News in brief

Observers named
KAMPALA - Joseph Biribonwa, an official in the Electoral Commission has been appointed as a Commonwealth observer on the forthcoming Nigerian elections. He will be part of a 12-man team headed by Justice Joseph Warioba, the former Tanzanian prime minister. A statement released by the Commonwealth yesterday said: “They will act independently and observe the whole process then give a judgement on the election accordingly.”

UPC hails court ruling
KAMPALA - Uganda People’s Congress party has applauded the Constitutional Court’s ruling on local councils. The party’s president, Miria Obote said it was a turning point for genuine multiparty democracy. The court last week declared several sections of the Local Government Act, National Youth Councils Act and the Women Councils Act as inconsistent with the Constitution. Miria yesterday noted that ruling would stop the NRM from using the structures for selfish party interests. “The court removed the monolithic structures and organisations that were serving NRM interests,” Miria said, adding, “the NRM had converted these strucures into their own. It was hard to separate it from the Government.”