died on Tuesday morning from Mulago National referral hospital. He lost the battle to COVID 19.

Col Bantariza has been hailed as a great orator who was highly spirited in debate, and a loyal NRM party cadre who fought for the liberation of Uganda.

www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
Email: wmuhwezi75@gmail.com
Tel: +256702680106

By Grant Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Kabale

Police in Kabale have blocked musicians who were protesting against the government refusing to give them their share of the 60billions that was put to promote entertainment industry.

Musicians carrying posters written on “Ruhakana Rugunda save Kigezi artists, Bahati save Kabale were blocked by police led by the Kabale DPC Brian Ampeire at Skyline in Kabale town protesting over the government neglecting Kigezi artists.

In an interview with our reporter Denis Arineitwe alias SALS B a musicians in Kigezi said the government has neglected them arguing that Ugandan cabinet donated 30 million shillings to Mbarara musicians leaving Kigezi behind.

However The Kabale District Police Commander Brian Ampeire intervened and called them to Kabale police station and nullified their protest.

Ampeire added that they would have written to police in order to alert them about the protest.