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By YOSAM Gucwaki

in Masindi

Masindi district is to develop a policy on implementation of 30 model schools approach to performance improvement for primary section.

This was revealed by the secretary for education Masindi district Titus Ariyo on Tuesday during the consultative meeting on how to improve academic standards in the district that was organized by Bunyoro Choice Uganda (BCU) in partnership with Forum for Education NGOs (FENU) Uganda at the district headquarters.

Ariyo explained that they have developed a committee which comprises of the District Education Officer, secretary for Education, the Chief Administrative Officer and the technical education head from the municipality.

He added that they are going to select 30 model schools, provide budgetary allocation for it in this financial year saying that they are going to ensure that it is practical.

Sound byte Ariyo

Reacting on the same matter, the district LCV chairperson Masindi district, Cosmas Byaruhanga, noted that the selected schools will be given maximum attention, close monitoring and any support which the district can manage adding that other schools will be coming to learn from these schools.

Sound byte Byaruhanga Cosmas

However, Commenting on the same matter the mayor Masindi municipalty, Joab Businge, said that this is a strategic approach towards improving education but it needs to be handled administratively noting that if the district comes out openly and announce these schools it may sound un fair to the public hence advising the district to first pilot these schools with a level of confidentiality if they see it working out and then they expand.

Sound byte Busing Joab

The district Education Officer Masindi, Francis Kyomuhendo, says  that in order that program to succeed, it will need more resource allocation to the implementing schools compared to other schools adding that it may be hard to be implemented due to the inadequate resources allocated to education department.

By Crispy Kaheru

in Kampala—

Increasingly we are steadily moving towards politically appointed ambassadors.  At a time when global politics seems to be very dynamic and sophisticated, we instead, as a country should be looking more at seconding technical foreign service officers for ambassadorial roles NOT political appointees.  As we speak now, we have more than 70% of our heads of missions politically appointed – this does not portend well for Uganda’s foreign policy.

It takes a career diplomat about eighteen (18) years of technical service to rise to the level of ambassador.  How would an 18 year experienced career diplomat compare with someone who has no experience in Foreign Service?

Some of the appointees are political rejects; their constituencies rejected them during elections – should we set our hopes high on ‘political rejects’ to protect Uganda’s interests abroad?

We need to let the institutions of public service to function – and function effectively.  Government needs to deploy career ambassadors, seasoned, with expertise, knowledge and experience to protect and over see Uganda’s foreign policy.

It is not a matter of sending representative figureheads, but rather professionals who, by virtue of their outstanding career qualities as people, can bring a contribution to diplomacy and to the mission that they are heading.

www.mknewslink.com

By Elly Katahinga

in Ntungamo

At least 70 Rwandan citizens have been deported back to the country after they were intercepted in Ntungamo for illegally accessing the country.

The 70 include 31 children and 28 women who were intercepted in taxis and buses coming from Rwanda without official documents allegedly with intentions to permanently stay in the country.

The Ntungamo district police commander Mr. Baker Kawonawo says while the East Africa Community protocol allows movement of people across borders using respective national Identity cards, there is increasing suspicion of why the Rwandans are entering the country in numbers and crossing through illegal entry points while they are not charged to cross on regular and legal boarder points.

The 70 were produced in Ntungamo grade I Magistrate’s court on January 20 and January 25 admitting to charges of illegal entry. They were cautioned and ordered for deportation.

Kawonawo says most of the deported claim to be visiting friends with in the country but on interrogation tell police that they are following families that have already acquired land and settled in the country in areas of Bunyoro and Toro region where they are going to settle permanently.

BY VANANSIO KAKOGOSO

IN KABALE—
The Kabale Municipality Town Clerk Joseph Kimbowa has come under fire
from Kabale district leaders over absenteeism.
Kimbowa, who was Masaka Municipality town clerk, was posted to Kabale
Municipality as town clerk on 04th July 2016, replacing Charles
Magumba who was posted to Entebbe Municipality. However the leaders
claim that since he came he has abandoned office, which has affected
service delivery.
The Kabale Resident District Commissioner Darius Nandinda accuses the
town clerk Kimbowa of abandoning his duty station which is in Kabale
to spend most of the time in Kampala attending to his personal
businesses.
He says that ever since Kimbowa was appointed town clerk, he has been
rarely seen in office and he is worried that service delivery has been
hampered in the municipality because of the absence of the town clerk.

The Kabale district Chief Administrative officer Abert Matsiko
Mutungwire says that he has received complaints both from political
and technical staff from Kabale municipal council accusing Kimbowa of
absenteeism and withholding money for roads on bank account.

He however says that Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary
instructed him to hold a meeting and verify why  Kimbowa is never
in office by 25th January and give a report of findings.

When contacted on phone, Kimbowa said that he cannot comment on
concerns raised by his superiors.

BY VANANSIO KAKOGOSO

IN KABALE—-
Forum for Democratic Change-FDC offices in Kabale district have been
turned into internet café, inconveniencing its supporters.
The offices that was located at Humura house opposite Kabale-Katuna
roundabout, now its housing Rukundo international internet café.
The supporters argue that since the offices were closed late last year, the
party leadership did not communicate on how they can access FDC
party service.
Samuel Tumukunde a FDC supporter from Bushuro in Kitumba sub county
Kabale district says that it’s unfortunate for Kabale FDC leadership
to close offices as if party activities ended. He is also demanding
for explanation to why the office was closed without informing
stakeholders.
Leopold Twesigye another FDC supporter says that they have been
inconvenienced since the offices were closed. He says that, the party
is surviving at the mercy of party chairman. He however says that the
party leadership should rent another office as soon as possible.

The Chairperson Forum for Democratic change Kabale district Lydia
Turyahumura when contacted on phone said that these are party issues
which cannot discuss in media.

A STONE LAID BY THE DUTCH AFTER COMPLETING TO FUND AND HAND OVER KASHENYI HEALTH CENTER TWO TO ISHAKA DIVISION IN 2012

ISHAKA DIVISION LC111 CHAIRMAN SUSPECTED TO HAVE TAKEN A BRIBE TO RELOCATE THE HEALTH CENTER, MR DEUS MUKYENGA DEFENDING HIMSELF BEFORE WWW.MKNEWSLINK.COM EDITOR

MAYOR JACKSON KAMUGASHA AND ACTING TOWN CLERK FERDANARD KATUNDA MUKURU COVERING AT DIFERENT FUNCTION IN BUSHENYI ISHAKA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL RECENTLY

KASHENYI HEALTH CENTER 11 TURNED INTO STORE BY CHINESE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY CICO

MR. DANIEL LUMANSI CICO PERSONEL OFFICER SHOWING WWW.MKNEWSLINK.COM WEBSITE EDITOR THE NEW SITE FOR KASHENYI HEALTH CENTER 11

FORMER BUSHENYI DISTRICT WOMAN MP PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE, MRS FRANCISICA KAMANZI IN SUPPORT OF THE CHINESE AND MUNICIPAL DECISION

ALEX MUTARYEBWA VICE CHAIRMAN LC1 KASHENYI ONE WHERE PROJECT IS LOCATED IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT

BY WILBER MUHWEZI–KASIBANTE

IN BUSHENYI——

Kashenyi health centre II situated in Kashenyi Ward Ishaka Division Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality along Ishaka-Kitagata road was forced to close on last Sunday 15^th Jan 2017  to pave way for CICO a chinese road construction company to turn it into a road construction camp for Kashenyi-Mitooma tarmac road.

Kashenyi health centre II was built by a municipality in Netherlands called Gemert,Bakel Netherlands at a tune of 30m million Uganda sillings. The health centre was completed on 2oth April 2012 and was handed over to the Kashenyi community and Ishaka division on the above date.

According to the acting Town clerk Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality, Ferdinand Katunda Mukuru, the health centre was shifted to a nearby trading centre and will stay there for only one month and there after a temporary structure will be constructed by CICO below the camp and then the people of Kashenyi will start to get the health services as usual for a period of three years.

Katunda Mukuru said that the land was hired at the cost of 500.000= per month which will make a total of 18m in 3 years. This however didn’t go well by the community claiming that their land of 3 acres was undervalued by the Mayor Jackson Kamugasha, Town clerk Katunda Mukuru and Chairman Deus Mukyenga with an aim of taking bribes from this Chinese company, CICO.

www.mknewslink .com managing editor, Wilber Muhwezi-kasibante  spent the whole day investigating the story however never got how much bribes the 3 men bagged from this company but the fact is the three took a huge bribe.

According to the municipal mayor Jackson Kamugasha issues begin and end “For me Wilber am in Kampala and I have heard that people of Kashenyi are up in arms as well as the municipality at large but we didn’t take any bribes and we never undervalued the land only that for us we wanted the chinese to make our roads but they refused, they first gave us 220.000= we refused it and they finally increased to 500.000=

Ishaka division LC III chairman Deus Mukyenga told www.mknewslink.com editor that the due process was followed, his executive, his council endorsed and as well the procurement committee at the municipality and therefore there is no cause for alarm.

Francisca Kamanzi the former Bushenyi District Woman MP Parliamentary candidate told this website editor that she has no problem with the Chinese using the health centre facilities because they are going to put for them 3KV electricity, one borehole, national water extension to the area, among other good facilities however the vice chairman LC1 Kashenyi I LCI cell Mutaryeebwa Alex told this editor today afternoon 17^th Jan 2017 that the project wouldn’t have any problem only that they undervalued their land for 500.000=only  whereas a neighbor’s house has been paid for 74 million for 3 years by the same contractors and then 3 acres will be paid only 18 million in three years.

The area MP Arinda Gordon Cowboy and the District Chairman Jafari Basajabalaba yesterday vowed to expose the Mayor,Town clerk and the Ishaka Division Chairman for taking bribes and then hire out land and evict a government health centre on its own land.

“Government has enough money to construct buildings at Kashenyi health centre II and even turning it into a health centre III. To the people of Bushenyi Ishaka, I want to tell you that me as your leader shall not allow these dubious/corrupt deals of the Mayor, Town clerk and the Division Chairman to ruin our municipality” MP Arinda Gordon Cowboy vowed.

On the other hand the personnel officer CICO whom www.mknewslink.com editor found at the site as the highest ranking officer of the company, Daniel Lumansi revealed that the company was willing to fulfill all the issues that were put in the agreement between CICO and Bushenyi Ishaka municipality.

He noted that within one month the temporary shelter to house the health centre will have been completed and the people of Kashenyi will start seeking treatment from the usual place therefore there should be no worry by the politicians ,local leaders, residents or anyone that the health centre has been evicted.

Medias Rubanda the former Deputy RDC Bushenyi and a resident of the same area told this western Uganda news website that by all means she cant sit down and see the health centre that helps her people get evicted by these corrupt leaders; Mayor, Town clerk and the Division Chairman.

The Chairman LCV Bushenyi Jafari Basajabalaba convened a meeting this evening Jan. 17, 2017 and ordered all the activities by Chinese to stop until Thursday this week 19^th Jan 2017 when another meeting will be held including all the suspects Mayor, Jackson Kamugasha, Town clerk, Ferdinand Katunda Mukueru and the Ishaka Division Chairman, Deus Mukyenga.

www.mknewslink.com

wmuhwezi75@gmail.com

+256772680106/+256702680106

15^th January 2017

Your Excellency:

The Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) is the broadest active civil society coalition on issues of elections in Uganda, bringing together over 800 member organizations spread across the country. CCEDU has since its formation in 2009 worked towards promoting a social and political system that enhances fair, equitable and transparent electoral processes in the Republic of Uganda.

Your Excellency, in July 2015, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2014 providing for lining up behind candidates during elections of chairpersons for village (LC1) and parish (LC2) levels. The voting method brought in effect by the Bill was a departure from what was originally provided for in the Local Government Act, of universal adult suffrage through secret ballot. Then Minister of Local Government, Hon. Adolf Mwesige, argued before Parliament that the cost of conducting village and parish elections through the method of secret ballot was too high and had made it impracticable for the elections to be held since 2002. On this ground, Hon. Mwesige convinced Parliament to vote in favor of amending the Local Government Act to consider an open voting method – which he argued was realistic and more affordable for the country.

Your Excellency, while we acknowledge that the open method of voting for the LC I and II may be viewed as financially more affordable and does not involve the same amount of logistics that would be required to run a secret ballot vote, we wish to draw your attention to the following:

• Article 68 (1) of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda sets a standard for voting at elections and referenda: “At a public election or referendum, voting shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, be by secret ballot using one ballot box at each polling station for all candidates in an election and for all sides in a referendum”.

• Article 25(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Uganda is a state party, guarantees “the right of every eligible citizen to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections held by secret ballot”, and grounds this in the notion that “voting by secret ballot guarantees the free expression of the will of the electors”.

• The Universal Declaration on Democracy, a declaration adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 161st session in Cairo on 16^th September 1997 affirms the essential place of conducting democratic elections on the basis of universal, equal and secret suffrage for voters to choose their representatives in conditions of equality, openness and transparency that stimulate political competition.

Your Excellency, this implies that:

• It is a well-established practice that holding free and fair elections is one of the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law; and the secrecy of voting remains a key aspect of free and fair elections. Government has a legal obligation to conduct public elections and referenda according to the standards set in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

• Voters are not only entitled but also obliged to the secrecy of their vote. The method of voting proposed for LCI and II elections in which voters are required to line up behind their preferred candidates exposes the voters’ choice and violates this principle. As such, the open voting method does not safeguard the electors’ freedom of thought and their political and other beliefs. If Uganda is truly on a democratic path, then it should be seen to espouse a method of voting which ensures that the electorate is able to express itself freely and that elected representatives are truly representative, thereby contributing to public trust in the institution of local leadership.

• The proposed voting method violates the principle of anonymity of the voter. Freedom of opinion is endangered when a voter is prone to influence by threats of sanctions or reprisals. Open voting has time immemorial come with a lot of opportunity to influence or intimidate voters as they declare their choice by lining up behind their preferred candidates. In a country like Uganda where the population has over the years become deeply politically polarized, it is difficult to underestimate the influence and effect of fear of retribution that is embedded within an open voting system such as the proposed one. Within the context of Uganda today, the proposed method of voting is a ripe recipe of tension, vengeance and outright election-based violence – especially on the Election Day and in the aftermath of the elections.

• Free and fair voting principally demands that each voter makes an individual choice. Every person registered on the voters register must be able to express his or her choice in person, and this personal choice must be counted as such.  The mode of voting as prescribed under section 111 of the Local Governments Act, 2015 for village and parish elections is not consistent with this individuality principle and, in particular, constitutes a violation of gender equality and freedom of opinion.  The practice of open voting is reminiscent of days gone by of the reprehensible communal voting. In the Ugandan context, under an open voting system, it is likely that for instance, female voters may be unduly influenced to vote for candidates that their male counterparts, spouses or partners choose to vote for – for fear of catalyzing gender-based disagreement. In another case, for fear of going against their spouses’ electoral choice, female voters may decide to shun such open choice elections.  Modern societies including Uganda itself have denounced open voting methods as akin to primordial practices that infringe on voters own choice.

• Historically and contextually, electoral processes are highly prone to fraud and manipulation. One of the primary reasons for the transition from ‘open’ forms of voting to the adoption of the secret ballot system in the 1800s was to help rid political systems of bribery.  Uganda is currently fighting the scourge of monetization of politics.  With an open voting system comes higher electoral stakes.   The higher the stakes, the higher the possibilities of voter bribery will be.  In effect, the possibilities of monetizing the local council elections that will be held under an open voting system remain high. The political players are quite optimistic of the eventualities very sure those voters are aware of the procedures and they will vote for them since it’s not secret.

Your Excellency, under Vision 2040, the Government of Uganda underpins the need for democracy as the anchor to transform the country. Similarly, the second National Development Plan (NDP II) recognises that without free and fair political and electoral processes, key development objectives cannot be achieved.  To this end, the NDP II proposes to institute mechanisms to strengthen credibility of electoral processes in Uganda and citizen participation in the electoral processes.

As the Fountain of Honour of our Nation, CCEDU would like to respectfully appeal to you, Your Excellency, to guarantee that:

• The Government is indeed genuinely committed to holding free, fair and impartial elections; and considers such elections crucial for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Uganda.

• The LCI and LCII elections are conducted in a manner that satisfies international and national legal obligations, commitments, practices and principles of; confidentiality of one’s electoral choice, anonymity and individuality of a voter. The elections must promote rather than undermine election legitimacy and integrity while reinforcing the notion of popular participation.

Your Excellency, CCEDU contends that the currently designated method of voting in the LCI and LCII elections not only fails to meet the constitutional and internationally provided for standards for conducting public elections, but is also fertile ground to foment conflict and sow seeds of discord in communities – thus undermining the hard earned peace, stability and unity in many parts of the country.

CCEDU appreciates that democratic electoral practices in Uganda are still affected by various national and contextual factors, traditions and limitations. While we recognize the importance of taking into account our country’s milieu and resource limitations, Your Excellency, we appeal against the latter being used as pretext for practices that undermine the basic principles of democracy and governing the conduct of free and fair elections.

Lastly, Your Excellency, CCEDU therefore proposes a more cost-effective option of the secret ballot method of voting in the LCI and LCII elections – in which voters record their (candidate) preference on a plain piece of paper in privacy – by way of writing or putting a thumb-print. We recommend the most basic form of secret ballot that uses standardized blank, plain or colour coded pieces of paper/cards upon which each voter marks his or her choice. Without revealing the choice to anyone, the voter in this case would fold his or her piece of paper with their marked choice and place it in a sealed ballot box. The ballot box is emptied later for the counting of the ballots. This method is not only financially affordable, but also preserves the secrecy of the ballot as well as expands possibilities for the electorate to participate in elections.

Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana

Chairperson, CCEDU Executive Committee

BY OKOODI DEO

IN KABALE—-

Former FDC presidential candidate Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye has blasted the Kabale chief magistrate for allowing the state to use his court to subvert justice.

Besigye’s accusation follows a court decision in which the chief magistrate adjourning the case where the former president together with other opposition leaders are charged with several offences. The case has been adjourned  to 6^th march 2017.

His worship Kagonde Ntende Moses adjourned the case after state prosecutor Gloria Inzikuru asked court to give her one more chance to present two more witnesses who are still out of the country to come and give evidence against the accused persons.

In his ruling chief magistrate said his court has the duty of balancing rights of accused persons and that of state adding that without narrating the earlier reasons that have always led to several adjournments in the matter, saying it is within the interest of justice to accord prosecution the very last adjournment on the matter in order to invite more witnesses

In reaction Besigye told journalists that it’s very sad that the magistrate has allowed his court to be used to subvert justice and vowed never to go back to kabale.

Besigye who is accused of inciting violence and malicious damage said the excuses being given by the  prosecution are flimsy since they failed to show any evidence that they indeed they had summoned the said witnesses adding that in the last court session that this would be the last day to close prosecution on the matter

He said the state motive is to use the case as a tool of harass and repress him but not to serve any purpose in the interest of justice which must be quick and fair.

By Elly Katahinga

in Ntungamo—

Hundreds of mourners thronged to Kabungo Rweikiniro Ruhaama County in Ntungamo District for the sendoff of late Lazaaro Kagunga who died at 120 years.

In his eulogy read to him by minister of state for labor Herbert Kabafunzaki, President Yoweri Museveni has described the late Lazaaro Kagunga as an elder, a grandfather and strong patriot who fought for peace in the country.

President Museveni noted that late Kagunga believed in peace and reconciliation which virtues all people should emulate.

He requested family members to make sure the fire the late Kagunga lit should continue burning mostly supporting NRM and development of families.

While comforting the mourners, the Bishop South Ankole Diocese the RT Rev. Nathan Ahimbisibwe reminded all believers to fight for dying very well by preparing themselves as the late Kagunga did.

Bishop Ahimbisibwe called up on mourners to fight a good fight and complete their journeys like him.

Late Lazaaro Kagunga born in 1897 worked for the government as a sub-parish chief and later parish chief for many years in early Ankole Kingdom.