Acholi Youth protest move to lift presidential age limit

By Jackson Kitara July 16, 2017

Gulu

Young people in Acholi Sub region have protested the move to amend the constitution to lift the presidential age limit.

Kenneth Nyeko, former councilor 5 Ongako Sub County asked members of parliament not to amend the constitution because it will deter Ugandans from seeing a peaceful transition of power.

“I appeals to people who are pushing for the amendment of Article 102(b) of the constitution of Uganda to lift the age limit not to infringe the principal of constitution of Uganda”, Nyeko said.

Nyeko while addressing the press conference at Northern Uganda media club (NUMEC) Gulu on Friday

According to article 102 (b) of the 1995 constitution, the age limit for a Ugandan to contest for top most of the country is 75 years

Ever since reports filtered in that the government has gazetted amendment of Article 102(b) of the Constitution that pegs the upper presidential age limit at 75 years, an acrimonious debate ensued between those for and against.

As it stands, President Yoweri Museveni, aged 73 years now, would be ineligible to stand in the 2021 presidential elections because he would be above 75 years, a situation some of his supporters do not want.

The former councilor says as youth they want to see peaceful co-existence and transfer of power in Uganda, but not to entrance monarchy politic in Uganda

Nyeko said parliamentarians should not subject the amendment to debate in the floor of parliament; saying that parliament by way of resolution can subject the citizens into referendum which is not worthy.

“Citizens are not complaining of the age limit currently capped at 75 years, but only greedy MPs that have taken the responsibility from the public that are misrepresenting population that has elected them are the one pushing for their selfish interest”, he remarked.

Peter Langwen, councilor 4 Library parish in Gulu municipality said they are not against president Museveni contesting 2021 general election, but any candidate who is above 75 years should not contest in the coming general election.

“Museveni has done his part; people must appreciate him because even the best dancer leaves stage. MPs should instead put pressure to restore a two term limit for the president”, Langwen said

Moses Laker, the Personal Assistant to Gulu Municipality MP Lyandro Komakech says the parliament has been reduced to a cash minting institution because of greedy MPS

“Parliament of Uganda has been reduced to small institution where you pay as you go by greedy MPs, they come up with move to amend the constitution to lift the presidential age limit to get money from the president”, he said.

Laker said there many issues more than the age limit that government and parliament should tackle like land issues, education, health, agriculture among others

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DP constitutes northern Uganda Women League

By Jackson Kitara May 24, 2017

Gulu

Democratic Party has constituted a northern Uganda Women’s League delegates to mobilize support and recruit women to join the party from the grassroots in northern region.

The league comprises of 12 women delegates elected during the DP party meeting that was held at Kakanyero hotel in Gulu Municipality on Tuesday to strengthen the party from grassroots to national level.

The women elected include; Grace Pamela Lanyero, Brenda Auma and Clare Rose Akello for Acholi sub region, Rosemary Nakoli, Prosy Napii and Rebecca Loput from Karamoja region.

Others are Sunday Cekecan, Sylvia Atimango and Concy Geria from West Nile and Paska Grace Ogwang, Elizabeth Ajalo and Harish Abol from Lango sub regions.

The women later elected Elizabeth Ajalo from Lango sub regions as chairperson, Grace Pamela Lanyero from Acholi sub region as vice chairperson and Rosemary Nakoli from Karamoja region as general secretary northern women league that will coordinate and spearhead the party programs in the four regions in the north.

The President of the Democratic Party Women League, Florence Namayanja said the 12 women delegates will help in mobilizing and recruiting women to join the party right from grassroots to national level.

She added that the delegates will also recruit and identify potential women leaders to contest in 2021 general elections.

“This league will target women and youth to join the party to strengthen the party at grassroots level” Namayanja remarked.

Namayanja who is the current MP for Bukoto County East constituency said the league constituted will use affirmative action to go to direct elective position to compete with men.

She added that they will also elect women league in Southern, Eastern and central region to stop the tradition that DP is for Buganda only.

Secretary General DP, Dr. Gerald Siranda said the constitution of the women league in the north will make party grow right from grassroots.

“This league will help nature women to become good leaders in the party by training them and how to come up in leadership”, he said.

The DP President General, Norbert Mao appealed to the delegates to start by identifying tertiary institutions, universities, colleges, schools, hospital and other government civil service

“The constitution of this women league will help in mobilization, recruiting and fund raising for the party. It helps in grooming women leaders and decision making” Mao said

Mao said when the party groom many leaders; there will be no crisis if one leader is not around.

He said it is easy to support women when they are in group with training skills or supporting them to start up small business to help them in generating income and paying their children to school.

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Democratic Party in Gulu district write a letter to national secretary general DP party kampala to stop Nambooze from holding meeting in Gulu

By Jackson Kitara May 3, 2017

Gulu

The chairman Democratic Party (DP) Gulu district, Kerubino Uma has written a letter to national secretary general DP party Kampala that DP district executive committee is not aware of Mukono Municipality, MP Betty Bakireke Nambooze invitation to hold an indoor meeting with DP local leaders in Gulu district.

In his letter written to the national secretary general DP party slated April 10, 2017, Kerubino said he will barred Nambooze from holding an indoor meeting with DP local leaders and then addressing a public rally in the afternoon on the same day in Gulu district on May 6, 2017 with the help of police.

He wrote; i am writing to react to rumours that the DP party leadership of Gulu has invited Hon. Betty Nambooze to visit Gulu on May 6, 2017.

Kerubino who is also the regional coordinator DP party Acholi sub region said “as the leader of DP in Gulu district and other leaders in the district executive committee are not at all aware about the so called visit”.

While addressing journalists in office of Lyandro Komakech, Gulu municipality MP on Wednesday, he says no members of DP are barred from freely visiting any part of the country in order to share views with fellow democrats. He added that such contact will however not be entertained unless the invitation is legitimately channeled through the office of district chairman.

Kerubino said the type of visits Nambooze and group are planning to make in districts are without the mandate of the National executive committee are illegimate and unconstitutional which must be condemned in the strongest term.

“If Nambooze ever tries to penetrate any part of the north without going through the party leadership, she should be barred possibly with the assistant of police from holding such illegal meeting”, he noted.

Kerubino said Nambooze was also suspended from the party for three months due to misconduct.

He also dispelled the rumours that the Democratic Party is divided among factions of the party leaders and the district party leaders have left the party at national level. He said they are united as party leaders in East, West, central, and southern Uganda among others.

Justine Obol Simple Man, the Gulu district DP party spokesperson said they have constitutions that guide them and they have system and organs that they follow.

“We are even disappointed with Nambooze that since her election as the party president of DP Buganda region, she has never crossed National executive committee office and never attended a single party meeting.

Obol said the moved by Nambooze is in her confusion is personal and said it looks like she is a person sent to be within the party as an intrigue to disorganize the party.

He added that “DP party is above personal interest. It is the national party that has its own ideology, constitutions and the way they formulate their policy; Nambooze should learn to behave as a national leader”.

Obol said Nambooze should look at greater height; not at petty issues of tribalistic kind of behaviour which they witness from her.

He calls her to really rethink and reform her behaviour because the party needs all its members to be as one and need all DP party members to remain united.

“We had bye election whether our candidates go through or not, we have to sell our party. Anything that disorganizes the party is uncalled for”, Obol remarked.

Nambooze when contacted to comment on the rumours that she is planning to hold an indoor meeting with DP local leaders and addressing public in Gulu district on May 6, 2017, she could not be reached as her contact was off.

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Prime Minister urges NRM in Acholi to rally behind their flag bearer to win Aruu North constituency bye election

By Jackson Kitara March 13, 2017

Pader

The Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Affairs, Al-Hajj Dr. Kirunda Kivejinja has urged NRM cadres in Acholi sub region to unite, support and campaign for their party flag bearer  James Nabinson Kidega in Aruu North constitution in the bye elections

“You should support our flag bearer with a course by being active on the ground and tell the community the good things that the NRM government has done in this region, do not leave it in the plight of opposition”, he added

Kivejinja said NRM members are leaving opportunity to opposition to tell lies to voters, yet the NRM government is bringing steady progress and prosperity in the region with.

He made the remark while meeting NRM cadres from all Acholi sub region at late ambassador Abola’s home at Pece Pawel, Pece division in Gulu Municipality on Sunday.

The Electoral Commission has announced that Aruu By -election is to be held on April 6th 2017. The seat fell vacant after the Court of Appeal upheld a high court ruling nullifying the election of MP Lucy Aciro Otim as the area legislator’

The Court of Appeal nullified the election of Lucy Aciro Otim as the new Member of Parliament for Aruu North Constituency in Pader District, citing noncompliance with the election laws.

After the 2016 February 18 elections, Kitgum Chief Magistrate Japyem Okongo ordered a total recount of votes cast in the parliamentary elections in Aruu North County following an application filed by Kidega Nabinson James, the National Resistance Movement – NRM party candidate for the Aruu North County parliamentary seat.

Kidega lost to Lucy Aciro Otim, an independent candidate in the race that attracted five candidates. Aciro emerged winner with a difference of two votes. She polled 8,599 votes against Kidega’s 8,597, according to results released by Pader district returning officer Joseph Amone.

Kivejinja urged party members to put on the party color in solidarity for their candidate.

He said Uganda needs leaders who are intellectual and persistently support from government.

Kivejinja urged the NRM members to carry out grass root mobilization drive in all the villages to see that all  NRM local council one and two flag bearers win election in the fourth coming election of L.C 1 and 2.

He pointed that he wants all NRM flag bearer contesting for the seat of local council one and two in Acholi sub region to win election because it is the centers of power where people in community benefit  from village level in government programs like operation wealth creation

“You disseminate information of government programs and achievement as well as monitoring government programs in the villages because the government belong to us”, he asked.

Kivejinja said the primary duty of the movement emphasis was that the members of the village through the NRM village structures where centers of power for recipient targets for wealth creation

Samuel Oduny, a staunch NRM supporter in Gulu said it is a big challenge to run NRM party because party members take NRM party as employment.

“Although NRM party landed on the hostile ground due to insurgency in the north, members are only active during delegate conference and when the president is visiting northern Uganda or when there is need to meet the president”, Oduny noted.

Biligraham Olanya, the former contestant in Gulu district L.C 5 seat in the 2016 general election said NRM party do not have structure in Gulu  and there is  a lot of infighting  among members.

Olanya said “there is need for reconciliation among the faction of NRM in this region to unite the party members”.

He added that the money for mobilization is always given to wrong people and sometime released late.

Stephen Odong Latek, former NRM contestant for Omoro district L.C 5 seat said there is need for disciplinary mechanism to hold indiscipline members accountable.

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President appointed former MP and FDC Kilak county as Deputy Ambassador

By Jackson Kitara
President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Michael Ocula, the former MP Kilak County as Deputy Ambassador.
Ocula who lost to Gilbert Olanya twice in 2011 as incumbent and in 2016 as new MP for Kilak south constituency was appointed Deputy Ambassador.
Ocula hails from Olwal in Lamogi Sub County, Amuru district; he crossed from FDC party to NRM party in 2014 after losing his MP seat to Olanya

He crossed to NRM during passing out of cadres in Amuru district which was presided by President Museveni in 2014.

Ocula after crossing to NRM , contested for Kilak south MP under NRM ticket where he lost.

When contacted  for comment after his appointment by president, Ocula said he did not get official communication regarding his appointment as deputy ambassador.

” I only got phone calls from people who are my friends on social media that president have appointed me deputy ambassador, but i have not got official communication yet, i will comment when i get official communication”, Ocula said.
The appointment was according to Pursuant to Article 122 (1) of the Constitution of Uganda
President Museveni has also appointed other 35 Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic missions

among the ambassadors and heads of diplomatic from northern uganda includes; Johnson Olwa Agara   as Uganda ambassador to Moscow in Russia, Betty Akech Okullu   as ambassador to Tokyo in Japan, Grace Akello as Uganda ambassador in New Delhi in India
Others are Rebecca Otengo as Uganda ambassador to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Ruth Aceng as Uganda ambassador to Ottawa in Canada and Dr. Kiyonga Chrispus former health minister and MP as Uganda ambassador in Beijing in China
The President has sent the names to Parliament for consideration and approval.
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Former Omoro MP contestant to contest for chairman L.C 5 seat Omoro district

By Jackson Kitara July 7, 2016

Omoro

The Forum for democratic change (FDC) in Omoro district has anonymously chosen Simon Too-Lit Akecha as a party sole candidate for chairman L.C 5 seat.

Too-Lit the former Omoro county MP contestant who lost to Deputy Speaker of parliament, Jacob Oulanyah in 2016 general election when electoral commission declared Oulanyah a winner without figure has decided to contest for chairman L.C 5 seat Omoro district.

In 2011, Too-Lit lost election to his rival Oulanyah as MP Omoro County.  He also lost the case in court twice in 2011 and 2016.

Omoro district is the newly created district from Gulu district with two counties of Omoro and Tochi with six sub-counties that started operating on July 1, 2016.

Too-lit while addressing journalists at Northern Uganda media club (NUMEC) on Thursday said he has not picked nomination, but decided to contest for L.C 5 chairman seat because of numerous calls that he got from his electorates to come and serve them in the new district.

“There is still call by my electorates that I should go and lead them and there is also called by my party members that I should not only think of higher position, but serve at lower position,” he added.

Too-Lit said “when you offer yourself  to serve , it does not actually means that you are greedy or you do not want to leave politic, but you need to serve the people that put trust in you”.

He cited example on Democratic Party president, Norbert Mao who was the Gulu municipality MP, but people called him and served as chairman L.C 5 Gulu district in 2006 general election.

Too-lit said he did not lose in the 2011 and 2016 general election, but the elections were marred by vote irregularity by deputy speaker, Jacob Oulanyah.

He added that he did not appeal in court after he lost case in court when he dragged Oulanyah to court for fear of his life which was threatened.

Too-Lit claimed unknown assailant who abducted him from his home at Pece in Gulu and left him in Kampala threatened to kill him if he continues to petition deputy speaker.

The chairperson FDC team in Omoro district, Patrick Oola Lumumba said they held a meeting and decided that Too-Lit should go as sole candidate from FDC party.

He added that they have  four aspirants party members that are vying for position of woman MP Omoro seat, but need to have consensus to select one out of four without going for primary election.

Lumumba who is also chairman L.C 3 Bar Dege division mentioned the four aspirants as Prosy Alanyo Owiny, a former clinical officer Lalogi HCIV, Teddy Amito a social worker who was working for Meeting points, Sophie Jovana Akera who worked with save the children Uganda and Adonia foundation and Alice Akello Latigo who is a lawyer.

“We are vetting to get consensus of one candidate that will be our party flag bearer to contest for the position of woman member of parliament for Omoro district. We asked them to make their academic documents ready for verification with UNEB,” Lumumba remarked.

Lumumba said that they are going to hold meeting with people of Omoro to find out who should be a suitable candidate for woman MP as the party members are holding meeting for negotiation to have only one candidate as they are not going to carry out party primaries.

“Any aspirant who chooses to contest as an independent ceased to be member of the party. Our constitution barred any member for contesting as independent, but we have no mandate to stop any member to contest according to constitutional rights” he said.

Betty Aol Ochan, the Gulu woman MP said that they will guard their votes during the election by monitoring all the polling station to reduce vote irregularity.

“Omoro district only has 125 polling stations which are manageable and we will be in all polling stations physically to monitor election,” she added.

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Oulanyah rival faces arrest

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1426380/oulanyah-challenger-police-arrest

Acan promises to fulfill election pledges despite losing – See more at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/142415Acan promises fulfill election pledges despite losing

http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1424159/acan-promises-fulfill-election-pledges-despite-losing

Gulu University non-teaching staff has called off strike

By Jackson Kitara May 4, 2016

Gulu

The Gulu University non-teaching staff has called off strike after the government agreed to pay their arrears.

The non-teaching staff at Gulu University laid off their tools since Saturday that government has not committed to pay them, yet the promised to pay in the financial year 2016-2017.

The strike has led to closure of administration block, office of academic registrar; account department and toilet were stinking as the people employed are not cleaning it.

The strike worried students that they might not do exams this semester as the office of academic registrar and account department were all closed that they cannot register and no lecturer is at the campus.

According to assistant spokesperson Gulu University, Mohammed Khalid the non-teaching staff has called off strike today, Wednesday and will resume work tomorrow, May 5, 2016.

He added that this after they have had a general meeting where they received communication from the government official that their arrears for financial year 2015-2016 will be paid as enhancement.

Khalid said that the government has also agreed to increase their salary scale at the same level to that of teaching staff.

He added that according to communication they got from ministry of finance, planning and development, they will start receiving their arrears at the beginning of the financial year 2016-2017.

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Hillary Onek retains Lamwo NRM seat

Hillary Onek retains Lamwo NRM seat