As it happened: Uganda Today - Tuesday February 19

Feb 19, 2019

The Kiira Motors team set the Ugandan made Kiira EVS on course for its longest test drive so far - a 1,600km drive from Kampala to Kisoro district.

ROLLING NEWS THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Presented by Joseph Kizza

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@joekizza

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3:40pm

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 Good evening!


That's all for today.

Till we meet again. Cheers!

 

#UgandaToday

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3:37pm

Parliament passes UWA Bill, 2017

The House, chaired by Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, has passed the Uganda Wildlife Authority Bill, 2017. The aim of the bill is to provide for the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, as well as to strengthen wildlife conservation and management.

 

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3:15pm
 

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 WATCH: KIIRA EVS hitting the road soon

 

 

 

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3:00pm

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  KIIRA EVS arrives in Mbarara


The Ugandan-made car has reached Mbarara on this longest test drive.

And it's arrival has drawn the attention of curious onlookers in the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2:40pm

Household air pollution killing 7 million people annually



For billions of people, simple daily acts such as lighting a fire to cook a meal, light a home and heat a room can turn the household into a dangerous place. Exposure to household air pollution produced kills 3.8 million people each year, says the World Health Organisation.

Nine out of 10 people breathe polluted air, which kills seven million people every year.

The global health body adds that more than three billion people use polluting fuels and devices - wood, coal and dung - in simple stoves for their daily cooking. But the resulting household air pollution is the world's single greatest environmental health risk. Most of these people are poor and live in low- and middle-income countries.

 

 

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2:10pm

DP to decide on members named in 'people's government'

 

New Vision's Jaliat Namuwaya:

The national executive commiittee of the Democratic Party is to sit on February 28 to decide the fate of DP members named in the so-called people's government cabinet declared by former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye .

DP leader Norbert Mao said Tuesday that they have no problem with the 'people's government'  but  that it is an FDC strategy that should not take DP members. He also revealed that they cannot look on as some people call themselves DP members yet they are in a strategy that is not for the party - using the reference of a watermelon that is green on the outside yet red on the inside.

Mao did not name names during the party's weekly press conference.

But what he revealed was his meeting with Besigye before the release of the cabinent.  He did not disclose details of their meeting.

Last week, Besigye released a cabinet of the 'Peoples government',  with him as the President and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago as deputy president and Betty Nambooze as information minister - among other positions.

 

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1:30pm

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  UPDF pipping ceremony in pictures


This happened at Mbuya General Headquarters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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1:10pm

  Arrested for trying to bribe Police officer


So this guy, David Kayondo, wanted to have a murder suspect freed and believed that bribing the officer in charge of criminal investigations in Buikwe district would do him good.

Wrong move.

He got busted and had a pair of handcuffs slapped around his wrists.

 

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12:50pm

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 Kiira EVS on its longest test drive - 1,600km


 

 New Vision's Osbert Mwijukye:

The Kiira Motors team has set the Ugandan made Kiira EVS on course for its longest test drive so far- a 1,600km drive from Kampala to Kisoro district.

The team set off Tuesday morning. When they reached Masaka, excited locals came out to check out the sleek Ugandan-made vehicle.

The team will be hosted on Vision Group's TV West and Radio West upon arrival in Mbarara this afternoon.

During the first Kampala test drive, Kiira EVS was alleged to have heated up on Kampala road after a short drive from Forest Mall, Lugogo. Allan Muhumuza, the Kiira Motors business development manager, said it was a "minor issue".

"Oh, that one. It was a minor issue. The cap for the coolant reservoir opened and as a result, the steam was escaping because of the pressure buildup. That was resolved," he said, adding that the EVS was originally built to go long distances.

 

So how fast can the Kiira EVS go?

Make that 180kph.

"But our roads have speed limits, as you know," says Muhumuza. "We expect to be back in Kampala on Friday. We want to give the towns enough time to experience the beast."

Kiira EVS's stopovers are Masaka, Mbarara, Kisoro, Kabale, Bushenyi, Fort Portal, Mubende and Mityana towns to give Ugandans a chance to experience the first Ugandan-made luxurious vehicle.

Look out for the beast, experience it and share with us what you think of it!

 

 

#UgandaToday

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12:15pm

Public hearing on The Roads Act

Parliament's physical infrastructure committee is due to hold a public hearing on The Roads Act, 2018 on Wednesday.

This legislation aims to reform the law relating to the development, management and maintenance of public roads in order conform to the current govt polices and programmes. The committee is currently scrutinizing the Roads Act 2018, and is inviting the public to send in their views about the Act.

 

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11:50am

  Japan's grant towards Nyara bridge costruction


 

New Vision's Timothy Murungi:

Japan has given a grant of 183 million Japanese Yen (sh6b) towards the construction of Nyara bridge in Arua district. Mizumoto Horii, the ambassador of Japan to Uganda, says the grant was offered to support the Rhino settlement refugees and local community.

The two-year project will start next month (March) and end in October 2021. It was signed by Horii and Idris Ahmed, the head of support services of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Kenya multi-country office. The agreement signing was witnessed by officials from the works and transport ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, water ministry and UNHCR at the Japanese embassy in Kampala Tuesday morning.

 

Pictured speaking in the picture immediately above is Eng. Stephen Seninde from the works and transport ministry.

 

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11:29am

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  AFCON U-17: Uganda Cubs get down to training


In preparation for the AFCON U-17 finals, A 30-strong Uganda Cubs squad are camped at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru for a 10-day residential training that started Monday with an evening session.

Double training sessions have resumed today.

The 13th edition of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations will be hosted by Tanzania starting April 14 and ending April 28.

Eight teams will take part. Uganda will open their campaign against  Angola on April 14, before taking on Nigeria three days later.

It will be a battle against hosts Tanzania thereafter.

 

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11:20am

We must embrace science and technology - Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has told the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) that for the party to propel the country forward and economically transform the society, the leaders must appreciate the importance of science and technology to drive socio-economic transformation.

This, coupled with understanding the correctness of the movement ideology that emphasises patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy and the existing strategic bottlenecks that have hindered the development of Uganda.

Museveni was delivering a keynote address to the CEC at a retreat at Chobe Safari Lodge in Nwoya district, under the theme 'Ideology and Strategy'.

(Read more here)

 

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10:47am

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  UPDF pipping ceremony underway


The ceremony has started at Mbuya. The air is warm and given a melodic touch by the band.

Internal affairs minister Gen. Jeje Odongo, security minister Gen. Elly Tumwine, chief of defense forces (CDF) Gen. David Muhoozi and Lt. Col. (rtd) Bright Rwamirama, who is the minister of state for defence in charge of veteran affairs, are among the top military profiles in attendance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10:30am

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  UPDF PROMOTIONS: All set for pipping ceremony


There is an evident air of excitement at Mbuya as guests exercise patience ahead of the start of the function.

A big, big day for our gallant officers. The function should begin in a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10:20am

UPDF PROMOTIONS: All set for decoration ceremony

The Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) is this morning set to decorate the recently promoted general and senior officers.

This is at Mbuya General Headquarters and already, the guests are on time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10:10am

URA impounds shisha accessories

 

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) have impounded a consignment of shisha, including cartons of premium quick lighting charcoal, pieces of complete shisha pots and shisha pot accessories.

"Until its ban, shisha inhalation was popular in Kampala hangouts. Shisha typically contains tobacco, sometimes mixed with fruit or sugar molasses. Popular flavors are apple, strawberry, mint and cola. Though touted as a harmless "social activity", it has been argued that one hour of smoking shisha is equivalent to inhaling more than 100 cigarettes! It is usually smoked through a water pipe that is heated by charcoal to produce a smoke," tweeted the tax body.

"For health reasons, Government in 2015 banned the importation, distribution and smoking of shisha. Last Thursday, Team One secured intel about a suspicious consignment. A consignment containing items declared as "coal charcoal lights". Curious about the consignment, a super lady officer was deployed to examine the consignment and upon examining the container, shisha accessories were unearthed. The consignment was all seized and deposited into the Customs warehouse at Nakawa (URA headquarters).

And URA'a parting shot: "Desist from illicit trade!"

 

 

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9:58am

Businessman linked to ADF

Security in Masaka district have linked businessman Abdul Hamidu Lugemwa, 41, to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). They say the resident of Kyabakuza zone in Masaka municipality is a former member of ADF and is being investigated for fresh links with the insurgents.

Andrew Kandiho, the district internal security officer, says intelligence information collected about Lugemwa before his arrest confirmed his links to the rebel outfit. Security organs did not disclose where Lugemwa is being detained. On February 11, plain-clothes security personnel picked him up from his home and took him to an unknown destination. His family have been looking for him since in vain.

 

 

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9:44am

Hoima man beheaded

A 42-year-old man has been killed by unknown thugs in Katugo cell, Busiisi division in Hoima municipality. Asafi Asiimwe was working with Hoima municipality's water department.

Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, said the attackers first beat him, then used machetes and other sharp objects to cut his head off. He said the victim's son raised an alarm and the residents arrested one of the suspected attackers and lynched him.

 

 

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9:35am

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  UGANDA CUP: Express v Police decided by penalties



 

After a goalless 90 minutes of football at Mutesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku, Mathias Muwanga hogged the hero plaudits as he saved two penalties to help Express progress to the quarter-finals of the Stanbic Uganda Cup at the expense of Police FC.

Michael Birungi, Disan Galiwango, Lawrence Kigonya and Tony Odur were on point for the hosts while Ruben Kimera was the only Police player that tucked in his penalty.

The Red Eagles advanced 4-1 on penalties.

 

 

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9:25am

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 UGANDA CUP: All quarterfinalists now known


The eight teams that will scramble for four semi-final spots in the Stanbic Uganda Cup are all known, following Monday's last round of 16 games that saw Express FC and Bright Stars FC secure the final two places for the last-eight.

The teams are:

Vipers SC

Express FC

Bright Stars FC

ProlineFC

BUL FC

Wakiso Giants FC

Kyetume

Nebbi Central


Uganda's football governing body FUFA says the date for the quarterfinals draw will be communicated.

 

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9:10am

'I have not asked govt for sh9b for Pope's visit' - Archbishop Lwanga

New Vision's Mathias Mazinga:

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, has refuted media reports that he asked the Government to give him sh9b to organise Pope Francis' visit to Uganda in July. He described the reports as "totally false and unfounded".

 

"Honestly, I have never asked the Government to give me the money that is being talked about. The visit of Pope Francis that was referred to in some sections of the media is also not yet confirmed. It is true the Catholic bishops of Africa under their umbrella conference, Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, decided to invite Pope Francis to grace their 50th anniversary celebrations, which will take place in July in this country, where it was also launched by Pope Paul VI.


"The bishops then tasked us with requesting the President of this country to invite the Pope because he is also a head of state. The President responded positively, but to date, we have not yet received any letter from the Pope confirming the visit," Lwanga explained. He said even when finance minister Matia Kasaija was contacted by the New Vision to give a comment on the matter, he denied having received any request to that effect.

"The minister made it clear that he only knew about the pledge of the Government to finish the priests' rectory at Uganda Martyrs Catholic Shrine, Namugongo. He also said if the Pope confirms the visit, the Government will come up with a clear programme together with the Church," the archbishop said.

Lwanga further clarified that the money used to construct the Catholic martyrs shrines at Munyonyo and Namugongo prior to the visit of Pope Francis in 2015 was provided by the Government as compensation for the Church's land in Entebbe, which the Government could not return to the Archdiocese of Kampala since it accommodates part of the airport. He said when the compensation was made, he never touched the money because the Government dealt directly with the construction company. Lwanga made the remarks during the pilgrimage for the commemoration of the 140th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneer Catholic missionaries at Kigungu Catholic Shrine in Entebbe municipality, Wakiso district.

 

 

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9:05am

Back to the Pearl of Africa

OK, that should give you an idea of what the biggest stories on the continent are.

Let's switch our focus back to Uganda.

 

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9:00am

  AROUND THE CONTINENT: Semenya accuses IAAF on regulations


 

By AFP:

Double Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya on Monday accused the International Association of Athletics Federations of breaching confidentiality rules at a hearing that could define the rest of the South African's career.

Semenya appeared at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to challenge proposed IAAF rules that would force her to lower her testosterone levels.

Semenya flashed a victory sign but made no comment as she arrived for the first day of the week-long hearing whose consequences could reverberate far beyond the sport of athletics.

The measures would force so-called "hyperandrogenic" athletes or those with "differences of sexual development" (DSD) to take drugs to lower their testosterone levels below a prescribed amount if they wish to continue competing.

The rules were to have been introduced last November but have been put on hold pending this week's hearings. A judgement is expected by the end of March.

Semenya's legal team accused the IAAF of breaching confidentiality rules after it published the names of five expert witnesses who will appear to testify on their behalf.

Among the IAAF experts are David Handelsman, Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Andrology at the University of Sydney, and Dr Angelica Hirschberg, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Stockholm-based Karolinska Institutet.

Semenya, who won Olympic gold at the London and Rio Games, has now been given permission to reveal the identities of the experts she will be calling to give evidence.

"The arbitration proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality provisions and this information should not have been released‚" her lawyers said in a statement.

"Ms Semenya believes the IAAF press release is a clear breach of the confidentiality provisions that was orchestrated in an effort to influence public opinion in circumstances where the IAAF knew that Ms Semenya would not be prepared to respond because she was complying with her confidentiality obligations.

"As a matter of fairness Ms Semenya raised this issue with the CAS and has been granted permission to publicly release information responding to the IAAF press release‚ including disclosing the experts who are testifying in support of Ms Semenya's case. This information will be released tomorrow."

The IAAF says it is introducing the rules to create a "level playing field" for other female athletes.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe said before the hearing: "Today is a very, very important day.

"The regulations that we are introducing are there to protect the sanctity of fair and open competition."

The South African government says the rules specifically target Semenya and has called them a "gross violation" of her human rights.

 

The issue is highly emotive.

When British newspaper The Times reported last week that the IAAF would argue that Semenya should be classified as a biological male -- a claim later denied by the IAAF -- she said she was "unquestionably a woman".

In response to the report, the IAAF denied it intended to classify any DSD athlete as male.

But in a statement, it added: "If a DSD athlete has testes and male levels of testosterone, they get the same increases in bone and muscle size and strength and increases in haemoglobin that a male gets when they go through puberty, which is what gives men such a performance advantage over women.

"Therefore, to preserve fair competition in the female category, it is necessary to require DSD athletes to reduce their testosterone down to female levels before they compete at international level."

Semenya is not the only athlete potentially affected -- the silver and bronze medallists in the Rio 800m, Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Kenya's Margaret Wambui, have also faced questions about their testosterone levels.

But it is Semenya, who also has three world titles to her name, who has brought the court challenge.

Matthieu Reeb, the secretary general of the court, said: "It is unusual and unprecedented because we never had a such a case at CAS."

 

 

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8:55am

  AROUND THE CONTINENT: Zimbabwe army command shake-up


By AFP:

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa shifted four top generals into diplomatic jobs Monday, state media reported, in a sign he is asserting control amid rumours of a power struggle in government.

"Major Generals Martin Chedondo, Douglas Nyikayaramba, Anselem N Sanyatwe and Air Vice Marshal Shebba Shumbayawonda are set to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," presidential chief secretary Misheck Sibanda told the state-run Herald newspaper.

The focus of rumours of a power tussle, Mangagwa's deputy Constantino Chiwenga, has not been seen in public in weeks, prompting speculation about his health.

On Saturday, Mnangagwa told a rally that Chiwenga "is not feeling well.

"So that is why he is not with us here. We thought it would be important to officially make this announcement," the state-run Sunday Mail quoted the president as saying.

Chiwenga was in charge when the police and military cracked down on public protests last month following the government's decision to double fuel prices.

Mnangagwa was in Russia courting investors at the time and was compelled to cancel a planned trip to the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) regional analyst Dewa Mahvinga has said there could be "tensions" between the president and his deputy over control of Zimbabwe's economic levers, including fuel prices.

Mnangagwa did not say what Chiwenga was ailing from, or where he was convalescing.

 

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8:50am

  AROUND THE CONTINENT: Two policemen killed in Cairo explosion


By AFP:

An explosion in Cairo on Monday killed two policemen who were chasing a man believed to have targeted security staff near a mosque last week, Egypt's interior ministry said.

"As security surrounded the man and was set to arrest and control him, an explosive device in his possession went off," the ministry said.

The blast in the crowded Darb al-Ahmar district in downtown Cairo also killed the bomber and injured three other policemen.

The man was being pursued as part of "efforts to search for the perpetrator" responsible for planting an explosive device near security staff close to a mosque in Giza on Friday, the ministry said.

Security had been able to defuse that device, the ministry said.

Monday's explosion took place near Al Azhar mosque at the heart of ancient Islamic Cairo, damaging several shops.

The site was cordoned off and reporters were not immediately allowed access to the area.

"My shop's front and windows were destroyed," said Kareem Sayed Awad, a barbershop owner. "Not only that, but people have died. This is a tourist area and such incidents affect it."

 

Egypt's tourism industry has been struggling to recover from attacks and domestic instability that has hit the country in the years following a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.

In December three Vietnamese tourists and their Egyptian guide died when a homemade bomb exploded on their bus on the outskirts of Cairo, near the famed pyramids in Giza. 

Authorities have been seeking to lure tourists back by touting new archaeological discoveries and bolstering security around archaeological sites and in airports.

Tourism has slowly started picking up. The official statistics agency says tourist arrivals in Egypt in 2017 reached 8.3 million, up from 5.3 million the year before.

But that figure was still far short of the record influx in 2010 when over 14 million visitors flocked to the country.

Egypt has also for years been battling an Islamist insurgency, which deepened following military's ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

The attacks have been mainly concentrated in the restive northern Sinai Peninsula but have also spread to the mainland.

In February 2018, security forces launched a major anti-militant operation focused on the Sinai Peninsula, aimed at wiping out a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.

On Saturday, an attack on an Egyptian army checkpoint in north Sinai left 15 soldiers dead or wounded and seven of the suspected jihadist assailants killed, according to the military.

 

 

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8:43am

  AROUND THE CONTINENT: Sudan protesters remain resilient


By AFP:

Sudanese protester Osman Sulaiman has taken to the streets of Khartoum chanting "overthrow, overthrow" almost daily since demonstrations erupted against President Omar al-Bashir's iron-fisted rule in December.

And he insists he has no intention of stopping now.

"We have to fight our battle if we have to secure our future and the future of our country," Sulaiman, an engineering graduate who has been unemployed for years, told AFP.

As the protest campaign against Bashir's regime enters its third month on Tuesday, demonstrators are pressing on with rallies despite a show of defiance from the veteran leader and a sweeping crackdown by the authorities.

 

Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 have been killed including medics and children.

Hundreds of protesters, opposition leaders, activists and journalists have been jailed by agents of the feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).

"The protesters' resilience has been very impressive," says Murithi Mutiga of International Crisis Group (ICG).

"Two months have passed, but the movement's momentum has remained and participation has grown geographically and across socio-economic classes."

On Sunday, scores of protesters rallied in Khartoum chanting their catchcry "freedom, peace, justice" as police fired tear gas.

Demonstrations first erupted on December 19 in the farming town of Atbara against a government decision to triple the price of bread.

But the rallies swiftly mushroomed into a major challenge to Bashir's three-decade rule, with those taking part demanding his resignation.

From the provinces to the streets of the capital and its twin city Omdurman the demonstrations have spread through villages, towns and cities across the east African nation.

They have drawn in a cross section of society including middle-class professionals, agricultural labourers, youths and Bashir's political opponents -- with thousands of women and men rallying across the country on some days.

Only the three conflict zones of Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan have remained largely devoid of mass demonstrations.

 

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8:35am

  AROUND THE CONTINENT: Nigerian president warns vote-riggers


By AFP:


Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday he had ordered the police and military to be "ruthless" with vote-riggers, as preparations were made for rescheduled elections.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were put off just over five hours before polls were due to open on Saturday, causing widespread anger.

 

New polls have been rescheduled for this Saturday, while governorship and state assembly elections have been pushed back to March 9.

At an emergency meeting of his ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) in Abuja, Buhari said he intended to make sure the rescheduled ballot proceeds without a hitch.

"I do not expect anybody to make any disturbance," he told senior party members. "Anybody who decides to snatch (ballot) boxes or use thugs to disturb it (the vote), maybe this will be the last unlawful action he will take."

Buhari, 76, said he had ordered "the military and the police to be ruthless" to ensure all Nigerians can vote for their chosen candidate.

"I am going to warn anybody who thinks he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs or snatch (ballot) boxes or to disturb the voting system, he will do it at the expense of his life," the president emphasised.

Both the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been accused of wanting to rig the result, notably by buying biometric voter identity cards.

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) blamed the last-minute delay on logistical difficulties in the distribution of election materials, as well as sabotage.

Elections have been delayed before in Nigeria: In 2015, there was a six-week postponement on security grounds linked to the Boko Haram conflict in northeast Nigeria.

In 2011, the election was halted after it had already begun due to problems with deliveries of ballot papers, results sheets, and other voting materials.

This year's election is the sixth in the 20 years since Nigeria returned to civilian rule after decades of military government.

Some 84 million voters are registered.

 

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8:30am

  Around the continent


Before we plunge into the thick and thin of everything Ugandan, let's first have a look at what is going on around the continent.

Next up.

 

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8:25am

RAS TOON

For a second time, court has issued criminal summons against Mubarak Munyagwa accused of soliciting a sh78m bribe.

 

 

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8:20am

Good morning

Hello everyone, we are left with nine days to end the month.

That will be two down and 10 left to call 2019 wraps. But in all truth, we still have a long way to get to December 31, so how about we take it a day at a time, huh?

Let's get started.

 

 

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