Monthly Archives: June 2011

South Sudan officially invites Bashir to celebrations

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, has been officially invited to grace South Sudan’s independence celebrations, contrary to earlier speculation that his presence at the event was problematic, Barnaba Benjamin Marial, the information and broadcasting minister, has confirmed. “We have extended invitation to the National Congress Party (NCP) and President Bashir as part of the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ends on July 08. President Bashir must speak at the event,” Marial told journalists at the weekly media briefing on Tuesday.Also invited for the celebrations, he added, are leaders of the other political parties currently operating in the north of the country. The minister’s remarks come a … Continue reading →

Posted in Southern Sudan, Sudan | Leave a comment

The colonial hand in Africa’s woes

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

TODAY’S OPINION: By Robert Asketill Freedom from dictatorship of one sort or another has become for the many a rare and unobtainable jewel in life, often snatched away by a new class of people whose selfishness and greed for every known luxury in life far exceeds that of any former oligarchy known to history.  Always in the past, each stratum of society had a communal place and a specialist role within that society and there was a sense of duty both to those above and those below which bound them together. Of course there were always the selfish individual exceptions but they were exceptions within each linked class and, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Leave a comment

Attempts to crash Buganda will only lead to disaster

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

TODAY’S OPINION: By Robert Asketill Most of us know the power of Mukajanga and some of us have had our own tussles with his office. But believe in him or not, one thing is certain.  Mukajanga was part of the Kingdom of Buganda’s history and despite attempts by Museveni’s dictatorial government, with its introduction of an alien socialism, the kingdom remembers its numerous martyrs who died for freedom and takes pride in the more than 20 who marched so stoically to their deaths during the time of the American civil war. Whilst that great nation was slaughtering one another, and from what we read seems to be continuing to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Uganda | 2 Comments

Summer and the Isle of Wight festival- reminiscence of the life and sunshine we left back in Buganda

Posted on June 28, 2011 by

By Robert Asketill For a few days at least we of the African Diaspora can think of home now that a little summer with its delightful warmth has consented to bless these European lands. Missing our homeland we may be, but in many cases thankful to have escaped dictatorship and tyranny and be able to appreciate and enjoy living far from accusations of sedition and imprisonment in filthy conditions with little hope of release. Even so the living is not always easy for those of us in exile. Often the accommodation is in high-rise flats on estates with an ever increasing army of refugees, especially at this time from unhappy … Continue reading →

Posted in Uganda | Leave a comment

LETTER FROM KAMPALA: Prof Bukenya fights prosecution while ex-mayor Ssebaggala resists eviction

Posted on June 26, 2011 by

By Christine Acen Drama engulfed Kampala all week as former public officers were arraigned before court to answer charges ranging from corruption, fraud and abuse of office. This week, Former Ugandan Vice President (VP), Prof Gilbert Bukenya (Photo), was charged with fraud and abuse of office and another former VP, Dr Specioza Wandera Kazibwe was also queried over her dealings in the junk computer scandal. All appeared before competent tribunals while former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) boss, David Chandi Jamwa appeared before Court from Luzira Maximum Prison seeking to be released on bail. Mr. Jamwa was charged with abuse of office during his term in office resulting to financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nyiramasuhuko gets life for her role in Rwanda genocide

Posted on June 26, 2011 by

A former Rwandan women’s minister has been sentenced to life in prison for her role in the genocide and the rape of Tutsi women and girls. Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, 65, is the first woman to be convicted of genocide by an international court. She was found guilty, along with her son and four other former officials, after a 10-year trial. Nyiramasuhuko, who was family affairs and women’s development minister, was accused of ordering and assisting in the massacres in her home district of Butare in southern Rwanda. The prosecution at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) accused her of taking part in the government decision to create militias throughout the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rwanda | Leave a comment

Questions being raised about success of Arab Spring

Posted on June 25, 2011 by

By Robert Asketill We are now well into what the media universally has been calling “The Arab Spring”, a description looking increasingly optimistic for although we have been invited to discover a new Egypt that seemingly delights the political hierarchy of London and Washington, many of whom show an ostrich-like tendency to put their heads in the sand, there is certainly little or no change for the better for those brave Egyptians who really did think it would come as they battled  against all odds and succeeded in gathering hundreds of thousands into Tahrir square despite being attacked by riot police using sticks, tear gas and rubber bullets. They were … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Egypt | Leave a comment

Bandits, militias and the army causing havoc in the DRC

Posted on June 22, 2011 by

Bandits, militias and alleged abuses by the army are causing access problems for aid workers trying to help large concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the territory of Irumu, part of the Ituri region in north-western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Among the 130,000 IDPs in the Ituri region, 89,864 (69 per cent) are in the territory of Irumu, about 40km southwest of Bunia, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Remnants of militia groups which fought for control of Irumu until 2007 remain active, carrying out sporadic attacks against civilians. Banditry and human rights abuses have reportedly been carried out by the Front … Continue reading →

Posted in DRC | Leave a comment

Tennis fans enjoy chocolate bites as child labourers toil in the sun

Posted on June 22, 2011 by

Sitting back in comfort watching Serena Williams take her position on the Wimbledon tennis court, a brave Afro-American lady who was recently near death with blood clots in her lungs and still recovering, one saw her as a great ambassador for Africa’s constant struggle for dignity at a time when the continent is being torn to pieces by selfish capitalist units who seldom have any feeling for the sons and daughters of the great continent. We watched Serena break down in tears, despite winning her match, tears that brought moisture to the eyes of many of those who had watched the long court battle between two very courageous, skilful representatives … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa | Leave a comment

Uganda police assault Bukedde journalists

Posted on June 22, 2011 by

Bukedde Television (BTV) correspondent Kigongo Ssebalamu has been assaulted for covering a village meeting that police was addressing without securing its clearance. He was arrested last Monday at a village meeting to which he had been invited by residents of Kitara Katabi Sub County in Wakiso District to offer coverage. The meeting was intended to resolve matters concerning witch craft where one resident Corporal Male Namukangula was being accused of being at the center of the problem. Eye witness Kato Suleiman told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that Ssebalamu was roughed up and clobbered by a group of police men using batons and gun handles after refusing to stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Uganda | Leave a comment