Fireworks to light up the skies tonight.

Time check 00:00 am, the world will be lit with colors of fireworks as we close the year 2012 and enter the  new year 2013 that all the world is looking forward to.

In Uganda, fireworks displays are common at public gatherings like at Hotels, churches, leisure centers, tourist sites. Many Ugandans throng Sheraton Hotel gardens to get the feel of the new year fireworks displays as it has become common practice for the hotel management to display every end of year.

Newest on board is AYA hotel which first displayed fireworks in 2009 even before it completion.

More fireworks are expected at Namboole, Nakivubo, Kololo, where born again churches have organised overnight prayers.

Outside Kampala, Mt. Zion prayer center Bukalango is also another place to go to for prayers and fireworks display.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.

These will be the sights tonight as the world bids farewell to 2012 and welcomes 2013.

Internal affairs Ministry Public Relations Officer dead.

Internal affairs Ministry Public Relations Officer (PRO) Eunice Kisembo has passed on today at Kololo Hospital.


It is said the deceased developed stomach disorders after a dinner with her family in Kabarole on Christmas day and was rushed to a hospital in Kabarole District.

On realising that they could not contain her condition, the hospital administration resolved to have her transfered to Kampala for better treatment.

She is said to died of hypertension. The family said they are still awaiting a report on the death of their daughter.

Kisembo is survived by two children.

Butaleja by-elections, Nebanda's family fronts sister.

After the burial of the late Butaleja Woman MP, the Electoral Commission announced 11th February 2013
as the date for the by-election to replace the deceased Legislator.


The family of Cerinah Nebanda has decided to front her elder sister Florence Nebanda to stand as a replacement inorder to continue with and complete all her programs.

Addressing the press at her home in Butaleja, Nebanda's mother said despite all the mystery surrounding the death of her daughter, Florence will be fronted on the NRM ticket and she ruled out the possibility of the family withdrawing their membership from the ruling NRM party. 

Florence Nebanda

Former Nebanda Lover arrested.

An ex-boyfriend to the late Butaleja District Woman MP Adams Musa Masuba has been arrested by police to help them with the on-going investigations into the
cause of the death of the legislator that has caused alot of public concern.

Adams was picked on Saturday afternoon from his place in Munyonyo.

He admitted to having been a boy friend to the late MP but denied having a hand in the cause of her death.
" She was my girlfriend and thats all" said Adams.

Police claims Adams had frequent communications with the deceased on phone. Police wants to ascertain why Adams was so much in touch with the late legislator.

Meanwhile, the key suspect in the murder of Nebanda, Adam Kalungi is still at large and Police says they are doing all they can to have him apprehended. There are reports that Kalungi might have escaped to Kenya.
 

Jamaica's Mavado and Chris Martin Concert Postponed

The much awaited and publicized show of the Jamaican singing duo Mavado and Chris Martin has been postponed by the show organisers.


The show was scheduled for 29th December at Lugogo Cricket oval. According to the organizers, the show has been pushed to early next year hopefully in the month of January.

It is alleged that one of the performers could not make it over to Uganda on time, so in order for the organisers not to disappoint the fans, they decided to call it off till next year.

This means fans have to wait a little longer for another treat to the Jamaican Music stars.

Woman Jumps to death at Mulago Hospital.

A woman in her late 20s on Friday early morning jumped from the fifth floor of the hospital building and died.


Joyce Nambalirwa, 25, who is believed to have been pregnant decided to end her life by suicide and her lifeless body was found by a security guard.

The cause of her suicide decision was not readily established by press time but the Mulago Hospital police Chief said they had started investigations into the matter.

Several deaths of this form have been registered at the Hospital with over three suicide cases this year alone.

Most of the cases are attributed to loss of hope or long illness. Failure to clear Hospital bills also does force many to commit suicide.

Butaleja District Woman MP by-elction date set

Nebanda in her early days (RIP)

In an effort to ensure continued flow and delivery of social services to the District, the Uganda Electoral Commission has set
11th February 2013 as the by-election date to replace the late Butaleja District Woman MP Hon. Cerinah Nebanda who passed on on December 14th under unclear circumstances.

Nebanda's death took many by surprise with many putting the cause of her death to poisoning. She was one of the best performing Legislators despite her tender age of 24 years.

She was a very critical MP who could oppose all that was less beneficial to Ugandans and Uganda as a whole. She was fearless and determined to save the country from greedy leaders.

This, Ugandans say could have been the cause of her death. In the political circles, Nebanda has been named a "Rebel MP" because of her opposition to ideas of her own political party, NRM.

A day before her death, she was involved in an exchange of words with the President and Chairperson of NRM, H.E Yoweri Museveni at Parliament as he addressed the house on the controversial clause 9 of the Oil bill.

The commission’s spokesperson, Jotham Taremwa, on Thursday said the electoral body has already started updating the voters’ register to establish the number of existing voters, sub-counties, parishes and polling areas in the constituency.

“We need to confirm the number of voters because some might have died, while others come of voting age or relocated since last year’s elections,”

Prince David Wasajja off the City Bachelors' list

Buganda Kingdom Prince David  Kintu Wasajja was on last week officially introduced by his wife to be Marion Nankya Nsubuga, daughter to Bukoto
South Member of Parliament Mathias Nsubuga at her parents' home in Mutundwe, in Wakiso District.

Prince Wassajja was accompanied by few members of the royal Clan, Buganda's Primier Eng. JB Walusimbi and representatives from the Kwagalana group of wealthy Ugandan Businessmen and women.

The Wedding of the two is anticipated to take place early April of 2013 as preparations are already in high gear.

He is 46 years old while Nankya is 27 years old. Prince Wasajja holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Nottingham University in the United Kingdom and worked with Pan World Insurance and Celtel Uganda, now Airtel.

The couple to be Nankya and Prince David Wasajja.

Nankya, works at Wild places Africa, a Tours and Travel company and holds a degree in Business Administration and Management of Nkozi University.

Wasajja is the youngest brother of Buganda's King, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II 

Rwenzururu King survives Accident.

The traditional King of the Bakonzo-Banmba who make up the Rwenzururu kingdom, His Majesty Charles Wesley Mumbere last evening survived a car accident that claimed one of his staff
by the names of Kabugho Jetrace.

The Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere.

The accident occurred  near Mityana town along the Kampala-Fort Portal High way as the King and his convoy were travelling to Kasese from a private trip in Nairobi Kenya.

Three other people were critically injured and were rushed to a Hospital in Mityana town, the Obusinga spokesperson, Patrick Nyamunungu confirmed the accident.

“I can not tell you more than that because I have not been at the scene” Nyamunungu said.

"But the royal family and others who were traveling in other vehicles survived the accident," he said.

MP Cerinah Nebanda finally laid to rest.

The body of the deceased Butaleja District woman MP Hon. Cerinah Nebanda was on Sunday finally laid to rest at her maternal home in Butaleja
District amid controversy and questions on what could have caused her death.

A somber mood hang over Butaleja as the MP's body was taken for burial.

The burial ceremony however turned chaotic as rowdy residents bared the government representative, third  deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Moses Ali from delivering President Yoweri Museveni's condolence message to the bereaved family. Several other government officials were forced to flee the home for safety purposes as the mourners were likely to attack them.

Police was called in and whisked away the government representative just as he was giving the introductory part of the message. “We no longer want Museveni,”  “Let him go back and begin looking after his cattle; Museveni tumukooye [we are tired of Museveni]”.shouted the mourners. 

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, while giving her condolence message, said she did not agree with the government report on the death of the Legislator which stated that Nebanda died as a result of alcohol and narcotics (cocaine).

“I was shocked to learn that Dr Sylvester Onzivua, whom we had okayed to take samples to South Africa had been arrested and yet we had agreed with police that he takes samples for examination to South Africa,” Ms Kadaga told mourners.

Speaker Kadaga laying a wreath bearing the remains of Cerinah. (RIP)

CORD Endorses Prime Minister Odinga for President.

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been endorsed as the Presidential Candidate for the
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), one of Kenya's political parties set to participate in the country's general elections early next year.

Odinga took the place after Kenya's Vice President, who also had expressed interest in the party Presidency, on Saturday stepped aside in favour of the Prime Minister.

Amid jubilation by the crowd in attendance at Uhuru Park, Mr Musyoka said that in the interest of the nation, he would be PM Odinga's running mate. The Party said the decision to endorse Raila Odinga was reached after lengthy negotiations.

PM Raila Odinga

Earlier, Minister Raila Odinga told Kenyans to elect Cord into government saying the alliance will bring the desired change and redress development.

“We have superior policies than our competitors, and this is what we should demonstrate in our campaigns to win over votes to our alliance,” he added.

Noting that the Cord alliance will seek to bring equality to all regions, Mr Odinga pledged to ensure the operationalization of the equalization fund that will bring equitable development to the country.

“We do not want to see the glaring differences in development that tend to cosign some regions to perpetual poverty yet others are wallowing in riches.”

He pointed out that a Cord government will strive to exploit the newly discovered oil in Turkana and other mineral resources around the country for the benefit of all Kenyans.

 +MASEREKA CHARLES 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS 2013.

2012 is gone and we are looking forward to 2013.

some things might have not gone according to your expectation but all are plans     of the Almighty God.

We at NdagireBlogs-Uganda, we would like to wish you the very best of Christmas of this year and let 2013 be a year of fulfillment of whatever failed in 2012.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY                  PROSPEROUS 2013. 

MP Cerinah Nebanda burial finally set.

After a whole week of mourning the demise of Butaleja District Woman Member of Parliament, fellow MPs on Friday
resolved that the body of the deceased Youthful Legislator be laid to rest at her ancestral home in Butaleja District on Sunday.

This came after circumstances that followed investigations into the death of the MP were seen to likely not to bring out a conclusive report.

Hon. Nebanda's burial had been scheduled for Friday but was halted after a Pathologist that was taking Nebanda's body parts for further examination in a South African laboratory, was arrested at Entebbe airport and detained at a police detetion center at Kireka.

MPs said the manner in which the Government and Police have handled the case raises questions on the credibility of findings. They said there was no more need for further investigations since the behavior of the police and government shows that they are held accountable for the death of the Woman MP.

The Legislators read a report on their investigations in which, according to them, Nebanda died of poisoning which they attributed to the government because of Nebanda's opposition on issues of controversy and that less benefit the common Ugandans but only benefits those in Government and close to the President. 

Government however has come out and called this report "FALSE" and said all those involved in the formulation of the report will be summoned by Police for questioning.

A somber mood hangs at Butaleja and at the home of the late MP as thousands throng the home to mourn with the family and friends the death of the area MP.

NBS TV Uganda launches Live Streaming.

Nile Broadcasting Services (NBS) has today launched itself to the on-line broadcasting family of TV stations.

This was at their head
office at Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb and the launching ceremony was presided over by Hon. Nyombi Thembo, the state minister in charge of ICT.

Thembo thanked NBS for her detailed and non-partisan coverage of news within and outside the country citing the example of the walk to work protests in Kampala where some media houses only centered their cameras on only the police pelting tear gas cannisters to rioters.

The launch of Live-streaming means viewers can access NBS TV on the Internet anywhere and at anytime, catching up to all live news and shows.

Log on to www.nbs.ug/live and you will be able to watch the channel live from any part of the world.


+Isama Kalla +Jeremy Muhoozi+Paul Kalyesubula

Police and Military Deploys heavily in Butaleja District.

Uganda Police and the military army have heavily deployed and set camp in Butaleja District, home to the late Woman Member of Parliament of the area, Cerinah Nebanda, who passed away under unclear circumstances and whose death
has generated public sympathy and questions on what could have been the cause of her death.

The force however says their presence in the area is to keep law and order in the area during this period of mourning of the area MP and to have quick response to any unexpected riots and demonstrations.

The residents are not well with the police presence in the area. They say police was unable to protect their MP and some even believe that the force has a hand in the Cerinah Nebanda's death.

Meanwhile, the opposition group in Uganda's Parliament has called for an independent commission of inquiry citing foul play from the manner which the Legislator's death has been handled.

Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Nathan Nandala Mafabi briefed the media at Parliament this afternoon and said the government should put in place the commission of inquiry as soon as possible if not they will be held liable for Cerinah's death.

Also, the Pathologist who was arrested at Entebbe International Airport on his way to South Africa to take body samples from the deceased for independent examination is still under police custody.

Police says they are planning to take him to court and has preferred on him charges of "Abuse of office" and "Smuggling human body parts". The pathologist had been contracted by Cerinah's family and Parliament to take the samples to South Africa for further examination so as to come to a conclusive view on what trully took the life of a young and energetic MP in Nebanda.

+dailymonitor +Observer-A +Daily Nation +NTVUganda

UEFA Champions League draw results: 2013 Round of 16.

Galatasaray Vs. FC Schalke 04

Celtic Vs. Juventus

Arsenal Vs. Bayern Munich

Shakhtar Donetsk Vs. Borussia Dortmund

AC Milan Vs. Barcelona

Real Madrid Vs. Manchester United

Valencia Vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Malaga Vs. FC Porto

 All eyes are now set on who is who in the group stages (Round of 16)

The main attention will be on the Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich, Real Madrid Vs Manchester United, AC Milan Vs Barcelona matches because of the strength of both the clubs.
+Edwin Kabuleta +DailyMonitor Ug +Redpepper Marketing 

MP Cerinah Nebanda's Burial halted.

Parliament yesterday evening stopped the on-going arrangements for the burial of deceased Butaleja Woman Member of Parliament Cerinah Nebanda until investigations into the cause of her death
are fully completed and a report ascertaining the cause of her death is produced.

The decision was reached by fellow Legislators after news that police had arrested the pathologist appointed by Nebanda's family and parliament Dr Sylvestre Onzivua, on his way to South Africa with the deceased's body organs set for further independent examination landed on to their ears.

Nebanda's body lays in State at Parliament yesterday.

Dr Onzivua was blocked by security operatives at Entebbe Airport and confiscated the samples. The MPs said police’s move compromised the investigations and want the process to be redone.

“We had agreed that in handling the death of our colleague, there should be a process which is not questionable so that the results which come are credible and the intention of having an independent analysis is also a tested principle,” said Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the lead Parliament representative in the investigations.

Although the Deputy Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah had ruled that Nebanda’s body be taken to the Mulago School of Medicine, Cerinah’s mother, who was wailing calling out Gen. Kayihura’s name that he killed her daughter objected, saying she no longer trusted government.
The body was taken back to their home in Entebbe.

Contrary to the police explanation that the pathologist was smuggling Nebanda’s body parts illegally, Mr Baryomunsi told the House that the decision had been agreed on with the police bosses, government pathologists and the independent pathologist that obtained the samples during the post-mortem at Mulago hospital in the presence of the government chemists.

MP Nebanda's Family Pathologist arrested at airport.

At the requiem mass held for the deceased Legislator at Christ the King Church in Kampala, there was a revelation that a Pathologist appointed by Parliament and
Nebanda's family had been arrested on his way to South African to take more samples from the MP's body parts for further examination in a bid to ascertain the actual cause of her death.

The revelation was made by  Kinkizi Member of Parliament Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who is also part of the team that conducted post-mortem work on the late Cerinah Nebanda's body at Mulago Hospital. He said the Pathologist was arrested at Entebbe Airport and his whereabouts are not known.

Nebanda collapsed at a friend’s home in a city suburb last Friday, and was pronounced dead moments after arrival at Mukwaya General Clinic in Nsambya. Her death continues to be shrouded in mystery.

At the requiem mass, Ronald Wandera, the brother of the late Nebanda could barely hold back his tears when as he addressed mourners of the pain the family has had to endure concerning media reports that had alleged the legislator could have died of possible drug overdose.

He has demanded an apology from the media houses that reported his sister could have died as result of drugs.

The Police through the Inspector General of Police Lt. Gen. Kele Kayihura, has issued warnings to the public and the media to stop making reckless statements in regard to the death of the youthful legislator.

Police and Entebbe Airport officials have denied the reports of the Pathologist being arrested at their hands.

                                             The late MP Cerinah Nebanda (RIP)

Nebanda has been a very critical MP of issues where she felt were against the benefit of all Ugandan's. It is because of her concern on the administration of Yoweri Museveni and his government that she was referred to as a "Rebel MP" against the NRM party, where she belongs.

Her death has drawn sympathy from all Ugandans within and outside the country. Many see her death as a loss of a value MP who had no fear of saying out what benefits all Ugandans.

Museveni denies having a hand in the death of MP Nebanda

Uganda's president and National Resistance Movement Chairperson Yoweri Museveni has refuted allegations that he and his government have a hand in the
death of Butaleja Woman MP Cerinah Nebanda which occurred of Friday night under unclear circumstances.

Speaking at a press conference held at State House Entebbe, Museveni said he had only mentioned the name of the deceased MP on Thursday when he visited Parliament to brief  the house on the controversial oil bill that had caused stiff debate and claims of some Legislators having been bribed to pass the bill.

 He warned that the government would arrest anybody claiming it had a hand in Nebanda’s death.
 “When you malign the government and interfere with the work of the police and you spread lies, then, the laws can handle you because police investigations are protected by the law,” He said.

The President said the last words he spoke with Nebanda were about travelling with her to her constituency to assess the condition of the health centres in the district after she had complained about lack of drugs.

“Therefore, I could not believe my ears. I think it was about 9 o’clock at night on that Friday, when Mr Kasule Lumumba, our chief whip, said Nebanda had died. It was totally unexpected. I could not believe it,”“Our daughter Nebanda died when she was very young, which is very painful. I had seen her just on Thursday when I went to address Parliament. My daughter has been doing a lot of kyejo (being stubborn) and we are always making fun with her.

“On Thursday, when I was making the speech, I talked about drugs in health centres and I said the situation in the health centres has improved…then Nebanda said, ‘No it has not improved.’ then I said, we shall arrange and we go to Butaleja together…”

The President also warned the media against what he called " Irresponsible reporting" on the Legislator's death saying they will be delt with accordingly if they don't desist from the same. “We shall find out why they did this. But you should know that these newspapers have been doing this for a long time. And they do it mainly against the government.”

                          The president consoling Nebanda's mother in Entebbe

Sending his condolences to the family of Ms Nebanda, the President said: “Nebanda will not be easy to replace but this was done by some power beyond everybody’s control here. But if it was done by an enemy, we shall get him or her.”

In a related story, Nebanda’s colleagues challenged an earlier claim by police that a drugs overdose was to blame for her death. Dr Chris Baryomunsi, a parliamentary commissioner and medical practitioner, who represented Parliament at the post-mortem exercise, ruled out drug abuse and natural causes. “During the post-mortem we were able to exclude conditions that kill you suddenly, things like heart attack, blood pressure, blood clot. We also excluded any form of injuries caused by way of using weapons, strangulation, physical strangle or rape,” he said.

Christopher Katongo is BBC's African Footballer of the Year.

Zambia's footballer Christopher Katongo has this evening been voted as the African Footballer of the year and awarded the 2012 Footballer of the Year Award.

The 30-year-old Zambian
captain beat off competition from Demba Ba, Didier Drogba, Younes Belhanda and Yaya Toure to become the first winner from southern Africa in the history of the award.

    Katongo holds the African Footballer Of the Year 2012 Award

Katongo told the media: "This is a fantastic moment for me. I thank the people who voted for me. It is something I will never forget in my career. "This means a lot for the young people and the young players who look up to me. I could not have achieved this without the support of my team-mates."

The shortlist for the award was drawn up by football experts from every country in Africa, who based their choices on players' skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.

And a record number of people nominated their favourite online or by text message with just over 40% of the votes going to Katongo, who plays his club football in China for Henan Construction.

He scored three goals en route to the final of the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon and then struck a successful penalty in an 8-7 shoot-out victory over favourites Ivory Coast to lift the trophy in Libreville.

It was an emotional moment for Zambia, who had suffered a tragic air disaster 19 years previously, when a plane carrying most of the national team crashed when only 500m offshore from Libreville, killing all 25 passengers and five crew.

Seven months after leading Zambia to glory Katongo was again his country's talisman, this time in a 2013 Nations Cup qualifying tie when he scored the only goal of the game in his side's final-round first leg match against Uganda.

Arrests made in connection with the death of MP Nebanda

As controversy continues to rage over the actual cause of the death of Butaleja Woman Member of Parliament, Cerinah Nebanda, police has said they are holding a gentleman to help them in the investigations relating to the death of the youthful legislator.

Police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba said the man in custody is an associate of Adam Suleiman Kalungi, the late MP’s boyfriend, who is believed to have been with her in her last moments of life, and who the police want to interview. Kalungi is at the moment on the run, a fact that made Police Chief Kale Kayihura refer to him as "the key suspect" in the case.

Ms Nabakooba said the man was present when the MP was rushed to hospital, and had provided the police with “important information”.

The 24 year old MP died on Friday night at Mukwaya General Hospital in Nsambya, an upscale suburb in Kampala and controversy still surrounds the cause of her death.

Dr Chris Baryomunsi, a parliamentary commissioner and medical doctor who came as Parliament's representative at the post-mortem exercise, ruled out the possibility of drug abuse and natural causes. “During the post-mortem, we were able to exclude conditions that kill you suddenly, things like heart attack, blood pressure, blood clot. We also excluded any form of injuries caused by way of using weapons, strangulation, physical struggle or rape,” he said at a press conference yesterday. “And we can’t say she died of drug overdose because we all know she never used drugs and she was not also a drunkard.”

Since the official post-mortem report is not yet out, Dr. Baryomunsi has called upon the public to stop building up theories to the death of the MP. 

 “Now it is premature to know what exactly killed her. We hope by the time for burial, we will have definite information,” Dr Baryomunsi said. “Let’s not start building conspiracy theories; let’s let all the experts to do their work and we will come up with a report on what killed Nebanda. We hope police will do a good job, too, in constructing the information.”

Dr Baryomunsi added that Parliament has hired an independent pathologist and will arrange for body and tissue samples to be taken to a laboratory in South Africa for more analysis.

Butaleja Woman MP. dead.

Butaleja District woman MP Cerinah Nabanda has passed on. She died in the wee hours of Friday at
Mukwaya General Hospital-Nsambya.


Cerinah in her earlier days.

She is said to have attended a conference at Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo after which she developed stomach complications and was rushed to the Hospital for medical attention.

She has been one of Uganda's youngest legislators after joining parliament in 2011 at the age of 23 years. She has died at the age of 24 years.

She has also been a very vocal MP and critic of many issues that came up which according to her were affecting the progress of the country. She was among the group of NRM Legislators who have been regarded as "Rebel MPs" for their firm stand against the unfairness and ill treatment of Ugandans by the NRM government.


The youthful MP Cerinah Nebanda died on Friday at a hospital in Nsambya. (RIP)

She has been a member of the Parliament's Social Services Committee and Committee on Budget.

She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Science from Makerere University in Uganda.

Members of her group regarded as the rebel MPs and other Legislators are in deep shock and want investigations into the cause of Cerinah's  death done as fast as possible.




Relatives consoling Cerinah's mother after the news of her death landed in to her ears.

Damian Akankwasa's ex-wife sentenced to 3 years in jail.

Ex-Wife to former Natioanal Forestry Authority boss Ms. Juliet Katusiime has been sentenced to three years in jail for stealing
shs.900million from their matrimonial home belonging to her husband and his two brothers.

Ms Katusiime was sentenced to prison by Ms Juliet Hatanga at City Hall Court.

Ms Katusiime’s co-accused David Ssebuliba and Maj. Godfrey Kyomuhendo were each sentenced to a one year jail term for acquiring and retaining stolen property in their homes.

“Two of the convicts were not principal offenders but the act of them not talking to the accused one (Katusiime) to desist from her criminal acts brought them on board squarely,” Ms Hatanga said.

The court also ordered Kamwokya Community Caring Empowerment SACCO to immediately refund Shs357 million to the three complainants while the rest of the money (Shs543 million) be recovered in accordance with the law.

Ms Hatanga noted that indeed Katusiime was seen by one of the state witnesses carrying the two bags that contained some of the said money and one was found at her residence in Nansana in Wakiso district.

The magistrate said it was ridiculous for the convict to use the bank in opening several accounts in the names of her sister while using her photo (Katusiime) and four more people including an account of a deceased person.

Buganda's 5th annual Conference (TABAMILUKA)-Highlights.

The Queen of Buganda, Ms Sylvia Nagginda, has asked the Baganda to stop mourning over the kingdom’s
lost glory and instead pick up the pieces and forge a way forward.

The Nnabagereka, who was speaking at the opening of the 5th annual Buganda Conference (Tabamiluka) in Kampala yesterday, said the problems dogging the kingdom today are not limited to Buganda but are also experienced by people across the African continent.
 

She outlined the kingdom’s pressing challenges as failure to negotiate with the State on how to determine the distribution of resources, competition for natural resources, poverty, diseases, ignorance, rapidly rising population and global climate change, which is a threat to food security .

“We have a lot to learn from the last 50 years. We have made our mistakes and we have had the mistakes of others inflicted upon us. But time and the world move on relentlessly,” she said, adding: “We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move bravely forward.”

She said by appreciating the current problems, the Baganda will be able to find solutions that foster harmony with other tribes. However, she said, despite such challenges, Buganda still remain a sterling example of native African nation building.

“Our strength lies in our unwritten constitution, which acknowledges and is based on the wisdom of our forefathers but is flexible enough to help us navigate the turbulent waters of this modern age,” the Nnabagereka said.

She said as Buganda marks the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the kingdom next year, the kingdom must cease to remind the central government about the need to return its property that were seized 46 years ago by the Obote I regime.
“We should instead talk about how the kingdom is using the revenues from these assets to improve the lives of her people,” she said.

Akankwasa's wife guilty of theft of shs.900m

The wife of former National Forestry Authority (NFA) boss, Damian Akankwasa has been found guilty of stealing her husband's money worth shs.900 million that is alleged to have been kept under Damian's bed.

At the City Hall magistrates court presided over by magistrate Juliet Hatanga, 
Juliet Katusiime, the accused appeared so composed until she was given a sentence. She got heated up and started exchanging words in the court room accusing her husband of being a merciless husband to the extent that she was the one who was looking after him.

She accused Damian of stealing government money as he had no stable source from which he could raise all that money. The money reportedly belonged to Akankwasa and his two brothers.
Katusiime reportedly stole sh100m belonging to Akankwasa, sh400m for George William Akankwasa and sh400m for John Bagambe – both brothers of Akankwasa.

Katusiime was found guilty of theft and uttering false documents. Prosecution told court that Katusiime falsely held a membership card for KCCC-Empowerment SACCO Limited that purportedly belonged to Annet Basemera.

Court, however, found the accused guilty basing on evidence adduced by six witnesses, which proved that on that day, the money was in the bedroom. The witnesses include Daniel Akankwasa, George Akankwasa, Charles Kasajja and Abdaka Kateregga.

Court also found out that Katusiime had deposited sh150m on the account of the late Edward Basega, which had been dormant since 2005.

“There is no way you can bank on an account that has been dormant for long and even if you are to re-activate it, you have to follow certain procedures,” Hatanga said.

She was convicted with her two co-accused – Maj. Godfrey Kyomuhendo and David Ssebuliba – after finding them guilty of the crime.

University Student dies after missing on graduation list.

A student of Busoga University who was set to graduate died of shock after realizing that his name was not on the graduation list.
It is believed that his name was deleted from the list of graduands that were crowned in August this year.

He died at the Mulago National referral Hospital. Ibrahim Sanyu could not withstand the shock after all the efforts he put in to see his graduation day pass. He is said to have gone hungry for a long time as he could not accept to eat anything for over 2 months.

His father says he developed severe headache and vomiting as a result of the post events of the shock of being excluded from the graduation list.

The University's vice-chancellor, Prof. Christopher Bakwesegha is quoted to have said that they were making arrangements to meet the parents of about 10 students whose names  could have been ‘maliciously’ scrapped off the list.

“I understand that one of the affected students developed health problems because of the saga. We shall apologise to the parents and stand by them during the difficult time,” he said.

Sanyu was pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

Afrigo Band's singer Don Canta dead.

Legendary singer with Uganda's best and oldest band, Afrigo has passed on. Don Canta Ibanda who has been one of the band's longest serving members after
he joined it in 2000 died on Saturday at Mulago National referral hospital after a long illness resulting from pneumonia.  
Don Canta at one of his performance (RIP)

He has been performing with the band every Friday and Saturday at Club Obligato along Bombo road and will dearly be missed by all the band's fans who frequently throng the entertainment house for fun and relaxation.

He entertained guests through miming music of legendary singers like Jim Reeves and Kenny Rogers live on stage as well as singing the band's own songs, all to cheers from the audience.

Born in 1975, Canta broke his music career in 1992 at the age of 17 years when he started performing with Tony Ssengo’s Badindas Band. He reached out to musical fans in his career that spans well over 20 years, at concerts, with other bands like Simba Ngoma, Crossroads Band, Waka Waka Band before finding home in Afrigo Band in 2000.

Recently, he has been playing with Code 9 and Uganda’s all-boy band, Barbed Wire Thong, endearing himself to the current generation of music genres. Condolences have come i from all over the world with many describing him as one singer with an exceptional talent and skill.

Moses Matovu, Afrigo Band’s leader, recalls a lanky 25-year-old Livingstone Ibanda walking up to him in 2000 to request to become a band member. He had seen Canta perform in many bands and hence gave him chance. “He was an all-rounder. He could dance, sing and compose songs. We will remember him for Omwana W’mutoro and Sammy Kasule’s Asante.”