#UGANDA: Gov't Official Says Starved People Were "Idiots"

[world politics news]

A Ugandan government minister is facing criticism after calling those who have died of hunger in his country "idiots".

Many have deemed Henry Okello Oryem's comments tone-deaf.

In 2022, more than 2,200 people died of starvation and related illnesses in northeast Uganda, a report by an official human rights body said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Bill Prioritizes East African Goods, Services

[world politics news]

Uganda's Parliament has considered President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recommendation on prioritisation of procurement of goods, works and services from the East African region under the passed National Local Content Bill, 2022.

President Museveni returned the Bill, that was initially passed by parliament on 6th September, 2022 disagreeing with Clause 4 which provided that a local entity shall give preference to goods which are manufactured and services which are provided by Ugandan entities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: New Law Would Make Identifying As Gay A Crime

[world politics news]

New legislation being proposed in the parliament of Uganda would criminalize identifying as a homosexual or engaging in same sex relations.

Under the proposed law, anyone who engages in same-sex activity or who "holds out" as LGBTQ could face up to 10 years' imprisonment.

The speaker of the parliament says hearings will begin on the bill this week. Uganda has notoriously strict anti-homosexual laws, already.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Bill Would Allow In-Country Organ Transplants

[world politics news]

The Ugandan Parliament is considering a bill that would make it possible for the first time to perform organ transplants in this East African country. A small revolution that would transform the lives of thousands of people waiting for surgery.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA:: Law Seeks to Curb Illicit Organ Trade

[world politics news]

A law to regulate the harvesting and trade in human organs and tissues has been introduced in Uganda’s parliament, the health minister said, as authorities move to curb a growing illegal market in body parts such as kidneys in the country.

There has been a public outcry in Uganda over the trade in organs and tissues derived from unwilling donors

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: China To Take Entebbe Airport After Debt Default

[world politics news]

China will take control of Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport after the African nation defaulted on debt repayments.

China has rejected Uganda's request to re-negotiate toxic clauses in the $200m loan signed six years ago for the Airport's expansion.

The Airport is the only International Airport in the country. 

According to reports in African media, the airport and other Ugandan assets were attached and agreed to be taken over by Chinese lenders when the debt was arbitrated.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Pres. Museveni Wins Sixth Term In Disputed Election

[world politics news]

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni has won his sixth term with almost 60% of the votes cast. In the election, his main rival, Bobi Wine, said he was hurt by fraud and violence. The Election Commission announced on Saturday.

The veteran leader, who came to power in 1986, was one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents and faced a fierce battle with a 38-year-old former Ragga singer. His turn to politics stimulated the young population.

When the results were announced, wine was on the alert at his home on the outskirts of Kampala. His party said he was under “effective house arrest”, but the government said it was merely providing him with security.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Riots Follow Arrest Of Presidential Candidate For "Spreading Covid-19" At Rallies

[world politics news] 

Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulani, was released on bail from detention Friday after being charged with violating the government’s COVID-19 rules by holding political rallies. Wine’s arrest Wednesday sparked a series of violent protests that claimed the lives of 37 people.

Following the news of Wine’s arrest on Wednesday, large-scale protests in the major Ugandan cities of Kampala, Jinja and Masaka erupted. Videos shared by demonstrators and Wine on social media show protesters burning tires, vandalizing, lighting fires and setting up roadblock†s on the streets. 

Joint security forces, including Ugandan military and police, were deployed throughout the major cities to disperse the gathering protesters, using tear gas, water cannons and live bullets. Along with 37 fatalities, the Ugandan police have reported at least 65 people wounded and 300 people arrested.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Bill Would Restore Presidential Term Limits

[world politics news] 

Uganda's Parliament has started considering a Constitutional Amendment which seeks to restore the two presidential term limits.

The Private Member's Bill was on Wednesday read for the second time by Wilfred Niwagaba, who is also the shadow opposition attorney general.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Finance Min. Says China Won't Seize National Assets Over Debt Repayment Concerns

[world politics news]

China will not take over Uganda's assets because of failure to pay back loans, Finance minister Matia Kasaija has said.

Kasaija says Ugandans shouldn't be worried because all the money owed to China shall be serviced thanks to the government's smart investment decisions. Uganda owes China $1.6 billion. Kasaija said Uganda's economy is growing at a fast pace, adding that unless there is a catastrophe, nothing will stop Uganda from servicing the Chinese loans.

A June 2018 report showed public debt amounted to $10.7 billion, 41.5% of the country's GDP. The international standard is 50% or higher.

Last year, China took over Sri Lanka's port for 99 years over failure to service loans. There are reports that China may take over Zambia's airport and national power distributor, and Kenya's Mombasa port, due to these countries' failure to service their loans.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Protests Erupt After Two Lawmakers Arrested At Airport Trying To Seek Treatment For Injuries While In Gov't Custody

[world politics news]

Ugandan police detained two lawmakers, one a pop star, at the country’s sole international airport, where supporters say they were trying to seek treatment abroad for injuries suffered during torture by the security forces. Allegations that Robert Kyagulanyi and Francis Zaake were tortured triggered widespread protests in Kampala and other parts of the country. The two were among five lawmakers detained on August 13 in Arua, accused of throwing stones at a presidential convoy during the campaign for a vacant seat in parliament. Kyagulyani is a pop star, known by his stage name Bobi Wine.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: A Million Cell Phone Users Expected To Protest New "Gossip" Tax Monday

[world politics news]

A million of Uganda's 40 million cell phone users are expected to take to the streets Monday to protest a new tax that means users can no longer use sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, WhatsApp, Instagram and Viber without paying a burdensome daily tax. The tax was the idea of Uganda’s president of 32 years, Yoweri Museveni, who had complained about online gossip.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UGANDA: Women's Rights Group Petitions Parliament To Approve Revised Marriage Bill

[world politics news]

Women activists under Women and Rural Development Network have kicked off a nationwide drive of gathering signatures to petition Parliament to discuss and pass into law the Marriage Bill 2017. A clause regarding cohabitation was removed from the bill after cultural and religious groups opposed it, says organizer Laureen Karayi Nabimanya.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: House Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

#UGANDA: MPs Vow To Sink "Land Grabbing" Constitutional Amendment Bill

[world politics news]

 A section of Members of Parliament are vowing to rally their colleagues in Uganda’s Parliament to shoot down a proposed land acquisition amendment to the Constitution that they fear, if enacted into law, instead of helping government acquire land for development, will lead to more land grabbing and evictions in the country.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UGANDA: Parliament Speaker Urges Debate On Controversial Marriage/Divorce Bill

[world politics news]

Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Uganda's parliament, has resurrected the debate on a controversial Marriage and Divorce Bill. Kadaga told legislators that it is time to take a stand on whether pass, or drop the bill. The bill was first introduced in the seventh parliament (Uganda is in the second session of it's 10th) but has faced resistance from religious institutions opposed to the provisions banning polygamy. Some of the contentious clauses in the bill is on a wife sharing of the property in case of divorce.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UGANDA: Cabinet Approves Tougher Penalties For Wildlife Crimes

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The cabinet has approved amendments to the Wildlife Act and toughened the penalties against wildlife crimes. The review of the Uganda Wildlife Act 1996, seeks to address emerging challenges in conservation, including poaching, illicit trans-boundary wildlife trade and increasing human wildlife conflicts.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#UGANDA: Supreme Ct. Rules Pres. Museveni Was "Duly Elected" Dismissing 2nd Place Finisher's Claim

[world politics news]

The Chief Justice of Uganda's Supreme Court has declared that Pres. Yoweri Museveni was duly elected and dismissed poll loser Amama Mbabazi's petition arguing that his nomination was invalid. It said that the evidence submitted by Mbabazi’s lawyers was not substantial to overturn the election results. A break-in at Mbabazi's lawyers' office the day before submitting evidence to the court had cost them many of the affidavits they had planned to file.

#UGANDA: Oppo. Parties Reject Accusations They're Setting Up Militias Ahead of Feb. Elections

[world politics news]

Ugandan opposition parties have dismissed claims by the government that some presidential elections candidates had created militia groups ahead of next month's national elections, calling it "propaganda" designed to gain sympathy for the government.

Pictured: Pres.Yoweri Museveni.

#UGANDA: Frmr. President's Son Files To Run For President In 2016

[world politics news]

Former President Apollo Milton Obote's son, retired Bishop Edward Engena Maitum will run for president in 2016. He joins 19 others who will run against Pres. Museveni. Engena's father founded the Uganda People's Congress Party, which is now headed by his brother. He's undecided whether he'll see the party's nomination.

#UGANDA: Non-Governmental Orgs Could Be Limited By New Legislation

[world politics news]

A bill seeking to limit the work of Non-Governmental Organizations - many based in Western countries - is currently being discussed by Ugandan lawmakers. One of the bill's clauses vaguely states that NGOs must not engage activity "contrary to the dignity of the people of Uganda." The country has in the past cracked down on groups promoting homosexuality.

Pictured: Pres. Yoweri Museveni