Author: tembelaya

NAIROBI, KENYA | Six leaders from the East African Community (EAC) on Tuesday vowed to support former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC). The leaders from Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda said Odinga is the right candidate for the continental job. Speaking during the official unveiling of Odinga’s AUC bid in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Kenyan President William Ruto said Odinga is a visionary leader who possesses the professional capacity and experience that make him the ideal candidate to lead the AUC. “Kenya endorses Raila Odinga’s candidacy…

Donald Trump faced a revised federal indictment on Tuesday accusing him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, with prosecutors narrowing their approach after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution.U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained the superseding indictment in the Washington case, though it was highly unlikely to proceed to trial ahead of the Nov. 5 election when the Republican Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. The revised indictment lays out the same four charges prosecutors brought against the former president last year, but this one focuses on…

Kenyan legislator Babu Owino has hit back at Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni after the latter accused him of meddling in the neighbouring country’s politics. Taking to X hours after Museveni’s speech, the outspoken MP downplayed the remarks by the Ugandan President reiterating his support for democracy as a leader. Owino recounted his political journey saying he was raised in a humble background and understands the plight of the poor and those in need. In the same way, he compared the current economic situation in Kenya with that of the neighbouring Uganda saying young people in the two nations require good…

Kampala, Uganda The Second G-25 Africa Coffee Summit is set to take place in Uganda with the aim of addressing challenges faced by African coffee-producing countries and promoting value addition, as well as domestic consumption of coffee. Frank Tumwebaze, the Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, emphasized the importance of coffee value addition to the social-economic transformation of African economies during a press briefing at the government-owned media center. The summit intends to foster synergies to expand regional coffee trade within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Climate change and its impact on coffee farming in…

Nakapiripirit, Uganda | Uganda Wildlife Authority is concerned about the influx of cattle into the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. It says the presence of livestock in the reserve frustrates tourism activities. Pian Upe located in Nakapiripirit district borders about 8 other districts stretching from Amudat, Moroto, Katakwi, Napak, Kween, Kumi, Bukedea, and Bulambuli making it the second largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park. The game reserve is surrounded by the majorly two major pastoral communities of Karamoja and Pokot. It is now common to have livestock grazing in it. The grazing of cattle in the reserve has escalated…

Nairobi, Kenya | President Yoweri Museveni has joined other leaders in East Africa to support Raila Odinga’s campaign for the African Union Chairmanship. The veteran Kenyan politician, Raila Odinga is competing for the African Union (AUC) post against Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssou, former Mauritius Foreign Minister Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, and Richard James Randriamandrato, a former Madagascar Foreign Minister. Museveni joined other leaders in Nairobi as Kenyan opened the official campaigns for the AUC chairperson’s seat. Raila Odinga was nominated by Kenya for the seat of the African Union elections to be held in February next year. Raila is…

Hoima, Uganda | Joint security agencies in Hoima have recovered 36 iron sheets stolen from the Hoima city stadium construction site. The iron sheets, along with other construction materials, including iron bars, were stolen when thugs reportedly raided the construction site of the Hoima city stadium, situated in Kyarwiru cell in Hoima East Division last week. The stolen materials were being used to fence off the construction site. M/S SUMMA, a Turkish Company contracted to construct the 20,000-seater Hoima multi-purpose stadium, reported the theft, paving the way for investigations into the matter. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, told…

Kasese, Uganda | On Saturday, running enthusiasts and adventure seekers from around the world gathered in Kasese District for the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon. This event, which attracted participants from over 20 countries, has grown in prominence, with three of its courses receiving certification from World Athletics. The event, celebrated not just for its competitive spirit but also for the breathtaking scenery of the Rwenzori Mountains, continues to build a strong international reputation. The marathon offered a variety of courses to accommodate different fitness levels and interests: a 5km fun run, a 10km race, a 21km half marathon, and…

The collapse of the garbage-filling dump at Kiteezi is symptomatic of the wider governance crisis that has engulfed our country. Uganda is in disarray, without a central brain able to direct it anywhere. The aging President Yoweri Museveni is exhausted both physical and mentally. His ability to manage the affairs of state has been greatly diminished. And this has happened at a time when power has not only been greatly concentrated in the presidency but dangerously personalised in his hands. So bad is the situation that he must approve every big and small thing that must happen in the country.…

And so it was that on August 11 we were in Kigali for President Paul Kagame’s inauguration. It happened that a well-known Rwandan with Ugandan roots hosted a wedding of his son in Kigali the previous day. It attracted a large contingent of Ugandan elites from Kampala. Some of them had never been to Rwanda; many had not visited the country in 20 years. A few of these Ugandan visitors used to be rabid Kagame critics. They used to tout me for being “in bed” with a “murderous dictator”. They had a deep-seated animosity towards the Rwandan president personally and…