Thursday, 4th November 2021

Boma Playground, Kitgum

4 PM

By Daniels N. Tatya

Assembled by the Northern Region select Head Coach, David Achira, the team will give such a strong opposition to the Uganda Cranes side that has mainly the home-based players as part of the early preparations for the two remaining matches against Kenya and Mali.

Uganda Cranes will engage East African community neighbors Kenya at St Mary’s Stadium on 11th November 2021 before they travel away to Mali on 14th November 2021.

The Kitgum tour is thought to partly prepare the Uganda Cranes for the final bend of the group E of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Coach David Achira on advice of the FUFA, assembled his strong 22-man squad hopefully to test and approve of the Cranes players at the Boma playground Kitgum on Thursday, 4th November 2021 before their World Cup final encounters.

The team has a combination of the youthful and experienced players with former Maroons’ center forward Isaac Otto, experienced Ndejje University goalkeeper Jean Diego Wokorach, Mbale Heroes’ Gody Otika, Billy Clinton Ocira (Credo), Calvalry, trio of Ronald Owiny Ogenga, Rogers Atube and Ivan Ocheng, among others.

The Cranes delegation on Wednesday morning left for Kitgum town ahead of the tour aware of the opposition they are destined to face. Head coach Milutin Sredojevic alongside members of his technical staff, FUFA referees’ manager Samuel Egesa left Cranes Paradise Hotel, Kisaasi aboard the team bus.

The 23-man squad has locally based players in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League with three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards. Uganda Cranes last month played the Eastern region select team at the Mbale Municipal Stadium and won 1-0 courtesy of Joackiam Ojera’s goal.

The Teams

Northern Region Select Team:

Francis Onekalit Taina (Ndejje University), Ivan Ocheng (Calvary), Gody Otika (Mbale Heroes), Mathias Anthony Okello (Young Elephants), Jean Diego Wokorach (Ndejje University), Abel Odong (Mbale Garage), Brian Odong (Young Elephants), Kermis Amuku (Credo), Brian Pogba Obedi (Ndejje University), Emmanuel Gary Mwaka (Santos FC, Kitgum), Peter Ouma (Ndejje University), Chrispus Agang (Obasanjo FC), Francis Nyeko Oboma (Santos FC), Erick Ayella (Credo), Rogers Atube (Calvary), Ronald Owiny Ogenga (Calvary), Billy Clinton Ocira (Credo), Innocent Okectwengo (Ilee), Isaac Otto (Unattached), Robert Obaloker (Pager), Gerrald Ochola (Rwotker), Stephen Okot (Credo)

Officials:

Head coach: David Achira

Assistant coach: Jimmy Odongkara

Uganda Cranes team:

Goalkeepers: 

Joel Mutakubwa (Express), Jack Komakech (Vipers)

Defenders: 

Ashraf Mandela (URA), Paul Willa (Vipers), Abdul-Aziz Kayondo (Vipers), Denis Iguma (KCCA), Livingstone Mulondo (Vipers), John Revita (KCCA), Geofrey Wasswa (KCCA)

Midfielders: 

Shafik Kuchi Kagimu (URA), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Vipers), Mahad Kakooza (Express), Bright Anukani (Vipers), Julius Poloto (KCCA), Ibrahim Orit (Vipers), Milton Karisa (Vipers), Rogers Mato (KCCA)

Forwards: 

Davis Kasirye (KCCA), Sadat Anaku (KCCA), Steven Mukwala (URA), Samuel Kayongo Ssekamatte (Arua Hill), Martin Kizza (Express)

According to the forensic report whose particulars are wrapped in a 153-page booklet, and the same we shall serialize, the businessman did not only stop at paying peanuts for the otherwise prime Crane Bank buildings, but he made sure the wealthy landlord he had thus effectively turned into a tenant, paid cripplingly in terms of lease and ground rent as well!

To ensure that Crane Bank as an entity never ever, in future get back the buildings, Sudhir commanded, but of course fraudulently, his sidekicks working with the financial institution to have the land holding the properties converted from leasehold into freehold!

What the above means is that Sudhir obtained both the buildings and the land holding them on permanent basis as opposed to being a tenant of the same. If the reverse was true, he was supposed going forward, to pay lease fees to the landlord which was supposed to be Crane Bank Limited itself.

Seeing that the bank factually belonged to Sudhir himself, never mind the propaganda to the contrary, even an imbecile can easily figure out the awkward situation the financial institution faced while negotiating the evidently impugned deal for the simple fact that it wasn’t naturally expected to disagree with the terms set by its proprietor.

This is why regardless of the location, size or development of the buildings at stake, Sudhir, who was clearly the seller and the buyer at the same time, given his dominant position as the owner of the bank whose properties he desperately sought to convert, ended paying a flat fee of UGX100m for each and every building!

To demonstrate possibly the upper hand Sudhir boasted of in these matters, the seller was not permitted to value the properties before selling them out. Consequently, the bank lost the opportunity to place the true prices on each of the properties Sudhir ended up purchasing.

 What happened, the shrewd businessman merely conjured up figures from his bald head and then threw the prices he desired to buy the plots at! And as we all know, the bank wasn’t expected to raise a finger against its owner!

“From our interviews with senior management, the consideration for the sale of the bank’s land was not informed by an independent valuation of the land,” the forensic report has it.

Dismissing the UGX100m purchase for as pitiable, the report adds, “It is highly unusual that the bank would accept such a flat fee for each of the property sold to Meera Investments Limited (MIL) because at the time it had parcels of land worth more than this amount.”

The above line justifies our contention about the existence of an invisible hand which was actively manipulating the sale and purchase behind the scenes. That invisible hand we know was Sudhir Ruparelia the man himself. Well, to simplify the kind of profiteering Sudhir committed in these transactions, let’s quote the money the bank paid for some of the plots of land as per the bank’s Fixed Assets Register.

We go: Plot No.93 Block 7, Mengo, Kibuga Ndeeba was bought at UGX1Bn. Plot No.1 Ishaka Fort Portal Road, Cell Ward 4 was bought at 715m, Plot 55 Main Street Jinja (Ush700m), Plot22 Kampala Road Entebbe (Ush650m) Plot No88 Block18, Kibuga Nateete (Ush650m) and Plot No18, Jinja Road, Mukono (Ush619).

But, when Sudhir chose to ‘buy’ the plots, the shameless rascal paid a mere UGX100m for each of them! Since Crane Bank spent 4,334,136,000 on purchasing these plots, simple arithmetic would show the cad ended up paying a mere Ush600m for all the plots combined! And for this reason, the businessman robbed his own bank by a whopping UGX3, 734,136,000!

Yet for just two years Sudhir was the landlord, Crane Bank not only forked out a colossal USD4.6m in rent, but the apparently cowed financial institution was also made to pay twice in respect of Plot40A Kampala road. The bank paid two payments of USD237, 364.08 apiece to Meera Investments Limited (MIL) and Crane Management Services, as per an invoice recovered by the investigators. The two companies belongs to Sudhir.

But even more scandalous, the fact that Crane bank used a combined total of Ush29.8Bn to purchase the land as well as to erect the buildings Sudhir purchased as captured in its books of December 31^st 2012, it would unmistakably imply that Sudhir cheated the bank by a whopping UGX26.4Bn when he chose to purchase the properties in the manner he chose to.

Don’t drop dead yet, Sudhir not only cheated Crane Bank as we have ably illustrated above, but also went ahead and grabbed all its furniture and fittings worth a whopping UGX13.6Bn! As everyone would know, after procuring all the dirty work he procured, Sudhir now commanded his workers at Crane Bank to hide the same from the prying eyes of the Central Bank.

He instructed his workers not to reflect the losses on its books. He did so because he was understandably aware that what he had just carried out was not only criminal, but also actionable at law.

Factor in the fact that the businessman even intimidated Crane Bank into meeting all the costs that goes with transactions of this nature, including one converting it from a landlord into a tenant, to see how callous this honorary Doctor of the banana republic can be. Watch this space…  

Museveni had directed the land registry to restore the property to Sadrudin Gulamhussein upon learning that the Title possessed by Sudhir, claiming he owns plot 8 Nakasero land, was shrewdly created in the alleys along the forgery hub street.

Trouble for Sudhir started when Gulamhussein sold the property only to discover that some crafty fellows had gone behind him and forged a parallel Title to the property. This is, but the preamble. We now move to the focus of the story which is about revealing why Sudhir set out to acquire the same by hook or crook.

First things first. Following our , some of our treasured readers got back to us asking why an experienced legal mind like William Byaruhanga ended up paying a lot of money for the property without taking the trouble to check with the land office, which would have helped him to ascertain the fact that what he was paying for was actually encumbered by the presence of Meera Investments Limited (MIL) on the Title!

For starters, the immediate outgoing Attorney General, Byaruhanga joined hands with business partner Charlie Lubega to buy the property under their property development firm of Pine Investments Limited (PIL). They paid a total of USD1.5m. But on going through the process of transferring the property, they discovered that Sudhir had somehow transferred what they wanted to transfer to PIL.

To answer the really useful question by our readers, we dug deeper and here comes with the chronology leading to how the property changed into Sudhir’s MIL. Sometime in the past, the dfcu bank had a wing which was dealing in the business of leasing. Under this business, the bank would, for instance, purchase buses and lease them out to any person or entity desiring of using them to make money.

The customer or entity would then use the proceeds to clear the debt instalments together with the agreed interest. The bank would upon the customer extinguishing the debt, let him or her keep the vehicles for good and continue to make the money.

After good years in the leasing business, dfcu decided to let go of this particular trade. Meanwhile, dfcu had another shareholder. This shareholder held, by the way, the biggest stake in the bank. This one was a company. Its name is to date, the Commonwealth Development Company (CDC), a decent firm with even the Queen of England as one of the shareholders.

Going forward, CDC owned what is now called the Rwenzori House as well as Rwenzori Courts. The shareholders upon agreeing on selling out, they invited bidders. Sudhir bided, so did William Byaruhanga together with Charlie Lubega. The judiciary put in a bid too.

The Judiciary saw the properties as a strategic place suitable for extension to erecting a home for the courts of law right from the magistrates up to the Supreme Court. They saw the sites as strategic because it is adjacent to the Kampala High Court with just a road between them. But most important, the place is secure and serene given the fact that it is located just within the environs of the State House.

When the results of the evaluation were returned, Sudhir emerged the highest bidder, beating the rest of the contenders to the sites being sold. Byaruhanga and Lubega afforded the second place while the judiciary came at the tail end of the race.

CDC being a reputable firm, sat back and mulled over the results. Much as the judiciary had pulled the least scores at the bid evaluation, the people of CDC thought them to be a much better bidder among the trio. But because the judiciary couldn’t pay in time on account of the red tape involved in the government procurement process, they lost out.

Even then, CDC was uncomfortable doing business with Sudhir. Insiders tell us how CDC didn’t want to deal with Sudhir’s person because he and Meera were reportedly too tainted images for an organization of CDC repute whose biggest shareholder, among others, is the Queen herself.

And just like that, fate ended up helping Byaruhanga and Lubega enter from the back door to run away with the coveted prize. But as Byaruhanga and Lubega laughed, Sudhir was crying foul. The seed of the cold war that would generate a few years or months had been planted. It was only a matter of time for the seed to germinate and prosper into fruition!

Now that you, the readers are armed with this info, we go straight to the battle at Plot 8 Nakasero, premised just a step away from Rwenzori Courts. Having lost the bid above, the relentless fighter in Sudhir was now a wounded lion. Plot 8 Nakasero proved such an opportune battle ground for Sudhir to settle scores with Byaruhanga and Lubega. The land is just immediately after the two properties which PINE snapped right from the jaws of Sudhir.

Probably seeking to extract revenge, Sudhir sent out his sidekick, A.R Kalani to check out the availability of the plot. Kalani did as instructed. He approached the owner. Unfortunately, Gulamhussein wasn’t selling, for he was in advance stages of selling out the same to PINE who, had actually paying the USD1.5M in instalments. Sudhir looks blue upon receiving the bad message. He thanks Kalani before telling him to leave.

At this time, the factory in the hare’s brain reported to work. This is how a one Abdu Matovu emerged, or was made to emerge from the blue to ‘transfer’ the property into his names. Upon ‘acquiring’ the same, Matovu quickly ‘sells’ it to Davis Kakwenzire. Matovu ‘conveniently’ disappears thereafter. Only Kakwenzire, Sudhir and heavens know where he is now!

On ‘acquiring’ the property, Kakwenzire, the one who gained infamy after being arrested for land grabbing on orders of the president, mortgages the same with Crane Bank, the one owned by Sudhir at the time.  Shortly thereafter, he sells and transfers the property to Sudhir. And the questionable transactions go on and on.

As the mess went on, innocent Byaruhanga and Lubega were completing the payment whereupon, they flew to London to conclude the transaction with the owner who went ahead to hand them the original Title plus documents recommending them to the land registry as the new owners of the property.

Unknown to the Byaruhangas, someone was monitoring whatever they were doing. That person was actually moving fast to negate whatever they are expending money and energy to achieve. This is why upon showing up at the land registry, after some months, they were told the same had already been transferred into the names of Sudhir’s Meera Investments.

But how? Byaruhanga had appeared complete with the original Title from Gulamhussein and the recommendation introducing them as the new owners. Interestingly, the mother title had gone missing from the land registry. Confident of no wrong, the registrar of Titles, Karibwende proceeded to create a substitute Title to replace the one missing.

Weeks after, and when Karibwende was putting the final touches on the substitute Title, the head of the strong room at the time, Mrs Kasirye surprisingly emerged with the ‘missing’ file. And just like that, it resurfaced with the name of Meera fully engraved on it!

Karibwende insisted Sudhir must produce the Title in his possession. The property magnate sniggered. He tells his lawyer, Alex Rezida to write to Karibwende telling him to stop poking his nose in matters beyond his office. Rezida tells Karibwende to tell whoever is complaining about the forgery surrounding his client’s Title to proceed to the courts of law.

This is when Gulamhussein involves the police force. Without help forthcoming from the police, Gulamhussein turns to the presidency. Museveni orders for replacement of Meera with the names of Gulamhussein. Even then, Sudhir refuses to hand over his Title for correction. The Commissioner did according to the executive orders. It’s at this juncture that Sudhir trotted to court. We already reported how Justice Bashaija ruled in his favor. The case is now before Court of Appeal.

“The President is an old man. He has been in power for a long time already. Fortunately enough, his colleague (Lt Gen Kuteesa) before departing us advised him to step down because he has fulfilled much of what took them to the bush,” says Solo Kayemba as he quotes what he submits, were the departed military general’s parting piece of advice to his comrade-at-war.

The job of the president being a very demanding one, and which therefore takes a huge toll on the health of the holder, the lawmaker fears Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni might end up dropping dead in office if he goes on and on elongating his time in power. “The President must do himself and the country a favor by leaving power,” he maintains.

A first timer, Solo represents Bukomansimbi South in the eleventh national assembly. Answering to the opposition National Unity Platform party, Solo has proven himself to be a good Parliamentarian so far on account of his eloquence and grasp of issues. In his sixth term, Museveni isn’t expected to follow suit and lay tools down just because Solo has advised him to.

The Head of State has rejected a number of lectures to retire home. As a matter of fact, Museveni has fired a number of colleagues from the government, simply for daring to tell him to rest. Such casualties include Dr Warren Kiiza Kifeefe Besigye, Bidandi Ssali, Eriya Kategaya, Sarah Kiyingi, Amanya Mushega and John Patrick Amama Mbabazi among others.

The last time he hinted on when he is going to leave power, the son of Kaguta gave largely a vague deadline. He stated he will only leave after uniting the East African countries into one block, a task too huge to deliver. Huge because the countries Museveni wants to bring under one roof appear to be undecided about joining the marriage of convenience, thinking it is a plot to rule over them.

Solo makes the remarks while eulogizing the departed fighter in Kuteesa, who wrote history by capturing the Katonga Bridge and Kampala during the last phase of the war that sent the junta of Gen Okello Lutwa packing. Lt Gen Kuteesa was airlifted to India for specialized treatment which turned out unsuccessful. His remains were airlifted back to Uganda and followed by his send off in Lyantonde.

Eulogizing the prolific writer, Solo describes Kuteesa as one of the rarest and exemplary revolutionaries who has kept true to the ideals of the bush war struggle up to the time of his passing. Many Ugandans are reluctant when it comes to joining the security forces. They are reluctant because the forces are heavily scandalized by acts of torture and human rights abuse, Solo asserted.

The Judge contended that much as the first person to transfer the land into his names, Abdu Matovu forged the signature of the commissioner of Land Registry, at the time Counsel Peter Walubiri, the same cannot be used against Sudhir. This posture, even when Court proceedings had it that the title in question was a product of Nasser Road!

The Judge argued that because Sudhir reportedly didn’t know about the forgery at the time he bought the property, nor colluded with Matovu, he is treated as a bonafide purchaser for value without knowledge of the forgery which took place before he bought the land. This stance, even when Sudhir had failed to present the void Title, claiming it was misplaced by his lawyers! The Judge disregarded and even avoided a mention of Sadrudin’s original Title which had been presented before Court!

Sadrudin had invoked the office of the President after he had been shocked to learn his property, which he had actually sold off to a third party, had changed hands three times already. He had embarked on the process of transferring the land on Plot 8 Nakasero, into the names of the purchaser when he discovered the names of Meera Investments Limited (MIL) present and his, which were registered long ago in 1962, missing!

A real estate developer, Pine Investments Limited owned by the immediate outgoing Attorney General, William Byaruhanga and former break-dancer cum the biggest entertainment industry guru, Charlie Lubega, is the one which had legitimately bought the land from Sadrudin. Alarmed because he seem to have sold air at a cost of over USD1.5M which he was now supposed to refund, Sadrudin Gulamhussein involved police.

But Sudhir being the egoistic Sudhir he is, he called upon his big pals who told him to ignore Gulamhussein and continue in possession of the property. Defeated, Sadrudin sent in a passionate plea to the President. The head of State was alarmed by what he had been told and by what he later read himself.

The son of Kaguta’s anger boiled over. He swore Sudhir was only going to expropriate the property over his dead body. The President asked Amelia Kyambadde, his Principal Private Secretary then, to put him through to the then Inspector General of Police, Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura. Once Kayihura picked the call, Museveni demanded to know why he (Kayihura) was handling Sudhir with soft gloves.

He directed Kayihura to leave whatever he was doing, move with light speed and force Sudhir out of Sadrudin’s property. “You risk facing charges of contempt of my orders if at all you refuse to carry out my instructions,” the President reportedly addressed Kayihura. And as would be expected in circumstances as these, Kayihura followed the orders of his Commander-in-Chief to the letter.

The Police Chief sent in his boys who rounded up and handcuffed Sudhir’s private guards before evicting them. The President then instructed the Lands Office to transfer the property back into the names of Gulamhussein. The Commissioner of Lands at the time, Karibwende issued the due notice to Sudhir asking him to surrender whatever Title he had, for correction. A relentless fighter and lover of material things, Sudhir instructed his lawyers of Nangwala, Rezida and Company Advocates to fight back by telling Karibwende how forgery was beyond the realm of his office. Karibwende then wrote to Gulamhussein to communicate his inability to handle the matter.

He advised the aggrieved Asian to try the courts of law instead. Museveni learned of Karibwende’s insolence. But Karibwende was just six months away into retirement. He did what he could and handed the matter over to the new Commissioner, Sarah Basangwa Kulata to revisit the same. She rewrote to Sudhir asking him to quickly send in the title in his possession.

But Sudhir, fearing for the worst since his Title had been found to have been improvised from Nasser Road, the country’s forgery hub, didn’t budge. Kulata didn’t waste more time. She rectified the record that had been so tainted by restoring Sadrudin’s names on the white page Title. The fact that Sudhir had run to Court and obtained an order stopping the deletion of his name from the white page, didn’t help at all. The no-nonsense Kulata all the same deleted his name.

History

Gulamhussein obtained registration of the land in 1962. Just like it happened to other Asians who were living, working and trading in Uganda, he lost the property when the President of the day, Idi Amin Dada woke up from slumber and directed Asians to pack up and leave Uganda in three months. It so happened that in June 2016, a one Abdu Matovu managed to have the land holding the property registered in his names.

Matovu has since gone underground. His disappearance is of course understandable though suspicious in the circumstances of this saga. If he had remained in circulation, he would have been obviously quizzed about how and from who he bought the building and the source of the money he used to purchase the same. He disappeared because as it’s well-known by whoever bothers to, he was a proxy.

Above all, Matovu would be rotting in jail after it emerged that he actually forged the signature of the former Commissioner of Lands while he went about transferring the property into his names. Shortly after registering himself on the Title, Matovu conveniently ‘lost interest in the property’ and sold it out to a one Davis Kakwenzire. Kakwenzire purportedly paid USD550, 000 to ‘acquire’ the property. Never mind that his name doesn’t feature among Ugandans who are moneyed but land grabbers.

Well, to jog your mind back, Kakwenzire is the guy the President ordered to be arrested over land grabbing a few years back. The Head of State had paid a visit to Nateete in Lubaga division to listen to tales of land grabbing when, the locals mentioned Kakwenzire who, the President right away directed for his swift arrest. He was accordingly summarily handcuffed.

Meanwhile, upon registering himself on the Title, Kakwenzire had moved fast and used the same to obtain a loan from Crane Bank… You guessed right, Crane Bank belonged to Sudhir who the President ruled later, to have craftily obtained the land belonging to Sadrudin. A few days after obtaining the loan, Kakwenzire developed a feeling that he no longer wanted the high value land, which he had, by the way, ‘acquired’ barely three months back.

He ‘looked for brokers’ to help find him a buyer. He found one. His name is Godfrey Kirumira. The choice isn’t surprising to the initiated. Kirumira has been Sudhir’s ‘errand boy’ for a long time as far as ‘buying’ property is concerned. Meetings ensued. They were held at Sudhir’s Munnyonnyo Resort Hotel. City lawyer, Wycliffe Birungi proceeded to the Land Office on the alleged assignment of carrying out the search of the register.

Done with the assignment, Birungi turned to his paymaster to report how he had not found any kind of encumbrance. But more exactly, any names of Sadrudin Gulamhussein on the Title. This still baffles those in the know because to date, Kulata’s stance still stands and Glamhussein’s names still appear in the registry. But this is a story for another day. Nevertheless, Sudhir then reached for his purse and paid the buyer-out at a fee totaling to USD850, 000.

Back to Court records, after securing the judgment in his favor, Sudhir started on the journey to file for a Special Title from Lands, claiming his (the void one) had completely gone missing for good. In the meantime, Sadrudin is not taking it lying down. He had secured a court order for maintenance of the status quo until his appeal is out of the way. Watch this space. 

Legislators on the committee immediately reminded her of her past conviction on the charges of graft. The charges stemmed from the looting of GAVI donated money that was supposed to help in treatment of HIV and malaria some years ago. The missing money led to the prosecution of the ministers of health at the time who included Capt. Mike Mukula, as well as Alice Kaboyo, then an aide in State House.

Upon arraignment before the courts of law, Kaboyo pleaded guilty to the charges of pocketing five hundred and twenty million Uganda shillings and she was sentenced to a fine of twenty million Uganda shillings.

She had received the money purportedly to hold advocacy conferences. By the time of her conviction, she had refunded two hundred million of the money she received as a presidential aide yet she was no longer one. The 2012 conviction on her own plea of guilt has returned to haunt Kaboyo ten years later.

When she appeared before the vetting committee, Kaboyo fought in vain to have her appointment approved by the legislators sitting on that committee. Her explanation that her lawyer misled her into pleading guilty to the charges yet she did not commit them, was not bought by members of the vetting committee. The no nonsense legislators threw her out

Mbuga, who is known for being a rabid ‘jealousy’ lover, is said to have hacked into Jalia’s social media accounts in a bid to get information and evidence of suspected extra-marital affairs, prior to this ugly incident.

A close friend of Mbuga who preferred anonymity told this reporter that ever since coming from his prison, sojourn has been suspicious of Jalia and that he has been trailing her movements and communications.

Jalia, on Sunday morning broke the noose over her violent husband by posting – ‘Stop domestic violence.  Since you hacked my Instagram account . Hack into  this one too’

The statement follows reports from the STV station workers, who have been alleging that their bosses Mbuga and Jalia have been having fights at the station. Though this was until then kept under the carpet for fear of losing their jobs.

Moments later, estranged fashion guru Kim Swagger who is said to have introduced Mbuga to Jalia, also came out on his social media warning Mbuga against the continued battering of his sister. He went on to further claim that Mbuga wanted to kill him.

He wrote, ‘I have kept mute about your evil behaviours for a long time, even when you wanted to murder me, but the almighty God will work on you one day and trust me it will be a knock out. My sis Jalia Vivienne Mbuga, am sorry for introducing you to that man. I will forever take the blame #stopdomesticviolence’.

It should be noted that SK Mbuga and Jalia were accused of defrauding a swedish national of billions of shillings. Jalia then told authorities when nabbed about the alleged fraud, and arreyed, that Sten Heinsoo was simply her sugar daddy and boyfriend. Her true love was in Uganda and these were some of the ‘gold pics’ that she sent him and; he wired more money on seeing them. In total, he wired 53Krona to a Ugandan bank, the equivalent of shs23.8bn..

SK Mbuga and his Domestic Violence history

It should be noted that Mbuga’s first wife Fatuma Zalwango, in 2013, also alleged that the ‘tycoon’ was not only battering her but had neglected their children and decided to  take on her sister singer Leila Kayondo, as his new wife.

Fatuma, then alleged that she had introduced Leila, to Mbuga , to promote her music but was disheartened by their ‘live-in’ affair.

Mbuga was inaccessible through his known line.

Selestino Babungi, the Managing Director of  Umeme Ltd would like to applaud all our frontline healthcare workers and other individuals and institutions who are working day and night under the strategic guidance of our president, to keep this pandemic Covid-19, the deadly disease caused by the Coronavirus at bay in Uganda.

As guided by the President, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, while the healthcare workers fight the disease, care must be taken to keep the economy running, without compromising public health.

Umeme, accounts for over 97{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of all electricity supply in the country and we therefore understand and appreciate that we must stay at work to keep the country switched on and running. i appreciate the efforts of our 1,625 staff and contractors who have remained committed to keeping the lights on.  We also appreciate the support received from the security Joint Task Force, which has continued to support us during these tough times.

But Uganda can only keep the economy running, if we are all healthy and alive, which is why I urge all of us to join hands to fight the Coronavirus by adhering to all government directives and guidelines especially staying home and practicing the various safety measures that government has so articulately communicated.

Adjusting our processes to keep Uganda switched on

At Umeme- the safety of our customers, our staff, and the public has always been a priority. In light of the directives issued by the government, Umeme has had to inevitably make adjustments in our standard operating procedures to protect our staff and subsequently the public, but also ensure we reliably keep on the lights.

First of all, to reduce the level of human interaction, we have had to scale down on the number of staff coming to work physically. This has seen us reduce the number of staff per shift. To fit within the 12-hour night curfew, we have also had to create longer shifts of 12 hours in our contact centre and work management centre. We have further relocated staff required to be at work to service centers nearest to their places of residence.

The staff rationalisations however do not affect the technical teams. We have maintained the usual technical teams who attend to faults in Kampala, Entebbe & Mukono areas. Our entire upcountry faults teams are also fully operational. The specialised teams that attend to big breakdowns and vital installations such as factories, healthcare facilities, security installations, and other vital facilities are on standby.

The decongestion on our roads has also allowed us to respond to emergencies and technical faults faster and timelier. This is why for example even with the reduced workforce, our service levels remain high.

Umeme keeping health and manufacturing facilities running

Most referral health facilities, except Mulago National Referral Hospital, do not have dedicated power lines. They share these power lines with other users in the community in which these facilities are located. To ensure maximum efficiency during this delicate period, Umeme carried out preventive inspections and maintenance on these lines and the supporting substations to enhance their performance. We have also made sure that any emerging faults on these lines are prioritised ahead of other faults for faster restoration of supply.

Also the pre-paid meters to health facilities were replenished with credit to ensure continuity of supply without disconnection.

The continued investment in the distribution grid has significantly contributed to its stability and reliability. For this year, the plan is to invest a further US$ 80 million in substations, line works, and expansion of distribution zones. We also aim to convert the remaining 150,000 postpaid customers to pre-paid metering.

Protecting Umeme Staff and their families

For the safety of our staff, Umeme complies with the Ministry of Health Guidelines on CoVID-19 and has provided the required personal protective equipment like working goggles, hand sanitizers, vehicle sanitizers, and gloves, etc. Our field technical teams are under strict instructions to adhere to Ministry of Health guidelines while attending to network operations and technical customer service requests.

We urge the public to boost the efficacy of these initiatives by equally practicing the ministry of health guidelines, especially maintaining the recommended 4 meters social distance while dealing with our staff.

The investments in technology have enabled us to continue serving our customers through the use of digital channels at our contact centre, payments through digital channels, remote network management through the use of SCADA  and remote working of our staff. Our operations would have been significantly derailed during the lockdown period if we had not embraced technology over the years.

Let us stay safe, stay home, and save lives.

  Written by Selestino Babungi.

The unexpected development was explained by the seniors as creating conducive means for handover of AIGP Godfrey Bangirana, the hitherto Director Logistics. Inside the premises was the Chief of Joint Staff of the Police Force, AIGP Bakashoma who, was at the place for none but enforce Bangirana’s ejection.

Bakashoma had earlier in the day called Bangirana reminding him of his impending total handover of the entire Directorate but the latter had tried giving him excuses, saying he was finalizing a few things. “It’s not a request Mr. Bangirana. It’s a directive. You must handover office at 2:00Pm today and I am waiting here for the same,” Bakashoma reportedly communicated to the hitherto feared senior officer.

The much eager for this long wait were the Departmental Heads who were reportedly more than ready to ease their boss of any hitches in packing his bags. “All their inventory reports were ready for him to hand over to his defacto replacement in SCP Richard Edyegu,” reported our inner source at the scene.

The departments whose inventories Bangirana had to hand over include that of Transport Officer, Classified Stores, Quarter Master, Inspector of Vehicles (IOV), and Estates among others. Most of the senior staff members were reported in cordial moods and some left in fear of showing it to Bangirana’s face how celebrant they were to his ejection; sources revealed.

Bangirana had supposedly bargained his all his way through the media, Court and Police Authority as there were high hopes that the latter would permit his wish for the contract renewal. Actually, some mainstream media outlets had reported of how top police officers wanted to drag him out of the way as they wanted to sell some police land, an allegation that rubbed IGP Okoth Ocholla the wrong way.

Indeed, in a Police Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting held a fortnight ago, in reference to the said reports, Ocholla complained of the intrigue that had even sieved its way into the media. “This has reached worrying levels. Is Mr. Bangirana still in office,” Ocholla reportedly asked, directing the question to the Chief of Joint Staff Bakashoma who, reported how Bangirana had asked for more time.

Shaking his head impatiently, Ocholla ordered that Bangirana should leave office on the following Wednesday. We can’t ignore a Court Order. That is impunity,” he’s quoted as having said. However, that was the eve of President Museveni’s visit at the Police Headquarters and Bakashoma never implemented the directive until on Wednesday this week when, some senior police officer reminded him of the pivotal assignment and hence, today’s ejection of the giant.

The Background      

The journey to Bangirana’s loss to the battle started with a court case filed by Uganda Young Democratic members led by a one Isaak Maado the Administrative Secretary. The case of Bangirana’s illegal stay in office was before Lady Justice Esther Wolayo who at one time was accused by the complainants, of helping the police boss to continue abusing the law.

This was after Wolayo continuously skipped the hearing of an application that sought to have Bangirana temporarily leave office as court investigated how the under-fire senior police officer managed to accumulate wealth which is reportedly traced to trillions of money which is allocated to his docket.

The Judge’s consistence on skipping the hearing had been interpreted by the complainants as a calculated move intended to keep Bangirana in office as he maneuvered to have his expired contract renewed by his alleged god fathers in and outside the Uganda Police Authority.

It all started when Her Worship Wolayo had herself set aside November 24^th 2019 to hear the application. But she caused a commotion by opting to reportedly go for a conference in Munyonyo instead, even after her presence at court where she had handled other cases in the morning. As if on cue, Bangirana himself did not turn up in court as mandatorily expected, hence sending a wrong signal.

“It is the Judge herself who fixed the hearing of the application. She instead chose to go for a conference. Her intention is to deny us the right to justice. But we shall not waver in our fight to rid the Uganda Police Force of Kawukuumi (rogue officers),” Maado had declared. Nevertheless, Court finally kowtowed to the complainants’ cries and released a Court Order in their favor, the same Ocholla finally insisted on its implementation.

Before Maado went to court, Parliament had handled Bangirana issue of accumulation of what MPS call illicit wealth and the one of overstaying in office. In one of the charges, Bangirana is accused of blowing billions of money on repairing a Police Chopper that was well enough to buy a brand new one.

The MPs recommended that the man be relieved of the job. Nevertheless, Bangirana kept holding on the job even when the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Okoth Ocholla was of the view that he should have left. It is heavily said that Bangirana had got godfathers in government who told him to ignore the calls to leave whatsoever.

While President Yoweri Museveni is on record vowing to rid Uganda Police of rogue characters, he only managed to swing the axe over the then Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura’s head, plus locking up a handful of his minders. That the President wasn’t raising a finger against Baingana amidst the public uproar regarding handling of police funds, had become a matter that baffled Ugandans.

In 2017, a man allegedly made numerous copies of DVD’s of his ex-girlfriend performing sex and distributed them on random car windshields along with the woman’s name, address and phone number. He was angry that the woman had broken off their relationship. The woman, who had not known the intimate acts had been recorded, began receiving visits and phone calls from strange men who took the video as a sexual proposition. Refer to CHESTERFIELD OBSERER (Apr. 25, 2007), http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2007-04-25/news/009.html).

Today, intimate photos are increasingly being distributed online, potentially reaching thousands, even millions of people, with a click of a mouse. The most recent victim in Uganda is Martha Kagimba a.k.a Martha Kay.

A person’s nude photo can be uploaded to a website where thousands of people can view and repost it. In short order, the image appears prominently in a search of the victim’s name. It can be emailed or otherwise exhibited to the victim’s family, employers, co-workers and friends. The internet provides a staggering means of amplification, extending the reach of content in unimaginable ways.

Revenge pornography’s serious consequences warrant its condemnation. Nonconsensual pornography raises the risk of offline stalking and physical attack. In a study of 1244 individuals, over 50{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of victims reported that their naked photos appeared next to their full name and social profile.

Over 20{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of the victims reported that their email addresses and telephone numbers appeared next to their naked photos. Posting naked images next to a person’s information often encourages strangers to control the person offline. Many revenge porn victims worry that anonymous callers and emailers would follow up on their sexual demands in person.

Victims’ fear can be profound. They do not feel free leaving their home. Jane for example, did not go to work for days after she discovered the postings. Victims struggle especially with anxiety and some suffer panic attacks. Anorexia nervosa and depression are common ailments for individuals who are harassed online.

Researchers have found that cyber harassment victims’ anxiety grows more severe overtime. Victims have difficulty thinking positive thoughts and doing their work. According to a study conducted by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, over 80{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of revenge porn victims experience severe emotional distress and anxiety.

The professional costs of revenge porn are steep. Because internet searches of victims’ names prominently display their naked images or videos, many lose their jobs. Schools have terminated teachers whose naked pictures appeared online. A government agency ended a woman’s employment after a co-worker circulated her nude photographs to colleagues (Lester v Minesota, No. C-04-3074 SI, 2006).

Victims may be unable to find work at all. Most employers rely on candidates’ online reputation as an employment screen. According to a 2009 study commissioned by Microsoft, nearly 80{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of employers consult search engines to collect intelligence on job applicants and about 70{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of the time, they reject applicants due to their findings. Common reasons for not interviewing and hiring applicants include concerns about their lifestyle, inappropriate online comments and suitable photographs, videos and information about them.

Recruiters do not contact victims to see if they posted the nude photos themselves or if someone else did in violation of their trust. The simple but regrettable truth is that after consulting search engines, employers do not call revenge porn victims to schedule interviews or to extend offers. Employers do not want to hire individuals whose search research might reflect poorly on the employer.

To avoid further abuse, targeted individuals withdraw from online activities which can be costly in many respects. Closing down one’s blog can mean a loss of income and other career opportunities. When victims shut down their profiles on social media platforms lime Facebook, LinkedIn and twitter they are saddled with low social media influence scores that can impair ability to obtain employment.

Companies like Klout measured people’s online influence by looking at their number of social media followers, updates, likes, retweets and shares. Not uncommonly, employers refuse to hire individuals with low social media influence scores.

Revenge porn affects both men and women but empirical evidence has shown it primarily affects women and girls. In a study conducted by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, 90{0945c2a372ac1e8bbfe7cc3e10f9b82eb0b8ae872b07368d754f0396b6ef2afe} of those victimized by revenge porn were female (Study conducted in 2013). Majority of Ugandans implicated under the Anti-Pornography Act are women. The figures are disturbing. But as a society, should stand together with victims and condemn revenge porn.

Ronald is a law student from the Islamic University In Uganda.

He can also be reached via email [email protected], or telephone number 0704329097.