FREEMAN NEWS-UG

Law makers of Igara East Michael Mawanda, Busiki County Paul Akamba, Elgon County Mudimi Wamakuyu and lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko have been remanded to Luzira Prison. The quintet is accused of Diversion of funds and conspiracy to defraud Shs164 billion meant for compensating cooperative societies. Prosecution avers that between 2019 and 2023, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, Leonard Kavundira, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Trade, Mawanda, Akamba, and Kirya conspired to defraud Shs7.3 billion budgeted for compensation of Buyaka Growers Cooperatives Society Limited. The prosecution alleges that Mawanda, in October 2021, in Kampala, diverted public funds amounting to Shs1,050,000 to unrelated purposes. Akamba and Wanakuyu allegedly diverted Shs2.3 billion and Shs200 million for their benefit. Kirya allegedly diverted Shs2.2 billion. The suspects also conspired to defraud Shs3.4 billion meant for the Buyaka Cooperative Society. Mawanda and Bulambuli Constitu...

  Yesterday 20th, May, 2024, the speaker of parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among and the Chief Justice of Uganda, Alphonse Owiny Dollo  engaged in a close door meeting with the head of state, president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at state house. Our inside informers at state house revealed to us that the meeting  was productive. Their discussion covered a broad spectrum of crucial issues, including governance and strategic planning, which are integral to Parliament’s shared commitment to enhancing the lives of the  citizens and ensuring a stable and prosperous future for our nation. The source also revealed that M7 assured Speaker Among & CJ dollo on his mission of fighting corruption in the August house. It should be noted that a good number of members have been summoned by the criminal investigation department on allegations of corruption and embezzlement of Government funds, others have been remanded in various prison as of today. While passing on his message to Among ...

Tough time for the head of displinary committe for pressure group PLU as Police is searching the home of Igara East MP, Michael Mawanda Maranga who was arrested yesterday evening.  The legislator is the director for Mobilization of Patriotic League Of Uganda(PLU) and is accused of mismanaging UGX 164 bn in cooperatives compensation funds. Hon Michael Mawanda (NRM, Igara East Constituency) was yesterday carried to Nateete Police Station, Kampala for questioning as police investigate the management of Shs164 billion for compensation of cooperative societies that lost funds and property in wars between 1979 and 2006. Police sources say he spent a night at the station.

  Journalists Dickson Mubiru and Alirabaki Sengooba of the Grace Publications that runs an online English site the Grape Vine and a local newspaper Ono Bwiino have been remanded to Luzira prison on charges of publishing information without a valid broadcasting license. The journalist’s jailing followed their production before the Buganda Road Court magistrate Ronald Kayizzi by the state on Thursday afternoon to take plea on the said charges against them. According to the statement of offence by the state which was represented by state attorney Ivan Kyazze in Court, on 13th June 2024, journalists Mubiru, Sengooba and others still at large in Kampala published a story titled “inside story; how top legislators shared $5million vitol oil deal bribe” in grape vine online media without a valid broadcasting licence from uganda communications Commission. Prosecution also alleges that on the 15th day of May 2024, within Kampala district published a story titled “Lawyer Kalali, justice Nkong...

  Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Hon Phiona Nyamutoro has survived being shot at by Private Security Guards of National Cement Company, a subsidiary of Devki group. It is alleged that the company is carrying out illegal mining in Kisoro District According to the minister, while at the scene flanked by police officers, looking visibly shaken,wonders why private security guards have the courage to shoot at her. “I think they called their boss who said that they should shoot whoever has come there. Private security to shoot at us? We need to see who their boss is to give such orders”, says Nyamutooro. The Ministers’ guards say that the suspects were in position to fire at them with bullets already in the chamber. The events following have led to the disarming of the guards by Police and will be charged accordingly. The incident occurred while she was conducting a routine check on allegedly illegal mining activities in Kisoro District. Yesterday, while...

  EMMANUEL WALYAULA  HUMANITARIAN JOURNALIST EASTERN UGANDA  [City, MBALE,UGANDA  [Email :emmawalyau@gmail.com  +256703790537 19TH/JUNE/2024 His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda State House Kampala, Uganda Dear Mr. President, I write to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability in the government and the country at large. Your leadership and vision have been instrumental in shaping Uganda's progress, and we acknowledge your efforts. As a revolutionary youth from Eastern Uganda, I am compelled to remind you of the historical support our region offered during your struggle against the previous regime. The people of Bugisu, in particular, played a significant role in your survival, as I understand. It is unfortunate that our region seems to have been forgotten in the midst of your presidency. I am writing to bring to your attention a pressing con...

ASP-Kawala Rachael: " the territorial traffic Police in Kassanda are investigating a fatal accident that occurred on 19th June 2024 at around 1330hrs in Namilyango village, along Mityana-Bukuya Road. The accident involved an Isuzu forward truck, Reg no. UBA 605A, silver in color, which was traveling from Mityana Town to Bukuya with market vendors on board. The driver, who has not been identified, lost control of the vehicle on a slope, causing it to overturn, resulting in the death of 11 people on the spot. Others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Mityana Hospital and Bukuya Health Centre IV for treatment. The scene of the crime has been visited by traffic officers, and the bodies of the deceased have been conveyed to Mityana hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination. The vehicle has been towed to Kassanda Police Station for further inspection. Inquiries are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the v...

We strongly protest the continued detention of journalists Arirabaki Sengooba and Dickson Mubiru of the Grape Vine Publications and Ono Bwiino Newspaper who were arrested on Tuesday 18 June 2024 and detained at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) while in line of duty. The dual’s detention is in relation to the publication of two news stories; the one depicting a bitter row between lawyer Steven Kalali and the High Court Judge Her Lordship Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya, and another one implicating UNOC in the alleged corruption scandals in Parliament. Upon the journalist’s arrest and detention, they had gone to the Police responding to the summons that had required them to report themselves to the Police. Shortly after their arrest, the Police swiftly moved to their offices in Kampala Central Division, searched them out and took possession of their work tools; laptop computers and phones. It has since then come to our knowledge that the detainees have been put under serious grilling to dis...

MUSEVENI’S MEETING WITH TRADERS POSTPONED  The meeting between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and city traders which was scheduled to take place on 20th June 2024 has been postponed. This has been revealed by the leaders of traders following a meeting with the President today at State House, Entebbe.  The Chairperson of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), Dr. Thadeus Musoke and Mr. John Kabanda, the Chairman of the Federation of Uganda’s Traders Associations (FUTA) said in a joint statement that they have agreed with President Museveni to reschedule the meeting that was meant to take place this Thursday at Kololo Ceremonial grounds to 31st of June 2024, as both sides do thorough research on the subject matter, so that they come up with a final resolution to end a long standing dispute over Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)’s Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS).  The President first met the traders in a general meeting at Kololo Ceremonial Gro...

" I've been here since 1960. I recently had a fourth medical surgery that nearly took my life. Where do I go from here?" an 80-year-old distressed Margret Namakula Ssempebwa, a resident of Nansana Jenina cries after NEMA razed her home during their eviction of people in Lubigi swamp. Namakula Ssempebwa, claims that she is one of the victims who were illegally demolished because she has documentation of ownership on the wetland demarcations . Looking at the document, our reporter confirmed to us that they were processed by Buganda land board, a body which is most likely to be affiliated to Buganda Kingdom. 100's of people are concerned about the double standards by the Authority, which has not demolished Stabex Fuel station, which was constructed in the middle of the wetland.

  Her Excellency Kate Airey, the British High Commissioner to Uganda, has said the Ugandan theatre industry should be supported and developed to be an integral part of the social economic development programs of the nation.  The British High Commissioner made these remarks today while meeting Aganza Kisaka the CEO of Yenze Theatre Conservatoire, in Kampala. She said that theatre has the potential to create deep reflections, to bring communities together, and also be a source of healing. She hailed the efforts of Yenze Theatre Conservatoire, YTC , who are celebrating three years of theatre this year. Read More....... What You Need To Know:- Yenze Theatre Conservatoire, is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of performing artists through comprehensive training, innovative productions, and community engagement. Yenze will present their thrilling play ‘She Loves Me’, at the National Theatre this July. The play is a special arrangement with music and the production is set to...

In a crackdown on illegal sirens and flood lights, Uganda Police have today, 18th, June, 2024 impounded several vehicles parked at the Inspectorate of Motor Vehicles in Naguru, Kampala. Among those seized this morning were a vehicle belonging to a State Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the NRM Chairman for Sironko District/Business man, Mr Mafabi Sulaiman Lumolo. According to police, Lumolo's car acquired the Sirens illegally. Yesterday, General Muhoozi kainerugaba , the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), ordered the arrest of army drivers and their guards, as well as State House staff, who have been flouting traffic rules with impunity. The directive comes after numerous complaints from the public about the reckless driving habits of military and government officials, which have led to several accidents and near-misses on the roads.

Yusuf Mutembuli (Bunyole East), Paul Akamba (Busiki county) and Cissy Namujju (Lwengo Woman MP) who were charged with corruption. During the State of Nation Address, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni revealed that he is very careful when dealing with corrupt government officials. Museveni however explained that if he fires or imprisons all of them, who will he work with in his government. Highly placed sources in one of the highly feared intelligence agency told theGrapevine that Museveni made the said statement after reading a well detailed dossier on how government officials especially those from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development connive with senior Members of Parliament and heads of government agencies to fuel corruption in the country. Through the said report, Museveni established that his government officials and MPs own multibillion properties locally and internationally and most of them are registered in shudder companies and names of their relatives. Det...