As it happened: Uganda Today - Friday January 25
Jan 25, 2019
The sleek Ugandan-assembled Kiira EVS by Kiira Motors is taken for another test drive in the city, with veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda behind the wheels.
ROLLING NEWS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Presented by Joseph Kizza
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2:00pm
Blessed weekend!
Done here.
Meet again on Monday.
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1:53pm
Kiira EVS day out
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1:50pm
Kiira EVS day out
The car, assembled in Uganda, got a breath of fresh air when it was taken out for a test drive.
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1:10pm
RAS TOON
Finance minister Matia Kasaija says the Government will not renew licences for betting companies owned by foreigners.
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12:20pm
Vipers' Zaga loaned to Express
'We would like to wish our youngster Frank 'Zaga' Tumwesigye all the best on his loan move to Express FC, tweeted the club on Friday.
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12:05pm
DR Congo ushers in new president: Conflict and poverty
Beyond politics, Tshisekedi has to root out brutal militias who control parts of the country's strife-torn east where an Ebola epidemic is also unfolding.
He also has to meet expectations about easing poverty, which afflicts the vast majority of the country's 80 million citizens.
Despite the poverty, DR Congo boasts a treasure trove of minerals, ranging from gold and diamonds to copper and coltan -- a mineral essential for the batteries used in hand-held electronic devices.
Very little of the wealth trickles down to the poor. The DR Congo ranks a mere 176th on the 189-nation Human Development Index compiled by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
(AFP)
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12:00pm
DR Congo ushers in new president: Many challenges
Analysts say Tshisekedi faces a raft of pressing problems.
He must defuse the anger of Fayulu's supporters, carry out his pledge of ending the "gangrene" of corruption after the Kabila era, and forge a power-sharing arrangement with the outgoing president's bloc.
The pro-Kabila Joint Front for Congo (FCC) controls 337 seats in the 500-member National Assembly against 102 for Fayulu's coalition, Lamuka, and 46 for Tshisekedi's coalition, Heading for Change (Cach).
"Tshisekedi will have little margin for manoeuvre," said Stephanie Wolters at South Africa's Institute for Security Studies (ISS) think tank.
Kabila himself will become a senator for life under the constitution. He is widely expected to wield influence through his supporters.
His family has acquired a wide range of assets during the many years in power.
(AFP)
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11:50am
DR Congo ushers in new president: Praise for rivals
Tshisekedi on Thursday offered an olive branch to Fayulu, a notable absentee at the inauguration, hailing the outspoken critic of Kabila as a "soldier of the people".
He also thanked third-placed candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, who was Kabila's preferred candidate.
And he paid tribute to his deceased father, Etienne, who launched the UDPS opposition party in 1980 as a dissenting voice to dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
After Tshisekedi senior died in Brussels in February 2017, his son was voted in as party leader.
His ascent to the presidency has taken many people aback, for he has never held high office and failed to match the crowd-pulling popularity of his father.
(AFP)
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11:45am
DR Congo ushers in new president: Turbulence
The ceremony caps more than two years of turmoil sparked by Kabila's refusal to step down when he reached the constitutional limit on his term in office.
A country the size of continental western Europe, the former Belgian colony lived through two regional wars in 1996-97 and 1998-2003.
The last two presidential elections, in 2006 and 2011 -- both won by Kabila -- were marred by bloodshed and dozens died in a crackdown on protests after he chose to remain in office in 2016.
The ballot, which took place on December 30 after three postponements, surprised many by the lack of violence, but a political storm swiftly brewed over the vote count.
Tshisekedi was declared winner with 38.5 percent of the vote, over his opposition rival Martin Fayulu, who was credited with 34.8 percent.
Fayulu branded the result a stitch-up between Kabila and Tshisekedi.
But his legal challenge to the Constitutional Court failed, and foreign support for his position fizzled out.
(AFP)
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11:40am
DR Congo ushers in new president in historic transition
In Uganda's neighbour, Opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in on Thursday as president of Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country's first peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly disputed elections.
Tshisekedi took the oath of office before receiving the DR Congo flag and a copy of the constitution from Joseph Kabila, leaving office after 18 turbulent years at the helm of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest country.
In his inaugural address, Tshisekedi promised a new era of respect for human rights, addressing one of the most notorious failings of the Kabila era.
All political prisoners will be released, Tshisekedi promised, adding that his presidency would guarantee fundamental freedoms and "banish all forms of discrimination."
A moment of drama came when the newly minted president was taken ill during his speech.
After a 12-minute interruption, Tshisekedi returned to the microphone, apologising for the episode, which he blamed on the stresses of the election campaign.
Thousands of Tshisekedi supporters, many of them dressed in white, celebrated the historic event outside the Palace of the Nation, the seat of the presidency.
"We hope that this will be a real change, especially as he has taken power without bloodshed," said Saddam Kongolo, a member of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS).
One of Tshisekedi's first tasks will be to appoint a prime minister in a move which will see him sharing power with Kabila's supporters, who hold an overwhelming majority in parliament.
(AFP)
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11:30am
WATCH LIVE
The Kiira EVS road test is underway.
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11:25am
Andrew Mwenda, Bebe Cool test Ugandan-assembled car
Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda and musician Moses Ssali (Bebe Cool) are test-driving the Kiira EVS through another part of the city.
Remember the car was already tested - but in a different part of the city.
HAPPENING: @AndrewMwenda and @BebeCoolUG lead the #KiiraEVS test drive through the city.
— New Vision UGANDA (@newvisionwire) January 25, 2019
Starting from Forest Mall Lugogo, the drive route is expected to go through Lugogo bypass, Kamwokya(Kira road), Wandegeya into the city. #VisionUpdates pic.twitter.com/ysupZAFTTu
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11:10am
Road testing of Ugandan-assembled car
Speaking of rides . . .
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10:49am
MPs enjoy jolly water ride
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah tweeted a picture of himself in the company of fellow legislators enjoying a "memorable ride" aboard MVKyoga from Amolatar to Nakasongola.
Oulanyah, wearing a cap and a batik shirt, was keen to note that using the vessel "saved us the long ride of about 400km via Soroti to Kampala".
Sharing a memorable ride in the MVkyoga from Amolatar to Nakasongola with Hon.Felix Okot Ogong (Dokolo South ) Obua Hamson (Ajuri County) and Paul Amoru (Dokolo North)
— Jacob Oulanyah (@JacobOulanyah) January 25, 2019
Using the Ferry saved us the long ride of about 400km via soroti to Kampala
Kudos @UNRA_UG #UgTransport pic.twitter.com/Cqn3CW3UJR
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10:40am
Premier League: Vipers set for URA test
Who will reign supreme in today's StarTimes Uganda Premier League duel.
It will be the 27th meeting of the two sides. Vipers, the defending champions, will hope to take this one - they have to, if they are to keep pace with leaders KCCA FC.
Kickoff is 4pm at Namboole Stadium.
Ahead of tomorrows epic clash at Namboole stadium, here's how we have stacked up against URA FC in our past clashes!!! #URAVIP #UpTheVenoms #StarTimesUPL pic.twitter.com/XEawfLr8gW
— Vipers Sports Club (@VipersSC) January 24, 2019
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10:30am
Minister tasked on e-passport update
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has given internal affairs minister Gen Jeje Odongo less than a week to address Parliament on the process of issuance of the new e-passports.
"This is a matter that touches the rights and freedom of movement of the people of Uganda, and therefore the internal affairs minister should come and update us on this matter," she said.
Kadage said matter was discussed in December last year and Odongo was tasked with liaising with the Attorney General and provide clarity on issues of sovereignty, nature of the national ID and the process of changing passports.
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10:23am
27 GUNS . . . have you watched it?
The movie is showing on local TV stations. Urban TV will air it today at 2pm and again on Sunday.
33 years ago this month, President @KagutaMuseveni took oath as President of Uganda, while standing within the precincts of the long standing legislative institution, the Parliament of Uganda.
— Simon Mugisha (@Ninye_Mugisha) January 24, 2019
Parliament played a big role in supporting the making of the movie #27Guns.
Thanks UBC pic.twitter.com/7LSOzFDvgT
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10:15am
WATCH: Around Uganda
Bulletin of local stories from across the country.
Around Uganda: Efforts to preserve Lake Victoria
— New Vision UGANDA (@newvisionwire) January 25, 2019
Details and more stories in the full bulletin
Visit https://t.co/smlDq3h75u#NewVisionTV cc. @ruthdavoice pic.twitter.com/m0sJCmPtLm
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9:53am
KIIRA EVS: Test one, test two
.@KiiraMotors are set for the KIIRA EVS test drive at Forest Mall this morning #VisionUpdates pic.twitter.com/88SQP4EeNJ
— New Vision UGANDA (@newvisionwire) January 25, 2019
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9:40am
RAS TOON
The Electricity Regulatory Authority is amending Umeme's licence that will see it either rewarded or penalised for the quality of their service.
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9:33am
Museveni: Africa's 'new but healthier conflict'
Besides the traditional political and ideological conflicts Africa has always faced, there is a new but healthier conflict posed by its growing population, which now stands at 1.3 billion people. The bigger concern is the youth segment which is not accommodated by the economies. pic.twitter.com/rcz9nJUgPg
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) January 25, 2019
"It is these socio-economic issues that we must address while avoiding the usual ideological conflicts. We must therefore address challenges of infrastructure development, electricity, skills etc in order to embrace a new revolution," said President Museveni.
"But even as we do this, we must be on the look-out to avoid being entrapped by those who preach identity (religion, colour, tribes) above interests (prosperity). Some opportunist groups mislead others into believing that identity eclipses interests."
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9:27am
Museveni in Davos
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni was a guest speaker at an interactive panel discussion on the sidelines of the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos. The discussion was moderated by Bineta Diop, the Africa Union Chairperson's Special envoy on Women, Peace and Security.
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9:16am
What the papers are saying
In THE BEAT . . .
We profile musician David Lutalo, whose childhood dream to sing to the top that has seen him become one of Uganda's leading artistes today.
(Get Friday's e-paper here 👉 http://bit.ly/vgepaper )
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9:13am
What the papers are saying
In Harvest Money . . .
When Vincent Sebutemba got his share of family land near Nsangi town, some of his relatives laughed at him 🤣. "That land is useless," they said.
(Get Friday's e-paper here 👉 http://bit.ly/vgepaper )
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9:10am
What the papers are saying
The lead story . . .
Talks to kick-start the shareholding acquisition process are in high gear and the top management of MTN has disclosed the move and intention to sell shares to NSSF.
(Get Friday's e-paper here 👉 http://bit.ly/vgepaper )
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9:05am
Today's inspirational quote
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them - Walt Disney
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9:00am
Good morning
Friday means one thing: The weekend is - finally - here! #TGIF
Hello everyone, hoping you are well. Welcome to yet another live page. Here, I will keep you posted on the major news happenings around the country - plus a bit beyond the borders.
I will start us off with this cute Friday sunrise picture I took earlier this morning.