In Brief

Apr 21, 2007

Museveni meets COMESA chief <br>Kampala <br>President Yoweri Museveni held talks with the secretary general of the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Erastus Mwencha, over the opening of railway links within the region to boost trade. Museveni, who met the Mwencha on Tuesday at

Museveni meets COMESA chief
Kampala
President Yoweri Museveni held talks with the secretary general of the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), Erastus Mwencha, over the opening of railway links within the region to boost trade. Museveni, who met the Mwencha on Tuesday at State House Nakasero in Kampala, said effective transport networks and affordable electricity is vital for Africa’s industrialisation. The two discussed the possible harmonisation of trade tariffs in the COMESA region to boost inter-regional trade.

EC bans fundraisings
Kyenjojo
The Electoral Commission (EC) has banned fundraisings for candidates contesting for the district LC5 chairperson seat. The EC’s secretary, Sam Rwakoojo, said they will not allow politicians to bribe voters through giving out money during fundraisings. “We accept giving agents money for facilitation. But where one has to stand by the roadside and gives people packets of salt and sugar that is not acceptable.” He said this in a meeting with candidates campaigning for the chairperson seat, William Kaija and James Byamukama at the Kasiina district headquarters on Wednesday. He urged the public to report any cases of bribery because they will be documented and used as evidence against the politicians. He emphasised that they will only consider cases reported and backed by witnesses. “Cases where a person calls and remains anonymous will not be taken seriously. We want the person that receives the bribe to report and appear as a witness.” He warned candidates against using abusive language during campaigns because this results into unwanted fights.

Rakai LCs starve
Rakai
There was drama in Kalisizo during a sub-county council meeting when the chairman, Deo Bazimba, asked the councillors to quickly deliberate because they would not be given lunch. The councillors were even more stunned when Bazimba said they could not get copies of the minutes of previous meetings due to under-funding by the Government. “We do not have money to the extent that we even got the sodas we are going to sip on credit,” Bazimba noted. After a heated debate, the councillors agreed to debate on hungry stomachs but requested Bazimba to read the minutes in Luganda not English.

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