Information is Power

📸: People fetching a contaminated running water in Maracha town council, Maracha east constituency. Pragmatic Help Achieving Social Empowerment (PHASE) an NGO registered in Somalia in 2014 with funding from iDRF in Canada has on Monday 22-4-2024 held an inception meeting with Maracha District politicians, technocrats and clergies, to discuss distribution of a water project that will benefit 9 Sub-counties in Maracha East constituency. The pre-planning meeting which was attended by the concerned stakeholders in the District resolved to drill the shallow wales lobbied by Mr Aduma Yeero Justus for the 9 Sub-counties in Maracha East constituency based on needs assessment. 📸: Aduma Yeero Justus  The country director and also the Program and Technical manager for PHASE Organization, Mr Aduma Yeero Justus says areas that will benefit from this water project will be done on needs assessment. He assured the people that, this charity program meant to benefit the com...

Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has said that the current times are the worst for anyone to be a politician in Uganda, wondering whether it is even worth it for anyone to be in involved in Uganda’s politics given the hatred and intrigue in society. "When they saw the name Tayebwa, they concluded it is Deputy Speaker. It is been painful because the way such videos go viral and the negativity of our politics in this country, people easily jump on it. I think this is the worst time to be a politician in Uganda and I don’t know if it is even worth it. Because really, the kind of society we have managed to build, the hatred spreading, it is really painful,” said Tayebwa. The Deputy Speaker made the remarks in a media interview at Parliament, where he was responding to a viral video made by a one Esther Ruhunde, who accused Tayebwa of stealing her family land, torturing and later imprisoning her husband following a land wrangle, only for the lad's allegations...

Street Vendors in Arua city were on the 18th of April 2024 engaged in serious running battles with security agencies following the demonstrations over the implantation of the trade order which seeks to bring order among the business community through curbing illegal practices such as street vending and wrong parking among others. These riots emerged after the make shift structures of the street vendors were destroyed by unknown people in the previous night angering the traders to cause destruction within the city center through demonstrating.. The angry street vendors, who turned up for work to only find their structures destroyed, resorted to demolishing clearing all the structures most especially those that survived most especially in areas of Lobida market ,Terego House and other areas. Obindu Jackson a vendor dealing in eggs attributes the rowdiness by the traders to discrimination in the implementation of the law. Ahmed Dramani another vendor dealing in carpets says...

Head of the Military Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva | File photo: Gideon Markowicz. Haliva was among the first to take responsibility for the intelligence failure on Oct. 7 when the Hamas onslaught took Israeli forces by surprise. By  Lilach Shoval Published on  04-22-2024 10:37 Last modified: 04-22-2024 10:52 Head of the Military Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen. Aharon H...

As a car owner, you’ll agree that there’s almost nothing more troubling and frustrating than automatic transmission grinding noise when shifting gears . The transmission may make several noises when shifting gears. These noises include rattling, whining, grinding, and clunking noise when shifting gears or accelerating. Most times, any transmission noises indicate a severe underlying transmission problem. A mechanic should track where these noises are coming from and proffer solutions before they escalate to total transmission failure. This article will discuss the causes of automatic transmission noise when put in gear. We’ll also look at how to rectify them. There should be minimal noise when you shift your transmission to gear. The transmission should shift easily and run smoothly. If the transmission grinds when it is in gear, you have a problem that needs urgent attention. Therefore, if you’re asking, ‘why is my automatic transmission grinding...

MPs have asked Gov’t to avail Shs31.330Bn for the payment of a Shs60M monthly salary to each of the 17 gazetted traditional leader (Kings & Chiefs), &  also have additional Shs17.2Bn to be provided for the construction of Palaces for the; lteso, Tieng Adhola, Buruli & Rwenzururu kingdoms as per Presidential directive.  Flavia Kabahenda, Chairperson, Parliament’s Gender, Labour & Social Development Committee revealed that the total annual budget requirement for emoluments for Traditional Leaders is Shs32.170Bn but only Shs840M has been provided, leaving a shortfall of Shs31.330Bn. "Ministry of Finance should avail Shs31.330Bn to cater for the implementation of Cabinet's directive on emoluments to the 17 gazetted Traditional/Cultural leaders. Construction of Palaces for the lteso, Tieng Adhola, Buruli & Rwenzururu Kingdoms. The Ministry of Finance should provide Shs17.2Bn for the construction of palaces for the lteso, Tieng Adhola, Buruli and Rwen...

Parliament also urged Gov’t to provide additional Shs4Bn to UTB to engage international and national media houses in production of positive media stories for improved destination image, following reports of drop in number of tourists from US, Europe and China visiting Uganda. "The National Development Plan targeted to cumulatively attract 281,760 International Tourist arrivals from US, Europe & China but only 67,252 arrivals were registered by the end of the first half of FY 2023/24. The U.S, Europe & China were key target source for leisure tourist who stay longer than business tourists. However, statistics show that international arrivals from the aforementioned areas have continue to drop. The UTB requires Shs4Bn to engage international & national media houses in production of positive tourism stories to improve destination perception in light of recent controversies that shade the destination in a bad light. However, this has remained unfunded,” said La...

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Kidemuka, the project engineer under the UPDF Engineering Brigade for Namboole Stadium, has revealed that part of the Shs97 billion approved to renovate the stadium was used to compensate and vacate the witch doctor of ‘Omusambwa Namboole’ to allow the works to proceed smoothly. He said the army was able to secure all the 128 acres of land, from several squatters including the witch doctor. “Works for the perimeter wall at Namboole started on 25th January 2022 and works were completed on 25th June 2022, and the project cost Shs3.8Bn and all the 128 acres of land are secure. We even had a witch doctor here who had a land title, but we had to ensure he goes away,” said Kidemuka. The project engineer made this revelation this morning when Speaker of Parliament Anita Among inspected the ongoing works following the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s refusal to approve the renovation works undertaken by UPDF Engineering Brigade. ...

  Copied from here 👇 Call For Applications: Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity Agribusiness Challenge Fund ( grants ranging from US$ 500,000 to US$ 2,500,000) by Blessing Joseph April 13, 2024 Facebook Twitter Email WhatsApp Copy Link LinkedIn Share The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity’s newly established Agribusiness Challenge Fund calls for proposals from African SMEs and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector. Fund seeks to support SMEs that can create dignified and fulfilling work for young people, starting with a focus on the agriculture sector. SMEs are to be selected based on their innovative, practical, and scalable businesses. The Mastercard Foundation Fund for Resilience and Prosperity  has launched an Agribusiness Challenge Fund, calling for proposals from SMEs in the agriculture sector that can create work opportunities at scale for young women and men, young persons with disabilities, and refugee yo...

📸: The late, Rtd Col Nelson Obiale, Courtesy Photo. The LC V Chairperson Arua District, wishes to inform everyone in Arua District and West Nile Region of the untimely demise of Col Nelson Obiale of Arua District, Anzuu Parish, Vurra Subcounty. Col Nelson Obiale has been a peace loving, development oriented and straight headed professional Army Officer and true son of the West Nile region. He with his other brothers in Vurra ensured that peace prevailed in the area despite all the turbulent times Uganda suffered. He has been a simple, social and development focused mentor in the community culminating into the retainance of current Arua District out of the mother district at the time of creating Arua City. He led the Operation Wealth Creation in Arua Zonal Area in West Nile. As Arua District and West Nile mourn his demise, we ask God to continue to guide us all in the region and districts of West Nile to remain united Fcused on development and peace. Arua Distri...

 Pragmatic Help Achieving Social Empowerment (PHASE), a non-governmental organization established in Somalia in 2014 with funding from iDRF in Canada, is gearing up to provide essential relief to vulnerable communities in Maracha District. In a planning meeting held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, stakeholders including politicians, religious leaders, and technocrats convened to strategize the distribution of food items to those in need. The consensus reached was to enlist the help of religious leaders from Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim faiths to identify and register vulnerable individuals. Each registered beneficiary is set to receive a package containing 3.5kg of rice, 3.5kg of maize flour, 3.5kg of sugar, and half a litre of cooking oil. The distribution is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 5, 2024. Deputy Khadi for Maracha town council, Avasi Al-hajji, expressed gratitude towards PHASE Organization and pledged to ensure integrity in the identification and di...

  📸: Hon Lematia John. By URN. Police in Arua district are investigating a case of assault and threatening violence involving the Member of Parliament for Ayivu West Constituency John Lematia and James Ariko, a DSTV technician in Arua city. Drama ensued on Easter Sunday 31-3-2024 at Dream Land Hotel located at Kuluva trading center along Arua-Nebbi highway in Arua district when the legislator and the technician engaged in a fight reportedly over a woman identified as Faith Eyotaru 25, a relationship officer at Victoria University Kampala. The scuffle started after Ayivu West Mp John Lematia went to swim at Dreamland Hotel with Faith Eyotaru only to find Ariko, who had gone to the same hotel earlier. However, upon seeing the duo coming out of the vehicle, Ariko confronted Lematia with both men claiming to be having a relationship with the lady. It took the intervention of the staff at the hotel who intervened and separated the fight between the men. Josephine Angucia, the West Nil...

The central division, Arua City deputy resident city commissioner Mr Ezama Ham Mizamil who first got appointed as the deputy RDC for Arua District in March 2022, and a year later transferred to central division Arua City is planning to organize a massive thanksgiving ceremony to appreciate God and the appointing authority, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for entrusting him to serve the people and Country in that position of RDC. The event which is slated to take place in May-2024, seeks to attract different categories of people from government, the business fraternity and the wananchi across the country. Stay tuned here for more. #iip_updates  #Information_is_Power  #we_inform_the_uninformed

Mase was selling ‘lugabile’ when she made her first will and then one day an ‘investor’ took interest in her business and started exporting her business products to other countries. Since then, Mase bought a house, and 3 lorries, a farm and 5 plots of land. But every time she looks at her will, it makes her look like she is still broke and struggling. Is a will final will or can she make another?   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A will is a legal document which shows how a person wants their property to be distributed and dealt with when they die. This means that if a person is still alive, they can change their mind and sell some property, or even get new property. So, a will is only final if it is what you have at the time you pass away.  This means that as long as you are still alive, you can change your will or even destroy it and make a new one altogether. This is so that it reflects what your actual wishes are at the time. So, if you get children or a spouse or get a buyer who w...

While pledging support for the completion of the Mothers’ Union house, Kamya expressed frustration about handling corruption complaints in her office, noting the lack of tangible evidence as they are often dealt with discreetly. “Corruption is killing this nation. In the office I sit in, I am the one who gets these corruption complaints, but the most disturbing thing is there is no evidence, it is always done under the table. I have the instruments of power to put these people down, but it’s done between two people, in closed doors in the dark. So, my instruments of power have become useless.” Kamya said. Rt. Rev. Canon Moses Banja, the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese with Mothers' Union members while the collected offertory. (Photo by Dallen Namugga) She made these remarks on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, during a St. Mary's Day celebrations service held at St. Stephen's Church of Uganda in Kabowa. Women belonging to the association, hailing from various parts of Kampala and Waki...

  Nakalembe lost all trust in human beings when she lost her husband in an accident. Some of her in-laws showed up and carried everything off that was in the house. Luckily, some things were left in Kampala, and there was a lot of money in the bank.  Nakalembe has never remarried, and her four children are growing up well. All except Jembe, who joined the local gang which uses weighing stones to rob people. Jembe has even sold his mother's chairs to get money to bet. Nakalembe is worried that if one day she dies, Jembe will sell or take away all the property she has worked for and leave nothing for his sister and brothers. She wants to write a will because they told her it will protect her property. Her only issue is she does not trust anyone to see or touch her will. So, can she keep it secret and not let anyone write or sign on it? Must she have a witness sign, or can she announce in a family meeting that she has a will? WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A witness is a person who knows...

  Irene went to a camp in Mabira forest with some friends. It was going well until she got lost. She started panicking and thought she would end up being eaten by a wild animal. She also started thinking about her property. She decided to record her Will in the form of a voice note and share it with a family group. Of course, she made it out of the forest, but she wants to know if one can record a Will if they can’t write in such circumstances.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   Unfortunately, Irene’s Will would not be valid. Recording a Will sounds easy, especially with the development of technology. However, our laws require us to write down our Wills. A will is an important document that shows your properties, the people you value (beneficiaries) and how this property should be shared. You really need time to sit down and accurately write this. In the event that you acquire new property, you can edit your Will or even create a new one.    However, just like they say,...

When a parent chooses a guardian for their children in a will (known as a testamentary guardian) while the other parent is alive, the law states that the guardian and the parent will take care of the children together. Both the parent and the guardian will have the same rights to the child, such as living with the children or making decisions for the children. The surviving parent have full rights by fact of being a biological parent and the guardian as well because the deceased parent of the child will have passed on these rights. The guardian, upon being appointed, has full parental rights, which they can pass on by appointing another guardian to the children in their will as well.  The law does not limit it to one parent to choose a guardian for the children. Both parents can choose guardians for their children. When the parents have chosen separate guardians, they must care for the children together. The law does not dictate whom a parent chooses as a guardian if the person is ...

   Milka’s mother died two years ago and she left for Milka and her sisters all the property that she owned. There were houses, two cars and about three pieces of land. Milka and her sister now want to transfer the property that their mother left for them into their names. However, their uncle Mujjawa told them that they have taken too long to ‘legally’ inherit the property into their names meaning that they do not want it and he is now the one entitled to take it.  WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   In Uganda, the law regarding the time limit for claiming inheritance may vary depending on several factors, including whether there was a Will or not. Although there is not a strict time when you are supposed to claim your inheritance, there are procedures and timeframes for executing the Will and transferring property to the beneficiaries.    If there was a Will, you will have to apply for probate. Probate is a legal process where the court verifies the will's legitima...

  Naka went to see the doctor and received the worst news. The doctor said that her condition is not getting worse and she needs to have a risky surgery done on her. Naka has been worried after her last doctors visit since she has young children and her husband left them 6 years ago. Naka has worked hard and has a number of businesses and rental that can help to take care of her children, but she is wondering if she can include in her will that her sister Kizza should be the one to take care of her children if anything happened to her.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? A guardian is a person who is not the biological parent of a child (person below the age of 18 years) but they are legally recognised to have parental responsibility over the child. Besides distributing property in a will, a parent can as well appoint a guardian for their children. This guardian is known as a testamentary guardian. When a parent is choosing a guardian for their child, they have to keep in mind that both ...

Namutebi recently found out that her husband had another woman called Nancy. In fact, Nancy is in the university, and she is now pregnant. When Namutebi found out about Nancy she became very ill. She was stressed and her blood pressure rose so highly that she had to be admitted in the hospital. When she came out of hospital, she decided to write her Will where she wrote that her husband should not marry Nancy or any other person if she dies and if he goes ahead to marry, he should not inherit any of her property.  WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? In Uganda, the law states that any person who is 18 years of age and above, can write a Will stating how they would want their property to be distributed when they pass away. However, there are laws that govern writing Wills, and you should not use your Will to infringe or limit another person’s right. The Constitution in Uganda provides that every person has the right to marry and form a family if they are eighteen years of age and above.  Thi...

  Mr and Mrs Zzake have always believed in building family wealth together. They jointly own several pieces of land and even have a joint bank account. They decided to write a will so that their children are guided on how the estate should be handled when they die.   Mr Zzake said since most of their property is joint property, they cannot put it in the will. He said wills only allow property owned by one person.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the law, jointly owned property like land is passed on to the surviving owner when the other owner dies. For example, if Mr Zzake dies first before Mrs Zzake, then the land they own together as joint tenants automatically becomes hers.   Therefore, if they write a joint will, it should be clearly stated that upon the death of one of them, the surviving spouse will take over all the property as theirs. This can also be mentioned if the two write individual wills.   However, in land law, there is a situation ca...

  Bato fears death. Even when people start talking about death, he runs away from them. Recently, his wife told him that he should write a will so that their children are protected in case he dies. Bate immediately locked himself in his office and drunk 7 bottles of alcohol until he was drunk. His friends had told him that alcohol can give him courage. After he got drunk, he got a pen and started to write his will. He forgot some of his property and even some of his children’s names. Is this will valid?   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the Succession Act, a person is not allowed to make a will when their mind is in a state where they do not know what they are doing.   This state of mind could be brought about by illness or drunkenness.   If there is proof that at the time when the person was writing the will, they did not understand what they were doing, then that will is not valid. It is important to note that someone can be intoxicated (have drugs or al...

  Naki and Sebi had been friends for a very long time. When Sebi was buying land, he even called Naki to be the witness to the land sale agreement. She signed the documents and witnessed the sale. Two years later, as Naki was writing her will, she told the lawyer to add that land she had witnessed. She said it counted as her property because she put her signature on the documents. Her lawyer refused to do it and said he cannot put property that does not belong to her. Now Naki is confused because she believes the property belongs to her.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?   According to the Succession Act of Uganda, a person writing a will is only allowed to give property that they own.This means there must be proof to show that you own the property you are giving away in your will.Naki in our example was only a witness not an owner so she cannot put that land in her will as hers.   If one wants to give away land, they should have the land title in their name that proves owner...

My wedding is in two weeks’ time, but a big opportunity to represent my company at the international level has come up. I have waited for this opportunity for a lifetime. I want to wed but I also don’t want to miss this opportunity in my career path. I have an identical twin sister and I want her to be the one walking down the aisle. My partner has agreed, and we are sure the priest won’t be able to notice. The plan is for us to link up with my husband at the honeymoon venue. However, we want to know if we are right under the law.   WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? The law in Uganda allows people who are 18 years and above to marry. For a marriage to be valid, certain things are required by the law: The people intending to get married must have given their consent to the marriage, they must be 18 and above, and the marriage should be conducted before a person who is allowed to officiate marriages. It should also be conducted before a place licensed for marriage ceremonies. (If the place i...