In Brief

‘Musa Body’ seeks helpKAMPALA – Ailing Musa Wakibi of Musa Body University of Technology has appealed to local government minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali to intervene in a sh8.5m feud between his company and KCC. Wakibi, who came to The New Vision offices walking on crutches said he needed the money to get treatment in Nairobi.------State to rule on SquareKAMPALA – Cabinet will soon come up with the final word on the controversial Constitutional Square project. Local government minister Jaberi Bidandi Ssali told The New Vision yesterday that he would soon present the report of the commission of inquiry that was set up to probe the circumstances surrounding the project that was awarded to Kampala businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba.------Kibaale LC office burntKibaale – Unknown residents on Sunday night broke into the office of the LC3 chairman for Kiryanga in Buyaga county and burnt vital documents. Police said they suspect the arsonists were linked to people opposed to John Baligira, the LC5 chairman-elect.------Gates gives to AIDS driveKAMPALA – Uganda is to benefit from a donation of US$15.4m (about 27b) from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fight HIV/AIDS. The UNFPA representative, James Kuriah yesterday said the money would be used to implement various HIV/AIDS projects in the country for the next five years. Kuriah said other African countries to benefit from the fund are Botswana, Tanzania and Ghana.------MTN case allocatedKAMPALA — Lady Justice Stella Arach Amoko of the commercial Court will hear the MTN Uganda sh6.2b case against Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL). MTN on Monday formally filed its case against UTL in the court at Nakasero. MTN is suing UTL for the recovery of sh6,291,064,334 in inter-connection fees. ------Rukungiri school shutRUKUNGIRI — Kyamakanda SS has been closed following a students strike yesterday. Two students who tried to burn the headmaster’s house are in Police custody. They were arrested with two jerrycans full of petrol. The headmaster, Jotham Kimbugwe, escaped unhurt.------Kenya to deport thiefKAMPALA — Kenyan authorities are to deport a Ugandan arrested in possession of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle had been robbed from its owner on two occasions in Ntinda, a city suburb. Police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi said this was a result of the cooperation between the police forces in the region after the birth of the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Conference.------Orion Tour boss in courtKAMPALA — Mariam Adeke, the general manager of Orion Tours and Travel, appeared yesterday before Buganda Road Court magistrate Sylvia Namubiru over obtaining money by false pretence. She allegedly got nine air tickets from Ethiopian Airlines for pilgrims to Mecca but failed to pay for them.------KatumbaKAMPALA — Police chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala got sh19.2m as subsistence allowance from Parliament between July 1999 and June 2000 when he was abroad on a course, the Public Accounts Committee learnt yesterday. According to the Auditor General’s report, Katumba, then Army representative in the 6th Parliament, received the money contrary to financial regulations. MPs absent from the House for two weeks without official consent from the Speaker are not given allowances.------Blind in relayKAMPALA — Three blind children will join parliamentarians and leading sports personalities in the Queen’s jubilee baton relay that kicks off in Uganda today. Wilbroad Mkakanya, 13, of Buckley Primary School Iganga, Lydia Kawala, 10, from St. Bernadette Primary School, Hoima and Dennis Ojuka, 13, from Ngetta, Lira, will feature in the event to commemorate Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s golden jubilee. Sight Savers International, a British charity, revealed this in a statement yesterday.------MPs rejectKAMPALA — MPs yesterday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by the rules, privileges and discipline committee to increase the number of days they sit in plenary to conduct business every week. The House presided over by deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga was yesterday considering the new rules of procedure. The committee recommended that the plenary should sit on Fridays. James Mwandha (disabilities) was the only member, who supported the recommendation.------Officer deadMBARARA — A UPDF officer in the second division and commander of the 45th battalion was on Monday found dead in his bed in Makenke barracks. division commander Col Andrew Gutti said Captain Johnson Baguma returned from an outing on Sunday and went to sleep but was found dead.------LC5 rallyMAYUGE — A stampede erupted at a campaign rally for the district LC5 chairperson when a candidate, Baker Tigawalana Ikoba, was handed a package of faeces. A man identified as Haruna Waisswa reportedly handed over the package to Ikoba in Kigandalo sub-county on Monday.------Saida KaroliMBALE — Tanzanian musician Saida Karoli will stage another show in Mbale before returning home. She recently said she was influenced by the concerns shown by residents over the manner in which she was conned by her promoters, Abitex promotion.