BERLIN (AFP) – Rwandan President Paul Kagame Sunday defended China’s programme of investment in developing African countries, while slamming Western nations and firms for polluting the continent.
“The Chinese bring what Africa needs: investment and money for governments and companies. China is investing in infrastructure and building roads,” said Kagame in an interview with German daily Handelsblatt to appear on Monday.
In contrast, the West’s involvement “has not brought Africa forward,” the president was quoted as saying.
“Western firms have to a large extent polluted Africa and they are still doing it. Think of the dumping of nuclear waste in the Ivory Coast or the fact that Somalia is being used as a rubbish bin by European firms,” he added.
Kagame called for a reorientation of development aid towards investment.
“I would prefer the Western world to invest in Africa rather than handing out development aid.
“There is a need for help — but it should be implemented in such a way as to enable trade and build up companies,” he added.
“In addition, it would help Africa much more if industrialised countries allowed us the same trade rights as they give to each other,” he said.
In May, China announced it was boosting its state-run Africa investment fund by two billion dollars (1.36 billion euros).
Since its launch in 2006, the China-Africa Development Fund has invested some 400 million dollars in the continent.

Source:  Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091011

Popularity: 2% [?]

By Abdi Guled | MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali rebels linked to al Qaeda are planning more suicide car bomb attacks against the government and African Union peacekeepers using vehicles including ambulances, Somali police said on Wednesday.

Twin suicide car bombs struck the headquarters of the AU mission AMISOM in Mogadishu in an audacious attack last month by al Shabaab insurgents. Seventeen peacekeepers were killed, including the Burundian deputy commander of the force.

Al Shabaab, which Washington says is al Qaeda’s proxy in the failed Horn of Africa state, and Somalia’s other main rebel movement, Hizbul Islam, have threatened more suicide attacks.
“We have information that the opposition groups are planning to use ambulances, police vehicles and tankers for suicide attacks on the government and AMISOM bases,” police spokesman Abdullahi Hassan Barise told a news conference in Mogadishu.

“We will inspect all cars to prevent those attacks.”
Fighting in Somalia has killed 19,000 civilians since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes.

Clashes between al Shabaab and Hizbul fighters in the south last week appeared to have given President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed’s U.N.-backed administration some much-needed breathing space.

But on Wednesday the rebel groups said they had agreed a truce, would resolve all future disputes through dialogue and sharia law, and that they would continue their attacks together against the government and AU peacekeepers.
(Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: Yahoo News | Reuters

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KAMPALA, Uganda – A Ugandan official says the country wants to claim a $5 million reward offered by the United States for the capture of a Rwandan genocide suspect. Ugandan minister Isaac Musumba said Thursday the east African nation would welcome any payment for Monday’s arrest of Idelphonse Nizeyimana in the Ugandan capital. He will be tried in a U.N.-backed tribunal.

Nizeyimana was wanted for orchestrating the killings of thousands of people in Rwanda‘s 1994 genocide, including children, hospital patients, priests and an elderly and revered African queen. More than 500,000Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in the genocide.

The reward was offered as part of a program to pursue terrorists and those who have committed crimes against humanity.

Source: Associated Press | Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008

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A general view shows African artists performing at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) at the Moi International Sports Centre-Kasarani in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, October 10, 2009. The annual celebration of the African continents contemporary music and youth culture was graced by Senegalese-American Akon, Wyclef Jean and a host of Africa’s most celebrated contemporary artists including Wahu, M.I., Samini and Lira. Picture taken October 10, 2009. Photo/REUTERS

By Adhyambo OderaPosted Sunday, October 11 2009 at 20:16
Glitz and glamour took centre stage as local and international celebrities made a red carpet entrance at Nairobi’s Moi Sports Centre for the MTV Africa Music Awards at the weekend.

Accreditation for the media was an elaborate affair. Those accredited for the red carpet were not necessarily accredited for the auditorium. Security was tight at every point and if anyone thought they could break into the venue, the sniffer dogs would have had them for dinner.

The stipulated dress code for the event was adhered to. Women and men outdid each other, with top stars like Churchill wearing expensive clothes. VJ Emukule Ekirapa had a field day with the fashion faux pas.

Poor Kenyans

The highlight of the red carpet was when Wyclef Jean arrived on a motorbike, apparently to be in solidarity with poor Kenyans. Akon was simple in a white shiny suit, while D’banj dazzled in simple mix and match clothing.

Being leggy appears to be this season’s look for fashion-conscious females going by the many black short dresses at the venue. Purple, orange, yellow, pink and blue made the majority of those who chose to go grand on gown.

Men wore mainly jeans, coloured shirts and casual jackets. The stage was spectacular with its decor and lighting. All the rainbow colours were represented. Grips took turns to make very quick scene changes each time there was a commercial break. The choreography of the acts was impressive.

The inclusion of Churchill as a sidekick and hype man contributed in making the event exciting. The costumes and makeup of the award presenters and performers were also impressive. Indeed, Wyclef and Akon could not leave without acknowledging their surprise and respect for Kenyans.

Kenyan stars made the country proud on this occasion. Nameless chanted “haki yetu” along with an elated crowd when he picked up his second award of the night. Amani fought back tears and finally asserted why she is the new queen of Kenyan showbiz. It was a night to remember and those present witnessed a new dawn in the entertainment industry.

Article Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/671168/-/unyi5x/-/

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The Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky has registered and notified the winners of the DV-2010 diversity lottery.  The diversity lottery was conducted under the terms of section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and makes available *50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.  Approximately 102,800 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an immigrant visa. Since it is likely that some of the first *50,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger figure should insure that all DV-2010 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2010 (October 1, 2009 until September 30, 2010).

Applicants registered for the DV-2010 program were selected at random from over 13.6 million qualified entries received during the 60 day application period that ran from noon on October 2, 2008, until noon, December 1, 2008.  The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country.  During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent, or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.  Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly.  Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested.

Registrants living legally in the United States who wish to apply for adjustment of their status must contact the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services for information on the requirements and procedures.  Once the total *50,000 visa numbers have been used, the program for fiscal year 2010 will end.  Selected applicants who do not receive visas by September 30, 2010 will derive no further benefit from their DV-2010 registration.  Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2010 principal applicants are only entitled to derivative diversity visa status until September 30, 2010.

Only participants in the DV-2010 program who were selected for further processing have been notified.  Those who have not received notification were not selected.  They may try for the upcoming DV-2011 lottery if they wish.  The dates for the registration period for the DV-2011 lottery program will be widely publicized during August 2009.

* The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulated that up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas be made available for use under the NACARA program.  The reduction of the limit of available visas to 50,000 began with DV-2000.

The following is the statistical breakdown by foreign-state chargeability of those registered for the DV-2010 program:

Source: US Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html#1

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Ugandan protesters traveled to America’s capital city of Washington DC on Thursday October 8th 2009 to protest against the human rights abuses, political unrest and the muzzling of free media in Uganda ahead of the country’s October 9th Independence day celebrations. The group composed of Ugandans and Buganda Kingdom loyalists made stop overs at the White House, the Capitol Hill, the World Bank, and the Ugandan Embassy demanding regime change and the rule of law. Some of the protesters were interviewed by Voice of America News team. UNAA Times brings you the highlights of the DC protests. All video courtesy of the VOA News Network!

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THE UGANDA INDEPENDENCE ACT, 1962. Arrangement of Sections.
Section

Provision for fully responsible status of Uganda.

Consequential modifications of British Nationality Acts.

Consequential modifications of other enactments.

East African Common Services Organisation.

Interpretation.

Short title.

Schedules

First Schedule Legislative powers in Uganda.

Second Schedule Agreements referred to in section 1(3).

Third Schedule Amendments not affecting the law of

Uganda.

THE UGANDA INDEPENDENCE ACT, 1962*.

10 & 11 Eliz. 2 Ch. 57.

Commencement: 1 August, 1962. An Act To Make Provision For, And In Connection With, The Attainment By Uganda Of Fully Responsible Status Within The Commonwealth.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1. Provision for fully responsible status of Uganda.

On the ninth day of October, nineteen hundred and sixty-two (in this Act referred to as “the appointed day”), the territories which at the passing of this Act are comprised in the Uganda Protectorate (that is to say, all those territories which, whether designated as kingdoms, districts or otherwise, are specified in section one of the Constitution set out in the Second Schedule to the existing Constitution Order, and whose boundaries are as mentioned in section two of that Constitution) shall together form part of Her Majesty’s dominions under the name of Uganda; and as from the appointed day Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the Government of Uganda or any part thereof.

No Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the appointed day shall extend, or be deemed to extend, to Uganda, or any part of Uganda, as part of the law thereof; and as from that day the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to legislative powers in Uganda.

The agreements which, in the Second Schedule to this Act, are specified by their titles as mentioned in that Schedule, and any agreement (whether made before or after the passing of this Act) whereby any of those agreements is varied or superseded, shall cease to have effect as from the appointed day.

* The text of this Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom is included in the Revised Edition for ease of reference.
(4) Subsection (1) of this section shall not affect the operation in Uganda or any part thereof of any enactment, or any other instrument having the effect of law, passed or made before the appointed day.

2. Consequential modifications of British Nationality Acts.

(1) As from the appointed day, the British Nationality Acts, 1948 and
1958, shall have effect as if—

in subsection (3) of section one of the said Act of 1948 (which provides for persons to be British subjects or Commonwealth citizens by virtue of citizenship of certain countries) there were added at the end the words “and Uganda”;

in the First Schedule to the British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order, in Council, 1949, the words “Uganda Protectorate” were omitted:
Provided that a person who, immediately before the appointed day, is for the purposes of the said Acts and Order in Council a British protected person by virtue of his connection with the Uganda Protectorate shall not cease to be such a British protected person for any of those purposes by reason of anything contained in the preceding provisions of this Act, but shall so cease upon his becoming a citizen of Uganda under the law thereof.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, any person
who immediately before the appointed day is a citizen of the Untied
Kingdom and Colonies shall on that day cease to be such a citizen if—

under the law of Uganda he becomes on that day a citizen of Uganda; and

he, his father or his father’s father was born in Uganda.

(3) Subject to subsection (8) of this section, a person shall not cease
to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies under the last preceding
subsection if he, his father or his father’s father—

was born in the United Kingdom or in a colony; or

is or was a person naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies; or

was registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies; or

became a British subject by reason of the annexation of any territory included in a colony.

A person shall not cease to be a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies under subsection (2) of this section if he was born in a protectorate or protected state, or if his father or his father’s father was so born and is or at any time was a British subject.

A woman who is the wife of a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies shall not cease to be such a citizen under subsection (2) of this section unless her husband does so.

Subsection (2) of section six of the British Nationality Act, 1948 (which provides for the registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies of a woman who has been married to such a citizen) shall not apply to a woman by virtue of her marriage to a person who ceases to be such a citizen under subsection (2) of this section, or who would have done so if living on the appointed day.

Subject to the next following subsection, the reference in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this section to a person naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies shall include a person who would, if living immediately before the commencement of the British Nationality Act, 1948, have become a person naturalised in the United Kingdom and Colonies by virtue of subsection (6) of section thirty-two of that Act (which relates to persons given local naturalisation before that commencement in a colony or protectorate).

Any reference in subsection (3) or subsection (4) of this section to a colony, protectorate or protected state shall, subject to the next following subsection, be construed as a reference to a territory which is a colony, protectorate or protected state on the appointed day; and the said subsection (3) shall not apply to a person by virtue of any certificate of naturalisation granted or registration effected by the governor or government of a territory outside the United Kingdom which is not a colony, protectorate or protected state on that day.

The protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland shall be excepted from the operation of any reference in subsection (4) or subsection (8) of this section to a protectorate.

Part III of the British Nationality Act, 1948 (which contains supplemental provisions) shall have effect for the purposes of subsections (2) to (9) of this section as if those subsections were included in that Act.
3. Consequential modifications of other enactments.

Notwithstanding anything in the Interpretation Act, 1889, the expression “colony” in any Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on or after the appointed day shall not include Uganda or any part thereof.

The expression “colony” in the Army Act, 1955, the Air Force Act, 1955, and the Naval Discipline Act, 1957, shall not include Uganda or any part thereof; and, as from the appointed day, in the definitions of “Commonwealth force” in subsection (1) of section two hundred and twenty-five and subsection (1) of section two hundred and twenty-three respectively of the said Acts of 1955, and in the definition of “Commonwealth country” in subsection (1) of section one hundred and thirty-five of the said Act of 1957, at the end there shall be added the words “or Uganda”.

No Order in Council made on or after the appointed day under section one of the Army and Air Force Act, 1961, shall operate to continue either of the said Acts of 1955 in force as part of the law of Uganda or any part thereof.

As from the appointed day, the provisions specified in the Third Schedule to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments respectively specified in that Schedule, and Her Majesty may by Order in Council, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, make such further adaptations in any Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed before this Act, or in any instrument having effect under any such Act, as appear to Her necessary in consequence of section one of this Act; and any Order in Council made under this subsection may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council so made, and, though made after the appointed day, may be made so as to have effect from that day.

The last preceding subsection shall not extend to Uganda, or any part of Uganda, as part of the law thereof.

4. East African Common Services Organisation.

(1) For the purposes of the making of loans to the East African Common Services Organisation, and in relation to loans made at any time to
that organisation, section two of the Colonial Development and Welfare Act, 1959 (which authorises the making of loans by the Secretary of State) shall have effect on and after the appointed day as if Uganda had not ceased to be a colony within the meaning of that Act.

(2) In this section “the East African Common Services Organisation” means the organisation established under that name by an agreement made on the ninth day of December, nineteen hundred and sixty-one, between the Governments of Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda.

5. Interpretation.

In this Act “the existing Constitution Order” means the Uganda (Constitution) Order in Council, 1962, made on the twenty-sixth day of February, nineteen hundred and sixty-two.

References in this Act to any enactment are references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment.

6. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Uganda Independence Act, 1962.

SCHEDULES

FIRST SCHEDULE.

s. 1. LEGISLATIVE POWERS IN UGANDA.

The Colonial Laws Validity Act, 1865, shall not apply to any law made by any legislature established for Uganda or any part thereof.

No law and no provision of any law made on or after the appointed day by any such legislature shall be void or inoperative on the ground that it is repugnant to the law of England, or to the provisions of any Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, including this Act, or to any order, rule or regulation made under any such Act, and, subject to paragraph 5 of this Schedule, the powers of any such legislature shall include the power to repeal or amend any such Act, order, rule or regulation insofar as it is part of the law of Uganda or any part thereof and insofar as it relates to matters within the legislative powers of that legislature.

Any legislature established in Uganda or any part thereof shall have full power to make laws having extra-territorial operation, so far as those laws relate to matters within the legislative powers of that legislature.

Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provisions of this Schedule, sections seven hundred and thirty-five and seven hundred and thirty-six of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, shall be construed as if references therein to the legislature of a British possession did not include references to any legislature established for Uganda or any part thereof.

Nothing in this Act shall confer on any legislature established for Uganda or any part thereof any power to repeal, amend or modify the constitutional provisions otherwise than in such manner as may be provided for in those provisions.

In this paragraph, “the constitutional provisions” means the following, that is to say—

this Act;

any Order in Council revoking the existing Constitution Order and establishing a new Constitution for Uganda as from the appointed day;

any law, or instrument made under a law, of any legislature

established for Uganda or any part thereof which, being a law or instrument made on or after the appointed day, amends, modifies, re-enacts with or without amendment or modification, or makes different provision in lieu of, any provisions of this Act, of the Order in Council first mentioned in this subparagraph, or of any such law or instrument previously made.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

s. 1. AGREEMENTS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 1(3).
The Uganda Agreement (Clan Cases), 1924.

The Bunyoro Agreement, 1955.

The Buganda Agreement, 1961.

The Toro Agreements, 1900 to 1961 (that is to say, the agreements which in accordance with the Toro (Provisional) Agreement, 1961, may be cited together by that title).

The Ankole Agreement, 1901; the Ankole Agreement (Boundaries) 1914; the Ankole Agreement (Boundaries) 1923; and the Ankole Agreement, 1941.

Note—The titles specified in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Schedule, and the title “The Toro (Provisional) Agreement, 1961”, are those by which the agreements in question provide that they may be cited; and the titles specified in paragraph 5 of this Schedule are those by which the agreements in question provide that they may be cited or by which they are commonly known.

THIRD SCHEDULE .

s. 3. AMENDMENTS NOT AFFECTING THE LAW OF UGANDA.

Diplomatic immunities.

1. In section four hundred and sixty-one of the Income Tax Act,
1952 (which relates to the exemption from income tax in the case of
certain Commonwealth representatives and their staffs)—

in subsection (2), before the words “for any state” there shall be inserted the words “or Uganda”;

in subsection (3), before the words “and ‘Agent-General’” there shall be inserted the words “or Uganda”.

In subsection (6) of section one of the Diplomatic Immunities (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act, 1952, before the words “and the Republic of Ireland” there shall be inserted the word “Uganda”.

In subsection (5) of section one of the Diplomatic Immunities (Conferences with Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act, 1961, before the words “and the Republic of Ireland” there shall be inserted the word “Uganda”.

Financial.

4. In subsection (4) of section two of the Import Duties Act,
1958, before the words “together with” there shall be inserted the word
“Uganda”.

Visiting forces.

5. In the Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act, 1933, section
four (which deals with attachment and mutual powers of command) shall
apply in relation to forces raised in Uganda as it applies in relation to forces
raised in Dominions within the meaning of the Statute of Westminster, 1931.

6. In the Visiting Forces Act, 1952—
(a) in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section one (which specifies

the countries to which that Act applies) at the end there shall be added the words “Uganda, or”;
(b) in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section ten the expression “colony” shall not include Uganda or any part thereof, and, until express provision with respect to Uganda is made by Order in Council under section eight of that Act (which relates to the application to visiting forces of law relating to home forces), any such Order for the time being in force shall be deemed to apply to visiting forces of Uganda.

Ships and aircraft.

In subsection (2) of section four hundred and twenty-seven of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, as substituted by section two of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act, 1949, before the words “or in any” there shall be inserted the words “or Uganda”.

In the proviso to subsection (2) of section six of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1948, at the end there shall be added the words “or Uganda”.

In the definition of “excepted ship or aircraft” in paragraph 3 of the Third Schedule to the Emergency Laws (Repeal) Act, 1959, before the words “or in any” there shall be inserted the words “or Uganda”.

The Ships and Aircraft (Transfer Restriction) Act, 1939, shall not apply to any ship by reason only of its being registered in, or licensed under the law of, Uganda or any part thereof; and the penal provisions of that Act shall not apply to persons in Uganda (but without prejudice to the operation with respect to any ship to which that Act does apply of the provisions thereof relating to the forfeiture of ships).

In the Whaling Industry (Regulation) Act, 1934, the expression “British ship to which this Act applies” shall not include a British ship registered in Uganda.

In paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section two of the Civil Aviation (Licensing) Act, 1960, the expression “colony” shall not include Uganda or any part thereof.

Divorce jurisdiction.

13. In subsection (2) of section two of the Indian and Colonial
Divorce Jurisdiction Act, 1926 (which enables section one of that Act to be
extended to certain countries, but not to any of the countries named in the
said subsection (2)) at the end there shall be added the words “and Uganda”.

14. In subsection (2) of section eight of the Imperial Institute Act, 1925 as amended by the Commonwealth Institute Act, 1958 (which relates to the power to vary the provisions of the said Act of 1925 if an agreement for the purpose is made with the governments of certain territories which for the time being are contributing towards the expenses of the Commonwealth Institute) at the end there shall be added the words “and Uganda”.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Source: http://www.saflii.org/ug/legis/consol_act//uia1962149/

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By GODFREY OLUKYA, Associated Press Writer | KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda released Somalia’s state minister for defense on Wednesday, hours after arresting him because he did not inform Ugandan authorities of his visit, officials said. Yusuf Mohamed Siad was picked up Tuesday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and released Wednesday, said Ugandan Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye.

“The way he entered into Uganda was unbecoming for a person of his status … But at last the issue was discussed at the diplomatic level and we have released him,” said Kulayigye.

Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, during a trip to Columbus, Ohio, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was aware of the incident.
Somalia has been ravaged by violence and anarchy since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, then turned on each other. The al-Shabab insurgent group, which has foreign fighters in its ranks, operates openly in the capital and seeks to overthrow the government and impose a strict form of Islam in Somalia.
Ahmed said Siad’s family lives in Uganda, a country that provides many of the troops for a 5,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
__________________________________________________________________
AP Writer Andrew Welsh-Huggins contributed to this report from Columbus, Ohio.

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By Fred Ojambo | Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) — Uganda’s Capital Markets Authority extended the offering of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank’s 40 billion-shilling ($20.9 million), seven-year bond to Oct. 12, the lender, known as PTA Bank, said.

The extension was to allow potential investors more time to participate, the Nairobi, Kenya-based bank said in a statement published today in Uganda’s New Vision newspaper. The offering had been due to close on Oct. 2, it said.

Proceeds from the securities will fund investments in Uganda, PTA Bank said. The bond is the second sold in Uganda, following a five-year, 15 billion-shilling issue in 2004.

To contact the reporter on this story: Fred Ojambo in Johannesburg at fojambo@bloomberg.net

Article Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

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UNAA Times Online | www.unaatimes.com | By Ronnie Mayanja | I arrived at the Best Western Hotel in Waltham on Sunday October 5th at about 5pm following an earlier lunch at Karibu restaurant. As chance would have it, Mr. Moses Wilson together with his deputy Mr. Francis Ssenoga had walked into Karibu and moments later they were followed by Lt. Frank Musisi the out going UNAA President who was himself in the company of the Gwanga Mujje interim Chairman Mr. John Mayanja. Continue Reading

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UNAA Times Online | www.unaatimes.com | Miss Uganda Press Release | We are pleased to announce that Miss Uganda 2009 Maria Namiiro has been officially nominated for the BEFFTA Award – Fashion Category – Beauty Pageants – BEST CURRENT BEAUTY QUEEN to be held in London on 17th Oct 2009. Continue Reading

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UNAA Times | www.unaatimes.com | Omega Bugembe Okello | On the evening of October 10th, I will have the great honor of headlining at a benefit concert organized by the Village Enterprise Fund. This is a cause near and dear to my heart. Village Enterprise Fund has developed and refined a successful program that combines training, seed capital grants and ongoing mentorship to help committed, hard-working people launch small businesses in East Africa. Continue Reading

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As an advertisement extension to all our AD partners we create a complimentary landing page with more information that can be updated in realtime to reflect the growth of the company. In this edition, we present Sam kiwanuka | Realtor/Agent.

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The UNAA President Mr. Moses Wilson and his deputy Mr. Francis Ssenoga together with part of their Clear Direction Campaign Team Celebrated their ascendancy to the UNAA throne Friday Oct 3 2009 with a dinner dance at Uganda’s number one nightspot in Boston Club Rendevous. Continue Reading

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UNAA Times Online | September 2009, Karisoke Research Center Field News | Karisoke staff and researchers brought the body of silverback Titus down from the mountain on Sept. 16, many weeping at the loss of their old friend. Titus, who has been followed by Karisoke staff since his birth in 1974, died on Monday, Sept. 14. Continue Reading

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afrol News, 1 October – The MTN Group has announced it has signed a major deal with IMImobile to bring mobile and online content to its users.

Millions of mobile and online content users across Africa and the Middle East will reap the benefits of a landmark tie-up with IMImobile – an India-based software and managed services provider linked to 350 content providers worldwide, MTN said in a statement today.

The two companies have teamed up in a move to address the growing demand for content in emerging markets. The partnership will entail providing MTN’s 21 markets access to a repository of current and globally popular content through enhanced delivery platforms. Content categories will include music (with local and international flavour), sports, games, entertainment, news and much more.

The deal will also enable MTN to launch new income-generating voice and data services across its global footprint, with revenues from mobile content and services estimated at around US$150.2 billion in 2011, up from $89.3 billion in 2006, worldwide.

One of MTN’s new content streams will be the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) of which the mobile operator has exclusive global mobile content rights. Accordingly, MTN will leverage its IMImobile partnership to deliver exclusive 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) content on subscribers’ handsets, including soccer match news, fixtures, match results as well as team and group profiles.

MTN Group Corporate Affairs Executive, Nozipho January-Bardill, said IMImobile was selected from a group of major global telecom software and service providers because of the scalability of its technology platforms and proven managed services business model.

“IMImobile’s value proposition and technology solutions will enable MTN to reduce the time-to-market for new services, boost Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and keep MTN at the forefront of innovative services.

“We have found a partner in IMImobile that has the insight and expertise of the appropriate managed service business model and technology solution necessary to continue to deliver premium content and services to our customers,” said January-Bardill.

MTN also wants to capitalize on the rapidly converging data content and voice market, with Africa, the Middle East and Latin America poised to witness the highest growth in revenue as additional mobile data services are being deployed in these regions.

Vishwanath Alluri, Founder and CEO of IMImobile said: “This is a major commercial milestone for IMImobile as we continue to build our offering to support leading operators worldwide. To be chosen by MTN as their strategic partner ahead of a strong list of competitors is testament to our unique service. We are excited by the opportunity and are looking forward to helping MTN achieve its objectives of creating substantial additional revenue streams.”

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As at 30 June 2009, MTN recorded 103,2 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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The glamour that was missing from the beauty contest is finally back! The standards were very high in line with the Miss World requirements to ensure that our Ugandan beauty queen is equipped to attend the Miss World final in South Africa.

Maria Namiiro who is Ugandan born and UK based does it again and wins the Miss Uganda 2009 crown. She follows the many African beauty queens who go back home to contest the national crown and go on to represent their respective countries at the Miss World finals. She also won the best traditional/creative wear category.

This was Maria’s 8^th beauty contest that she had taken part in globally. Her first prize is a holiday and spending money to a destination of her choice but above all she wins the opportunity to represent Uganda at the Miss World. Her first stop will be undertaking charity work in Northern Uganda in support of the Latitude Care Network – www.latitudecarenetwork.org. It was indeed a very difficult decision, a tie between two beauty queens and it was down to 4 professional judges at international level to decide on the eventual winner.

The full judging process and the way and manner in which the judging was conducted and decided was all explained at yesterday’s press conference Tuesday 28^th Sept 09) at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. This was done by the head Judge Sola Oyebade who has over decades of judging experience at international level. The new Miss Uganda organisers have actually gone out their way to show transparency by disclosing the marks of their contest to partners and potential sponsors. The first runner up was Joan Athieno who also won the best swim wear category. The second princess was Grace Kiwanuka and the evening wear category was won by Caroline Nantumbwe.

Mr Uganda 2009 crown was taken by Brian Lukiya who will go to represent Uganda at Mr World 2010 in South Korea. Attached photo is by Eddie Chicco of monitor newspaper. All photos of the event will be uploaded on our website soon so please do bear with us.

+256(0) 772 920 585 or info@missuganda-missworld.com

+ 256(0) 772 061 851 or press@missuganda-missworld.com

Miss Uganda 2009 – “Promoting Ugandan Beauty, Culture & Heritage”

www.missuganda-missworld.com                           www.missworld.com

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“HOME IS THE BEST – 3” SUMMIT

DECEMBER 23 2009 – LIRA, DECEMBER 29 & 30 2009 – HOTEL AFRICANA-KAMPALA, and JANUARY 4 2010 – MBALE

Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and the Private Sector in Uganda is organising yet another Diaspora Investment Summit, under the theme “HOME IS THE BEST 3”. Three business summits are scheduled to take place in Lira, Kampala (Hotel Africana) and Mbale on 23rd December 2009, 29th to 30th December 2009, and 4th January 2010 respectively.

The “Home is the Best” Forum has become an annual event that embraces all Ugandans in the Diaspora into active participation in the development and review processes of policy and regulatory frame work regarding the business environment. Members also get the opportunity to reflect on their business investment achievements at home. .

The Forum usually comprises an exhibition of the solutions to the Diaspora needs, discussions on challenges, and new opportunities. Financial institutions, the construction & building industry, trading houses and the private sector as a whole present their branded packages to the Ugandan Diaspora who usually lack information and knowledge about the home’s economic and investment climate.

Approximately 300 to 450 Diaspora members and their families, who make the annual Christmas holiday pilgrimage to Uganda, attend the Summit. Last year’s (2008) events were hosted in Gulu and Kampala. The out of Kampala meets give the participants a chance to see the countryside and the numerous latent investment and trading opportunities outside the capital.

This year’s summit will pay special attention to Investment and Trade opportunities in ICT especially Business Process Outsourcing and Multimedia, Value Addition to our abundant natural resources (Agriculture-Agro-possessing), Tourism, Health care, Education Bio-Technology etc.

There will be number of side events that will include i) Exhibitions and Fashion Shows where Ugandans at home and in the Diaspora with display their products and services, ii) Entertainment & Cultural Activities where participants will discuss the effects of modernisation on the culture, there will be training sessions on valued cultural norms including gender issues, iii) Youths and Children Activities which will include games and sports iv) Dinners, and Cocktails.

For further Information, please contact:

Mr. John Musajjakawa

Uganda Investment Authority

Twed Plaza, 2nd Floor, Plot 22B Lumumba Avenue

Tel: 0414-301161, Fax: 0414-342903

Email:musajja@ugandainvest.com info@ugandainvest.com OR Visit our

Website: www.ugandainvest.com .

M/s Doris Nakiwala Mitti

Uganda Investment Authority

Twed Plaza, 2nd Floor, Plot 22B Lumumba Avenue

Tel: 0414-301101, Fax: 0414-342903

E-mail- dmitti@ugandainvest.com , info@ugandainvest.com OR Visit our

Website: www.ugandainvest.com .

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By PETER JAMES SPIELMANN, Associated Press Writer – September 2009 | UNITED NATIONS – Somalia is being hijacked by al-Qaida-linked terrorists who are better organized and more highly motivated than the ineffectual government in Mogadishu, and Sudan could be the next nation to fall under their influence, Ethiopia warned Saturday.

“It is time that we abandon the fiction that this is a war just among Somalis. It is not,” Ethiopian Foreign Minister Ato Seyoum Mesfin said in a pessimistic speech before the General Assembly.

“Somalia is being hijacked by foreign fighters who have no inhibition in proclaiming that their agenda has nothing to do with Somalia. Theirs is an ambition that goes well beyond Somalia, and they say it out loud and clear,” said Mesfin.

“Today in Somalia, there is greater coordination and cooperation among those who assist the extremists than among those who profess support for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia,” Mesfin said.

Last week, two stolen U.N. vehicles packed with explosives blew up at an African Union peacekeeping base in Somalia, killing 21 people, including 17 Burundian and Ugandan peacekeepers. Markings on the cars meant they were not subject to the usual security checks.

Al-Shabab, a local Islamic militia with foreign fighters in its ranks, said the Sept. 17 bombing was in retaliation for a U.S. commando raid on Sept. 14 that killed al-Qaida operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in southern Somalia. It has released a video pledging allegiance to al-Qaida and showing foreign trainers moving among its fighters.

“As the latest horrific suicide attack … has shown, those destroying Somalia are being emboldened, and their supporters rewarded,” Mesfin said.

On the other hand, “The international community is being stingy even with symbolic steps to show resolve against extremists and spoilers in Somalia,” he said.

“It is critical that the international community wakes up before the hijacking of Somalia by extremism is fully consummated, ” Mesfin said, lamenting that “it appears, the Council does not consider Somalia is a priority.”

“What is missing is the political will. No one who knows Somalia well believes that Al-Shabab is popular in Somalia. Whatever gains they have made is a function of their brutality and the support they have from without.”

Mesfin warned Sudan could be the next domino.

“The Horn of Africa cannot afford the consequence of failure in the Sudan peace process. We are very close to both parties in the Sudan an asset which we want to use wisely,” Mesfin said.

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UNAA Times Online | www.unaatimes.com | On Friday September 25th 2009 ”Blu 3′ a Ugandan gal group held their final performance at Club Rendezvous a popular Ugandan night spot in Boston before departing from the US. Among the artists on stage that night were Michael Ross who is currently touring Texas and Ragga Dee who will be launching his latest album in the US very soon. Continue Reading

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Journalist Peter Maass talks with Kai Ryssdal about his book, “Crude World” and the disadvantages that come with having a lot of oil. “Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil” Peter Maass (aspo-usa.org)

TEXT OF INTERVIEW

KAI RYSSDAL: The price of crude oil fell today, down to almost $66 a barrel. For consumers who live in oil-importing countries that will be welcome news. For citizens of countries that have a lot of oil, countries that don’t make quite as much money when oil gets cheaper, falling prices might eventually be welcome news there as well.

Peter Maass talks about oil and its disadvantages in his new book “Crude World.” Peter, good to have you with us.

PETER MAASS: Good to be here.

RYSSDAL: It occurred to me reading this book that oil is maybe the best example ever of too much of a good thing being a bad thing.

MAASS: Some people refer to it as the resource curse. And what it means is that, indeed, if you have so much oil, and you depend on it for income, for exports, etc., that it can actually hurt your economy. You don’t become richer from it, but you become poorer from it. And that actually, instead of becoming more peaceful and prosperous, you actually can become more violent.

RYSSDAL: There are countless examples in your book. The best one has to be, I think, Nigeria.

MAASS: Nigeria is really the saddest story of all because it’s earned about $400 billion from the oil that it’s exported over the last several decades, most of which has gone to the United States. Unfortunately there’s about 80 percent of the population that still lives at or below the poverty level, and one out of five Nigerian children die before the age of five. And there’s also kind of a low-level insurgency that’s going in the Niger Delta, which is where the oil comes from.

RYSSDAL: Describe it for me. Tell me what the Delta is like from your trips there.

MAASS: I went into the Delta in a canoe, which is pretty much the only way you can do it. And it’s almost kind of a scene from a panel of Bosch or something like that where you’re on this creek, and you’re smelling oil, and the land along the creek is virtually on fire, because there are like flares coming out of the ground. There are army soldiers kind of … that are ringed around these oil facilities, which are like kind of isolated fortresses. And on one side of the creek you’ll have this kind of beautiful oil facility with lawns and electricity and air conditioning and Wi-Fi connections. Other side of the creek — I stayed in this one little village — no running water, no school, no health care, no electricity. The only light that it had, in fact, was from the flare from the oil facility that kind of gave this Martian glow to the place at night.

RYSSDAL: There are outliers, of course, and I have to give a shot out to my Norwegian heritage here. I mean they’ve got North Sea oil, more than they know what to do with, they’re a stable democracy with a great social-safety net. How do you explain that?

MAASS: Norway is a wonderful kind of outlier, which shows the lesson that it’s best, and in fact, kind of almost imperative to discover democracy before you discover oil. Because Norway had, when it found this oil and natural gas in the North Sea, very solid civic institutions. So that when the oil was found there was a national discussion that was resolved about how do we use this oil, who gets it, what do we do with the revenue. And once this kind of discussion was held and resolved, then the oil money was used in ways that were totally transparent. People could see where the money went, and how it was used, and that it wasn’t wasted. And they also made the very smart decision to keep, actually, a lot of this oil money out of the economy, to put it into a reserve fund.

RYSSDAL: Is there a way that these countries who are troubled by their oil wealth can recover, can get out of this cycle, unless oil drops in value. And I’m not talking $5 a barrel here, but I’m talking drops in utility value, too. I mean it’s so widely used.

MAASS: Well, I think certainly that, if the price of oil drops, if oil becomes kind of less central to the world economy, then the economies that do depend on it, the political systems that do depend on it that have been corrupted by it, will have to begin to reset themselves. But I also think there’s some very progressive and interesting movements that are afoot. There’s an organization called “Publish What You Pay,” which basically is what its name says: Wants countries that have oil and other resources to declare publicly money flows, what the contracts are, how much money, what accounts it goes into, and have the ability for people to look at these accounts so they can know, OK, this is the amount of money we’re getting, this is how it’s being spent, and it’s being spent well.

RYSSDAL: Peter Maass is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. His latest book is called “Crude World.” Peter, thanks a lot for your time.

MAASS: Thank you.

Source: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/29/pm-crude-q/

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Kampala — In the wee hours of one Saturday morning, Mary Serumaga was woken up by a disturbing phone call. Her younger brother Robert Kalundi Serumaga had just been abducted by four unknown gun-wielding men the previous night.

He had been dragged by the belt and kicked. They even tried to undress him. They hit him to the ground until he fell unconscious. He was then whisked off into the night in the trunk of a Toyota saloon car.

For Mary, this sounded more like a scene from a movie rather than real life. And what could have Robert done that was so bad that he had to be treated that way, she asked herself. For all she knew, her brother is neither a politician nor criminal, but rather a writer, broadcaster and filmmaker. Mary was helpless.

“My first reaction was to pray for Divine Mercy. After that I was confident my brother would be delivered,” Mary told IPS in an interview.

Journalist Robert Kalundi Serumaga was abducted on the night of September 11, after leaving a weekly television talk-show, Kibazo on Friday on Wava Broadcasting Service (WBS TV). His partner Mary Ibazo, two fellow panellists and show host Peter Kibazo witnessed the abduction.

The show had discussed the then on-going stand-off between the Ugandan government and the largest ethnic group, the Kingdom of Buganda which culminated into city riots that saw tens of people lose their lives and property worth 40,000 dollars were destroyed.

Serumaga, who allegedly belittled President Yoweri Museveni on the show that evening, blaming him for the riots, was detained at unknown locations in Kampala city over the night of Friday and Saturday morning. It was until his family raised concern over his whereabouts that Serumaga was later brought to the Central Police Station. He told his family he had been beaten, tortured and threats made to his life.

The trend of events has created a fresh round of fear for the future of press freedom in Uganda. Four radio stations have since been closed down, accused of fanning the riots and inciting violence.

The Kibazo on Friday show was also suspended indefinitely. Government also banned public forums commonly known as Ebimeeza that were usually broadcast live on radio stations. These shows discussed topical social, economic and political issues. One of the stations, the Catholic Radio Sapientia was later re-opened on condition that management dismissed three presenters.

The Uganda Journalist Association (UJA) condemned the events: “There was an overreaction on the part of the government and the Broadcasting Council. Our own investigation showed that while there could have been some mistakes on the part of some radio stations, government just chose improper channels of handling the matter,” says Joshua Kyalimpa, President of the Association.

“The manner in which Serumaga was abducted and the excessive use of force by security forces was also uncalled for,” he told IPS.

Four days after Serumaga’s arrest he appeared before the Kampala Magistrate’s Court and was charged with six counts of sedition. He was granted bail.

But Serumaga’s abduction and torture opened fresh wounds from the past for a family that spent a decade in exile for similar reasons. Their father, renowned playwright, actor, novelist and freedom fighter Robert Serumaga was similarly persecuted by Ugandan dictator President Idi Amin’s government and later murdered in 1980.

Serumaga’s family feel that the charges against him are part of a tragically familiar pattern of intimidation and repression they experienced over two decades ago. “My father was accused of spying. He used to travel a lot and it was suspected that he had contacts with the ‘enemy’ which were not true. His plays were topical. They talked about the injustices at that time,” Mary tells IPS.

But this time around, Serumaga’s family are determined to fight the charges against him for the sake of freedom of expression for future generations in Uganda.

“It (the incident) makes me sad but it does not make me feel that we have to leave (the country). I think it makes me feel that we have to stand and fight. And I think I would like to join other people who are fighting injustice So it is really motivates me to be brave and fight,” Mary, a publisher, told IPS. Her brother was unable to comment because his case is currently in court.

Serumaga’s case is not unique. Uganda has a history of silencing independent journalists. For the past two decades, several media houses have been shut down for publishing or broadcasting information that the state deems prejudicial to national security. Several top ranking journalists are also in court battles with the state charged with different crimes including criminal libel, sedition and ‘promoting sectarianism.’

Just last week, two editors of Uganda’s weekly news magazine, “The Independent” were arrested, charged with sedition and released on bail.

Managing editor Andrew Mujuni Mwenda and editor Charles Bichachi were taken to the police’s Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Kibuli and within minutes, taken to the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and charged with sedition.

Their charge stems from a cartoon the magazine published on August 21st this year, showing President Museveni seated in a chair ticking a list of things his party is doing ahead of the 2011 General Election. One of items on his list was the introduction of ghost voters on the voters’ register after he re-appointed disputed members of the Electoral Commission.

This is the fourth case Mwenda, founder of the 21-month old “The Independent”, faces in court. He is already charged with promoting sectarianism, sedition and incitement. He risks over 20 years in jail on conviction in all the cases.

“Minus the beatings and drama (of Serumaga), this was a typical Friday arrest that most journalists and others considered to be enemies of the State are routinely subjected to,” says Nicholas Ssengooba, a newspaper columnist in Kampala.

Article 29 of the Uganda 1995 Constitution guarantees free speech and expression. In 1993, the State liberalised the airwaves and this saw the growth of a vibrant media industry with hundreds of FM stations broadcasting both in English and local languages.

There are also over 25 newspapers and over ten TV stations. However, observers argue that the media is not as free as it seems.

“The relationship between the media and the state is not a clear black and white situation. You have freedom on one hand and limitations on the other especially when you publish what (does) not please the authorities,” says managing Editor of The Observer newspaper, James Tumusiime. He has been on police bond since 2006 on charges of ‘promoting sectarianism’.

However, draconian colonial media laws still being used today continue to suppress media freedom, rights activists say. These include sections of the Penal Code Act such as laws on sedition and criminal libel.

In June 1997, the Uganda Journalists Safety Committee brought two petitions in the constitutional court, challenging the law relating to the press and journalist as well as the sedition and criminal libel sections of the criminal code.

“We are opposing the sedition charges placed on Serumaga. This charge has already been challenged in the courts of law,” Kyalimpa said. He said the UJA did not believe that there was a valid case against Serumaga because the law of sedition was questionable.

In June this year, four journalists from the Daily Monitor also filed notice that they would challenge the constitutionality of the criminal libel laws before the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court.

In 2004, Mwenda, who was a political editor at the Daily Monitor successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to strike down the offense of “publishing false news.”

“We are struggling with our pressures and we plan to expand on the space we have to practice to exercise our freedoms,” The Observer’s Tumusiime says.

However, there is also fear that state intimidation is negatively impacting on freedom of expression and the media, creating fear among journalists. Some are even practicing self-censorship.

“The problem now comes in my story writing. Because there is tension in the media, I am prompted to leave out some of the stories that I feel may cause problems to both the radio station and me,” said Rose Namale, a journalist with one of the closed stations, Radio Two.

“Although I know it is an objective story and I have my facts, I may be forced to put it aside. So in most cases, we have to write stories that are in favour of government,” she explained.

Editors too are feeling the pinch: “Self-censorship always crosses your mind. I think it’s a matter of judgment. You must understand the environment within which you are. I would be lying to say that I am totally blind to anything,” Tumusiime tells IPS.

And what does the trend of events tell about the state of press freedom in Uganda? “Well, it shows that the powers that be are afraid of the press and secondly it shows that a free media is part of service delivery Media freedom is an essential part of that service delivery because you the media keep the issues in the public domain. Robert was released partly because the news had reached the internet and the world’s media,” said Mary Serumaga who has just published a book, The Service Delivery Framework.
Source: www.allAfrica.com

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