Journalists in Uganda have done a commendable job covering the riots which has given the general public the actual impression of the Government they have. As we celebrate the World Press Freedom Day, May 3, we cannot forget those journalists who have been terrorized by the Police and other armed security operatives to the extent that some have lost lives. Those of us in good Governance have one message in that those who are involved in Education in Uganda and the world over should endeavour to incorporate Democracy and Human Rights when they are teaching. The people who are causing our suffering are those who have failed to live within the norms expected of a democratic leader. A national constitution is made and some one thinks that he is at liberty to manipulate this constitution so that he can stay in power for as long as he likes, this is the greatest undoing in our countries. Meanwhile, when leaders cause situations which lead to riots as have been witnessed in Uganda,the media houses should endeavour to see that journalists who go to cover these incidents are protected.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
ABOUT WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
3 May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.
It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.
It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
UGANDA POLICE USING HIDE AND SEEK METHODS TO TERRORIZE UGANDANS
The Uganda Police is fond of telling those who intend to demonstrate to seek its clearance, however, Uganda Police ought to be more serious. By now they should be aware of the damage caused when they interfere in would be peaceful demonstrations. If the Law Society members want to demonstrate over a right cause given the prevailing situation, then the saying that they have to clear with the Police does not hold simply because they should just move in to see how a peaceful demonstration is undertaken. The use of excessive force will not help Uganda more so that the problems the country finds itself are greatly related to the overstay of Museveni in power.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
LAWYERS START THREE DAY STRIKE
Wednesday, 4th May, 2011
By APOLLO MUBIRU
Lawyers have started a three-day sit down strike at the High Court in Kampala protesting what they call excessive use force by the Police and the army in quelling demonstrations over rising food and fuel prices.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, Bruce Kyerere, said government should apologize to Ugandans for the lives lost, injuries and the damages caused in the recent protests in Kampala and other towns.
"There is upfront abuse of rule of law and human rights from security state organs and we don’t see remorse from government,"Kyerere said.
He explained that during the three-day strike, Lawyers will not go to Court to represent their clients as well as transacting any legal deals.
The advocates will hand over a petition to the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, detailing their grievances.
"This is to make a statement of displeasure on police brutality and the conduct of judiciary in the manner in which they are handling cases of arrested demonstrators," he said.
Last Thursday, security officials blocked Uganda's main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, as he drove to work, sparking a standoff that ended in his arrest after a plain clothed Policeman smashed his car windows and doused him in pepper spray.
KAIHURA, ODOKI CLASH OVER PROTESTS
Source:BY EMMANUEL GYEZAHO & BASHIR MADAMBO
The Razor: http://www.razor.ug/news/national/kayihura-odoki-clash-over-protests/
Kaihura (left) and Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki
Weeks of opposition-led protests because of rising food and fuel prices in the country have sharpened divisions and not smoothed them. The start today of a three-day sit-down strike by Ugandan lawyers has put Chief Justice Benjamin
Odoki and police chief Maj Gen Kale Kayihura on a warring path.
While Kayihura has warned lawyers against the protest and said police will not okay any demonstration, Odoki told The Razor in an exclusive interview yesterday
that lawyers “have got a right to strike”.
Their difference in opinion has put the two men on different sides of the political pedestal and has left Kayihura in an unenviable situation. A trained lawyer, Kayihura finds himself with the task of stopping his fellow lawyers from exercising
their right to protest.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) announced that lawyers across the country would lay down their tools and sit peacefully at the High Court buildings throughout the country, starting today for three days, as an expression of discontent at the government’s imperious crackdown on the walk-to-work protestors.
Odoki admitted in the interview that, while the strike may paralyse court business, the lawyers have every right to protest. “I think they have got a right to protest,” he said. “They are independent of the judiciary and if they have any grievances they can protest,” he said.
He added, however: “If they paralyse the courts, it is the p ublic who will suffer. For us, we shall be working because what can we do? We are a public service institution and tomorrow [today] is not a public holiday.”
The lawyers say their protest is inspired in part by the supposed bias of some of judiciary officers and they have singled out recent cases of the walk-to-work protests involving FDC leader Kizza Besigye and other opposition
figures.
Chief Magistrate Justine Atukwasa’s neutrality has been questioned by the lawyers,
who wonder why and how, in a space of days, she was able to hop from one jurisdiction to another to hear Besigye’s case.
Initially, Atukwasa refused to hear Besigye’s bail application at the Nabweru Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wakiso District on the grounds that she was busy, but after the FDC leader had spent six days behind bars she was curiously drafted on to the Nakasongola Court circuit several miles away to preside over the same case and went on to slap a Shs50million non-cash bail on him.
When Besigye was arrested a day later she turned up at the Kasangati Chief Magistrate’s Court to hear fresh allegations of unlawful assembly against him.
In the interview, Odoki admitted that there were grounds for complaint by the lawyers.
“Yes, there could be one or two issues,” he said. “But I don’t know if that [Atukwasa’s hopping] could have changed the decision of the magistrate. Would that change their decision if they had stayed in the same location?”
Odoki said he was prepared “to dialogue with the lawyers” to address their concerns. “We shall deal with that matter. If there is a problem [with Atukwasa], they [lawyers] can apply for revision,” he said.
For his part, Kayihura issued communication through Kampala metropolitan
police spokesman Ibin Ssenkumbi, cautioning the lawyers against leading any demonstration without getting permission from the police.
“If the demonstration is to happen in public places such as roads, then the organisers should meet the concerned people to avoid unnecessary
clashes,” Ssenkumbi said. “At home everyone has control without seeking permission,
but beyond it one is supposed to respect the fundamental rights of others; so they are supposed to get access by informing police to provide them with enough security.”
But the idea of whether or not police should grant permission to anyone intending to protest has proved to be a sticky matter. While it remains to be seen how the police intend to thwart the lawyers, this will be the second time in four years that they are laying down their tools.
In 2007, lawyers and other judicial officers led a sit-down strike protesting at the now infamous Black Mamba attack on the Kampala High Court when security operatives re-arrested Besigye and his co-accused, who had been granted bail pending hearing of a treason case against them.
UGANDAN LAWYERS TO STRIKE OVER CRACKDOWN
Posted on | May 4, 2011
Ugandan lawyers are set to begin a three-day strike Wednesday, to protest the government’s treatment of demonstrators complaining about high food and fuel prices.
The head of the Uganda Law Society Tuesday accused police of using excessive force on the protesters. Society president Bruce Kyerere also questioned the conduct of the courts handling the cases of protesters who were arrested.
Ugandan police have used live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters. During the last three weeks, at least eight people have been killed and more than 250 wounded. Police have arrested hundreds.
Opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who is leading the demonstrations, has been arrested four times this month.Uganda Lawyers to Strike Over Crackdown
The lawyer’s group criticized a magistrate who refused to hear Besigye’s bail request saying she was too busy with other work.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has defended police actions and has vowed to stop the protests. He blames Uganda’s inflation on drought and rising oil prices.
Besigye has led Uganda’s opposition for a decade. He has lost three straight presidential elections to Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
JUDICIARY WARNS LAWYERS AGAINST TODAY'S STRIKE
Emmanuel Mulondo
4 May 2011
The planned picketing of the High Court by lawyers, protesting some magistrates' conduct and the government's brutal response to the walk-to-work protests, is unwelcome, a Judiciary spokesman said yesterday.
Despite this, the Uganda Law Society leadership has insisted the three-day sit-down proceeds today.
ULS president Bruce Kyerere told Daily Monitor he would brief Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki yesterday afternoon, and also indicated that depending on the outcome of that meeting, "the arrangement is as we agreed".
"That is a strike. It is a demonstration. If they are coming for other business outside their legal work, they are unwelcome. Sitting down is not auxilliary to the legal business. They will be unwanted persons," Mr Erias Kisawuzi, who argued the bench is not perfect and is therefore open to dialogue over the matter, said.
The lawyers announced on Monday they would protest what they called "partiality of the Judiciary", and the high-handed response of the police and other security agencies to the ongoing walk-to-work protests.
They demanded action from Justice Odoki against magistrates who appear not to be acting independently as is demanded by the Constitution. Retired Supreme Court Judge, Prof. George Kanyeihamba, concurred yesterday, saying lawyers are free to demonstrate if they feel some judicial officers have taken sides.
Mr Kisawuzi, however, suggested that since lawyers are officers of court, and therefore members of the same family; "we should not be seen in a fracas." He said channels of communication remain open and also proposed a meeting between ULS and Justice Odoki
Several attempts to get a comment from the Chief Justice's chambers wre futile.
Late yesterday, Mr Kisawuzi called this newspaper and confirmed that a meeting took place where it was agreed that ULS delivers its petition in Courtroom 1 of the High Court in Kampala.
Conditions
"They will be allowed in for only purposes of presenting their petition and any other business outside that will not be entertained. Otherwise lawyers are free to demonstrate at their residences and chambers," he said.
Contacted over the matter after Daily Monitor failed to reach Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba but Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi said, "we have not got any request from the management of the High Court to provide them with security".
Mr Ssenkumbi added: "If they have reached an understanding and there's no breach of peace, then we don't need to come in. If the Judiciary feel there's likely to be breach of peace they can always notify us."
In spotlight
At the centre of this matter is Nabweru Court Magistrate Justine Atukwasa. The magistrate's handling of the State's proceedings against opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye and others, has brought her impartiality into question. The ULS is also disturbed that although she is officially assigned to Nabweru, Ms Atukwasa turned up in both Nakasongola and Kasangati courts, miles away from her known jurisdiction, to preside over related matters.
"If what we are reading in the papers are true it is most unfortunate. They (lawyers) are right to demand judicial inquiry into her conduct. This can be done administratively. The Chief Justice can appoint a one-man tribunal to do this," Justice Kanyeihamba said. The walk-to-work campaign has seen members of the public, opposition leaders and their supporters shot at, beaten and teargassed by the police in tragic scenes which have seen the death of at least 10 people, including two babies.
Countrywide protests have been met with ruthless force from a combination of police and other security agencies, provoking condemnation from the international community, human rights organisations and religious leaders.
The last time the legal fraternity, including judges and magistrates, went on a one-week strike was when a secret security outfit invaded the High Court premises and re-arrested Dr Besigye and others, who had been freed on bail, pending their trial for alleged treason.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
LAWYERS START THREE DAY STRIKE
Wednesday, 4th May, 2011
By APOLLO MUBIRU
Lawyers have started a three-day sit down strike at the High Court in Kampala protesting what they call excessive use force by the Police and the army in quelling demonstrations over rising food and fuel prices.
Uganda Law Society (ULS) president, Bruce Kyerere, said government should apologize to Ugandans for the lives lost, injuries and the damages caused in the recent protests in Kampala and other towns.
"There is upfront abuse of rule of law and human rights from security state organs and we don’t see remorse from government,"Kyerere said.
He explained that during the three-day strike, Lawyers will not go to Court to represent their clients as well as transacting any legal deals.
The advocates will hand over a petition to the Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, detailing their grievances.
"This is to make a statement of displeasure on police brutality and the conduct of judiciary in the manner in which they are handling cases of arrested demonstrators," he said.
Last Thursday, security officials blocked Uganda's main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, as he drove to work, sparking a standoff that ended in his arrest after a plain clothed Policeman smashed his car windows and doused him in pepper spray.
KAIHURA, ODOKI CLASH OVER PROTESTS
Source:BY EMMANUEL GYEZAHO & BASHIR MADAMBO
The Razor: http://www.razor.ug/news/national/kayihura-odoki-clash-over-protests/
Kaihura (left) and Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki
Weeks of opposition-led protests because of rising food and fuel prices in the country have sharpened divisions and not smoothed them. The start today of a three-day sit-down strike by Ugandan lawyers has put Chief Justice Benjamin
Odoki and police chief Maj Gen Kale Kayihura on a warring path.
While Kayihura has warned lawyers against the protest and said police will not okay any demonstration, Odoki told The Razor in an exclusive interview yesterday
that lawyers “have got a right to strike”.
Their difference in opinion has put the two men on different sides of the political pedestal and has left Kayihura in an unenviable situation. A trained lawyer, Kayihura finds himself with the task of stopping his fellow lawyers from exercising
their right to protest.
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) announced that lawyers across the country would lay down their tools and sit peacefully at the High Court buildings throughout the country, starting today for three days, as an expression of discontent at the government’s imperious crackdown on the walk-to-work protestors.
Odoki admitted in the interview that, while the strike may paralyse court business, the lawyers have every right to protest. “I think they have got a right to protest,” he said. “They are independent of the judiciary and if they have any grievances they can protest,” he said.
He added, however: “If they paralyse the courts, it is the p ublic who will suffer. For us, we shall be working because what can we do? We are a public service institution and tomorrow [today] is not a public holiday.”
The lawyers say their protest is inspired in part by the supposed bias of some of judiciary officers and they have singled out recent cases of the walk-to-work protests involving FDC leader Kizza Besigye and other opposition
figures.
Chief Magistrate Justine Atukwasa’s neutrality has been questioned by the lawyers,
who wonder why and how, in a space of days, she was able to hop from one jurisdiction to another to hear Besigye’s case.
Initially, Atukwasa refused to hear Besigye’s bail application at the Nabweru Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wakiso District on the grounds that she was busy, but after the FDC leader had spent six days behind bars she was curiously drafted on to the Nakasongola Court circuit several miles away to preside over the same case and went on to slap a Shs50million non-cash bail on him.
When Besigye was arrested a day later she turned up at the Kasangati Chief Magistrate’s Court to hear fresh allegations of unlawful assembly against him.
In the interview, Odoki admitted that there were grounds for complaint by the lawyers.
“Yes, there could be one or two issues,” he said. “But I don’t know if that [Atukwasa’s hopping] could have changed the decision of the magistrate. Would that change their decision if they had stayed in the same location?”
Odoki said he was prepared “to dialogue with the lawyers” to address their concerns. “We shall deal with that matter. If there is a problem [with Atukwasa], they [lawyers] can apply for revision,” he said.
For his part, Kayihura issued communication through Kampala metropolitan
police spokesman Ibin Ssenkumbi, cautioning the lawyers against leading any demonstration without getting permission from the police.
“If the demonstration is to happen in public places such as roads, then the organisers should meet the concerned people to avoid unnecessary
clashes,” Ssenkumbi said. “At home everyone has control without seeking permission,
but beyond it one is supposed to respect the fundamental rights of others; so they are supposed to get access by informing police to provide them with enough security.”
But the idea of whether or not police should grant permission to anyone intending to protest has proved to be a sticky matter. While it remains to be seen how the police intend to thwart the lawyers, this will be the second time in four years that they are laying down their tools.
In 2007, lawyers and other judicial officers led a sit-down strike protesting at the now infamous Black Mamba attack on the Kampala High Court when security operatives re-arrested Besigye and his co-accused, who had been granted bail pending hearing of a treason case against them.
UGANDAN LAWYERS TO STRIKE OVER CRACKDOWN
Posted on | May 4, 2011
Ugandan lawyers are set to begin a three-day strike Wednesday, to protest the government’s treatment of demonstrators complaining about high food and fuel prices.
The head of the Uganda Law Society Tuesday accused police of using excessive force on the protesters. Society president Bruce Kyerere also questioned the conduct of the courts handling the cases of protesters who were arrested.
Ugandan police have used live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters. During the last three weeks, at least eight people have been killed and more than 250 wounded. Police have arrested hundreds.
Opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who is leading the demonstrations, has been arrested four times this month.Uganda Lawyers to Strike Over Crackdown
The lawyer’s group criticized a magistrate who refused to hear Besigye’s bail request saying she was too busy with other work.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has defended police actions and has vowed to stop the protests. He blames Uganda’s inflation on drought and rising oil prices.
Besigye has led Uganda’s opposition for a decade. He has lost three straight presidential elections to Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
JUDICIARY WARNS LAWYERS AGAINST TODAY'S STRIKE
Emmanuel Mulondo
4 May 2011
The planned picketing of the High Court by lawyers, protesting some magistrates' conduct and the government's brutal response to the walk-to-work protests, is unwelcome, a Judiciary spokesman said yesterday.
Despite this, the Uganda Law Society leadership has insisted the three-day sit-down proceeds today.
ULS president Bruce Kyerere told Daily Monitor he would brief Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki yesterday afternoon, and also indicated that depending on the outcome of that meeting, "the arrangement is as we agreed".
"That is a strike. It is a demonstration. If they are coming for other business outside their legal work, they are unwelcome. Sitting down is not auxilliary to the legal business. They will be unwanted persons," Mr Erias Kisawuzi, who argued the bench is not perfect and is therefore open to dialogue over the matter, said.
The lawyers announced on Monday they would protest what they called "partiality of the Judiciary", and the high-handed response of the police and other security agencies to the ongoing walk-to-work protests.
They demanded action from Justice Odoki against magistrates who appear not to be acting independently as is demanded by the Constitution. Retired Supreme Court Judge, Prof. George Kanyeihamba, concurred yesterday, saying lawyers are free to demonstrate if they feel some judicial officers have taken sides.
Mr Kisawuzi, however, suggested that since lawyers are officers of court, and therefore members of the same family; "we should not be seen in a fracas." He said channels of communication remain open and also proposed a meeting between ULS and Justice Odoki
Several attempts to get a comment from the Chief Justice's chambers wre futile.
Late yesterday, Mr Kisawuzi called this newspaper and confirmed that a meeting took place where it was agreed that ULS delivers its petition in Courtroom 1 of the High Court in Kampala.
Conditions
"They will be allowed in for only purposes of presenting their petition and any other business outside that will not be entertained. Otherwise lawyers are free to demonstrate at their residences and chambers," he said.
Contacted over the matter after Daily Monitor failed to reach Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba but Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi said, "we have not got any request from the management of the High Court to provide them with security".
Mr Ssenkumbi added: "If they have reached an understanding and there's no breach of peace, then we don't need to come in. If the Judiciary feel there's likely to be breach of peace they can always notify us."
In spotlight
At the centre of this matter is Nabweru Court Magistrate Justine Atukwasa. The magistrate's handling of the State's proceedings against opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye and others, has brought her impartiality into question. The ULS is also disturbed that although she is officially assigned to Nabweru, Ms Atukwasa turned up in both Nakasongola and Kasangati courts, miles away from her known jurisdiction, to preside over related matters.
"If what we are reading in the papers are true it is most unfortunate. They (lawyers) are right to demand judicial inquiry into her conduct. This can be done administratively. The Chief Justice can appoint a one-man tribunal to do this," Justice Kanyeihamba said. The walk-to-work campaign has seen members of the public, opposition leaders and their supporters shot at, beaten and teargassed by the police in tragic scenes which have seen the death of at least 10 people, including two babies.
Countrywide protests have been met with ruthless force from a combination of police and other security agencies, provoking condemnation from the international community, human rights organisations and religious leaders.
The last time the legal fraternity, including judges and magistrates, went on a one-week strike was when a secret security outfit invaded the High Court premises and re-arrested Dr Besigye and others, who had been freed on bail, pending their trial for alleged treason.
Monday, May 2, 2011
NAMUTAMBA DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL WEBSITE
Namutamba Demonstration School made 75 years of existence this year. We as the fruits of the school thank God for His blessings. We trust that He will guide our school through all the tides that will be faced after. The school website can be accessed from the link below.
The link:
http://www.namutambademschool.webs.com/
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Old Boy of the school
The link:
http://www.namutambademschool.webs.com/
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Old Boy of the school
MY NAME SAKE WHO IS MILES A PART WEDS
SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_royals/photos-of-the-royal-wedding
PRESIDENT OBAMA CHANCES OF RE-ELECTION BOOSTED FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF OSAMA BIN LADEN
AP Photo
In this April 1998 file photo, Osama bin Laden is shown in Afghanistan. More photos »
AP
Barack Obama AP – President Barack Obama reads his statement to photographers after making a televised statement on the …
By JULIE PACE and MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Julie Pace And Matt Apuzzo, Associated Press – 1 min ago
WASHINGTON – Osama bin Laden, the glowering mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was slain in his luxury hideout in Pakistan early Monday in a firefight with U.S. forces, ending a manhunt that spanned a frustrating decade.
"Justice has been done," President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House.
A jubilant crowd of thousands gathered outside the White House as word spread of bin Laden's death. Hundreds more sang and waved American flags at Ground Zero in New York — where the twin towers that once stood as symbols of American economic power were brought down by bin Laden's hijackers 10 years ago.
Another hijacked plane slammed into the Pentagon on that cloudless day, and a fourth was commandeered by passengers who forced it to the ground — at cost of their own lives — before it could reach its intended target in Washington.
The United States attacked Afghanistan within months, pursuing al-Qaida, and an invasion of Iraq followed as part of the Bush administration's global war on terror.
U.S. officials said the CIA tracked bin Laden to his location, then elite troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, flew to the hideout in four helicopters. Bin Laden was shot in the head in an ensuing firefight, these officials said, adding that he and his guards had resisted his attackers. U.S. personnel identified him by facial recognition, the official said, declining to say whether DNA analysis had also been used.
The U.S. team took custody of bin Laden's remains, which American officials said were being handled in accordance with Islamic tradition. Obama said no Americans were harmed in the operation.
Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida. U.S. officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured.
Americans reacting to bin Laden's death
AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta
The operation occurred in pre-dawn darkness on Monday in Pakistan — Sunday afternoon in Washington. Obama went on television late Sunday night to make the announcement.
Bin Laden's death marks a psychological triumph in a long struggle that began with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and seems certain to give Obama a political lift. But its ultimate impact on al-Qaida is less clear.
The greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. is now considered to be the al-Qaida franchise in Yemen, far from al-Qaida's core in Pakistan. The Yemen branch almost took down a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas 2009 and nearly detonated explosives aboard two U.S. cargo planes last fall. Those operations were carried out without any direct involvement from bin Laden.
Obama provided few details of the operation beyond to say that he had personally ordered it be carried out. Other officials said it was so secretive that no foreign officials were informed in advance, and only a small circle inside the administration was aware of what was unfolding half a world away.
But within hours of the announcement, Pakistani officials and a witness said bin Laden's guards had opened fire from the roof of the building, and one of the choppers crashed. The sound of at least two explosions rocked the small northwestern town of Abbottabad, where the al-Qaida chief made his last stand.
Flames were visible after the attack on the building, which was located about 100 yards from the gates of a Pakistani military academy — certain to raise questions about al-Qaida's ability to build a custom-made hideout in such close proximity.
Abbottabad, surrounded by hills and with mountains in the distance, is less than half a day's drive from the border region with Afghanistan, where most intelligence assessments believed bin Laden was holed up.
The White House said Obama convened at least nine meetings with top national security officials in the lead-up to Sunday's raid.
The president spent part of the day on the golf course, but cut his round short to return to the White House for a meeting where he and top national security aides reviewed final preparations for the raid.
Two hours later, Obama was told that bin Laden had been tentatively identified.
CIA director Leon Panetta was directly in charge of the military team during the operation, according to one official, and when he and his aides received word at agency headquarters that bin Laden had been killed, cheers broke out around the conference room table.
Halfway around the world, in Abbotabad, one witness described a military raid carried out under darkness.
"I heard a thundering sound, followed by heavy firing. Then firing suddenly stopped. Then more thundering, then a big blast," said Mohammad Haroon Rasheed. "In the morning when we went out to see what happened, some helicopter wreckage was lying in an open field."
A Pakistani official in the town said fighters on the roof opened fire on the choppers with rocket-propelled grenades. Another official said the four helicopters took off from the Ghazi air base in northwest Pakistan.
The U.S. and Pakistani officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.
Obama said he gave the order for the operation after receiving intelligence information that he did not further describe.
Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death as a momentous achievement. "The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said.
Senior administration officials said the terrorist mastermind was found inside a custom-built compound with two security gates. They said it appeared to have been constructed to harbor one high-value target and that for undisclosed reasons, officials believed the hideout was bin Laden's.
The stunning end to the world's most widely-watched manhunt came just months before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by al-Qaida, that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The attacks a decade ago seemed to come out of nowhere, even though al-Qaida had previously struck American targets overseas.
The terrorists hijacked planes, flew one of them into one of Manhattan's Twin Towers — and, moments later, into the other one. Both buildings collapsed, trapping thousands inside and also claiming the lives of firefighters and others who had rushed to help them.
A third plane slammed into the Pentagon, defacing the symbol of America's military night. Officials have speculated that the fourth plane had been heading for the U.S. Capitol or perhaps even the White House when it crashed in Pennsylvania.
Based on statements given by U.S. detainees, intelligence officials have known for years that bin Laden trusted one al-Qaida courier in particular, and they believed he might be living with him in hiding. In November, intelligence officials found out where he was living, a huge fortified compound in an affluent suburb of Islamabad. It was surrounded by walls as high as 18 feet high, topped with barbed wire. There were two security gates and no phone or Internet running into the house.
Intelligence officials believed the $1 million home was custom-built to harbor a major terrorist. CIA experts analyzed whether it could be anyone else, but time and again, they decided it was almost certainly bin Laden.
Obama spoke with Bush and former President Bill Clinton Sunday night to inform them of the developments.
The president struck a less than boastful tone in his brief announcement, although he said the death of bin Laden was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaida.
"His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant," he added.
Moments after Obama spoke, the State Department put U.S. embassies on alert and warned of the heightened possibility for anti-American violence. In a worldwide travel alert, the department said there was an "enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counterterrorism activity in Pakistan."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
DO WE NEED THE PARLIAMENT WHEN THE NRM CAUCUS ENDORSES THINGS AT STATEHOUSE
Trust dictatotors, now President Museveni given the majority he has of the NRM in Parliament, he has turned the Parliament into a useless organ. he summons them to State House and he convinces themof the line he is interested in, and the following day, the Parliament just approves his line! That is how low Uganda has sunk. Why then does the tax payer have to waste billions on this useless lot? While they are there, the country is sinking on! In fact I tend to imagine that what we are witnessing in Uganda today is the return from God for endorsing clearly corrupt people and from whom we accept favours otherwise how would Ugandans turn against Museveni before he even swears in, yet he got over 60%!
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
NRM CAUCUS APPROVES JET PURCHASE
Thursday, 7th April, 2011
By Madinah Tebajjukira
and Milton Olupot
THE National Resistance Movement caucus has endorsed plans by the Government to purchase new fighter jets and tanks.
The Government chief whip, Daudi Migereko, yesterday said the caucus meeting held on Tuesday at State House Entebbe, agreed to approve $740m (about 1.7 trillion) to purchase the jets in order to improve the country’s security.
The defence ministry has so far paid $446m (about sh1trillion) to an unidentified supplier. The jets and tanks are likely to be purchased from Russia.
The money was borrowed from the Central Bank dollar reserves.
“In 2009, the Government entered into a contract for the supply of military equipment for the purpose of strengthening the security. This was in response to the security threats against Uganda,” Migereko said.
“Uganda has been using old weaponry. Purchasing the new jets is not only a strategy to guarantee our security but also professionalise the army by replacing manpower with modern equipment,” he added.
Migereko said part of the expenditure to purchase the equipment was defrayed in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 financial years and that the expenditure was financed through a drawdown of government savings in Bank of Uganda.
He said the NRM parliamentary committee set up a committee of ministers to study the technical aspects of the purchase and advise on the way forward.
NRM CAUCUS MEETING IGNORES BUGANDA
Written by Edris Kiggundu
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 22:12
This week’s NRM MPs Caucus meeting at State House, Entebbe, was most notable for President Museveni’s lecture to the legislators on stimulating development, as well as its curious quietness on Buganda. A source that attended the meeting said President Museveni spent some time lecturing to a group of legislators who hardly posed any challenging questions.
The tone had been set earlier on when Museveni, like a headmaster, implored the MPs to sit down after standing up to acknowledge his entry into the conference hall. It became apparent at this stage that even the Chair of the meeting, Chief Whip, Daudi Migereko, who introduced Museveni as a “guest speaker”, would not hog the limelight.
Many things about the meeting did not seem right. First, there was an abrupt change of venue from Parliament to State House, which caught some MPs unawares. In fact, some did not make it. Secondly, the agenda of the meeting was only communicated to them on reaching Entebbe; no wonder some could hardly make any contribution.
Museveni’s speech mainly centred on what the MPs must do to stimulate development in their constituencies. He castigated MPs who spend much time presiding over fundraising activities in schools and health centres, saying this was a core function of the local and central governments.
“Today he [MP] is here, tomorrow he is there. Doing what?” our sources quote Museveni as having asked.
He told the MPs that there were similar fundraising drives in Kenya called Harambee, which financially stretched politicians, many of whom got bankrupted.
Museveni said the MPs should instead work with government to promote programmes such as NAADS and Bonna Baggagawale (Prosperity for All), and spare their little resources for other things. In fact, he said he had directed the Attorney General to come up with a Bill that seeks to disengage fundraising activities from politics.
According to our sources, most MPs cheered the move because as legislators they have struggled to meet the financial expectations of their constituents. Others feared that their non-involvement in fundraising activities would instead alienate them from their voters. Museveni then addressed the recent study sanctioned by the NRM, which exposed among other things the existence of ghosts on the national voters’ register.
He said he is the one who commissioned the research whose brief was to study the national register and then develop a party register for the NRM. He labelled the hullabaloo created by the revelation of the findings as unwarranted, although he later said he would follow up the matter.
In the same meeting, he reiterated his commitment to fight corruption and gave the suspension of Mary Nnanono, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, as an example of his new resolve.
“This woman tried to fight some of our programmes in the ministry,” Museveni is quoted as having said, before adding that government would move fast to weed out people with a lot of lugezigezi (wiseacracy) from the system.
He said special units will be formed in all ministries and their role will be to detect and report mismanagement. When it was time for debate, several MPs were quick to remind Museveni about unfulfilled pledges and promises. Museveni announced that he had set up a committee headed by the Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi, to look into their concerns. The committee also has ministers: Daudi Migereko, Hope Mwesigye (Agriculture), Hillary Onek (Energy), Syda Bbumba (Finance), and John Nasasira (Works). The Entebbe meeting was, however, notable for what it did not dwell on.
While there were no assurances that the bad blood between Buganda and the central government would be discussed, some MPs hoped it would still feature, but it never did.
ekiggundu@observer.ug
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
NRM CAUCUS APPROVES JET PURCHASE
Thursday, 7th April, 2011
By Madinah Tebajjukira
and Milton Olupot
THE National Resistance Movement caucus has endorsed plans by the Government to purchase new fighter jets and tanks.
The Government chief whip, Daudi Migereko, yesterday said the caucus meeting held on Tuesday at State House Entebbe, agreed to approve $740m (about 1.7 trillion) to purchase the jets in order to improve the country’s security.
The defence ministry has so far paid $446m (about sh1trillion) to an unidentified supplier. The jets and tanks are likely to be purchased from Russia.
The money was borrowed from the Central Bank dollar reserves.
“In 2009, the Government entered into a contract for the supply of military equipment for the purpose of strengthening the security. This was in response to the security threats against Uganda,” Migereko said.
“Uganda has been using old weaponry. Purchasing the new jets is not only a strategy to guarantee our security but also professionalise the army by replacing manpower with modern equipment,” he added.
Migereko said part of the expenditure to purchase the equipment was defrayed in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 financial years and that the expenditure was financed through a drawdown of government savings in Bank of Uganda.
He said the NRM parliamentary committee set up a committee of ministers to study the technical aspects of the purchase and advise on the way forward.
NRM CAUCUS MEETING IGNORES BUGANDA
Written by Edris Kiggundu
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 22:12
This week’s NRM MPs Caucus meeting at State House, Entebbe, was most notable for President Museveni’s lecture to the legislators on stimulating development, as well as its curious quietness on Buganda. A source that attended the meeting said President Museveni spent some time lecturing to a group of legislators who hardly posed any challenging questions.
The tone had been set earlier on when Museveni, like a headmaster, implored the MPs to sit down after standing up to acknowledge his entry into the conference hall. It became apparent at this stage that even the Chair of the meeting, Chief Whip, Daudi Migereko, who introduced Museveni as a “guest speaker”, would not hog the limelight.
Many things about the meeting did not seem right. First, there was an abrupt change of venue from Parliament to State House, which caught some MPs unawares. In fact, some did not make it. Secondly, the agenda of the meeting was only communicated to them on reaching Entebbe; no wonder some could hardly make any contribution.
Museveni’s speech mainly centred on what the MPs must do to stimulate development in their constituencies. He castigated MPs who spend much time presiding over fundraising activities in schools and health centres, saying this was a core function of the local and central governments.
“Today he [MP] is here, tomorrow he is there. Doing what?” our sources quote Museveni as having asked.
He told the MPs that there were similar fundraising drives in Kenya called Harambee, which financially stretched politicians, many of whom got bankrupted.
Museveni said the MPs should instead work with government to promote programmes such as NAADS and Bonna Baggagawale (Prosperity for All), and spare their little resources for other things. In fact, he said he had directed the Attorney General to come up with a Bill that seeks to disengage fundraising activities from politics.
According to our sources, most MPs cheered the move because as legislators they have struggled to meet the financial expectations of their constituents. Others feared that their non-involvement in fundraising activities would instead alienate them from their voters. Museveni then addressed the recent study sanctioned by the NRM, which exposed among other things the existence of ghosts on the national voters’ register.
He said he is the one who commissioned the research whose brief was to study the national register and then develop a party register for the NRM. He labelled the hullabaloo created by the revelation of the findings as unwarranted, although he later said he would follow up the matter.
In the same meeting, he reiterated his commitment to fight corruption and gave the suspension of Mary Nnanono, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, as an example of his new resolve.
“This woman tried to fight some of our programmes in the ministry,” Museveni is quoted as having said, before adding that government would move fast to weed out people with a lot of lugezigezi (wiseacracy) from the system.
He said special units will be formed in all ministries and their role will be to detect and report mismanagement. When it was time for debate, several MPs were quick to remind Museveni about unfulfilled pledges and promises. Museveni announced that he had set up a committee headed by the Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi, to look into their concerns. The committee also has ministers: Daudi Migereko, Hope Mwesigye (Agriculture), Hillary Onek (Energy), Syda Bbumba (Finance), and John Nasasira (Works). The Entebbe meeting was, however, notable for what it did not dwell on.
While there were no assurances that the bad blood between Buganda and the central government would be discussed, some MPs hoped it would still feature, but it never did.
ekiggundu@observer.ug
IT WILL BE CLEAR CORRUPTION IF IAN KYEYUNE IS ALLOWED TO CONTEST AS CHAIRMAN WHEN WAKISO IS SUB-DIVIDED
Uganda is in danger if the leaders cannot understand what corruption is. Ian Kyeyune the current district chairman; whose term is expiring soon, was among those who spearheaded the division of Mpigi district, and he was fortunate to get the Chair for the new district Wakiso, however having lost in the NRM Primaries, looks like Kyeyune came up with the idea of splitting Wakiso district. This is corruption which is clean and clear. The district which Kyeyune has been heading is one of those where illegal road blocks are mounted to collect revenue. Now, instead of being concerned with the welfare of the masses who are to suffer the increased taxation if the district is sub-divided, Kyeyune is waiting for his kill to contest as a chairperson of one of the new districts likely to be created. This is clear bankruptcy of many we have in leadership ranks in Uganda. Once they are in leadership, they see these positions as life time jobs! Kyeyune should look for other work because it is not the salary of the Chairman of the district which is attractive, it is the corruption associated with the chair whare he is bound to benefit. That is the Uganda we have.
If the districts are approves, which idea does not seem to have come from the grassroots, Kyeyune should not be allowed to contest chairmanship of any of the new districts; because of the vested interest he has.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Wakiso district
WAKISO APPROVES SPLIT OF DISTRICT AMID OPPOSITION
Posted by Joseph Miti& Martin Ssebuyira
on Thursday, April 21 2011 at 00:00
Wakiso District Council has approved the splitting of the district into three to form Kyadondo, Wakiso and Entebbe. The motion was passed during a heated special council meeting presided over by the district speaker, Mr Davidson Serunjogi, last Friday at the District Council Hall.
The motion, which was tabled by the outgoing District Chairperson, Mr Ian Kyeyune, was opposed by opposition councilors, but were outnumbered when the matter was put to the vote.
“This motion has been tabled in bad faith,” Mr Ronald Semboga (Councilor for Wakiso Town Council), told the well-attended meeting.
His statement prompted a heated debate until Mr Serunjogi called for voting.
By show of hands, majority voted for splitting the district into three, while three councilors voted for dividing the district into two and five rejected the move.
Wakiso District was carved out of Mpigi District in 2000. The peri-urban district, according to the 2002 census, had 957,300 people.
While defending his motion, Mr Kyeyune said, “Splitting the district will create more opportunities and improve service delivery.”
Mr Kyeyune, who has been chairperson since the district was created, lost the seat after he was defeated in last year’s NRM party primaries.
He did not stand in the March LC5 elections in which Democratic Party’s Matia Lwanga Bwanika took the seat.
Idea opposed
However, Mr Kyeyune’s argument was opposed by opposition councillors who said the move will instead cripple development. Mr Edward Lutwama (Nsangi Sub-county) argued the move was intended to frustrate the newly-elected council since majority of its members are affiliated to opposition parties.
“This matter should be stayed until we consult the electorate,” he told the council that was also attended by MPs Rose Seninde and Mutebi Balikuddembe.
Meanwhile, incoming district chairperson Bwanika expressed resentments over the outgoing leadership for passing the proposal. Mr Bwanika, who also attended the council session, said the timing and manner in which the resolution was passed was selfish.
If the districts are approves, which idea does not seem to have come from the grassroots, Kyeyune should not be allowed to contest chairmanship of any of the new districts; because of the vested interest he has.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Wakiso district
WAKISO APPROVES SPLIT OF DISTRICT AMID OPPOSITION
Posted by Joseph Miti& Martin Ssebuyira
on Thursday, April 21 2011 at 00:00
Wakiso District Council has approved the splitting of the district into three to form Kyadondo, Wakiso and Entebbe. The motion was passed during a heated special council meeting presided over by the district speaker, Mr Davidson Serunjogi, last Friday at the District Council Hall.
The motion, which was tabled by the outgoing District Chairperson, Mr Ian Kyeyune, was opposed by opposition councilors, but were outnumbered when the matter was put to the vote.
“This motion has been tabled in bad faith,” Mr Ronald Semboga (Councilor for Wakiso Town Council), told the well-attended meeting.
His statement prompted a heated debate until Mr Serunjogi called for voting.
By show of hands, majority voted for splitting the district into three, while three councilors voted for dividing the district into two and five rejected the move.
Wakiso District was carved out of Mpigi District in 2000. The peri-urban district, according to the 2002 census, had 957,300 people.
While defending his motion, Mr Kyeyune said, “Splitting the district will create more opportunities and improve service delivery.”
Mr Kyeyune, who has been chairperson since the district was created, lost the seat after he was defeated in last year’s NRM party primaries.
He did not stand in the March LC5 elections in which Democratic Party’s Matia Lwanga Bwanika took the seat.
Idea opposed
However, Mr Kyeyune’s argument was opposed by opposition councillors who said the move will instead cripple development. Mr Edward Lutwama (Nsangi Sub-county) argued the move was intended to frustrate the newly-elected council since majority of its members are affiliated to opposition parties.
“This matter should be stayed until we consult the electorate,” he told the council that was also attended by MPs Rose Seninde and Mutebi Balikuddembe.
Meanwhile, incoming district chairperson Bwanika expressed resentments over the outgoing leadership for passing the proposal. Mr Bwanika, who also attended the council session, said the timing and manner in which the resolution was passed was selfish.
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