Museveni draws fire over bail

President Museveni

President Museveni’s threat to call a referendum on his proposal to scrap the constitutional right to bail for specific offences yesterday drew criticism from human rights activists and the law fraternity outraged by what they say is an attack on the fundamental freedoms of Ugandans.

While meeting ruling party MPs at State House, Entebbe, on Monday night, Mr Museveni said he will call a public vote on bail if Parliament, where the proposal has been met with some resistance, rejects his wishes.

Mr Museveni wants people accused of participating in protests, riots, engaging in economic sabotage, treason, rape, murder and defilement to be held for not less than 180 days (six months) before they can be granted bail.

Article 23(6) of the Constitution, however, provides for the right of suspects to apply for bail which court may grant on such conditions as it considers reasonable.

Yesterday, the Uganda Law Society (ULS), which has a statutory mandate to “protect and assist the public in Uganda on all matters touching, ancillary or incidental to the law”, advised against the course of action proposed by the President.

The society’s president, Mr James Mukasa Sebugenyi, said: “As ULS, we maintain that granting of bail should remain a judicial discretion under the current legal regime and precedents.”

Mr Sebugenyi warned that enacting laws targeted at specific citizens would contravene the basic tenets of the rule of law. If a referendum is called over this matter, Mr Sebugenyi said, it would test the fabric of constitutionalism in the country.

The proposal, which has also been criticised for its apparent assault on the crucial principle of presumption of innocence, is also viewed as a ploy to punish Mr Museveni’s political opponents and a direct attack on the constitutional guarantees to protect inherent human rights and freedoms.

Mr Livingstone Ssewanyana, the executive director, Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, said they would challenge Mr Museveni’s proposal in court if it ever became law.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1200930/-/bl79gtz/-/index.html

New Russian-built jet fighters arrive in Uganda

Kampala

The Shukoi Su-30 fighter jets that government bought from Russia at $740 million (Shs1.8 trillion) have arrived in the country, military sources confirmed last night.

UPDF Airforce yesterday used one of the fighter planes to conduct test flights over Entebbe, sparking panic among residents with the din of the roaring engines.

People residing in or around Entebbe town said the deafening noise took them unawares and disrupted peaceful living. Lugonjo, Katabi, Kitooro, and Kiwafu were the most affected areas. “I am a poultry farmer and earn my living by rearing layers. The jets being tested on Sunday and Monday caused a setback in the way the birds lay their eggs,” said Ms Rose Namagara, a resident. Airforce Spokesman, Capt. Tabaro Kiconco, however, said the test flights are “normal and people should not get scared whenever we fly our aircrafts”.

He said: “Areas in close proximity of military installations or airbases the world over are synonymous with such noise.”
Defence officials declined to state when the jets were shipped into the country on grounds movement of military equipment and personnel is confidential information “since it has a security element.”

The acquisition, at Shs1.8 trillion, of the military jets on the backdrop of soaring inflation stirred public anger with critics questioning the cost, timing and necessity - especially that Uganda is not known to be on the edge of war with any country. Mr Emmanuel Mutebile, the central bank governor, threw the Ugandan shilling into its worst volatility in 17 years, when he told UK’s leading business newspaper, the Financial Times, that President Museveni ignored technical advice to raid the country’s meagre foreign exchange reserves to buy the jets.

The reserves that could last at least six months consequently diminished to a probable four months, he said. The statements triggered commotion in the local financial market, plunging the Ugandan shilling,
which is now showing signs of recovery, to trade at 2, 700 to a US dollar.

The Russian-built Shukoi SU-30 jet fighter, which the UPDF is understood to have acquired, is a twin-engine, multi-purpose aircraft for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions, according information gleaned from the Internet. It can undertake combat missions within 3, 000 kilometre range, affording the UPDF the legroom to strike at distant targets with precision and efficiency.

Speaking about the jet fighters in May, the Chief of Defence Forces said the investment would relieve the army for at least 25 years and the UPDF is “late in acquiring the aircrafts.” “There is nothing to celebrate [in the acquisition],” Gen. Aronda Nyakairima told journalists then at his Mbuya office. He said Uganda had no country on its mind while buying the sophisticated jets that some analyst predict could spark arms race in the region.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1199984/-/byjv5nz/-/index.html

FDC officials arrested for attempting to walk

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) officials have been detained at Mukono Central Police station for attempting to walk from the party retreat in Mukono to Kampala as there are no taxis in the area due to the taxi operators strike.
The taxi operators under their umbrella association DACCA are protesting against mistreatment by URODA officials, the body responsible for collecting dues from public transport operators.The arrested officials include; Siisa Patrick Chairman Kyenjojo, Kazooba Israel former MP candidate Rwampara, Turyatunga Peter Chairperson Kisoro, Birungi Elizabeth former Woman MP Kabarole, Paaza Aloysius former MP candidate Rubanda.
Attempts to get a comment from police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Division Ibn Senkumbi  were futile as he could not answer his phone
The DPC for CPS Norman Musinga was not aware of the arrest. He said he was learning this from The Independent adding that he would comment later on in the day.

http://www.independent.co.ug/component/wordpress/2011/07/fdc-officials-arrested-for-attempting-to-walk/?Itemid=331