Author: Osbert Mwesigye

The Uganda Police has bashed claims that it has been using expired teargas to break up political campaigns of opposition presidential candidates. Speaking to reporters at the Uganda Media Centre, Edward Ochom, the Director of Operations in the Uganda Police said that before they use teargas, which he said is the most effective non-lethal method of crowd control, they first inspect it. There has been talk in the media of Police using expired teargas to break up campaign rallies of opposition presidential candidates, Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu, the National Unity Platform presidential candidate and Patrick Amuriat Oboi of the Forum for…

Presidential aspirant and Kyadondo East Member of Parliament (MP) Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert has today morning been arrested at his campaign venue in Luuka District following a scuffle between his supporters and security.  Police accused Kyagulanyi of having more than 200 supporters at his rally which was in violation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as set by the Electoral Commission (EC) to contain the further spread of COVID-19.  “Police under the command of Mwesigwa Frank of counter terrorism police has violently broken into Hon Kyagulanyi’s car and arrested him at Luuka District headquarter grounds,” a tweet through Bobi Wine’s official page read. Bobi Wine was arrested before he could start his campaign meeting in Luuka. He was scheduled to hold campaigns today in Busoga…

The COVID-19 treatment unit at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital has been filled to capacity according to the Hospital administration. The hospital serves as a referral for COVID-19 cases for areas around Kabale district including Rubanda and Kisoro district. Kabale District COVID-19 task force has in response suspended all non-emergency admissions at the hospital as corona virus cases continue to surge. Darius Nandinda, the head of the District COVID-19 task force in Kabale told The Ugandan Wire that they have decided to extend the treatment unit for COVID-19 cases to the medical ward at the hospital. “Consequently, with effect from Wednesday 18th 2020, all new incoming patients with other…

President Yoweri Museveni has made revelations that he has been in touch with the former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi with hope to resolve their political differences and work together again. Museveni made the revelation while speaking to National Resistance Movement (NRM) aspirants in Kitgum where he was winding up his campaigns for the 2021 election in Northern Uganda. “…. even with Rt.Hon. Mbabazi, recently we have been having meetings. I think you have been seeing us meeting ,” Museveni said on Tuesday.Museveni is contesting against 10 other candidates for the race of the country’s presidency in General elections that are to be held on January 14th 2021. Amama Mbabazi has of late been seen at functions held…

President Museveni, speaking to NRM leaders at Watoto Church open grounds in Gulu City on Monday, said he believes that if more money is added onto the Shs 168Bn for road contruction that all districts currently get, they would at least be in better position to look after roads in the jurisdiction. Museveni made these statements while on his ‘scientific’ campaign trail where he addressed a group of NRM leaders in Gulu City. Museveni mentioned that he has convinced cabinet to avail an extra Shs 146Bn to be given to districts throughout the country for road construction. “Shs. 168 billion means each district gets more than one billion shillings. We are now adding more money. When I went back,…

A new vaccine that protects against COVID-19 is nearly 95% effective, early data from US company Moderna shows. The results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, another American company that released a 90% effective vaccine last week, and adds to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic. Both companies used a highly innovative and experimental approach to designing their vaccines. Moderna says it is a “great day” and they plan to apply for approval to use the vaccine in the next few weeks. However, this is still early data and key questions remain unanswered. How…

A total of 45 students in two schools in Masaka District have tested positive for the corona virus disease, COVID-19.  Dr. Nathan Onyach, the Director Masaka Regional Referral Hospital says that most of these students are enrolled in the boarding section in their schools. He also confirmed that the students are admitted at the COVID-19 treatment center at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital. Onyach says that the surveillance team is still tracing all contacts to contain the spread of the virus. He further attributes the infections to failure to observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Onyach also urged that there is no…

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate has once again clashed with security officers today in Mayuge on his campaign trail. On Monday 16th November, NUP supporters were seen swimming through a swamp in Mayuge after security operatives blocked the road in an attempt to stop them from joining Bobi Wine procession. This, The Ugandan Wire learned, was in attempt to circle around the security officers and join the NUP candidate. The Kyadondo East Member of Parliament had just addressed a rally where he pledged to review sugarcane prices and champion land reforms in Busoga sub-region if he is elected president. Police and other security operatives had sealed off the road blocking Kyagulanyi’s procession. In photos that made…

Over 8,500 finalist students are stranded as the academic teaching staff at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) go on a sit-down strike over salary discrepancies. According to the promised salary structure from the Ministry of Public service, a Vice Chancellor in a public university is entitled to a salary of 20 million shillings, deputy vice-chancellor 17.4 million shillings, professor 15.6 million shillings, an associate professor 14.8 million shillings, a senior lecturer 9 million shillings, lecturer 8.1 million shillings, assistant lecturer 6.6 million shillings and teaching assistant 5.7 million shillings. Despite these numbers, the academic staff at the Nakawa-based University claim that they have been earning…

According to a notice to the public by the Bank of Uganda (BOU) on Friday, Crane Bank Ltd (CBL) has been placed under liquidation and winding up of its affairs in the country. The notice was titled “Liquidation and winding up of the affairs of Crane Bank Ltd under Section 99 (1) and (2) of the Financial Institutions Act, 2004.” According to the notice, the Central Bank shall be the liquidator of Crane Bank, and all borrowers of CBL whose loans were transferred to DFCU Bank must continue to service their loan obligations with DFCU Bank Ltd. This comes after Bank of Uganda took over ownership of Crane Bank…