As it happened: Tuesday 9 rolling news

ROLLING LOCAL & FOREIGN NEWS

• Kayihura approved by Parliament

• Kyengera, Kibuye striking drivers meet

• Saddam Juma joins KCCA FC

• Mugabe flies to Singapore for 'medical check up'

Presented by Joseph Kizza (Twitter: @joekizza)

________________________________

 

 

5.03pm:   MARCHING OFF!

And this entry brings us to the end of this live page. Meet up here tomorrow. A good evening/night/morning* to you all!

 

*Fill in as appropriate

 

4.52pm:   PARLIAMENT APPROVES KAYIHURA

MPs on Tuesday approved the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, to serve another term.

The House appointments committee chaired by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga interviewed Kayihura and voted in favour of renewing his contract, a source that attended a closed door exercise said.

Full story HERE

 
You are now good to go, afande!

 

 

4.43pm:   RACISM CLOUDS NEW ITALIAN FOOTBALL ERA

Ten days after Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari walked off in disgust after being racially abused during a match at Cagliari, the fans responsible have not been identified. No action has been taken against the Sardinian club.

 

Muntari however was penalised, after failing to persuade the referee to suspend the match.

Remonstrating with the fans earned him a first yellow card,; walking off, a second and an automatic one-match ban.

An interesting read it is. Go over to THIS PAGE to read more

 

 

4.35pm:   UGANDA, US SIGN RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Uganda and US have signed an agreement on biomedical research.

New Vision reporter Cecilia Okoth witnessed the signing ceremony:

"The ministry of health and the US government have entered a partnership aimed at enabling further biomedical research cooperation in preventing, diagnosing and treating the heavy burden of infectious diseases in Uganda.

The fields for research and training include HIV/AIDS, malaria, among other emerging diseases.

Dr. Diana Atwine, the ministry of health permanent secretary, signed on behalf of the Ugandan government while US ambassador to Uganda Deborah Malac, signed on behalf of the US.

Currently, Uganda and US are working closely in the Rakai Health Sciences Program under the Ugandan Virus Research Institute (UVRI), MoH and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the US NIH and the Department of Health and Human services."

 

 

4.20pm:   UNUSUAL 'PASSENGER'

So that picture below that you may be scratching your head over is about that man (in the driving seat). He was nabbed by police with an unusual 'passenger' in the back seat. A cow.

This was near 'Posta' along the Mbarara-Ntungamo highway. Our reporter there says he was arrested over the matter.

 

 

4.10pm:   COW IN A CAR

'What the heck?'

You must be wondering . . .will tell you in a bit

 

 

 

3.50pm:   CRITICAL PHIL NEVILLE

Former United defender Phil Neville criticised the cordial way players from both sides were seen joking and hugging each other before kick-off, a far cry from the frosty atmosphere that pervaded his own encounters with the Gunners.

 

"I think I understand that the pundits are a bit surprised by that because 10 or 15 years ago that did not exist," Wenger said. "But it is an overall, international thing now.

"You can watch Real Madrid against Barcelona -- it's the same because people play together, come from the same country.

"I was surprised as well I must say, but I must confess as well that it doesn't stop the players to focus and concentrate after on the game."

Arsenal, beaten 4-0 by Southampton in last season's corresponding fixture at St Mary's, travel to the south coast with a fitness doubt over Laurent Koscielny after the defender suffered a calf injury against United.

 

 

 

3.44pm:   STILL A CHANCE

Arsenal are in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in Wenger's long reign, even though Sunday's 2-0 win over Manchester United moved them to within six points of fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

While the Premier League and Europe has been a source of frustration, Arsenal will contest their third FA Cup final in four seasons later this month, while Sunday's success saw Wenger at last get the better of Jose Mourinho at the 13th attempt.

"It gives us still a chance to go into the top four," said Wenger.

 

 

3.40pm:   TO SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN . . .

 

Wenger previously said that he had made up his mind about his future and would announce it in March or April, but no announcement was forthcoming.

His Arsenal contract expires at the end of this season and while a fresh deal is reportedly on the table, some Arsenal fans have called for his head after a disappointing run that saw them humiliated in the Champions League to Bayern Munich and fall out of the Premier League top four.

Asked Tuesday if he would now reveal his decision over whether to sign the contract, he replied simply: "No."

 

 

3.35pm:   WHAT DOES DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL MEAN?

More on Wenger . . .

 

"I'm the manager of Arsenal Football Club and as long as I'm manager of Arsenal Football Club, I will decide what happens on the technical front, that's it," Wenger, 67, said on the eve of Wednesday's league match at Southampton.

"I don't know what director of football means. Is it somebody who stands in the road and directs play right and left? I don't understand and I never did understand what it means."

 

 

3.30pm:   WENGER DETERMINED TO TAKE FULL CONTROL AT ARSENAL

Arsene Wenger has ruled out working alongside a director of football if he stays at Arsenal, saying he must have full control of the Premier League club.

 

The Frenchman's hardline stance puts him on a potential collision course with members of the Arsenal hierarchy who reportedly want to bring in a director of football this summer to work with Wenger.

Wenger has called the shots at the north London club since he joined in 1996 and said he had no interest in having his authority diminished, even as his future remains mired in uncertainty and with the fans restless.

More excerpts from this AFP report coming up . . .

 

 

3.15pm:   HOMINIDS AND HUMANS TOGETHER?

SCIENCE & EVOLUTION

The AFP reports researchers saying Tuesday that primitive hominids may have lived in Africa at the same time as humans, researchers, in new findings that could change the understanding of human evolution.

Fossils found deep in South Africa's Rising Star cave complex in 2013 have been dated by several expert teams with their findings suggesting the hominids, called Homo naledi, may have lived alongside Homo sapiens.

 

It had previously been thought that the hominids were millions of years old.

A team of 20 scientists from laboratories and institutions around the world, including in South Africa and Australia, established the age of the fossils which suggests that Homo naledi may well have lived at the same time as humans. Their findings were published Tuesday in three papers in the journal eLife.

GO HERE for full story

 

 

2.58pm:   MAMA FIINA PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR KIGGUNDU

UGANDAN SPORTS

The fourth round of the National Motocross Championship is due this Sunday at Garuga. Motocross star Fatuh Kiggundu's stepmother Sophia Namutebi aka Mama Fiina has assured him of continued support in his career as a rider.

 

"I cannot leave Fatuh just because of the death of his father (Major Kiggundu). I supported him in the FIM CAC last month, I will support him in this weekend's event and also in the Africa Championship," she told New Vision.

If you're interested, there's more on this story HERE

 

 

2.55pm:   WORRY NOT LAD . . .

Someone's got your back . . .

 

 

 

2.47pm:   OVER 800 CROSS INTO CEUTA

AFP:

Thousands of migrants have attempted to cross the 12-kilometre (7.5 mile) frontier between Melilla and Morocco, or the eight-kilometre border at Ceuta, by climbing the border fences, swimming along the coast or hiding in vehicles.

In February around 850 migrants managed to storm across the border into Ceuta over four days.

Spain announced in March that it would nearly double the capacity of its migrant reception centres in the two territories to 8,500 places from 4,500.

Spain has drawn criticism from human rights groups for allowing some migrants to be immediately turned back to Morocco in such incidents. They argue that skipping the lengthier deportation procedures deprives people of the opportunity to claim asylum.

 

 

2.43pm:   MANY SUFFER INJURIES DURING CLASHES

AFP:

Three policemen were injured in clashes with the migrants, who kicked and threw rocks at the officers, Spain's interior ministry said in a statement.

One of the officers was injured in the hand by one of the hooks used by migrants and several police vehicles were damaged, it added.

Three migrants suffered bruises and small cuts in the attempt to cross the border, said a Red cross spokesman in Melilla.

Melilla and Ceuta, another Spanish enclave nearly 400 kilometres (250 miles) away on the north coast of Africa, are often used as entry points into Europe for African migrants.

They have the only two land borders between Africa and the European Union.  

 

 

2.40pm:   MIGRANTS STORM BORDER FENCE

AFP:

About 100 African migrants stormed over a high double fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Tuesday in a violent assault that left three police officers injured, officials said.

Around 300 sub-Saharan African migrants attempted to force their way across the fence at about 7am (0500 GMT) in a coordinated operation, a Spanish police spokesman said.

"Around 100 managed to enter Melilla," he told AFP.

The barrier is composed of two six-metre-high (20-feet-high) fences, with criss-crossing steel cables in between. In order to get across, migrants often use hooks and shoes studded with nails.

 

 

2.20pm:   ONGWEN 'DISTRIBUTED ABDUCTED GIRLS'

 

A former intelligence officer in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group has told International Criminal Court (ICC) judges that war crimes accused Dominic Ongwen was in charge of "distributing" abducted girls and women to senior fighters in his brigade.

Testifying under the pseudonym Witness P-142, the former fighter said once girls and women were abducted, they did not stay with low-ranking fighters but were instead taken to the commander of a brigade.

It was the commander's responsibility to assign the abductees as wives to senior members of his brigade after receiving the blessing of the LRA leader Joseph Kony.

Full story HERE

 

 

 

2.12pm:   TRUMP 'NEEDED TO BE STOPPED'

The AFP report continues . . .

The day before the incident, Sandford -- who was in the United States to be reunited with his US girlfriend and overstayed his visa -- went to a shooting range and practised firing pistols.

"Deep down I knew there was something wrong but I tried to convince myself it was OK," he said.

At the rally, when he tried to pull an officer's gun from its holster, it got stuck and Sandford was bundled to the ground.

He admitted being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting government functions as part of a plea deal for a shorter sentence.

He was jailed in December for a year and a day. Much of his sentence was spent on remand and he was released early.

"I'm disgusted by what I did but I'm so glad no-one was hurt," he said.

His mother Lynne, who was powerless to stop him leaving Britain, is calling for new laws to help the parents of mentally ill youngsters protect them after they become adults.

 

2.08pm:   TRUMP 'NEEDED TO BE STOPPED'

The incident happened on June 18 last year as the Republican candidate was campaigning in the Nevada gambling city.

 

"I was hearing voices telling me to kill Donald Trump," said Sandford on Tuesday.

"They'd been coming on for a while and getting stronger and more frequent. At one point they were screaming at me.

"My friends had said Trump needed to be stopped. They said he was going to destroy the country -- but it was the voices in my head which were telling me to kill him.

"Then one day I saw he was speaking in Las Vegas and I decided to drive there and do something myself."

 

2.03pm:   MAN WHO TRIED TO KILL TRUMP HEARD 'SCREAMING VOICES'

A British man jailed after trying to assassinate Donald Trump has said that screaming voices in his head urged him to lunge for a policeman's gun, reports AFP.

 

Michael Sandford, 21, who has a history of mental health issues, told The Sun newspaper how he feared being shot dead himself after being flattened by officers, six metres (20 feet) away from Trump who was campaigning to become US president.

Sandford, who is back at his family home in Dorking, south of London, after being released last Tuesday, said he decided to take action after feeling angry about Trump.

 

 

1.45pm:   WARRING TAXI DRIVERS MEET

At Country Resort Kyengera . . .

 

 

 

 

1.40pm:   MWESIGWA MEETS TAXI DRIVERS

Kampala Metropolitan Police commandant Frank Mwesigwa has met the warring commuter taxi drivers of Kyengera and Kibuye taxi parks.

Meddie Musisi, our reporter at Country Resort Kyengera, where the meeting has taken place, says Mwesigwa appealed to the two sets of drivers who are striking to maintain public order on the road as their leaders work out a solution to their problem.

(Check entry 11.54am below for origin of the conflict)

 

 

 

 

1.15pm:   MARKET LATEST: 'NDIIZI'

Sauda Nabatanzi, New Vision reporter:

"These are the small sized bananas, which are significantly sweeter than the big ones. If you are a first-timer here, "ndiizi" s what you will hear the locals call them.

Like the rest of the banana family, the sweet banana supply too has gone down in the city markets.

 

Stella Nassuna, a trader in Nakasero market, says that a big bunch goes at sh30,000, a medium one at sh20,000 and a small one at sh15,000 for wholesale buyers. She says that about two months ago, sweet banana bunches were costing sh10,000, sh8,000 and sh7,000 respectively.

Not anymore.

On the other hand, small scale buyers can get a big cluster at sh4,000, a medium one at sh3,000 while a small one is at sh2,000.

The vendors blame the low supply on the heavy rains hindering the maturing of the fruit."

 

 

1.06pm:   MARKET LATEST: 'BOGOYA'

Sauda Nabatanzi, New Vision reporter:

"Locally known as "bogoya", yellow bananas are gradually disappearing from the market. The price of the tropical fruit which sold rather cheaply in the last two months has since hiked.

 

"Dennis Ssenabulya, a fruits seller in Nakawa market in Kampala, says: "Prices of these yellow bananas highly depend on their sizes and the season."

Now that they are off-season, a big cluster is going for as much as sh6,000, a medium one at sh5,000 and the relatively small ones at sh4,000 for small-scale buyers.

If you are a wholesale buyer, a big bunch which bears close to twelve clusters is at sh40,000, a medium one at between sh30,000 and sh35,000 while a small bunch costs sh25,000."

 

 

12.45pm:   MUGABE FLIES  TO SINGAPORE FOR HEALTH CHECK

 

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is 93.

State media reported on Tuesday that has flown to Singapore for a "routine medical check-up", according to AFP.

"President Mugabe yesterday [Monday] left Zimbabwe for Singapore for his routine medical check-up," The Herald newspaper reported.

"He is expected back in Zimbabwe at the weekend."

 

 

12.40pm:   AILING AFRICAN LEADERS FLY OUT

On Monday, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari flew out of his country to the UK (London) for medical reasons . . .

 

Today, it's another African statesman leaving his nation for similar reasons . . .

 

 

12.23pm:   FULANI HERDSMERN 'KILL 8'

The AFP says that gunmen believed to be nomadic Fulani herdsmen killed eight people in central Nigeria, according to local police.

This is the latest violence over grazing and land rights.

The attack on two farming villages in the Logo local government area of Benue state happened overnight Sunday to Monday, state police commissioner Bashir Makama told AFP.

"Eight people were killed by Fulani cattle rearers who invaded the two farming villages."

More HERE.

 

 

 

12.15pm:   FACTIONS TO MEET

Meddie Musisi, New Vision reporter:

"Kampala Metropolitan Police commandant Frank Mwesigwa is expected to meet to two parties of taxing drivers who are striking along Masaka road. Both sides have started to gather at Country Resort Kyengera where the meeting will be held."

 

 

11.58am:   'MP SEGONA BLOCKED'

Meddie Musisi, New Vision reporter:

"Meanwhile, Busiro South MP Medard Segona has been forced by Nsangi and Nateete police to leave the scene as he tried to address the drivers.

The DPC of Nsangi, Peter Ocen and his team have deployed heavily along the road to maintain order on the busy road."

 

 

11.54am:   STRIKING KYENGERA DRIVERS

Back to the story I touched on briefly earlier (see entry 9.30am). . .

 

Meddie Musisi, New Vision reporter:

"Passengers using the Masaka Road have since morning been overwhelmed by the high fares due to the ongoing strike by commuter taxi drivers. Many passengers are using boda bodas and pickups as an alternative means of transport from Kyengera to Kampala. The fight is between Kyengera taxi park drivers and their Kibuye taxi park counterparts.

Some drivers at Kyengera accuse the ones at Kibuye of crossing the Kyengera 'boundary' for the two parties. All the taxis are now parked at Kyengera taxi park."

 

11.35am:   SHARPENED LOOK!

Here's a screengrab of how Gen. Kayihura turned up at Parliament looking like for the vetting exercise.

A bit of nerves afande?

Uhm, I doubt . . .

 

 

11.33am:   PARLIAMENT VETS KAYIHURA

Henry Sekanjako, parliament reporter:

"The vetting of Inspector General Kale Kayihura is under way. This is being carried out by the parliamentary committee on appointments. It is being chaired by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga.

In attendance is the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, Leader of opposition in Parliament Winfred Kiiza, among other MPs The proceedings, as usual, are in camera."

 

 

11.25am:   AS IT STANDS . . .

All but two teams have played 27 games. Remember there are 30 games in total for every side.

Surely, we are in the evening of this campaign! Are you on the winning end or, unfortunately, on the wrong end?

 

 

11.15am:   TUESDAY UPL ACTION

Besides the KCCA v Lweza match today, there will be other Premier League fixtures as well:

 

 

 

11.00am:   KCCA ONE WIN AWAY FROM TITLE

And back here on home soil, the curtains are also soon drawing over the Azam Premier League. Defending champions KCCA FC are on the verge on retaining the title they won last year.

If Coach Mike Mutebi's side beat Lweza FC later today, they will be confirmed champions with two games to spare.

 

 

 

10.50am:   TITLE WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE

For Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and co, the Premier League title is very much in sight.

Chelsea moved to within one win of the title and confirmed Middlesbrough's relegation with a comprehensive victory at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic were on the scoresheet as the Blues underlined their dominance and crept ever closer to clinching the title in Conte's first season at the club.

 

 

10.40am:   BORO RELEGATED

And for you English Premier League faithful . . .

It's that time of the season when one of the most popular football/soccer leagues in the world suffers its casualities. And by casualities, of course I mean relegated teams.

David Moyes' Sunderland was the first team confirmed relegated the other week . . .

And now Middlebrough join the three-team list as the second club to face the dreaded drop after suffering a stinging 3-0 defeat to title chasers Chelsea Monday night . . .

One more team will join the list . . .

 

 

10.35am:   INDONESIA'S IMAGE TO 'SUFFER'

Point Number Three:

 

Hardline groups such as the FPI, once considered fringe organisations, played a key role in organising protests against Purnama, and analysts say they will feel emboldened after his jailing and last month's election loss.

The accusations that Purnama insulted Islam centred on comments he made during a speech in September last year ahead of the vote for the next Jakarta governor.

He lightheartedly accused his opponents of using a Koranic verse to trick people into voting against him. 

A video of his comments was posted online, sparking fury across the nation and leading to mass protests in Jakarta.

The saga, which led to Purnama being hauled into court to face trial on blasphemy charges, was seen as having contributed heavily to his loss to a Muslim opponent in a ballot he had been expected to win.

Yohanes Sulaiman, an analyst from the Indonesian Defense University, said the country's image as a bastion of tolerant Islam would "suffer" following the court decision.

 

10.27am:   RADICALS ON THE RISE

Point Number Two:

 

During the three-decade rule of dictator Suharto, authorities sought to run the country along secular lines, largely keeping religion out of public life and limiting the influence of hardline groups.

Following Suharto's downfall in 1998 and Indonesia's transition to democracy, more conservative forms of Islam -- often influenced by harsher brands of Middle Eastern Islam -- have had space to flourish.

The new freedoms have allowed the growth of hardline groups, such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), and successive governments have been criticised for failing to tackle the radicals for fear of being accused of attacking Islam. 

"Post-Suharto, there has been quite a significant 'Islamisation' of society," said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy head of Indonesian rights group Setara Institute.

"As long at it is to enhance people's and society's obedience to God, that's okay, but we are now seeing a different phenomenon -- the rise of radicalism."

 

10.24am:   CLUBBED, HACKED AND STONED

Point Number One:

Indonesia has often been praised for its moderate, inclusive brand of Islam, and the constitution guarantees freedom of worship for six religions.

However the archipelago's sizeable religious minorities -- mainly Christians and Muslim Shiites and Ahmadis -- have been increasingly targeted as more conservative forms of Islam grow in popularity.

Some Christian churches and mosques where Muslim minorities pray have been closed due to pressure from hardliners. Shiites and Ahmadis -- regarded as heretics by some Sunnis -- have been forced from their homes in mob attacks and on occasion even killed.

In one of the most high-profile cases, a group clubbed, hacked and stoned three defenceless Ahmadis to death in front of police in 2011 in western Java, sparking international outrage.

 

 

10.17am:   A CASE OF BLASPHEMY

A guilty verdict and two-year jail sentence for Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, pictured below, on blasphemy charges have fuelled concerns about the erosion of religious freedoms in Indonesia, reports AFP.

 

Faith-based tension has been mounting in recent years in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, undermining its pluralist reputation.

Coming up are three points that explain the issue, according to AFP . . .

 

 

10.15am:   RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN . . .

. . . Indonesia

Why is religious intolerance on the rise in Indonesia? That's coming up next

 

 

10.05am:   THAT IS 'OLD NEWS'

More on the story . . .

 

Trump took to Twitter to dismiss as "old news" the Senate testimony on Monday by former acting attorney general Sally Yates about his former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Instead, he chose to play up former director of national intelligence James Clapper's acknowledgement during the same hearing that he was not aware of any evidence of collusion between the president and Russia, which American intelligence has concluded tried to sway the US election in Trump's favor.

More on that HERE.

 

 

10.02am:   TRUMP ON RUSSIA COLLUSION

The issue of US president Donald Trump's ties with Russia is back in the spotlight.

 

And the American leader insists there is no evidence he colluded with Russia after a Senate hearing that highlighted warnings that his former national security advisor was vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

 

9.45am:   PALLISA WOMEN COMMIT SUICIDE

Reports from the eastern part of the country. Pallisa district, indicate that two women have comitted suicide. Mathias Turyandingura, the district polica commander, said the bodies of the unnamed women were transfered to Pallisa Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Initially, the circumstances under which the two died were still unclear.

But later on, New Vision correspondent Faustine Odeke reported that one of the women killed herself over a love affair while the other because of hunger.

 

 

9.30am:   TAXI DRIVERS STANDOFF

Our reporter Meddie Musisi says there is tension at Kyengera as Police tries to disperse taxi drivers who are striking. We'll bring you more on that as the details emerge.

 

 

 

 

9.14am:   FLIP THROUGH THE PAPERS

Iknow some of you may not fancy the idea of having to walk down the street to pick your favorite daily off the stand. Worry not. We've got you covered with our digital copies all in one place.

Head straight HERE to log in and get flipping . . .

 

 

 

9.14am:   JUMA TO KCCA

Saddam Juma's move to defending Uganda Premier League champions KCCA FC is the choice for Bukedde's sports lead.

The attacker joins the Lugogo-based outfit from Express FC as the season draws to an end.

 

 

9.10am:   KATIKIRO ON BUGANDA

Today's Bukedde newspaper leads with a story on North Korea detaining a US citizen, and of course, US President Donald Trump's response.

There are details on what Buganda Kingdom prime minister Charles Peter Mayiga said during their Monday meeting.

Of course, plus plenty more!

 

 

9.05am:   SHE CRANES 'AT PEACE'

And over to the back page, the lead story is on the Africa Netball Championship due next month in Kampala. More importantly for the hosts, London-based star player Peace Proscovia will be available for national duty.

Oh, and don't forget to mark the event dates: June 23-30.

 

 

 

9.03am:   SECOND DEADLINE LOOMS

Today's New Vision leads with a story that has been a staple of media outlets in recent weeks: Sim card verification.

There are 10 days left to the end of the exercise but as many as nine million sim cards have not been validated yet. Telecom regulator, UCC, maintains it will stick to the May 19 switch-off deadline.

Better hurry if yours is one of this staggering statistic

 

 

9.00am:   GOOD MORNING

Hello and welcome to this warm Tuesday from Uganda's capital, Kampala. It's day nine of May and so throughout the day, I'll try my best to keep you posted on the goings-on in the country, plus a bit from beyond the borders.

First, let's briefly see what today's local papers say.