Today in Pictures - Tuesday, January 21

Kivejinja hands over to Otafiire

2nd Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivejinja today handed over to his successor in the East African Affairs Ministry, Kahinda Otafiire at the ministry's offices at Postel Building in Kampala. Otafiire was the Justice Affairs minister before a reshuffle in December 2019 that also saw Kivejinja appointed the minister without portfolio.

The incoming East African Affairs Minister, Kahinda Otafiire, (left) receiving documents from the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, during the handover ceremony. Photo by Nancy Nanyonga

NRM elects Rubanda leaders

Rubanda district NRM delegates on Tuesday met to choose their district party leaders at Mulore, the headquarters for the district. Police dispersed crowds of people that had turned up to witness the after a row erupted on the criteria for selecting representatives on the entrepreneurial committee. Delegates were asked to present valid operating licences like URA clearance details and other documentation that relate their businesses in the district. Because of this, over 100 people were turned away. The contest for the district chairperson is between Rubanda East MP Henry Musasizi and prominent businessman Benon Bwebare.

MP Henry Musasizi (centre) is contesting for the district leadership of the party. Photo by Job Namanya

There was a prominent Police presence at the venue. Photo by Job Namanya

Woman found dead in Kagadi

A woman was found dead in a banana plantation in Muhumbi village, Kagadi town council. She was identified as Grace Mary Biferamunda, a casual worker at who was last seen by a child as she returned home for breakfast before she returned to work on a banana plantation. She was discovered by a group of boys who had gone to tether goats. Steven Kamar, the Kagadi district Police commander, told New Vision that a jug of millet porridge which the deceased had gone with to the plantation was bagged by Police to aid in the investigations while the body was taken to Kagadi spital for a post-mortem.

Residents at the scene where the woman was found dead. Photo by Ismael Kasooha

Residents aid the Police to load the deceased's body onto a truck. Photo by Ismael Kasooha

Fire guts carpentry shops

Three carpentry workshops were destroyed by a fire on Tuesday suspected to have been sparked by poorly insulated electrical wires at Katabi on Entebbe Road. Fire Brigade arrived at the scene to extinguish the fire which consumed a majority of the furniture save for a few items.

Fire Brigade personnel were on hand to put out the devastating fire. Photo by Godfrey Ssempijja

NRM in Kalaki holds elections

Kalaki district NRM party members on Tuesday held elections to fill vacant positions in the district's party structure. Kalaki was created in January 2020, carved out of Kaberamaido district. The NRM district registrar, Richard Ekiu, said the elections were for only four positions.

The NRM members met to elect people to occupy four vacant positions. Photo by Michael Onyinge

UPDF veterans called up

UPDF veterans who were called up last week to form battle groups 31 and 32 to augment the force's operations under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) underwent screening at the 2nd Division Barracks at Makenke in Mbarara. The call-up targets only veterans who were honourably discharged or retired from the rank of Major and below and aged 55 years or younger.

The successful veterans will be deployed in Somalia to aid in peacekeeping missions. Abdulkarim Ssengendo

Parliament Week

The Annual Parliament Week on Tuesday entered its second day with an interfaith prayer breakfast followed by feature exhibitions by Parliament's department and stakeholders. Held under the theme Building a Strong Democracy in Uganda, the week got underway Monday with a charity walk aimed at raising funds for the construction of a rehabilitation centre for persons living with albinism.

Fr Raymond Kalanzi who stepped in for Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga led a soul refreshing sermon. Courtesy Photo

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga (left) with Government Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa (right) and Olara Otunnu. Courtesy Photo

Watoto children's choir took part in the prayers. Courtesy Photo

Speaker Kadaga launched Parliament's bill tracking mobile app, Bungeni, which will enable legislators and the public to track the progress of bills and also comment on them before they are passed into law. Courtesy Photo

Fog dogs India

At least 14 Delhi-bound trains were delayed by one to five hours due to fog in several parts of northern India as dense to very dense fog engulfed parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Monday that the conditions would prevail over the next two days. A study shows that the intensity of fog during the winter season has been increasing due to the high pollution load.

Commuters ride bikes and bicycles along a road amidst heavy fog in Faridabad on Tuesday morning. AFP Photo

Children stand on a roadside as they wait for their ride to school amidst heavy fog in Faridabad. AFP Photo