SHARMA KOOKY MUST DIE IN CUSTODY SOME WHERE; MUSEVENI IS A BIG JOKER

There must be boundaries to the Presidential Prerogative of mercy, and there must be justification before the prerogative is effected. The Human Rights Activists in Uganda and all those who respect human rights must pressurize Parliament to re-visit the prerogative of mercy by the President. There is no justification whatsoever that Kooky can go free, it simply cannot happen. For a person in his senses, we must ensure that the abuse of life is put to control. We have people in Uganda who by virtue of having accumulated think they have the right to terminate the lives of others. Museveni's prerogative of mercy regarding Kooky must be quashed immediately. Human Rights Activists must find a way to see Kooky back to custody even if it means elsewhere and not in Uganda. Museveni has for long favoured Asians, but regarding the Kooky's case, he has gone beyond the limits. What if it were Museveni's cousin murdered, it is unacceptable for Kooky to be free, he must immediately go back to cells for life. As Kooky leaves Luzira, we are then to hear Katuramu also pardoned; this trend is unacceptable, we must act responsibly, whether one contributed to the 5 year Bush war, it does not make him have the right to terminate the lives of others.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

ACTIVISTS BITTER OVER RELEASE OF MURDER CONVICT SHARMA KOOKY
Activists on Monday March 26 described the release of Asian businessman Sharma Kooky, who was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife about 12 years ago, as a ‘shock’, questioning the criteria used.
Kooky walked to freedom following a presidential directive to the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija, for his release on prerogative of mercy.
The officer in-charge of Upper Prisons, Mr Wilson Magomu, flagged off Kooky who was received by relatives at Luzira Maximum Security Prison yesterday. But women activists yesterday said his release sends a bad signal to other criminals, who can now think they will survive despite committing such grave acts.
“It is very unfortunate that the law mandates the President (Museveni) to order for release of any person. I don’t know the criteria followed and I am sure he did not repent but he should have paid for the crime he committed,” Ms Sheila Kawamara, the chairperson of Uganda Women’s Network, said.
“I am short of words but I think the public should rise up and demand government to release other convicts, including women who are there without help,” she said.
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The Supreme Court, in 2000 upheld the judgements of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, in which Kooky was sentenced to death for murdering his wife, Renu Joshi, by electrocution in December 1997 at their home on Martin Road in Old Kampala.
However, Kooky’s sentence in 2009 was commited to life following a Supreme Court judgement that death penalties could be converted into life imprisonment if those convicted are not executed within a period of three years.

“And where pursuant to Article 121 of the Constitution, the attorney on May 5, 2006, caused the case of the said Sharma Kooky to be considered by the advisory committee on the prerogative of mercy and the advisory committee advised that the said Sharma be granted pardon on humanitarian grounds,” reads part of the President’s March 22 letter.
Kooky’s brother, Davinder Kumar, with whom he was jointly charged for the murder but was later released, commended government for considering Kooky for pardon: “He is sick and cannot talk.”

Constitutional right
Prisons Spokesperson Frank Baine said the force was compelled to implement the presidential directive because it is a requirement by law.
The programme manager of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Ms Doreen Namyalo, welcomed the pardon, saying: “His (President) action shows government commitment to reform and rehabilitate rather than revenge.”
During his trial, where he appeared alongside his brother, Kooky attempted to change the story of his wife’s death, saying it resulted from malaria and high blood pressure.
Kooky is the fifth person in the last three years to enjoy the President’s prerogative of mercy after Al hajj Abdallah Nasur, Ali Fadhul, Ezra Kasasirwa and Chris Rwakasisi in 2009.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com

THE ISSUE OF SECURITY PASS IDENTITY CARDS AT MINISTRY OF FINANCE

The Administration
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development

On more than one occasion as a visitor to the Finance Ministry Headquarters, I have been disappointed when the security guard lady attached to the Saracen Guards has failed to issue to me a Security Pass Identity card but cleared me to move on. While this is the norm with those who go to the Ministry Library, it is now common whenever I call and have to go to some other office. It embarrasses when one gets to the floor and has to wait for someone either entering or one leaving or alternatively ringing the one to be visited to call and open the door. May be management is not aware of this development which is a great inconvenience and yet reflects one as if the security desk was by passed. I have also experienced this on grounds that once I was given a card and took long to come back!

Kindly address this matter so that there can be enough cards to those who visit the Ministry premises and that the security personnel exercise courtesy.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

MR KAIHURA HOW CAN POLICEMEN AT KAJJANSI SLEEP WORSE THAN CHICKEN?

A few days’ ago, I was shocked to see 1900 huts being erected for Policemen at Kajjansi Trading center. It is true there are a number of Policemen and women who reside at Kajjansi just after the UMEME Power Station along the road to Kajjansi Fisheries. As I went to inspect the state of the road which is used by vehicles to and fro Kiwamirembe Shrine and St. Mary’s Kitende Secondary School, I could not believe what I saw, very simple huts being erected for Police officers! The development is simply unbelievable. Uganda Police has to shape up. There is no way that man power so crucial can be accommodated worse than chicken. Oh no.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

NSSF SHOULD RE-LOCATE THE OFFICES THAT HANDLE PAYMENT DUES TO THE SAVERS

Police carrying the remains of Juliet Nalujja
The most recent incident where Juliet Nalugya committed suicide from the 14th Floor of the NSSF Building tells it all, yet it looks to be the 2nd case that may have a do with someone following payment of dues. Those who have attempted to go to NSSF offices wishing to get what is due to them more often than not get disappointed. This is very common with those who have lost dear ones and those with specific problems who see the funds as a source of redeemable funds that can bail them in their circumstances. NSSF office does not need to wait for more people to use the NSSF towers to terminate their lives. It is clear the trend that more people are likely to commit suicide due to a shock to their lives when they get a negative response from NSSF. I wish to propose that the NSSF department that processes payments to clients re-locates to premises that may not encourage one to commit suicide from.
It is also very important that NSSF undertakes more education programmes more so to those who save with it, such that these people get to know what is expected and when the fund may be able to help them. The fund should also start a new product in form of discountable papers which those who save with it can get from the fund offices such that when those papers are taken to a financial institution they can be discounted such that a saver with financial problems can be bailed out.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

WOMAN JUMPS TO DEATH AT NSSF BUILDING
Friday, 16 March 2012
A woman this morning jumped from the 14th floor of Workers House to the ground floor dying instantly. Police was later able to identify the woman. Juliet Nalujja(26) of Kamuli zone in Kireka came to the building and went straight to NSSF offices.
Initially, she came under the pretext of registering as member of NSSF and then later walked to the balcony, threw her shoes and hand bag first and pulled her dress, and off she jumped. This is the second suicide case at this very spot. It is not yet clear what led to the young woman to take her life.
A big bang was heard after the woman fell on the ground floor which doubles as the reception and entrance to the building that was all littered with brains and blood.
In 2009, one Musa Siraj jumped from the 14th floor and died on the spot. Siraj had come to claim for his pension. He was referred to the inquiry desk but he instead moved to a window which he forced open and jumped.
A week before the Siraj incident, an employee of Phoenix Insurance with it's offices at Workers house slit his throat after failing to kill his girl friend, Phiona.

IF PRESIDENT MUSEVENI BLESSED HIS IMPEACHMENT, HE WOULD GET THE SAFEST LANDING

Word going the rounds is, “how will President Museveni go’? The reading on the wall is clean and clear that it is time up for him. The going looks like it is a sure deal less than a year after he was sworn in as President after completing 25 record years in office! What the President has to know is that no degree of being a genius can make him capable of overcoming diminishing returns given the challenges of the office of President. Surely, the way Museveni as Presidential candidate was making decisions which among others included promising the Muslim community to make good of properties that had wrongly been sold was just one of the many indicators of a man so desperate to remain Head of State while impoverishing the people as many decisions made then were not to make people better off; like the sub-division of districts to create new uneconomical ones. When you look at the government priorities to-date, no good thinking Ugandan can vote for them; the tones of tear gas which have to be in stock to counter daily demonstrations is unacceptable as hospitals cry for medicines, it is unacceptable that some people have been able to loot billions of tax payer money without the knowledge of the President, the pay to many public servants does not make any economic sense given the badly depreciated Uganda shilling, blame it all on economic mismanagement; corruption and greed. God is so good that he always gives one a solution which is either opted for or ignored by the beneficiary. President Museveni should as of now be looking to a way out of office which can be least destructive to the country he claims to have at heart as well his future and that of his family members. The best opportunity to utilize is to get someone talk to the members of the NRM caucus to sign the petition to see him impeached. This can give him opportunity to talk to the army to ensure smooth succession more so as it is becoming common knowledge that some army officers are openly showing their discontent. Many people can forgive President Museveni for any wrong doing if he can make a decision to quit office peacefully.
Many times the President’s advisors have gone wrong, and that situation may be compared to the time of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy’s advisors knew that the Cuban resistance to the invasion would vastly out number the invaders, that the invasion had little chance. The objective reports also said that there was little hope for in the way of a popular uprising of Cubans to support the invaders. But the President’s advisors and the President himself ignored those reports. They were some of the best minds in the country, bright, informed, rigorous professionals. In the moment of decision, they operated as a group going for a goal with such enthusiasm that rationality was swept a side.
If there was any chance to have a repeat of the election of Members of Parliament after the much publicized news that MPs received shs 103m for vehicles, be sure that more than a half of them would be dropped; that shows how the electorate can best respond to a situation where their representatives are seen to loot the treasury as majority languish in poverty however much they toil to make a decent living.
In a nutshell, President Museveni stands to benefit from an impeachment if he only got a strategy to see his NRM caucus MPs endorse it.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka


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http://www.smackoldboysmagazine.blogspot.com/

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UGANDA CLAYS OUGHT TO CLEAR THEIR EXCAVATIONS OF THE WATER HYCINTH

CONGRATULATIONS TO ENGINEER J B WALUSIMBI ON GETTING A 2ND TERM AS KATIKIIRO OF BUGANDA

His Highness the Kabaka of Buganda, King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has granted Engineer J. B. Walusimbi another term as Katikiiro of Buganda. This is big news moreso that the Engineer had initially wanted just one term as the office is very challanging. The Katikiiro has an uphill task to see to the restoration of the burnt Kasubi tombs, the completion of Bulange Plaza, the unity of the people in Buganda and having real the poverty alleviation programmes of the kingdom. As an Old Boy of the same school where the Engineer was for 6 years, I take this opportunity to wish him success and to keep the school star shining.
DUC IN ALTUM
William Kituuka Kiwanuka

MORE SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR KASUBI RESTORATION
Katikkiro Eng J.B. Walusimbi has stressed the need for joint efforts as the Kingdom restores Kasubi Tombs that were gutted by fire two years ago.
It should be remembered that Kasubi Tombs, a World Heritage Site caught fire on the night of March 16th 2010 which destroyed the entire house of Muzibuazaalampanga.
In his speech to the clan leaders who had brought in their contribution towards this noble cause, Katikkiro noted that people in Buganda are approximately 7 millions who need to join hands to see the completion of the tombs.
He is not happy that people in Buganda have not fully exploited their worth in contributing towards the reconstruction of Kasubi. The total amount of money required to restore Kasubi and other related tombs is 10 billions but that the Kingdom has so far collected 750 millions shillings of which 200 millions was contributed by people in the Diaspora, 250 was contributed by corporate companies and the 300 millions is the amount collected from the populace.
Eng Walusimbi emphasized the need to concentrate on securing the restoration of Kasubi Tombs and avoid any activities that are geared at jeopardizing its progress.
Katikkiro said that people have to respect the agreement that was reached upon between UNESCO, the Uganda Government and the Kingdom when the tombs were made a World Heritage Site as the restoration exercise is executed.
Katikkiro furthermore explained that reconstruction work at Wamala tombs is moving on smoothly and called upon people to start collecting the required materials for its completion. He said materials needed range from grass to timber including knives and pangs.
He was happy that the clan leaders have shown a great example to the grandchildren by contributing towards Kasubi and urge them to mobilize more of their clan members to contribute towards the tombs to accomplish the duty.
In their statement, the clan leaders led by Omutaka Nakilembeka expressed gratitude over what has been done so far on restoring Kasubi Tombs.
Omutaka Nakirembeka assured that they are happy that the cultural part of the restoration process has been respected.
The clan leaders are also thankful to every one of their grandchildren who has contributed towards the restoration of Kasubi tombs.
As the clan leaders’ council, they contributed 5,000,000 shillings towards the tombs which they said is the beginning and an incentive to the grandchildren to double their efforts in contributing towards Kasubi restoration.
Nakirembeka called upon all clans to mobilize their members to make contributions that will see off the reconstruction of Kasubi Tombs.