#SitukaMay5: Gov. Bans Coverage; Plans to shut down Social Media; and Demonstrations in Kampala, Busia and Rukungiri!

“Is there anyone who thinks Besigye is right to operate outside the law? If you do… you must be sick” – Hon. Jim Muhwezi

Hon. Jim Muhwezi the Minster of Information and National Guidance follows the Party line of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura who has gone out and told media not cover the “Defiance Campaign” and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Uganda. This happens on the 5^th May National Demonstrations for a International Audit of General Election of 2016. Something the Ruling Party NRM has no interest of letting happen. The Ones that does live broadcast of the demonstrations and Defiance campaign might lose their license and lose their ability to broadcast anything at all; so to follow advise of the President to write about and broadcast the empty hospitals who doesn’t have medicine as he wanted the other day to focus on the Health Care.

Nakawa, Kampala

And if you do care about that there is a running Yellow Fever Vaccine Scandal at the moment in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) between them and the National Medical Stores (NMS). Where the Vaccines are getting sold or gone in the wind as teh KCCA have one claim, while the NMS have proof of delivering it. Can please Hon. Jim Muhwezi speak about that, so he does as his master commands him?  

Kampala

“UCC: We can control TV and radio but if you must go ahead and use social media for defiance, the government will control it”.

On Social Media:

 “Government bans live broadcast of FDC’s defiance campaign, vows to shut social media: “We know about VPN but if we have to shut down social media completely, we will. We constantly communicate with Facebook and Twitter. We can shut down social media platforms if we have to,” government roars” (Daily Monitor, 05.05.2016).

Old Kampala

“I had planned to travel to North Korea and China to see how it’s done. I don’t have to anymore, thanks to you know who” – Andrew Mwanguhya (Daily Monitor Journalist).

At Lukwago’s House

As of this morning Dr. Kizza Besigye the leader of the FDC is on the second day of House Arrest. MP Elect Francis Mwijuke has been put under same arrest this morning. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is also put under house arrest today.   The Kabarole Chairperson Nyakato Ruasoke has been arrested in Fort Portal.

Makerere University

There been demonstrations at Makerere University and Kyambogo University in Kampala. They have both been dispersed by the Police with tear-gas and anti-riot police squad cars. By all means so that means throwing tear-gas at the students!

Busia

There been grand demonstrations in Busia where the Police Force went in heavy and dispersed the demonstrators in the town.

Shops have been closed in Rukungiri where there we’re reports of live fire in the early morning. The shops closing been verified, but the shooting has not been.

Kampala

More from Kampala:

“Situation check in Kampala. Mother nature has brought a truce , we have retreated for shelter services to be resumed. Meanwhile we shall wear the military down. They can’t eat on the guard so by 5 pm they will be worn out” (Moses Atocon Atyekwo, 2016).

As the demonstrations continues and resumes. Even if new ones comes; the Defiance continues even if President Museveni and the men of Resistance doesn’t see the problem with resistance and resisting authority as that was the way they came to power. They resisted Obote, and now the Opposition and their supporters defy them. Civil disobedience not committing a crime; as the court order is flawed and can be countered by what is written in the 1995 constitution. By my reckoning that constitution is supposed to be the standard law of the land where the Resistance is the ruling party who has trouble with Defiance. Long live the National Resistance Movement and their foolish poetic injustice that manifested yet another day in Uganda. Peace.

Press Release: UNATU suspends industrial action awaiting implementation of government commitments (26.05.2015)

The Leadership of the Teachers’ Union Countrywide unanimously resolved to enter into an industrial action effective 14th May 2015, due to Government’s failure to pay the 10% salary increment for teachers in FY 2015/16 as had been committed in 2011. The industrial action has been on for the past 13 days.

As concerned stakeholders in education, we have been taking lead in negotiations so that the issue at hand is sorted out within the shortest time possible to allow the learners resume normal studies.

In the negotiation meetings chaired by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and attended by several ministers held on 18th and 21st May respectively, no tangible proposals were put forth.

Until yesterday, 25th of May, Government had been adamant in making any formal commitment as regards the 10% salary increment for teachers despite the Union’s efforts in providing practical and viable options/ sources for the increment.

In yesterday’s meeting with the top leadership of the Union, Government made the following commitments;
• 15% salary increment in FY 2016/17
• Teachers SACCO funds to be immediately released to the Apex body of the Teachers’ SACCOs
• No intimidation/ victimization/ harassment of teachers for having participated in the industrial action
• A joint committee comprising Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports, Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and UNATU be constituted to identify and advise Government on measures to improve the quality of education.

UNATU being a democratic and member-driven union had to subject the above proposals with the entire teacher leadership countrywide for discussion and resolution at a meeting held on 26th May 2015. Government’s position was presented by Hon. Jim Muhwezi, the Minister of Information and National Guidance. Hon. David Bahati, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development was also in attendance.

After a thorough discussion of Government’s proposals, the teacher leaders have resolved to SUSPEND the industrial action on condition that;
i. Government does not breach the implementation of the above commitments within the stipulated time.
ii. No salary increments are effected in FY 2015/16 including the proposed 40% allowance increment for Members’ of Parliament because Government maintains that it has no funds for wage increments.
iii. Government fulfills its commitment of immediately releasing the Teacher SACCO funds to the Apex body of the Teachers’ SACCOs
iv. District officials desist from any form of intimidation, victimization and harassment of teachers in regard to the industrial action
It was further resolved that should government fail to honor their commitment or fail to meet the above conditions, this time round, the Industrial action will resume indefinitely.

Message to the Teachers
UNATU congratulates teachers for the spirited struggle and thanks different support teams upon the successes registered in this industrial action.
The Union hereby clarifies that the Industrial action is not off, but only SUSPENDED to allow Government time to fulfill her commitments. UNATU will continue to monitor the progress of these commitments and by the 30th of September, we expect Government to have included the 15% salary increment in the budget call circular and fully released the said SACCO funds

We therefore call upon all teachers to return to school and resume teaching with effect from Wednesday, 27th May 2015 at 8:00am.

Please note that the industrial action is fully protected by the existing laws and hence no teacher should be intimidated or be subjected to any form of harassment as a result of having participated in the industrial action. Individual teachers and other leaders should report such cases immediately for redress.

“Because we are, the Nation is”

General Secretary – James Tweheyo

Official Statements from Ministery of Information and National Guidance & Uganda Police Force on the death of Principal State Attorney Joan Kagezi

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE ON THE DEATH OF PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY, JOAN KAGEZI: 

It is with deep sadness that we confirm that Senior Principal State
Attorney Joan Kagezi has been killed this evening by assailants unknown and
at large.

The assailants trailed her car using a boda-boda, following her usual route
home, and when she stopped to do some shopping in Kiwatule, east of
Kampala, they opened fire on her.
Her children were with her in the vehicle but were not harmed in the
shooting. 

The police has taken up investigations into the case and are following all
leads available. This crime will not go unpunished.

On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I call upon members of the general
public to avoid sensationalising the criminal nature of this killing, and
to respect the honour and dignity of Joan Kagezi, who worked diligently for
law and order, and peace and security for all Ugandans.

May her soul Rest in Eternal Peace.

Jim K. Muhwezi, MP
Minister of Information and National Guidance

POLICE INVESTIGATES DEADLY SHOOTING
Yesterday evening, Monday 30th March 2015, Ms. Joan Kagezi, Ag. Assistant Director of Public Prosecution,         was shot dead at 7:15 pm,near her residence in Kiwatule a city suburb as she drove home with her children.

She had stopped at a fruit stall by the road side where she normally stopped to purchase fruits, when the criminals riding on a motorcycle of boxer type, red in color, stopped next to the parked vehicle and shot her twice in the neck and shoulder, through the widow on the driver’s side. She was driving the vehicle herself.

The Director of CIID, Assistant Inspector General of Police Grace Akullo who by coincidence was driving some distance behind her, was the first police officer on the scene. She coordinated the evacuation of the deceased to Mulago hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her three children who were with her escaped unhurt.

Ms. Joan Kagezi was in charge of the International Crime Division handling international crimes such as terrorism, war crimes, and trafficking in persons. At the time of her tragic death she was the lead prosecutor in the case of the 2010 terror suspects now before the High Court. She was, also working with the Police in the prosecution
of the suspects in the recent spate of murders, robberies and terrorism in Busoga region and Kampala. Her death is a big loss to the country.

Immediately after the shooting, the police secured the scene, and interviewed eye witnesses who have given very useful information that will assist in the hunt for the murderers. We call upon any member of the public who may have any information relating to the incident to give it to the police, any other security officer or LC official.

In spite of this tragic incident of criminality, we call upon the public to remain calm but vigilant.

The murder of Joan Kagezi should only serve to increase our resolve to hunt down and bring to justice all those elements bent on disturbing the security and development of our country.

GEN. KALE KAYIHURA
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
30TH MARCH 2015