Kotido District, Uganda – East Africa.
by AdministratorVP Alupo Lays Foundation Stone For Karamoja Peace And Technology University
The Vice President of Uganda Maj. Jessica Alupo has launched the construction of Karamoja Peace and Technology University in Kotido district to foster Peace and Education in the Great Lakes region.
The University is being established in Losilang Ward, Kotido Municipality, Kotido district, Karamoja sub region in Eastern Uganda. The university project is being spearheaded by Kotido Catholic diocese led by Rt. Rev Dominic Eibu the bishop of Kotido diocese and the Catholic Lawyers Society International.
When completed, the University will offer courses in Computer Science and Applied Technology, Oil, Gas and Metals Industry and Education.
Others are Peace and Security Studies, Environment, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Health Sciences, Business and Entrepreneurship and Law among others.
Vice President Jessica Alupo and Woman MP for Katakwi district represented President Yoweri Museveni at a colorful ceremony attended by Politicians, Religious leaders, the academia and locals from all spheres of life.
In Pictures
In her remarks, the vice president said the establishment of ‘Karamoja Peace and Technology University’ will drive and lead the process of providing quality transformational and inspiring education to produce practical and skilled professionals who will greatly contribute to the process of social-economic transformation and development of the great lakes region.
“The University will help conduct research and build capacity of the youth, women and community leaders. Develop knowledge and community-based peace- infrastructure to promote harmony, security, and stability in the region,” she said.
Alupo further noted that when completed, the University, the first ever in Karamoja will develop appropriate technology to harness natural resources for wealth creation and integral human development.
She assured locals and development partners that government supported the establishment of the university from inception and that it will ensure its sustainability.
She informed the audience that as deputy chancellor and President Museveni as Chancellor, they will ensure that all programs are relevant in the job market. “As government we support the idea of the peace programs and also going home to home teaching about the value of peace,” Alupo said.
She further explained that they want Karamoja sub region to be part and partial of the rest of the regions of Uganda without those isolated incidences of cattle-rustling.
She called everyone to embrace technical education and presidential industrial hubs because they offer skills which make you readily available for work in the job market.
She appealed to the university management to offer small jobs to the indigenous people when construction starts to create a spirit of ownership.
“Let’s have the communities here participate in the construction process to avoid bringing people from far. Prioritize employing of Karachunas on the construction sites” the vice president appealed.
She urged the people of Karamoja to take children to school to ensure their children make the biggest population in this university. She thanked religious leaders for demonstrating a very strong solidarity through the inter religious council for making education all-inclusive to Ugandans no matter their religious denomination. She lauded Bishop Eibu for donating over 2000acres of prime land to establish Karamoja Peace and Technology University.
The vice president used the same platform to give Government of Uganda re-assurances of amnesty to reformed youths who voluntarily returned a gun that was used to kill two Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldiers in Kotido last week. She noted that right now Karamoja needs only books, pens, pencils and Rubbers but not guns and urged other youths harboring guns to pick a leaf and return them.
Bishop Eibu said this university is going to be solid because it’s being constructed in the heart of Karamoja sub region and shall play a transformative role in the region. The bishop asked government to support the initiative to ensure it becomes a success adding that its success here is also for government.
“Together we should hold this project at heart for the good of Karamoja and the great lakes region,” the bishop said.
He asked for each one’s cooperation to make the project a reality from which they shall all benefit. He asked the people of Karamoja to embrace government programs which are brought to transform their lives especially the Parish Development Model which is aimed at fighting household poverty at the parish level.
Severino Twinobusingye the president of Catholic Lawyers Society international appealed to all young and old to come so that they can learn together, acquire knowledge and skills that will help them transform their lives for sustainable growth.
He further explained that in the faculty of peace and security studies, their first students will be warriors and Karachunas.
He noted that in the faculty of agriculture and environmental sciences, they plan to set up large scale scientific agricultural farms in Karamoja sub region and turn it into a green land and world food basket.
In the faculty of education, they plan to keep learners from nursery to university levels without dropping out.
Twinobusingye further said the university will promote adoption of appropriate technology to supply clean water for agriculture, human and animal consumption, and mitigate the challenges caused by climate change.
“Train communities and set up pilot projects of large-scale scientific farming techniques to produce sufficient food for the population and turn Karamoja Sub-region into a world food basket,” the Lawyers president said.
He said that the university will serve communities across the international borders of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Museveni is its Chancellor.
SOURCE: ( Catholic Lawyers Society International, 28th July, 2023 )
by AdministratorThe Executive should take Parliamentary resolutions more seriously
Due diligence must be carefully exerted by the executive on decisions to decrease the risk of getting into trouble on the basis of Parliament recommendations as was of the former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, during the alleged ‘oil bribery’ scandals that saw a UGX 13 billion compensation being awarded to Mr. Severino Twinobusingye.
by AdministratorMuseveni to be served summons to defend self
Yoweri Museveni who was re-elected as president in the February 18 polls is set to be served with summon letters requiring him to respond to the election petition that was filed against him by former presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi.
According to Maggie Lukowe, Mbabazi’s communications officer, Museveni will be served by a team of lawyers including Severino Twinobusinge and Micheal Akampurira at State House Entebbe at exactly 2.00pm, today.
Court requires that in such rare cases, the respondent is served personally by the petitioners’ lawyers. Therefore, the summons will be handed over to the president and not his representatives, of which he has to confirm receipt.
This follows an election petition filed by Mbabazi on Tuesday this week challenging the declaration of Museveni as the duly elected president, and seeking for nullification of the results.
The petition was filed by Mbabazi against Museveni, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General.
Mbabazi emerged third in the race, managing a dismal performance of 1.5% of votes cast.
SOURCE: ( New Vision story by Betty Amamukirori, 3rd March, 2016 )
by AdministratorThe 2nd Uganda Presidential Debate 2016
The Second Uganda Presidential Debate 2016
Watch the video below:
SOURCE: ( State House Uganda, 25th February, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMluQ6xifjk )
by AdministratorUganda’s Ruling Party Challenged By Ousted Party Official
Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is facing a legal challenge from former party Secretary-General Amama Mbabazi, who was ousted in a party vote December 15.
The NRM voted to replace him with Justine Kasule Lumumba, who is expected to report for duty January 1.
But Mbabazi, a former prime minister, has gone to court to challenge his removal. His lawyer, Severino Twinobusingye, said his client intends to serve out his full five-year term, which expires in July.
“He was elected for a five-year term of office by the appropriate organ of the party, and he has to serve that term of office for five years until July next year. He is still the secretary-general,” he said.
Twinobusingye said political parties in Uganda are governed by the Political Parties and Organizations Act, which was made pursuant to the provisions of the Ugandan constitution.
He said the constitution precedes the ouster of Mbabazi.
“As a result, these matters are in the Constitutional Court of Uganda, and it is not possible that anybody can stop him (Mbabazi) from coming back to start his duty come first of January 2015. What they did, I think, was an exercise in futility. It is not good for the rule of law,” he said.
Twinobusingye said he’s confident the Constitutional Court will demonstrate its independence by siding with his client.
“I have absolutely 100 percent confidence in the judicial system of Uganda. Our judiciary is independent, and we are 100 percent certain that they will determine this case to its logical conclusion. We do not see it being done any other way,” Twinobusingye said.
Ugandan courts are currently on their Christmas break and are expected resume their duties next month. Twinobusingye hopes the court will expedite Mbabazi’s case.
“What is very important is that constitutional matters under Ugandan jurisprudence take precedence over all other matters of the court. So, whatever matters are pending in the courts have to be suspended. And, it is extremely critical that it is handled and done expeditiously because it affects the rights of everyone in Uganda,” he said.
Twinobusingye said he does not expect confrontation because Ugandans are peaceful and understand what Mbabazi is going through.
He also said President Yoweri Museveni cannot order Mbabazi’s arrest because both men were both elected to serve out their five-year terms of office.
“I don’t think that cannot happen because the president, who is the party chairman, knows that the current secretary general was elected to serve five years. He was elected the same day the party chairman, Yoweri Museveni, was elected. The party chairman is going to serve for five years. The secretary general, who was also elected with him, is also going to serve his term of office for five years,” Twinobusingye said.