Govt to borrow Shs2.4t for roads, climate-smart agriculture

By Franklin Draku Government has tabled before Parliament a request to borrow up to $650 million (Shs2.9 trillion) from different financial institutions to finance part of its budget. According to a request presented by Mr Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, government will borrow up to $295 million (Shs1.3 trillion) from the Islamic Development Bank and $30 million (Shs136.2 billion) from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fund for international development for the upgrading of national road project in Uganda. Mr Kasaija said the government will borrow another $325 million (Shs1.5 trillion) and receive a grant of up to Standard Drawing Right of $19.5 million (Shs88.5 billion), equivalent to $25 million (Shs113.5 billion) from […]

Gov’t to borrow Shs2.4 trillion for road projects, smart agriculture

The Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija has tabled two motions before Parliament seeking to borrow Shs2.436 trillion including; a World Bank loan of Shs1.217 trillion for smart agriculture and Shs1.219 trillion from Islamic Development Corporation for road construction. During his presentation to Parliament on Tuesday, Kasaija also announced the government’s intention to borrow an additional […]

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Uganda Airlines makes inaugural flight from Entebbe to Mumbai

On a first direct flight from its home base at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda Airlines’ Airbus A330 landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj international airport over the weekend.

This was the first nonstop aviation service between India and Uganda in more than 50 years. The route, which joins a rapidly developing network that provides passengers with easy connections to South, West and Eastern Africa, is Uganda Airlines’ second service outside of the African continent and the airline’s 12th overall.

According to the airline, “the direct service will take about five and a half hours and bring unparalleled convenience to people traveling between the two points for business, family, or tourism.”

Before departure, Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Uganda Airlines CEO, said: “I am happy to see the second international flight take off. I thank my colleagues who have worked in the background for two years. It’s been emotionally draining, and we have more coming.”

On his part, Gen Katumba Wamala, the minister for Works and Transport, said: “This is a momentous occasion in Uganda-India relations because, for the first time in half a century, our two friendly nations are now connected by a direct air service. So, we are indeed happy that Uganda Airlines is re-establishing this air bridge, which will shorten the journey times between our friendly nations, strengthen bilateral trade and deepen cultural interaction between our people,” said.

The airline will be departing Entebbe every Monday and Wednesday night, reaching Mumbai in the wee hours of every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

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Will URA go for the partners in Capital Chicken scandal?

Recently, thousands of Ugandans have been fleeced of their hard-earned money by an illegitimate chicken investment scheme called Capital Chicken.

The ‘investment scheme’ operated in such a way that individual investors were lured into investing amounts between Shs 1 million and Shs 100m on the basis that Capital Chicken would offer them a profit of between 40% and 100% on top of the sum that was invested. where one invested Shs 10m, one would allegedly earn Shs 1.5m per month.

It is this money that was to be used to invest in a poultry scheme on behalf of the individual investors who wished to earn income from poultry farming without directly engaging in the physical activities involved in the business. In other words, an investor would sit back as their investment made money for them.

Capital Chicken, on the other hand, was meant to provide the requisite skills, land, market and time to carry out the agribusiness on behalf of the investors. In the end, according to police preliminary investigations, Capital Chicken had accumulated a total of approximately about Shs 1.64 billion ever since it started its operations in 2021.

Unfortunately, after accumulating this money, Capital Chicken closed its known operation centers around Kampala and allegedly disappeared without ever refunding its investors or rewarding them with their profits. This is not the first time that such a scheme of such a nature has fleeced billions out of Ugandans.

In 2018, the Financial Intelligence Authority released a report indicating that about 18 ponzi/ pyramid schemes had defrauded Ugandans in 15 years. These included World Global Mobile Network, Telex Free and Adfast Inc, among others.

Regrettably, even when the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) released this report addressed to the Clerk of Parliament, there hasn’t been any change in the laws to outlaw such fraudulent investments.

In order to operate business in Uganda, one needs approvals from several licensing bodies like Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Uganda Investment Authority, KCCA, URA. Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and FIA may also come in where the investment deals with securities, bonds or has an aspect that could lead to money laundering.

It would, therefore, be safe to say that in the case of Capital Chicken, the documentation and all other information on how it commenced its operations can be easily accessed from one of these entities.

The CMA, the FIA and URA all have investigative powers that can be used to access the financial records of any company in instances of fraud. However, it is only URA that has additional prosecution powers. In as much as the prosecution powers of URA are restricted to tax related offences it can be argued that the actions of Capital Chicken were particularly misleading as to result in tax fraud that is punishable under the law.

The tax implications of this scheme cannot be ignored. First, Capital Chicken was obtaining income from these investments that constituted business income which it ought to have disclosed in its tax returns.

My bet is that it did not disclose any of this income as it operated clandestinely to prevent raising eyebrows. Disclosing its income would have put it within the purview of URA. The second and most vital tax implications is that taxpayers who lost money to this fraudulent scheme will claim income tax deductions for the losses they incurred while dealing with Capital Chicken.

Income tax laws permit a person to deduct any expenses and losses incurred in the production of income included in the gross income. Shrewd taxpayers, especially those with proper documentation, are most likely to capitalize on this and claim deductions for the money they lost while trying to invest in the scheme.

Thirdly, some of the victims of the scheme account for taxes on an accrual basis. This means that they reported expected earnings from the scheme as income in their financial statements and subsequently filed returns. Where these expected earnings do not materialize, these victims would have to amend their returns and remove the earlier declared income.

It is, therefore, incumbent on URA to investigate the extent of the operations of this scheme to prevent the far-reaching tax repercussions of one of the largest frauds in Uganda.

These tax investigations should relate to whether Capital Chicken registered for taxes and if it did, there’s need to find out if it ever filed returns or let alone maintained proper records. In absence of these, URA can go ahead to prosecute its partners.

When Barnie Madoff pulled off the largest Ponzi scheme in the early 2000s, he was prosecuted and sentenced to 150 years in prison where he died in 2021.

In Uganda, where a tax offence is committed by a partnership, the partners become jointly and severally liable for that offence. In other words, each partner is treated as having committed the offence.

In this case, the partners of Capital Chicken would be charged and prosecuted if URA’s investigations establish that it was involved in any tax fraud. This would prevent similar schemes from happening in future.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court and a tax expert.

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Is the impending digital tracking of vehicles legal?

Starting next month, government is set to roll out digital number plates for vehicles as a security measure.

The controversial project has come under criticism from various stakeholders as was the key theme at the recent the Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court competition in which the Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU) emerged victorious in.

Under the theme, “Balancing privacy rights and national security: Navigating the impact of surveillance laws on individual freedoms,” it involved discussing the constitutionality of the system. As GEOFREY SERUGO writes, competitors raised concerns about privacy violations, potential misuse as well as possible benefits.

When the duo of Martin Kityo and Aida Gift Kisambira from the Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU) Kampala campus got selected to participate in this year’s Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court competition, they set out to leave an impression. But as they progressed from stage after stage up to the finale, it became evident that they had what it takes to take the crown.

They were up against 30 other mooters from 12 universities under the theme; “Balancing privacy rights and national security: Navigating the impact of surveillance laws on individual freedoms.

“We believed in ourselves but also knew other universities had strong teams. But the more we got deeper into the competition, the more we became literally hooked. We did a lot of research and that’s how we managed to impress the different panels of judges,” says Kityo.

Come D-day of the final on September 22 at the Yusuf Lule central teaching facility at Makerere University, Kityo and Kisambira had already established themselves as the team to beat and had strong support from several of their colleagues in attendance.

In attendance were Makerere University deputy vice chancellor Finance and Administration Prof Henry Alinaitwe, representatives from the Makerere School of Law. To roll off the final, Stella Alibateese, National Personal Data Protection director, said the moot is thought-provoking and critical in the implementation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act.

“These moot competitions are a good step in the right direction towards building capacity and understanding what privacy is, awareness on matters of privacy, how we can enforce our rights to privacy and also build capacity for future privacy defenders and practitioners,” she said.

TRICKY COMPETITION

It was a dicey theme that drew a lot of emotions from competitors and the most pertinent issue raised during the competition was government’s soon-to-be-rolled-out use of digital trackers in all motor vehicles in the country. Dubbed the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), there will be compulsory digital surveillance of all motor vehicles in Uganda.

Discussing its potential impact, the common debate was about its constitutionality and adherence to privacy laws. Several mooters acting as plaintiffs against the system implementation argued that constant surveillance of vehicles can lead to the tracking of individuals’ movements, habits, and activities, violating their right to privacy and thereby creating a surveillance state.

It was also raised that the system’s collected data will be at risk of being breached or misused for political targeting on top of deterring people from engaging in lawful activities due to the fear of being monitored, thus limiting their freedom.

However, mooting as representatives from the Attorney General’s chambers, Kityo and Kisambira argued that digital surveillance system can contribute to enhanced security by curbing criminal threats.

“My Lords, this will assist law enforcement in locating stolen vehicles, responding to emergencies and addressing criminal activities,” they argued.

“Section 7(2) of the Data Protection Act provides for the collection of personal data in the absence of consent for purposes of national security, detection of crime and public safety.”

In the end, they did enough to convince Justices Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, Geoffrey Kiryabwire and Eva Luswata Kawuma to be the winners of the competition. Kityo also won the individual award as the best oralist and IUIU capped the day by taking the award for the best written submission applicant.

“We thank our university for giving us full support. The journey was not easy and we had some sleepless nights and this is a humbling experience. We are also grateful for the mentorship of every stakeholder in the moot,” she said.

On top of the Shs 2 million cash prize for IUIU’s winning team, they are set to travel to Mauritius this November as part of the Unwanted Witness privacy moot grand prize competition.

EXPERT TAKE

Justice Kiryabwire noted that the one key aspect that stood out was IUIU’s clarity. “Always identify what the test is and I think the respondents were more precise in their presentation of issues and arguments.” Meanwhile, Justice Ekirikubinza noted that citations and the use of authorities were fabulous for the mooters.

On her part, Dr Zahara Nampewo, the deputy principal of Makerere Law School, prayed for a bigger impact of the moot on the mooters and audience present.

“I hope this moot has not only enhanced your knowledge, but it will trigger debate and information to guide policymakers, especially those from the government of Uganda. In all, it was a worthwhile experience for those who attended and participated and the biggest takeaway from the moot was the opportunity to explore significant legal and ethical issues surrounding the impending digital tracking system.

PRIVACY MOOT COURT COMPETITION AT A GLANCE

The Unwanted Witness Privacy Moot Court Competition is an annual inter-university event organized by Unwanted Witness, an NGO, since 2012. It is designed as a specialized moot court competition focused on data protection and privacy.

Dissecting both complex procedural and substantive issues of data protection and privacy law, the competition opens opportunities to train young legal professionals with expert knowledge of data protection laws, policies and regulations and to further develop their oral, written, analytical, logical, and legal technological skills necessary for this growing sector.

This year’s edition finale in which Islamic University in Uganda emerged winners, was held under the theme “Balancing Privacy Rights and National Security: Navigating the Impact of Surveillance Laws on Individual Freedoms.”

This theme explored the tension between the need for national security and the protection of individual privacy rights, particularly in the context of surveillance laws. It considered questions such as: How much surveillance is too much?

What are the limits on government surveillance? How can individuals and organizations protect their privacy in an age of increasing digital surveillance?

The most pertinent issue raised was government’s impending use of trackers in all motor vehicles in the country and its impact on privacy.

Remembering leaders of the struggles that culminated in our independence

The 9th of October annually marks a significant day in Uganda where we freed ourselves from colonial rule and our destiny was reshaped.

Our edifice of liberty stands today on the foundation of sacrifices laid by the founding fathers with a pan-African outlook who pioneered the global agitation for freedom of colonized persons especially on the African continent.

It is also known that the Pan-African Conference which took place in London in 1948 attended by Jomo Kenyatta, Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkurumah, Du Bois, Sir William Tubman and also a Ugandan by the name Semakula Mulumba. The main objective of these pan-Africanists was to chart ways of starting serious strategies for de-colonization and emancipation of the African continent.

Besides that, in 1955, the Non-Aligned Movement was also brought on form under the guidance of General Josip Broz Tito of the former Yugoslavia. He and like-minded leaders at the time, came up with an idea to host a conference which took place at Bandug in Indonesia purposely to champion de-colonization of Africa and parts of Asia.

The global pan-African outlook undoubtedly had an influential aspect on our own founding fathers of Uganda’s independence struggle which was in turn led by the key figures that include, but not limited to, Ignatius Kangave Musaazi (who formed the first political party in Uganda, the Uganda National Congress, UNC, in 1952 assisted by Abubakar Kakyama Mayanja for Buganda, Stefano Abwangato (from Bugisu), Yekosefat Engur (from Lango), Ben Okwerede (from Teso) and S. B. Katembo (from Tooro).

Others were Sir William Wilberforce Nadiope (who was part of the Ugandan delegation that went to the 1961 Lancaster Conference in UK to advocate for independence), Benedict Kiwanuka (the 1st prime minister of Uganda from March 1, 1962 to April 30, 1962 when
he was succeeded by Milton Obote), Semakula Mulumba (who severely clashed with the Colonial Protectorate Government officials in Entebbe and British Government officials in London while pursuing studies.

As part of the crackdown on independence freedom fighters, the British Government terminated his scholarship. Impressed by his eloquence, charisma and wealth of knowledge, the members of the Bataka Party raised money and sent him back to England to complete his course on October 2, 1947).

Other independence leaders include Grace Ibingira (was co-founder of the UPC party with Milton Obote in 1960 and was elected to the Legislative Council in 1960), William Wilberforce Rwetsiba, John Kakonge and Tiberio Okeny (who joined DP in 1959 prior to iIndependence and participated as a representative of Acholi in the London Constitutional Conference that wrote the Uganda Constitution in 1962.

We bow to all those men and women who made enormous sacrifices to make it possible for us to live in a free country we call home today.

Therefore, today is a cause for celebrations not only of us but for every advocate of human freedom and liberties around the world. It is also a day to uphold the strides made in attaining the progress of the nation for the good of those alive today as well as posterity.

When the British handed Uganda independence at the Kololo Independence Square, the Queen’s representative, the Duke of Kent, handed over the constitutional instruments of independence to the executive Prime Minister, Milton Obote. Sir Edward Mutesa II, then Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom and who was later in 1963 elected by parliament to be the first president of Uganda, stood next to Obote during the handover ceremony.

Our generation has a collective duty to responsibly exercise this freedom and, indeed, safeguard the peace and unity of our nation. Above all, we have an obligation to be patriotic to our great country. Let us put Uganda first in all we say and do. May God bless our great nation, Uganda!

(An extract from ‘Synopsis for the 61st Independence Day Anniversary Celebrations - Uganda 2023’.)

The point of no return: FDC’s evolution and path

On Friday, October 6, at the Patidar Samaj Sports ground in Kololo, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) — Uganda’s leading opposition political party for nearly two decades — officially split.

The National Delegates’ Conference of the Najjanankumbi faction, led by Deputy National Chairman Kibuuka Mukalazi, saw the election of the National Executive Committee. Eng Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Nathan Nandala-Mafabi were re-elected as party president and secretary general, respectively.

Earlier, on September 19, an extraordinary delegates’ conference chaired by the party National Chairman Wasswa Birigwa established an interim leadership with Erias Lukwago as president. This leadership was set to serve for six months, during which they would regain control of the party from some members at Najjanankumbi and also facilitate a democratic election for the party’s substantive NEC membership.

Boniface Toterebuka Bamwenda, the FDC chief of the Electoral Commission based in Najjanankumbi, stated that 1,143 delegates attended the conference, with the Bugisu region providing the largest block of voters. Although there were 58 NEC positions available, 79 candidates were nominated. Of these, 38 were unopposed, leaving 41 to contest the ballot.

There were differing accounts concerning the party’s management. A primary concern that the FDC Katonga faction raised against the Najjanankumbi group was alleged mismanagement, including claims of receiving funds from President Yoweri Museveni. Nandala was accused of introducing “dirty money” into the party in 2020.

He, along with party president Eng. Amuriat, was alleged to have misused these funds during the 2021 campaign. Typically, such concerns would be addressed during a delegates’ conference. According to the program provided to the delegates, they were expected to receive and discuss reports from party president Patrick Amuriat, Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi and Treasurer General Geoffrey Ekanya.

However, one delegate, Moses Attan, former MP for Soroti, suggested postponing the report discussions so the conference could prioritize the elections. Moses Okwera from Nakawa seconded this proposal. When put to a vote, 916 were in favor, 19 against, and 19 abstained. On Friday, October 6, at the Patidar Samaj Sports ground in Kololo, the unmistakable presence of Secretary General Nathan Nandala-Mafabi dominated the day.

Throughout the event, Nandala was surrounded by a recently appointed security detail of robust young men. They were only momentarily absent when he took a seat. At one point, after a press interview, Nandala had to intercede when one of his security detail tried to prevent a female reporter from speaking with him privately.

“Okay, okay, let me first talk to the lady in private. Fine,” Nandala interjected.

As the day unfolded, Nandala took a moment to address the members about the current status of their party, aiming to prevent the spread of rumors. He assured members that he held the title for the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi. Instead of the initially planned eight- minute address, Nandala spoke for over 20 minutes.

He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to loyal FDC members and criticized the FDC Katonga faction. He used an analogy to describe the Katonga faction’s actions, likening them to individuals who secretly reverse the party’s progress. He also touched on past promises made by Ambassador Birigwa regarding the construction of an FDC tower, questioning the absence of any tangible progress since the commitment was made.

Nandala revealed that he had learned about a plot to prevent the elections months ago and had subsequently taken proactive steps. This included traveling personally to Nairobi to obtain the necessary signatures from the party’s deputy, Kibuuka Mukalazi, to move forward with the conference.

A point of contention arose when FDC Katonga claimed that Kibuuka couldn’t have signed the documents as he was in Nairobi for health reasons during that time. Nandala countered this by stating that he had personally traveled to Nairobi to get Kibuuka’s signature. In a surprising move, Nandala used the conference to address another opposing voice in the FDC, the Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda.

After some internal disagreements and procedural issues, the delegates’ conference voted on the matter of party leadership. Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi was favored by the majority, with 965 delegates supporting Nsibambi’s appointment as party whip in parliament, eight opposing, and nine abstaining. Nandala concluded by stating his intent to immediately communicate the decision of the national delegates’ conference to the speaker.

Ahead of the delegates’ conference, candidates amped up their campaigns, with activities peaking on Thursday and Friday. Similar to numerous elections in Uganda, there were reports of money changing hands. Candidates like Treasurer General Geoffrey Ekanya and Ibrahim Kasozi, who vied for the position of Secretary for Organization and Mobilization, reportedly arranged accommodation for voters, especially those from the East and West.

Ekanya allegedly arranged transportation from overnight accommodations to the conference venue and deployed agents to ensure that delegates stayed loyal. Some candidates’ representatives were seen distributing incentives, such as money, branded T-shirts and water, to woo the delegates.

Before the voting commenced, each candidate had an opportunity to address the attendees. While contenders for the position of party president were allocated five minutes each, other candidates received two minutes.

However, a point of contention arose when the meeting chairman granted Eng. Patrick Amuriat, the current party president, an additional chance to speak. Moses Byamugisha, who was running against Amuriat, subtly highlighted this apparent favoritism during his speech.

“Ahhh, politics. Did you notice how my colleague was using his time here?” remarked Byamugisha.

He emphasized that, if elected as party president, he would focus on reconciling the party members. Amuriat, during his campaign address, drew attention to his role as the FDC presidential candidate in the 2021 general elections. He highlighted the challenges of his run, noting that key figures like Dr Kizza Besigye did not support his campaign. Amuriat emphasized his collaborative efforts with Nandala to “defend” the FDC.

“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my comrade Nathan Nandala-Mafabi, who stood by me during challenging times. Nowadays, whenever there’s an accusation within the FDC, it invariably involves Nandala and me. We’ve always supported one another. When there were attempts to seize control of our party underhandedly, we stood firm, vowing to defend the FDC with our lives,” Amuriat stated.

TENSIONS FLARE AT FDC DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE

The FDC delegates’ conference was not without its share of drama. As night fell, Chief Electoral Commissioner Toterebuka and his team began tallying and announcing the vote results. While initial declarations proceeded without incident, tension arose during the announcement of the results for the position of secretary for Organization and Mobilization.

After Toterebuka announced that Ajuna Daka had secured 623 votes compared to Ibrahim Kasozi’s 354, a protestor burst onto the scene.

“What you’re announcing is fiction!” he shouted in Luganda, before wresting the microphone from Toterebuka and hurling it at another member of the FDC Electoral Commission, identified as Augustine Ojobire.

In the ensuing chaos, Toterebuka was hurriedly escorted to safety. The stage became a maelstrom of angry individuals pushing and arguing. After roughly five minutes, security forces from the Police Field Force Unit intervened. Toterebuka, under the protection of uniformed personnel, resumed announcing the results. Daka, despite the tumult, returned to the stage and was officially declared the winner of his contested position.

The disruption seemed to stem from dissatisfaction over the outcomes for Kasozi and Walid Lubega, who lost his bid for the position of Deputy Secretary for Mobilization. The discourse quickly turned tribal, with some questioning the apparent electoral disadvantage of candidates from the Buganda region.

FDC OPERATING “ON THREE WHEELS”

As the event continued, those candidates who were unsuccessful but wished to speak were invited to make concession speeches. Judith Franca Akello, who ran against Geoffrey Ekanya for the position of Treasurer General, was the first to address the audience.

While she acknowledged the legitimacy of the election results and congratulated Ekanya, she made a pointed remark about the current state of FDC.

“A car operates on four wheels. But FDC is now functioning on just three,” Akello stated.

She emphasized that while Northern Uganda has always supported FDC, the region would now reassess its relationship with the party. During the campaign leading up to the conference, rumors circulated suggesting Akello was double-dealing between both the Najjanankumbi and Katonga factions. In her speech, she firmly pledged her allegiance to the FDC, dismissing any affiliation with FDC Katonga.

A PLEA FOR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION

During the party deliberations, the call for unity and reconciliation within the party was evident. Moses Mugisha, during his presidential campaign, emphasized the need for reconciliation, suggesting a proactive outreach to Dr Kizza Besigye, among others, to mend the rifts within the party.

Additionally, Dr Frank Nabwiso, a respected elder in the party, in his keynote address, echoed similar sentiments. He urged party members to seek common ground and re-establish ties with the Katonga faction. However, it remains to be seen if key figures like Nandala and Amuriat will heed this call, as they have so far shown little inclination towards reconciliation.

The newly elected FDC NEC members will serve their roles until October 2028.

Anglican church in crisis

Namirembe, Luweero dioceses crises deepen intrigue, fraud in bishop elections

The Anglican church in Uganda is facing a stern test of integrity following the recent controversies arising from two botched elections of bishops for the influential dioceses of Namirembe and Luweero.

Controversial elections of bishops are not new in the Anglican church but in this case, especially that of Namirembe, the stakes are so high they transcend pastoral leadership to include influences in key appointments and finances. At the centre of the impasses are nomination committees, elders, petitioners and an uncompromising House of Bishops, something that has placed the church integrity at stake.

Typically, the election of a bishop is considered a sacrosanct process. However, in the cases of Namirembe and Luweero, it has transformed into an intense campaign, with supporters of various candidates investing millions. On October 4, the House of Bishops convened to decide between Canon Moses Banja and Canon Abraham Muyinda to determine the successor to the retiring Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira as the bishop of Namirembe diocese, with the consecration planned for December.

Yet, the House of Bishops chose to annul the nominations of both candidates. This decision followed a last-minute petition by some prominent diocesan elders, who pointed out significant flaws in the process led by the nominations committee. Earlier, on June 25, the same House of Bishops, through Canon William Ongeng, the provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, had nullified the election of Canon Godfrey Kasana as the bishop elect of Luweero due to concerns about his integrity.

Adams Sadiki, the provincial spokesperson for the Church of Uganda, stated that the House of Bishops has formed a committee to probe the circumstances leading to these issues. This committee will also provide guidance to the nominations committee on how the new selection process should be conducted.

NAMIREMBE’S CROSS-ROADS

Tensions in Namirembe are palpably high, with various influential figures from religious and business sectors vying to have their chosen candidate succeed.

“Namirembe is more than just a diocese. It stands as a colossal business empire, rivaling only the Kabaka of Buganda in assets and influence. Hence, the intensity surrounding the bishop’s position,” revealed a senior cathedral warden who wished to remain unnamed.

Another informant suggested that the influence over Namirembe extends from the Buganda kingdom establishment, involving certain royals and venerable families that have deep-rooted histories.

“The kingdom plays an indirect yet significant role, with many pivotal decisions being made after consulting with them. The kingdom has vested interests in the bishop’s appointment,” he remarked.

While eleven candidates presented themselves to succeed Luwalira, the primary contenders are Canon Moses Kayimba, Canon Edward Stephen Kabanda, and Canon Banja. It’s evident that the incoming bishop of Namirembe will wield significant power, not just in spiritual realms but also in land management and overseeing numerous diocesan initiatives.

Such intense races for the position aren’t novel for Namirembe. However, an elder noted that this particular race garnered public attention mainly due to the outgoing Bishop Luwalira’s indecision on his successor.

“In the past, the incumbent bishop’s preference for his successor was evident, and alignments formed accordingly,” he commented.

Inside sources from the diocese speculated that Luwalira initially leaned towards the young and rising Kayimba, while others believed Kabanda was being prepped for the role. Yet, by the time nominations came around, Banja seemed to have gained Luwalira’s favor. However, Namirembe isn’t a typical diocese. With parishioners already thinking post-Luwalira, his sway over the nominations committee, appointed by the reigning bishop, appears to be diminishing.

One notable point was the elders’ petition to the House of Bishops, which featured testimonies from seven members. They challenged the way Fred Mpanga, the diocesan chancellor, finalized the nominations for Banja and Muyinda. Attempts to contact Mpanga, Banja, and Muyinda for comments were unsuccessful. With all the undercurrents and displayed discord, it’s uncertain how the selection will unfold, but it’s clear that the diocese is facing challenging times ahead.

LUWEERO’S CONTEST

In April 2023, the House of Bishops declared Canon Godfrey Kasana as the successor to the bishopric of the Luweero diocese. Despite his triumph over eight competitors, the election process was clouded with allegations of deception, bias, and fraudulent practices. The nomination committee for the Luweero diocese, headed by attorney Apollo Makubuya, thoroughly evaluated all candidates, ultimately forwarding Canon Kasana and Rev. Abel Sserwanja Merewooma to the House of Bishops for the final selection.

Notably missing from this shortlist was Canon Geoffrey Muwanguzi, the provost of St. Mark Cathedral - the principal church of the Luweero diocese. Muwanguzi was placed third in the preliminary assessments. This set the stage for the unfolding controversy. A subsequent petition by diocesan elders, fronted by Kenneth Kikabi, revealed that Merewooma lacked two critical qualifications for the bishop’s role. He neither met the age criteria of 45 years nor had the required decade-long priesthood experience, as dictated by the Anglican Church canon laws.

Yet, Merewooma maintained his eligibility, with insiders suggesting his close affiliations with the upper echelons of Uganda’s Anglican church could be influencing factors. The nomination committee’s attempts to interrogate Kikabi hit a snag when he evaded personal appearances to substantiate his claims.

Moreover, suspicions arose around the veracity of Kikabi’s identity, leading some to believe it was a pseudonym adopted by discontented petitioners. Nevertheless, due to the undeniable evidence against Merewooma, the House of Bishops excluded him from the final consideration.

This pivot paved the way for Kasana’s unchallenged ascendancy. In a surprising move, Can Muyinda, initially eliminated during the vetting stage, was reintroduced as a potential candidate for the bishopric of Luweero. This twist intensified the prevailing tensions. Ultimately, Kasana clinched the coveted position, securing 25 of the 36 votes cast. Notably, Muyinda subsequently emerged as one of the contenders for the recently contentious Namirembe diocese bishop election.

DRAMA UNFOLDS: PART I

Shortly after the decision, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba presented Kasana with an official letter of confirmation, marking his election as the fourth bishop of the Luweero diocese. Following this, Kaziimba dispatched another letter to Kasana, outlining preparations for his consecration set for July 9.

This communication, a copy of which The Observer acquired, advised Kasana to engage in fundraising efforts among Christians and patrons. It also highlighted the necessity for Kasana to acquire his vestments and mace. However, this celebratory atmosphere was disrupted when another petition spearheaded by Kikabi emerged, challenging Kasana’s election.

The dispute centered around allegations of an illicit affair with a woman named Milly Nakyomu, claiming that two children, Kibaya and Gubi, were born from this liaison. In subsequent communications on June 25, Kasana informed Kaziimba of having amassed Shs 200m for the consecration, with Shs 50m already expended on the robes and mace.

But just three days later, Canon Ongeng made a public announcement on the Church of Uganda’s Family Television. He declared that the House of Bishops, after convening at the Kabalega resort hotel in Hoima, had decided to annul Kasana’s election due to concerns regarding his integrity.

Ongeng’s statement read, “This exceptional decision was reached after receiving credible evidence suggesting that the bishop-elect’s integrity was misrepresented during both the nomination and election processes, which rendered the election null and void. The House of Bishops has mandated the diocesan nominations committee to initiate fresh nominations within the next month, concluding by July 31, 2023. The subsequent election will take place on August 1, 2023, and the consecration and enthronement of the new bishop will occur on August 6, 2023, at St Mark’s Cathedral, Luweero.”

In the wake of this development, retired Bishop James Ssebaggala was appointed as the interim bishop of Luweero, representing the archbishop. Efforts to reach Archbishop Kaziimba proved futile as he remained unresponsive to numerous call attempts. In contrast, Adams Sadiki, the communications officer of the Archbishop’s office, requested more time to provide a statement.

In the background, six bishops, who wished to remain unnamed, expressed their concerns to our reporters. They indicated that their apprehensions arose from printouts of messages between Kasana and Nakyomu. These messages revealed consistent communication and occasional monetary transfers even post-election. One bishop from Kigezi remarked on the unusual nature of the evidence, saying,

“We based our decisions on this circumstantial evidence, which we found perplexing.”

DRAMA UNFOLDS: PART II

Following the sudden reversal, Kasana contested the decision. Given the delicate nature of the allegations, both parties agreed that an external investigation was necessary to validate the claims against him. Over three months, investigators interviewed key figures including Kasana, Nakyomu, Kikabi, and Kaziimba.

The preliminary findings of the investigation, which The Observer has reviewed, are shocking. Kasana’s defense hinged on a professional relationship with Nakyomu. He shared that she worked as a matron and bursar at his Sekamuli SS from 2016 to 2018. According to Kasana, he began making installment payments to Nakyomu to settle outstanding salary arrears upon her resignation in 2018. He vehemently denied any romantic or personal relationship with her.

“He affirmed he was simply settling her dues and nothing more,” the draft report reveals.

When challenged to produce the alleged children stemming from their supposed relationship, Kasana retorted that the accusers should furnish evidence of their existence. The investigative report indicates that during subsequent interviews with both Kikabi and Kaziimba, neither could provide concrete evidence of the existence of the children. However, Kaziimba told investigators the decision to nullify Kasana’s election was rooted in concerns over integrity.

BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATION

Sources informed The Observer that in July, Kaziimba summoned Kasana and his wife for a meeting. Kaziimba reportedly emphasized the need to uphold the church’s integrity. He then proposed that Kasana take a three-month hiatus in the USA to recuperate from the unfolding scandal.

This gesture was rebuffed by Kasana. When pressed for concrete evidence supporting the allegations, Kaziimba allegedly could only produce call records showing frequent communication between Kasana and Nakyomu. The draft report reveals an oversight; there was no internal disciplinary action or investigation undertaken before the annulment of Kasana’s bishopric appointment.

Kaziimba’s subsequent establishment of a diocesan disciplinary tribunal to examine the allegations was deemed irrelevant by Kasana, but it has never summoned him. This perceived injustice led Kasana to file two lawsuits in the High court: one challenging his unfair dismissal and the other accusing Kaziimba of defamation. The plaints suggest that despite the issuance of letters validating his bishop-elect status, Kasana never received any formal dismissal.

INTERTWINED STORIES

Investigations unearthed that incendiary dossier, originating from a number associated with Kikabi, were first circulated in the WhatsApp group of St Mark Cathedral. The group’s administrator was Can Geoffrey Muwanguzi. When questioned, Muwanguzi acknowledged his role but emphasized the platform’s neutrality. As investigators delved deeper, it became apparent that ‘Kikabi’, the supposed 20-year-old petitioner, might be a fictitious character. The draft report posits, “Our probe suggests that ‘Kikabi’ is a facade operated by Geoffrey Saku.”

TROUBLED WATERS

Sources reveal that the unfolding drama has taken a toll on Bishop Ssebaggala, who has reportedly informed Kaziimba of his intention to vacate his position due to growing unrest in the diocese. Financial ramifications are already evident, with some parishes reportedly withholding funds from the diocese. As tensions rise, there are fears of violent confrontations.

“The sooner the House of Bishops resolves this situation, the better. The current stalemate is fueling hostility,” warned a cathedral warden.

On September 24, Ssebaggala was forced to flee from angry Christians that accused him of conniving with Kaziimba to frustrate Kasana. A source claimed that Ssebaggala gets a weekly allowance of Shs 1m on top of a monthly salary of Shs 5m but in the wake of the Kasana debacle, some parishes have since withheld remitting finances to the diocese.

“This crisis is about to reach boiling point that will create bloodshed,” warned a warden at St Mark’s cathedral.
“The earlier the House of Bishops sorts to confusion, the better, otherwise the continued delay is only serving to fuel tension and bloodshed.”

UNCERTAINTY LOOMS

The Observer has acquired a letter from Kaziimba directing a restart of the nomination process for the next Luweero bishop. However, this move is seen by some as a ploy to favor certain candidates, particularly Merewooma, who will soon meet the canon law requirements on age and service.

A recent petition demands the suspension of the current nomination process until Kasana receives an official annulment letter. As the saga unfolds, it remains to be seen how Archbishop Kaziimba will restore order to the beleaguered Luweero diocese. One thing is clear: the unfolding drama threatens to plunge the Anglican church into deeper turmoil.

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Museveni to Arts teachers: Don’t rush me up!

Arts teachers will have to wait longer to see salary enhancements, while science teachers continue to benefit from higher pay.

This decision follows President Museveni’s announcement last week that the government won’t address the current salary disparities among public servants all at once. During the National Teachers’ day celebrations at Kololo Ceremonial grounds, Museveni advised the discontented arts teachers not to pressurize him regarding their salary enhancements.

“The number of scientists is limited, allowing us to focus on them for the time being as we contemplate the next steps. I urge arts teachers not to rush me into hasty decisions. Let me approach this the guerrilla way. We’re striving to integrate everyone into the money economy. Until we achieve this goal, we must proceed cautiously,” Museveni stated.

He further explained that his current “guerrilla” approach of addressing one issue at a time would benefit sectors requiring scientists, such as road construction, research institutions, and medical fields.

The basic salary for a graduate science teacher has increased from Shs 1.2m to Shs 4m, and for those with diplomas, it has risen from Shs 930,000 to Shs 2.2m. Salaries for head teachers and deputy head teachers with science backgrounds in PTCs, NTCs, and BTVET institutions have been raised to Shs 6.5m and Shs 4.5m, respectively.

A subsequent presidential directive was issued to enhance the salaries of science-oriented head teachers and their deputies in secondary schools who had been overlooked in last year’s new structure. In contrast, the highest-paid arts teachers on the U3 scale receive Shs 1.3m, and those on the U5 scale earn Shs 784,214.

Museveni defended his directive that has left arts teachers disappointed. “I value the social sciences, being a social scientist myself. However, our immediate requirement is for [natural] scientists. While it’s essential to teach history, our priority should be training civil engineers for road construction. Later, we can focus on subjects like what Napoleon did,” Museveni elaborated.

He added, “I am confident we’ll achieve our goals, but we shouldn’t be hasty. It’s wiser to complete one task before moving to the next. I urge arts teachers to be patient. As the economy strengthens, we aim to improve the salaries of all public servants.”

This discussion was sparked by a request from the national chairperson of the Uganda Professional Science Teachers’ Union (UPSTU), Vincent Elong, who called for fair remuneration for all teacher categories.

Speaking on behalf of all the teachers present at Kololo, Elong noted that the substantial decision to raise the salaries for scientists has significantly impacted science teachers across the country.

“While the salary increment for science teachers and other scientific professionals is a commendable step towards a science-driven economy, we sincerely hope that the government will consider comparable enhancements for other categories of workers in subsequent budgets, even if phased in gradually,” Elong stated.

This year’s World Teachers’ day was commemorated with the theme “The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: A Global Call to Address Teacher Shortages.” Elong emphasized that this shortage could be addressed by attracting, retaining, and motivating both teachers and educators.

The president of the Uganda Professional Humanities Teachers’ Union (UPHTU), Laban Munywanisa, expressed his discontent with the presidential declaration.

“We’re not contemplating any industrial actions in response to the president’s comments. However, when we approach the government for dialogue, they should be receptive. Humanities teachers have been sidelined, and there needs to be a structured plan to address their concerns,” Munywanisa asserted.

He informed The Observer that the president had previously committed to increasing the salaries of arts and primary teachers starting this fiscal year, “but regrettably, this hasn’t materialized.”

Elong further appealed to the government to oversee and standardize the remuneration for teachers in private institutions. He observed that many teachers in private schools face extended periods without salaries, despite earning minimal wages determined by school proprietors. Moreover, these teachers often find themselves in unstable working conditions.

This is especially challenging for female educators who sometimes face job loss post-pregnancy, receiving minimal time to return to work or, at times, no lawful maternity leave.

NEW PLEDGE

During the event, President Museveni committed to providing financial assistance to private school teachers.

“I feel obligated to support them. The First Lady informed me of my prior aid, but it seems it didn’t reach its intended recipients.” Without delving into the specifics of the previous monetary assistance for private educators, Museveni, using an analogy, remarked, “Like a cattle herder who replenishes his stock after a loss, even though the previous funds were misappropriated, we will arrange for additional support.”

Meanwhile, the Education minister, Janet Museveni, lauded all teacher associations for persistently highlighting challenges affecting their work environment and morale to her ministry’s notice.

“I deeply appreciate your preference for constructive dialogue over any potential disruptions, especially when things don’t go as planned. The government values our educators and will continue its endeavors to ensure they can perform their duties with professionalism,” Janet declared.

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