NRM parliamentary primary elections suspended: The National Resistance Movement (NRM) suspended primaries for parliamentary elections in different parts of the country due to irregularities and malpractices, which included stuffing ballot boxes with thousands of pre-ticked votes. Police reportedly arrested about 100 NRM members in different parts of the country. Reports indicate that eight soldiers in Kabale District and students from a secondary school belonging to a contestant from Lwengo District, were arrested for allegedly attempting to vote illegally and masterminding some of the violence. NRM electoral commissioner, Ms Lydia Wanyoto, yesterday admitted that administrative problems had hampered the voting exercise.
ÂAl Shabaab Kill 4 Ugandan soldiers: The Somali militants, al Shabaab reportedly killed four and injured eight Ugandan soldiers when they attacked the presidential palace in Mogadishu. Reports indicate that the attack, which brings the total number of Ugandan soldiers killed in Somalia to 30, comes a week after al Shabaab vowed to fight a “massive, final war†against the African Union troops. The killing of Ugandan peacekeepers is said to have left 80 people dead and 150 injured after a six day intensive fire exchange. Although the Amisom spokesman, Bahhoku-Bakuru says the peace keepers were in control, reports indicate that the Islamist militants claimed victory after the attack, saying they had killed the “invading Christian forces.â€
Otunnu officially exits IPC: After officially exiting the Inter-party Cooperation, Olara Otunnu, the UPC president wants Ugandans to embrace a national social movement to champion the fight for democracy in the country. Mr Otunnu said the national social movement aims to bring together democracy-seeking political parties, civil society, religious organisations, the business community, workers, pressure groups, and youth and women organisations.Â
Mr Otunnu, at a press conference at Christ the King Church in Kampala officially declared the exit of UPC from the Inter-Party Cooperation (IPC) sparking criticism from the opposition fraternity. However, he said that the country is yearning for a change of regime and yet the current electoral process being organised on Mr Museveni’s terms will involve massive fraud and rigging of elections.
Fire breaks out in Kisekka market: A fire burnt down properties worth billions at Kisekka market yesterday. Reports indicate that over 40 shops were burnt to ashes leaving traders in agony especially at the time when most of them have outstanding school fees to pay for their children.Â
Kampala Metropoliatan Police boss Andrew Sorewen, said that the fire could have been caused by an electrical spark. This is the first time the market that employs over 7000 traders is gutted by fire since it was established in 1996. In 2008, however another market, Owinowas burnt down and billions of shillings were lost. Fires have also gutted schools killing hundreds of students.
Theft of offertory on the rise-say police: Reports indicate that despite having not compiled statistics on theft of offertory cases, police says the cases are on a worrying rise. In a latest case, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Ibin Ssenkumbi, referenced an incident on Sunday at All Saints Cathedral when a suspect was arrested for carrying away offertory worth Shs340,000. Worshippers thought he was genuine since he had an identity card indicating that he was a cashier with the same church. However, the man was caught when he attempted to put the offertory bag in another bag. This is not an isolated case. Several cases of theft have been reported at Christ the King Church, Namirembe Cathedral and several city mosques. At St. Francis church at Makerere University someone is reported to have broken the safe and stolen millions of money.
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