Mabira bounces back

Jun 27, 2008

The controversial give away of 7,100 hectares of Mabira Forest to Mehta for sugarcane growing has resurfaced. Shadow environment minister Beatrice Anywar told journalists that she had information that Cabinet was ploting to give away the forest. “I have given three days to both Government and Meht

The controversial give away of 7,100 hectares of Mabira Forest to Mehta for sugarcane growing has resurfaced. Shadow environment minister Beatrice Anywar told journalists that she had information that Cabinet was ploting to give away the forest. “I have given three days to both Government and Mehta to explain the Mabira status. If they fail, I will call the Save Mabira Crusade and other stakeholders to swing back into action,” Anywar said.



Punish Otto, say accused MPs

MPS accused of receiving a sh170m bribe to pass the CHOGM supplementary budget, have asked the rules committee to take punitive action against Aruu MP Odonga Otto, for failing to produce evidence against them. Kaddunabbi Lubega told the committee chaired by Asuman Kiyingi that the action would keep MPs from damaging their colleagues’ names. The committee has been investigating the allegations made in February against Kaddunabbi, William Wopuwa, Rose Akol, Florence Hashaka, William Okecho and William Nsubuga. The committee cleared Akol, Hashaka, Okecho and Nsubuga. Wopuwa, through his lawyer MacDosman Kabega, demanded an apology. “According to the law, the task was upon honourable Otto to prove his allegations against my client. Since he has failed to substantiate his allegations, the client deserves an apology and to all people in his constituency,” Kabega said.

Conjugal rights for inmates

Being a suspect does not mean that one stops enjoying marital rights, and Luzira Prison inmates will in future enjoy conjugal rights, according to Prisons authorities. Prisons Under Secretary Simon Kimono, told the public accounts committee on Thursday when the prison is relocated by investors, inmates will be allowed to meet their spouses for 20 minutes. “The new structures will have rooms where the prisoners will meet their spouses. it is their right as enshrined in international laws,” he said.

Kimono said he had advised investors to construct a prison for over 3,000 inmates. Currently, Luzira accommodates about 2,000 inmates.



Clerk disappears with papers

Onyango Kakoba, the chairman of the committee which investigated the CHOGM expenditure, accused a clerk of disappearing with vital documents. While presenting an evaluation report, Kakoba said Victor Manzi had disappeared with documents containing some figures related to CHOGM. “The clerk had all the documents in February and March but vanished in April before producing a report. I had to produce the report myself.” He added that he had reported the matter to the Clerk to Parliament, Aeneas Tandekwire, but got no response.



Improve health system

Over 600 health workers under the Health Workforce Advocacy Forum have petitioned the Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, over the poor state of the health system. Led by the General Secretary of the Uganda Medical Association, Dr. Jennifer Kavuma, the workers complained about lack of funds. “We recognise that we have a responsibility to provide the highest quality service possible. We are concerned that patients’ lives are being put at risk everyday due to neglect and poor environment. That is why we are calling for action from both health professionals and the government,” Kavuma said. Ssekandi promised to forward their petition to the social service committee. Kavuuma said the workers had pledged to respect the patients’ dignity and to use the available resources fairly.



No funds for LC polls

The Electoral Commission has no funds to carry out the local council elections, the secretary, Sam Rwakoojo, has said. Rwakojo told the public accounts committee yesterday that despite appeals to the finance ministry, the money was not budged for. According to him sh15b is required for the elections.

He was responding to MPs concern that local council leaders were illegally in office since their term expired in 2006.

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