20091204

Kampala — The government yesterday reiterated its opposition to homosexuality and said donors were free to withdraw their funding if they wish.

Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo was responding to a Daily Monitor story that Sweden had joined other countries that are pressuring the government to discard a proposed law that would severely punish homosexuality in the country.

"Homosexuality will not be promoted, encouraged or supported in Uganda," Mr Buturo added.

Mr Buturo told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala that: "We should remind them (the donors) that there is integrity to be defended and threats are not the way to go. If one chooses to withdraw their aid, they are free because Ugandans do not want to engage in anal sex. We do not care."

Life imprisonment

Life imprisonment is the minimum punishment for anyone convicted of having gay sex, under an anti-homosexuality Bill currently before Uganda's parliament

He said Ugandans are sober people who consider homosesuality abnormal.

According to comments attributed to Ms Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden's development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find "appalling".

Mr Buturo said ever since the Bill was tabled in Parliament, various countries have been overreacting and castigating Uganda for having such a law debated by Parliament.

As Mr Buturo was castigating donors, the Uganda Human Rights Commission announced that it will scrutinise the Bill and make recommendations before it is debated. Commission Chairman, Mr Med Kaggwa, said the exercise will help establish whether the Bill, which has been criticised by some rights groups, violates human rights.

"What I can say is that we are human rights defenders and if they (gays) come and complain of discrimination we shall handle their cases," he said without divulging details.

Mr Butoro warned donors against making statements in the press.

He urged them to channel official communication through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The government welcomes views that well-wishers of Uganda make concerning her governance. It should be noted from the outset that when such views are from diplomats who are accredited to Uganda, the standard diplomatic practice world over is for such views to be communicated to government through well known diplomatic channels," he said.

Not civilised

"It is never, ever, a standard practice in the civilised world for a diplomat to address the press of a country in which he or she is serving on how the host country is handling affairs of its land," he added.

The European Union envoy to Uganda, Mr Vincent De Visscher, in an interview with Daily Monitor on Wednesday, demanded that the government stops offering lip-service in the fight against corruption.

But Mr Buturo said such a statement can only be made by a person who is "unaware of what is going on in the country."

"It is clear to government and whoever cares to understand the complexities of corruption, that it will take more than the government alone to defeat the corrupt," he said.

He said the corrupt usually enjoy the support of foreign companies. "The corrupt are found everywhere," he said.

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20091204

Nairobi — As the man who brokered the ceasefire to halt the carnage that engulfed Kenya in the wake of the 2007 elections catches up on developments during his ongoing visit, there are specific areas worth close attention.

Dr Kofi Annan will undoubtedly get the message in his meetings with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the reform process designed to ensure sustainable peace and security is on track.

From some western embassies and the civil society groups they fund, Dr Annan will be told that Kenya is on the brink of collapse.

Between the two extremes, Dr Annan must source independent and credible information that can be relied on to present a picture not coloured by bias and self-interests. It will be important also that he seeks a fuller and more rounded analysis of the state of the nation.

The audit released by South Consulting last October, for instance, lauded the President and the Prime Minister for casting aside previous suspicions and working together.

The report, however, noted that cordial relations between the two principals had not permeated to their respective political parties, which continued to pull in different directions.

Since then, the situation has become even worse, because the constituent parties are themselves hit by splits that are taking on ugly ethnic dimensions.

Key leaders in both PNU and ODM are focusing more on shadow-boxing ahead of the 2012 elections.

While we may be putting hope on the draft constitution currently under debate, we also seem to be forgetting other processes crucial to repairing the torn national fabric.

There has been very little movement, for instance, since the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission were inaugurated.

Both have critical roles to play in fostering peace, healing, forgiveness and reconciliation; and repairing the hatred, bitterness and suspicion that still blights relations between some ethnic groups.

A key task for Dr Annan might be on fast-tracking operationalisation of the two important bodies.

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20091204

Nairobi — The Thursday heartless bomb attack in Mogadishu that killed 22 people -- three among them Cabinet ministers -- and left more than 40 other people badly injured demonstrated that vicious and vile insurgents are determined to destroy Somalia.

Coming after the September bombing of an African Union base which killed 17 peacekeepers, it means peace remains elusive in Somalia.

Critically, the bombing and turbulence in Somalia has far reaching ramifications for the eastern Africa region. Kenya, specifically, is in dire threat because of the influx of Somalis running away to seek refuge and, with that, the potential entry of militants and the proliferation of arms.

Kenya was host to the negotiations that led to the creation of the United Nations-backed transitional government. Members of that government routinely visit and live in Nairobi, making ours a potential targets for the insurgents.

For Kenya -- and her neighbours -- therefore, pushing for a peaceful settlement of the Somalia conflict is imperative. Strict surveillance is critical to pre-empt any threat, and equally important is the enactment of tough laws to deal with terrorism.

The United Nations, the African Union and other international organisations supporting the transitional government in Mogadishu must renew their resolve to end the conflict.

20091204

Nairobi — Retired President Daniel Moi is to be summoned through the media to appear in a case in which he has been sued by a former detainee.

The court allowed Mr Mwangi Stephen Muriithi to issue suit papers to Mr Moi after he explained that it was difficult to do so due to the former president's heavy security.

In their application, the former director of a special police unit who says he was unlawfully detained during the Moi era, asked the court to allow him to place the summons in the newspapers in the form of an advertisement.

Mr Muriithi is challenging Mr Moi's decision to sell property that he jointly owned with the former president and other partners.

He is also accusing the former president of unlawfully ordering his detention without trial, saying it was unconstitutional and had ulterior commercial advantages.

He says that the parcels of land in Nairobi and Nakuru were registered under investment companies in which both he and Mr Moi were partners.

According to documents filed in court, the parcels were sold during the time Mr Muriithi was in detention in 1982.

The petitioner claims that Mr Moi had denied him access to dealings in the investment and that he was unable to access any information regarding the investments and the transactions.

He has asked the High Court to declare that his detention was illegal and that the former president had him put away with the ulterior motive of achieving a commercial advantage.

Mr Muriithi also wants to be compensated, saying his rights as a Kenyan were violated.

He wants the sale of the property to be considered illegal and unconstitutional.

"The sales were done while the petitioner was in detention and should therefore be declared unlawful," the suit papers say.

Mr Muriithi said he had tried to serve Mr Moi for the past two months to no avail.

Lady Justice Jeanne Gacheche allowed him to place the summons in the media.

The two together with others owned four investment companies, among them Fourways Investment Ltd, Mokamu Ltd, and Sheraton Holdings Ltd, in which the respondent owned 40, 33, and 40 per cent stake respectively. Mr Moi owned 19, 33, and 19 per cent respectively.

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20091204

Two Rwandan peacekeepers from the joint African Union-United Nations mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were killed and others wounded today in an attack by unidentified gunmen while collecting water at the north of the strife-torn Sudanese region.

The attack, which occurred in Saraf Umra in North Darfur, brought to 17 the number of UNAMID armed personnel killed in a hostile confrontation since the mission deployed at the start of 2008. The most deadly incident occurred in July last year when a joint police and military patrol was ambushed by at least 200 attackers on horseback and armed SUVs in North Darfur, leaving seven peacekeepers dead and 22 wounded.

Today's attack follows the shooting and wounding of three other peacekeepers, also by unidentified gunmen, in West Darfur in October, and the killing of another in South Darfur in May, as well as the kidnapping of two UNAMID staff members in August in West Darfur. They are still being held.

The dead and wounded were evacuated to El Fasher, the North Darfur capital, the mission reported, noting that information was still preliminary.

In his latest report on UNAMID last month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said increased threats to international staff, including "extremely alarming" kidnappings, military action by Chad, Sudan and rebels, and Government limits on peacekeepers' movements continued to hamper efforts to stabilize the Sudanese area torn apart by nearly seven years of war.

At least 300,000 people are estimated to have died and 2.7 million more have been driven from their homes in the fighting between the Government, its militia allies and various armed groups.

Almost two years after being set up, UNAMID has still only reached 69 per cent of its authorized troop strength - 14,638 military personnel out of the total 19,555, and 4,449 police - and still lacks key military elements, including two medium transport units, a level II hospital, an aerial reconnaissance unit, and 18 medium utility helicopters.

allafrica

20091204

Somalia — The rival political sides of Somalia have unanimously condemned yesterday's deadly bomb attack targeted to Shamo hotel, just as well decorated graduating ceremony held for Banadir University students continued in the hotel.

More than 25 people were killed and 50 others were injured in the explosion. Most of the people who died in the blast were high officials of the TFG, doctors, professors, student s and journalists who all attended in the graduating ceremony that was going on in the hotel.

TFG president Sharif Sheik Ahmed said that they were very sorry what had happened yesterday pointing out that the explosion was what he described foreign ideology and strongly condemned it and sent his deep condolence to the relatives of the people died in the blast.

Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen had also criticized the bomb attack which resulted in more casualties of deaths, injuries and the loss of the properties.

Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage known as (Sheik Ali Dere), the spokesman of the Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen has sent condolence to the parents of those who lost their lives in the explosion adding that they were not involved what happened.

Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, head of the Islamic organization of Hisbul Islam also joined those who sent their condolence messages to the people whose people lost in yesterdays' bomb attack adding that he was so sorry about it.

Both presidents of the break away republic of Somaliland and semi-autonomous region of Puntland accused those who masterminded the explosion pointing out that it was sorrowful event adding shocked all the Somali people.

The two presidents of Puntland and Somaliland Dahir Rayle Kahin and Abdirahman Mohamud Farole had sent their condolence to the relatives and parents of the people who were killed in the suicide blast which killed more people including ministers, doctors, journalists and students in Shamo hotel as they were attending the graduation ceremony held for Banadir University in Shamo hotel in Mogadishu.

Banadir University was established in 2002 by group of Somali doctors and most of the people who died in the explosion were the student who graduated from it and preparing to take their diplomas after completing the medical faculty of Banadir University in Mogadishu.

allafrica

20091204

Mogadishu — The transitional Federal Government have Friday made national funeral for the ministers assassinated in the suicide bomb attack in Shamo hotel in Mogadishu which left more people on Thursday.

More TFG officials led by president Sharif Sheik Ahmed, PM Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharma'arke and speaker of Parliament Sheik Aden Mohamed Nor (Madobe) had attended the national burial made for the education, high education and health ministers of the transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu.

The faces of the government officials who attended the funeral occasion could be seen grief and how they were sorry for the death of the ministers, professors, doctors, students and journalist who were killed in the blast happened in Mogadishu

The speaker of the TFG sheik Aden Madobe had firstly talked and sent condolence to all the people whose people died in yesterday's explosion in Shamo hotel pointing out that the blast was masterminded by what he described people connected with foreign ideology.

20091204

The president of Somalia's Puntland State has strongly condemned yesterday's suicide blast that killed more than 22 people, including three ministers in the restive capital Mogadishu.

President Abdirahman Mohammed Farole said the barbaric act was meant to disrupt the security of the region, sending his condolences to the families of the victims.

"First of all I want to send my condolences to the families of all the ministers killed in the terrorist and satanic attack," he told BBC.

He called on neighbouring countries to do something about the situation, adding that his government is ready to help in solving the crisis.

"Am telling the neighbouring countries to help Somalia overcome this crisis because its affecting the region."

"We are ready to assist in anyway to help re-establish Somali state. We must come together to end this crisis."

The blast, which claimed the lives of innocent people including graduates, has attracted popular outrage in and utside the country with the fingers pointed at the insurgent group Al-Shabaab.

However, the group, through its spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage, refute claims that it was behind the attack.

"We had nothing to do with the attack and we are very sad about it," he told reporters in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabaab has in the recent past carried out attacks on government officials and African Union forces in the war-torn capital.

Al-Shabaab has in the recent past carried out attacks on government officials and African Union forces in the war-torn capital.

allafrica

20091203

Cape Town — AFRICANS are renowned for their flamboyant and colourful way of celebrating when demonstrating their passion for the beautiful game. Those that have found themselves in Cape Town have encountered unmatched sporting fever and euphoria that is anticipated to reach fever pitch during the 2010 FIFA World Cup draw at the Cape Town International Conventional (CTICC) today.

The Grammy award winning Soweto Gospel Choir, world class artist/songwriter Angelique Kidjo and several of South Africa's top music exports are on a star-studded lineup for the draw. The 90-minute live show, to determine the match order of the 32 participating teams, promises thrilling African-inspired visual and acoustic treats with international appeal. It will be attended by over 3000 international guests, including team representatives, FIFA executives, celebrities, sponsors, the international media and soccer stars including England's David Beckham.

World to watch the final Draw

It will be an internationally televised event with over 150 million people from 200 countries expected to watch.

This will certainly surpass the final draw for the 2006 World Cup held in Germany that attracted a cumulative television audience of 134.5-million and was shown live in 137 countries.

"It's going to set the beginning of the World Cup. It's going to be a huge occasion for South Africa and the whole of Africa," local organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan told The New Vision.

"We believe our efforts in organising a wonderful ceremony will be justified." The bright colours, enthusiastic sound of the vuvuzela, and music festivals that punctuated the build-up to the draw have been powerful reminders to most onlookers that South Africa is indeed more than ready for the global sport's biggest showpiece next year.

Cape Town thrust into the limelight

In Cape Town, the draw will be accompanied by a festival on Long Street which has been organized to give Capetonians a taste of how the fan parks will function. The Long Street event will feature live entertainment, including top South African artists such as Freshlyground and Jimmy Dludlu and video links to the CTICC to enable revelers watch the draw live.

All teams set for the Draw

Among the nations that will be drawn in the glamorous ceremony from the city famous for its Table Mountain will be Africa's six representatives Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and the hosts. Joining them will be the defending champions Italy, five-times champions Brazil, European champions Spain and bunches of sleeping giants and dark horses.

Contrary to the previous tournament when there were four debutants from Africa alone, this time every one of the teams has prior experience in the tournament. The tournament, coming to Africa for the first time, will take place at 10 venues in nine cities. It will feature eight groups of four teams in the first stage followed by a series of knockout rounds.

allafrica

20091203

Kampala — THE youth state minister, Jessica Alupo, has said HIV/AIDS and the high level of poverty have increased the number of orphans and other vulnerable children in Uganda.

"HIV/AIDS and poverty are the two leading drivers of vulnerability and this presents a real development challenge to the Government," Alupo said.

The minister was addressing participants from western Uganda in a one-day workshop organised by gender, labour and social affairs ministry at Leisuex Centre in Fort Portal town, on Tuesday. She explained that HIV/AIDS had led to about 2.21 million orphans and 7.5 million vulnerable children.

Alupo noted that the scourge had also increased child headed families, street children, school dropouts, early marriages among girls and vulnerability to HIV infection. She said 31% of the population was poor and over 10% lived in abject poverty.

"Children constitute the biggest percentage of the extremely poor and are more vulnerable than adults. They are at a greater risk of deprivation, which jeopardises their survival and development," Alupo added.

The Kabarole chief administrative officer, Juma Nyende, said the district was overwhelmed with the influx of orphans and vulnerable children. He attributed the increase to civil wars, ethnic wrangles, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Nyende said the increase of vulnerable children had affected service providers and local governments, whose limited resources have been overstretched by the increasing demands.

He explained that despite the intervention of external agencies like Unicef, World Vision and Save the Children, the impact on the ground was too small.

"Although the external agencies render social, psychological, education and health services to the vulnerable groups, such support has remained unnoticed at the grassroots due to the overwhelming demands. They have only managed to reach out to a small portion," Nyende said.

The workshop attracted district officials from across the region.

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20091203

Kampala — TECHNICAL and political leaders in Iganga district accused of misappropriating over sh350m meant for the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) have agreed to pay back the money. While this action should be lauded because the corrupt rarely admit guilt, the refund should be followed by other punitive sanctions including criminal prosecution to act as a deterrent to others.

It seems clear now that NAADS is one of the most abused government programmes and investigations should be extended to other districts. This was a well-intentioned programme, aimed at poverty reduction through increased household incomes, commercialisation of agriculture and food security. However, it has failed to achieve its objectives due to corruption.

Over sh80b has been sent to the various districts to fight poverty under the NAADS programme. The bulk of the NAADS money - 75% is sent directly to the sub-counties to benefit those at the grassroots.

The NAADS Secretariat in Kampala receives only 13% while districts retain 12%. However, since inception in 2001, the impact of this programme in transforming people's lives and promoting more efficient farming techniques has remained limited.

In a meeting with the public accounts committee two months ago, none of the chief administrative officers from the 80 districts was able to provide satisfactory accountability of the NAADS funds.

The funds were discovered lost in a sophisticated scheme, with numerous incidences of under-supply, price inflation, double payment or outright theft since some payments lacked supporting documents.

Some CAOs blamed lack of accountability to insecurity, political interference and ignorance of procurement regulations.

The committee chairperson, Nandala Mafabi, however, declared that nobody will be forgiven for mismanaging public funds.

Guidelines for the disbursements of public funds are clear. Time is up for civil servants to hide under the guise of political interference. The corrupt should not only be made to refund the stolen money but face other punitive sanctions if we are to rout corruption from this country.

allafrica

20091203

Kampala — THE Government has been asked to promote equal access to services, opportunities and treatment for all people. The human rights activists also urged Ugandans to embrace diversity in order to enrich and strengthen the various communities.

The remarks were contained in a joint statement by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), the Human Rights Network and other human rights organisations.

The statement was read yesterday by the UHRC chairman, Meddie Kaggwa, at a press conference on Buganda Road during the launching of a week-long awareness programme to mark the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The human right's day, which was adopted in 1948, is internationally marked on December 10. Kaggwa said the day's theme, ' embrace diversity, end discrimination in Uganda', was timely.

He added that the country is faced with several challenges like improving facilities and opportunities for people with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly and the minority tribes such as the Batwa and the Bennets in Kapchorwa.

The activities will emphasize non-discrimination. They will include a procession on Saturday from the Kololo Airstrip to the railway ground in Kampala city.

There will also be a human rights exhibition from Monday to Wednesday next week in Kampala.

The activists will visit Luzira Women's Prison to assess the condition of inmates.

The week will be crowned with a human rights gala on December 10.

The activists commended the Government for enacting laws that promote equality and non-discrimination.

They asked the Government to ensure that programmes like the Universal Primary Education, Universal Secondary Education and primary health care are effectively carried out for services to be easily accessed by all.

UNHRC secretary Gordon Mwesigye expressed joy that for the first time since the UHRC inception, Karamoja region has a human rights tribunal which is handling 12 cases.

allafrica

20091203

THE commander of the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, Maj. Gen. Nathan Mugisha, has said the suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu will not deter efforts to pacify the country.

"It is an act to intimidate us but we shall not be distracted in our mission," the AMISOM commander told journalists at Speke Resort Munyonyo yesterday.

At least 19 civilians, including three Somali ministers, were killed when a bomb tore through a graduation ceremony at a hotel in the Somali capital yesterday morning.

Witnesses said the bomber entered the venue disguised as a veiled woman and then sat listening to the speeches before approaching the podium and blowing himself up. The police later showed journalists pictures of his mangled corpse.

Female health minister Qamar Aden Ali, education minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and higher education minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow died in the blast.

Sports minister Saleban Olad Roble was critically injured. A medical team of the Ugandan peacekeepers was by press time still trying to save his life.

More than 40 people were wounded, including the dean of Benadir's medical college, according to Ali Yasin Gedi, the vice-chairman of the Mogadishu-based Elman Peace and Human Rights Organisation.

A Reuters reporter at the Shamo Hotel said it was packed with graduates from Benadir University, their parents and officials.

"Human flesh was everywhere," he said.

"A lot of my friends were killed," medical student Mohamed Abdulqadir said. "I was sitting next to a lecturer who also died. He had been speaking to the gathering just a few minutes before."

Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV said one of its cameramen, Hasan al-Zubair, had also been killed.

Suspicion for the blast immediately fell on the Al Shabaab group, which also struck at the AU base in Mogadishu with twin suicide car bombs in September, killing 17 peacekeepers, including the deputy force commander.

No peacekeepers were affected in yesterday's blast since it was outside their area of operation.

Mugisha called the attack a cowardly act by negative forces trying to derail the peace process and scare off potential troop-contributing countries.

Calling upon the Somali government to identify those behind the attack, Mugisha said such acts only strengthened their resolve to bring peace to Somalia.

"Such inhumane and cowardly acts aimed at stalling the peace process will not deter the resolve and determination of the African Union to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and reconciliation," a statement by AMISOM said.

The Ugandan force commander had just presented a paper at a confidence building workshop where he identified as challenges the continued attacks by militants using improvised explosive devices, inadequate troops, equipment and funds for the peacekeeping force.

Uganda and Burundi are the only nations that have contributed troops. Of the 8,000 soldiers needed to pacify Somalia, only 5,000 have so far been deployed.

The news of the attack dampened the mood in the conference room.

The AU deputy special representative to Somalia, Wafula Wamunyinyi, interrupted the mid-morning session to break the sad news.

Wafula said a bomb explosion went off inside Hotel Shamo during the graduation ceremony of medical students of Banadir University.

"It was a serious offensive. It is one of those intended to intimidate and blackmail the government of Somalia, us and people working for peace and stability in Somalia," he said.

A day earlier, Wafula had told the workshop that there were 1,200 foreign jihad fighters among Al Shabaab, half of whom are said to be Kenyans while some were reportedly recruited in Uganda.

He also confirmed claims by the Somali government that Al Shabaab received support from Al Qaeda. He said Al Qaeda had establishing training camps in Somalia while some of the group's operational commanders belonged to the terrorist group.

"With Al Qaeda training them, you know what to expect, suicide bombings and kidnaps," he said on Wednesday.

Last month, Al Shabaab threatened to strike Kampala and Bujumbura.

Asked about the threat, Mugisha yesterday said it should be taken seriously. "We should be on the lookout. It could happen any time."

Meanwhile, Kenyan security forces say they are on high alert on their frontier with Somalia after Al Shabaab gunmen seized several small towns on the Somali side of the border in recent weeks.

Kenyan anti-terrorism police sources said yesterday they had arrested nine members of another Somali rebel group, Hizbul Islam, and seized 20 AK-47 rifles at Kiunga, on the coast near Somalia, close to Lamu Island.

A senior anti-terrorism source told Reuters the men appeared to have fled advancing Shabaab forces and may have been bringing in guns to sell to local criminals to survive.

The anarchy has also spilled offshore, where armed Somali pirates have made millions of dollars by hijacking ships in the Indian Ocean.

allafrica

20091203

Kampala — A district Police commander in Northern Uganda has been detained over allegations of soliciting and receiving a sh1m bribe.

The Oyam district acting Police chief, Hassan Ali Inziku, was netted on Wednesday evening at Mabros Hotel in Oyam where he is said to have received the money.

Aldo Lado, a CID detective, led the team that arrested Inziku. Officials from the Apac Anti-Corruption Coalition provided the 'bait' money.

Inziku's cell phone was also confiscated for the purpose of retrieving messages he reportedly sent as he demanded for the money.

Dressed in Police uniform, he unsuccessfully tried to explain himself before he was led to the cells shortly after 1:00pm. Three months ago, he was the officer-in-charge at Loro Police post.

According to acting Lira Police boss, Gemunamolo Jodaga, Inziku asked Jackson Omara for sh5m to release his father, Alfred Obura.

Obura, a resident of Amukugungu village, had been detained over land wrangles. He had been freed but his bail was cancelled and he was remanded in Anyeke Prison.

It was then, according to Jodaga, that Inziku brought down his price and pressurised Omara to raise sh2m.

After failing to secure the money, Omara reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Coalition.

"They advised us to raise money that would be used to trap him," Tom Opwonya of the Anti-Corruption Coalition told journalists at Lira Police Station. "When we got it, we advised Omara to lure him."

The Police boss was caught red-handed and taken to Lira Police Station, according to Jodaga.

In a separate incident, a policeman attached to Apala Police post in Lira has been arrested over reports that he was involved in an armed robbery.

Cyprian Awici was netted last week following accusations of stealing sh281,400, a bar of soap and half a kilo of sugar from Benson Ogwok. The suspect is held at the Police station in Lira.

Jodaga told reporters that Awici committed the offence when he was deployed at Apala Secondary School. Awici has denied the accusations.

allafrica

20091203

The peace process in Burundi has witnessed significant progress in recent months but the country needs help to ensure successful elections next year and to tackle challenges such as human rights abuses, corruption and weak institutions, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.

"Next year is crucial," Mr. Ban writes in his sixth report to the Security Council on the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), which is helping to promote peace and stability in the country following a brutal civil war.

"Burundi must be assisted to ensure that the gains achieved so far are consolidated before, during and after the 2010 elections, so the country can continue on the path of national reconciliation, democratic and accountable governance, and development," he adds.

In 2005 more than 90 per cent of Burundians approved a new constitution and separate ballots were held for parliamentary seats and for the presidency. Next year voters will choose a president, parliamentary lawmakers and local representatives.

Noting that it is primarily the responsibility of the Government and its national partners to create the "propitious" conditions for the elections, he commends political leaders for adopting an electoral code that enjoys wide consensus and is encouraged by President Pierre Nkurunziza's assurance that the polls will be free, fair and peaceful.

At the same time, he remains concerned about reports on restrictions to the freedom of assembly and expression of opposition parties imposed by local authorities, and by the reports on militant activities of youth groups allegedly associated with certain political parties that are generating fear and suspicion.

"I call on the Government and the political leaders to remain vigilant and to take the necessary actions to put an end to these activities," states Mr. Ban, who also voices deep concern about human rights abuses and "the prevailing climate of impunity," including a number of serious crimes that remain unaddressed.

He also cites the need for the Government to address corruption, improve governance and stem the proliferation of small arms among civilians, noting that professionalizing the police and strengthening the judiciary will be crucial for these efforts.

Among the progress achieved in recent months, Mr. Ban notes that the Forces nationales de libération (FNL), the last rebel movement, disarmed and transformed itself into a political party, completing a major part of the last phase of the peace process.

"I encouraged by the effective demobilization and reinsertion of FNL combatants, as well by the successful disengagement of adults and children associated with the movement," he states, adding that the longer-term socio-economic reintegration of former combatants, returnees and other vulnerable groups remains a challenge.

"Every effort must be made to ensure sustainable reintegration of these groups, in order to prevent them from becoming an added source of insecurity," he adds.

To assist the country in its efforts to restore peace and stability, Mr. Ban recommends a one-year renewal of the mandate of BINUB whose mandate expires on 31 December.

"It is clear that so much has been achieved in Burundi in such a short time, considering where the country has come from," says the Secretary-General. "Yet the situation remains fragile."

allafrica

20091203

At least 19 people have been killed including three government ministers after an explosion ripped through the Shamo Hotel in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, during a graduation ceremony.

A suicide bomber disguised as a woman carried out Thursday's attack at the hotel during a crowded graduation ceremony for medical students from a local university, Dahir Mohamud Gelle, the Somali information minister, said.

Witnesses said the attack appeared to have targeted government officials.

It is the deadliest attack to hit Mogadishu for several months. No-one has yet claimed responsibility.

Of the three ministers killed in the blast, one was a woman - Qamar Aden Ali, the health minister. Ibrahim Hassan Adow, the minister for higher education, and Ahmed Abdullahi Wayel, the minister for education, also died.

Also among the dead were two journalists and two professors. At least 50 students were reportedly injured.

Saleban Olad Roble, the Somali sports minister, was also injured in the explosion.

Thursday's attack is the second time this year members of government have been killed in a suicide bombing.

In June, the national security minister died in a suicide bombing that killed at least 24 people. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for that attack.

Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston's reports.

20091203

An explosion in a hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Thursday killed three government ministers and at least one other person.

The source of Thursday's blast at the Shamo Hotel was not immediately clear, but witnesses said it appeared to be an attack targeting a graduation ceremony being held by Benadir University and attended by many government officials.

Senior government sources said Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Education Minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow all died in the blast.

Dubai-based Al Arabiya Television said one of its cameramen, Hasan al-Zubair, had also been killed in the explosion.

The coastal city had been tense after supporters of the national police chief took to the streets in protest following rumors President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's planned to sack him.

alalam

20091202

Congolese rebel warlord and former VP Jean-Pierre Bemba will remain in custody until his trial begins in April 2010, the International Criminal Court said on Wednesday, reversing a pre-trial decision to release him.

AFP - Former DR Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba will remain in custody while he awaits his war crimes trial, the appeal chamber of the International Criminal Court ruled on Wednesday.

The appeal was brought by the prosecution against the court's decision in August to grant Bemba a conditional release.

Since then he has however remained in his holding cell in The Hague while a country was sought that was willing to host him.

"The appeal chamber has decided that the decision of the first court should be reversed," judge Akua Kuenyehia said Wednesday.

The prosecution appealed on the grounds that Bemba, who could face a life sentence if convicted, was a flight risk and may harm witnesses in his trial, for which a starting date of April 27 has since been set.

"The potential length of the sentence if Bemba is convicted is a further incentive for him to abscond," Kuenyehia added.

The 47-year-old stands accused of three charges of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) from October 2002 to March 2003.

He will stand trial for acts of murder, rape and pillaging allegedly committed by members of his Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) while helping troops of then CAR president Ange-Felix Patasse resist a coup bid.

The secretary general of the MLC said he regretted the decision.

"It is with much sadness that we have learned of the news. We are approaching Christmas, we had strongly hoped that Jean-Pierre Bemba would spend the festivities of the end of the year with his family," said Francois Muamba. "We are astounded but we remain in sympathy with him. He remains our leader," he added.

Bemba's trial will be the ICC's third since it started operating in The Hague in July 2002.

A business tycoon who left DR Congo in 2007 after losing presidential elections held during a political transition in the wake of a 1998-2003 civil war, Bemba was arrested on an ICC warrant in Brussels in May 2008.

He had briefly led the opposition, but was forced into exile when government forces tried to disarm his private militia in clashes that killed 300 in March 2007.

20091203

Teodoro Obiang Nguema's 30-year tenure as president of Equitorial Guinea is set to stretch into a fourth decade after the 67-year-old leader scooped a massive 95.4 percent of the vote in last week's presidential poll, official results show.

AFP - Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in power since 1979, has been re-elected with 95.4 percent of the vote in last weekend's elections, according to final results announced Thursday.

The second-place candidate, Placido Mico Abogo, won 3.6 percent, according to the figures given by the interior minister and national electoral commission head.

Despite the crushing victory, the president's total was slightly less than he predicted. Obiang Nguema earlier said he expected to win with 97 percent of votes cast.

20091203

REUTERS - Nigerian diplomat Ibrahim Gambari will become the new head of the joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s conflict-torn western Darfur region, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon informed the Security Council about the appointment in a letter to Burkina Faso’s U.N. Ambassador Michel Kafando, the current council president, Ban’s spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

Gambari, a former Nigerian foreign minister and current U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, will take up his new post on Jan. 1, 2010, Ban said in the letter. Gambari, 65, is replacing Rodolphe Adada, a former foreign minister of the Republic of Congo, who resigned in August.

U.N. officials and diplomats in New York have said that Adada did not try hard enough to speed up the Darfur mission’s (UNAMID) deployment. Ban said in a report on Darfur last month that there are nearly 20,000 UNAMID troops and police on the ground, below the mission’s mandated full strength of 26,000.

The conflict in Darfur has been going on for more than six years, although levels of violence have fallen since the mass killings of 2003 and 2004.