Monday 30 January 2012

Wasting the Last Golden Chance to Accept the Lord Jesus Christ: Randy Pausch, 'Last Lecture' Professor

Wasting the Last Golden Chance to Accept the Lord Jesus Christ: Randy Pausch, 'Last Lecture' Professor


Pausch had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2006, and found out it was incurable in August 2007 after it had spread to other organs. He was given 6 months to live. Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon computer-science professor with terminal cancer whose "Last Lecture" became a YouTube sensation in late 2007, died early Friday morning. If you had been in his position, would you also deny Christ to the point of death. Would you also waste the Golden chance to preach about the love of Jesus and the fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven.


Randy Pausch Last Lecture on Oprah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVl8tj3Wf58&feature=related


Randy Pausch's; A Final Farewell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIysXLiA5s0&feature=related



Randy Pausch, 'Last Lecture' Professor Dies


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/randy-pausch-lecture-professor-dies/story?id=4614281#.Tyex8XoX5wE


By GEOFF MARTZ, SAMANTHA WENDER and CHRIS FRANCESCANI

July 25, 2008

Randy Pausch, the charismatic young college professor who chronicled his battle with pancreatic cancer in a remarkable speech widely-known as the "Last Lecture," has died at the age of 47. He was at home, surrounded by his wife, Jai, and his three children.

A dear friend to Diane Sawyer and "Good Morning America," Pausch's lecture and subsequent interview was one of the most powerful accounts of hope, grace and optimistism ABC News has ever featured, and drew a worldwide response.

"I'd like to thank the millions of people who have offered their love, prayers and support," Jai Pausch said in a statement. "Randy was so happy and proud that the lecture and book inspired parents to revisit their priorities, particularly their relationships with their children. The outpouring of cards and emails really sustained him."

It all began with one, age-old question: What would you say if you knew you were going to die and had a chance to sum up everything that was most important to you?

That question had been posed to the annual speaker of a lecture series at Carnegie Mellon University, where Pausch was a computer sciences professor. For Pausch, though, the question wasn't hypothetical.

Pausch, a father of three small children with his wife Jai, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer -- and given six months to live.

Friends and colleagues flew in from all around the country to attend his last lecture. And -- almost as an afterthought -- the lecture was videotaped and put on the Internet for the few people who couldn't get there that day.

That was all it took.
Somehow amid the vast clamor of the Web and the bling-bling of million-dollar budgets, savvy marketing campaigns and millions of strange and bizarre videos, the voice of one earnest professor standing at a podium and talking about his childhood dreams cut through the noise.

The lecture was so uplifting, so funny, so inspirational that it went viral. So far, 10 million people have downloaded it.

And thousands have written in to say that his lecture changed their lives.

If you had only six months to live, what would you do? How would you live your life? And how can all of us take heart from Pausch's inspiring message to live each day to its fullest?

Pausch's answers to these questions, both in the lecture and in three separate interviews over a series of months with Diane Sawyer, are moving, funny, thought-provoking and extraordinary.

According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, an advocacy organization for the pancreatic cancer community, approximately 37,170 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008 and 33,370 will die from it. The Pausch family has asked that donations on Randy's behalf be sent to the organization or to Carnegie Mellon's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and unlike other cancers, during the last 30 years the medical community has seen very little advancement in prolonging the lives of pancreatic cancer patients.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Clerics told not to wed homosexual couples

Clerics told not to wed homosexual couples

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1313570/-/b1fywjz/-/index.html

By John Tugume

Posted Wednesday, January 25 2012 at 00:00


Church leaders under their association of Born Again Faith Federation insist fellow clerics should not wed any gay couples should government give in to donor pressure to drop the proposed Anti-homosexuality Bill.


Dr Joseph Serwadda, the leader of the federation, said recently that there are signs that the government will be “forced to soften on the demands by the gay movement” in order to throw away the already-shelved Bill which was brought forward by Ndorwa West MP David Bahati.


“The church needs to be assured that government will stand its ground, and this evil be kept where it belongs – in the secret closets of those who practice it,” Dr Serwadda told this newspaper.


The Marriage Act of 1904 does not provide for same-sex marriage.


The comments come at the same time former South African president Thabo Mbeki said the anti-gay proposed law does not make any sense.


Recently, US President Barack Obama and the UK warned they would use foreign aid and asylum conditionalities to push for homosexuality to be decriminalised in Uganda and other “conservative countries”.



Uganda relies heavily on the US, receiving military help to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army and has sent troops to Somalia to fight the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group.


When contacted, the Bill’s architect, Mr Bahati, said late last year: “Our position as a country is clear. Our Constitution prohibits homosexuality and we are not in a trade of values.”

Mr Bahati also advised Mr Mbeki to first read and understand his Bill.


“The Bill was brought to curb a several issues including inducement, recruitment and funding homosexuality. His excellency (Mr Mbeki) needs to read the Bill and understand the spirit in which it was brought and the context in which we are talking about,” Mr Bahati said.

jtugume@ug.nationmedia.com

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Uganda Pentecostal pastors threaten to go to the streets to protest police allegation over Pastor Mulinde’s acid attack

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller

In their meeting that took place in Kawempe, Pastor David Kiganda, the senior pastor of Christianity Focus centre gave the Uganda Police an Ultimatum of two weeks to produce a recording that implicates Pentecostal pastors in Pastor Mulinde’s acid attack or else they take to the streets. The Uganda Police has recently intimated that it has a recoding of a 2010 pastor’s meeting, in which some pastors threatened to cause harm to Pastor Mulinde . The police alleges that the pastors were hungry with Mulinde’s monopoly of the Israel pilgrimage business. It must be noted that Mulinde takes pilgrims to Israel every year and charges little fares as compared to other pastors. This according to the police hungered some pastors so much that they decided to pour acid on Mulinde.


My analysis

The allegations of the Ugandan Police that Pastors are behind Mulinde’s acid attack are indeed bogus. The Uganda government is hiding the truth in this case in order to avert a conflict between Muslims and Pentecostals in Uganda. The government is only afraid that this incident might fuel more division and conflict between Muslims and Pentecostals. The conduct of the Ugandan Police is quite similar to the one where American forces burned bibles in Afghanistan to avoid offending Muslims.

Military burns unsolicited Bibles sent to Afghanistan


http://articles.cnn.com/2009-05-20/world/us.military.bibles.burned_1_bibles-al-jazeera-english-military-personnel?_s=PM:WORLD


Military burns Bibles sent to troops in Afghanistan


http://www.examiner.com/christian-in-louisville/military-burns-bibles-sent-to-troops-afghanistan#ixzz1f4yklBBN



Abasumba balumbye poliisi ku bya Mulinde



http://www.bukedde.co.ug/news/61158-Abasumba-balumbye-poliisi-ku-bya-Mulinde.html


Jan 11, 2012

Bya Moses Lemisa

ABASUMBA b’Abalokole batabukidde poliisi ne bagiwa wiiki emu eveeyo ebalage akatambi akalaga nti mubo mwe muli abaayiira Mulinde asidi singa tekikolebwa bagenda kukunga Abalokole beeyiwe ku nguudo z’omu Kampala beekalakaase.

Abasumba bano abaakulembeddwa omusumba David Kiganda ow’Ekkanisa ya Focus Centre mu Kisenyi, bino babyogeredde mu lukiiko olwatudde ku Kkanisa ya Trinity e Kawempe ku Lwokubiri ne basaba Kayihura asitukiremu mu bwangu ku nsonga ya Mulinde.

Kiganda yagambye nti Poliisi yavaayo ku mikutu gy’amawulire n’etegeeza nti abaayiira Mulinde asidi baali basumba kyokka n’okutuusa kati terina n’omu gwe yali ekutte.

Yawagiddwa abasumba abawerako okwabadde Godfrey Luwaga owa City of Lord ku Kaleerwe n’abalala abasoba 50 abeetabye mu lukiiko luno.

Kiganda yategeezezza nga Mulinde bwe yaggyiddwa e Buyindi n’atwalibwa mu Yisirayiri mu ddwaaliro lya Teller Vvi e Sheba ku Lwokutaano lwa wiiki wedde kyokka eddwaaliro ly’e Buyindi lyasigadde libanja omutwalo gwa doola.

Wabula omwogezi wa Poliisi mu Kampala, Ibin Ssenkumbi yategeezezza nti ensonga z’omusumba Mulinde zaakwasibwa ekitongole eky’enjawulo ekinoonyereza ku buzzi bw’emisango ekikulirwa Binoga.

‘Eby’okuyiira Mulinde asidi birimu abasumba’


http://www.bukedde.co.ug/news/60875--Eby-okuyiira-Mulinde-asidi-birimu-abasumba-.html

Dec 29, 2011

Bya Robert Mutebi
POLIISI ezudde obujulizi ku kuyiira Paasita Umar Mulinde asidi nga ke katambi okuli amaloboozi n’ebyateesebwa abasumba mu lukiiko olw’ekyama.

Akatambi kano akaasomoddwa bambega ba poliisi kyokka nga kaliko n’abasumba abaakafunyeeko kkopi kaliko byonna ebyateesebwa abasumba 10 abaasisinkana n’abo abaalina okukola ‘misoni’ y’okutuusa obulabe ku Paasita Mulinde ow’ekkanisa ya Gospel Life Church International e Namasuba mu kafo akamu mu 2010.

Mulinde abamu ku basumba banne bamulanga kubayingirira mu ddiiru y’okutwala bantu okulamaga e Yisirayiri gye yayingiramu gye buvuddeko n’ayitimuka nnyo ssaako okuwaliriza abaamusookamu bamu okugyabulira nga tekyabakolera.

Omu ku basumba b’abalokole bano ataayagadde kumwatuuukiriza mmanya yakkirizza nga Mulinde bw’abadde yabawambako ekintu ng’abalokole abasinga abaagala okugenda okulamaga mu bifo ebitukuvu e Yisirayiri bagenda wuwe gye bayitira.

“Ekisooka yalaba obunafu bw’abasumba banaffe abaasooka mu kintu nga balina omulugube gw’ensimbi n’okunyaga abantu ye n’avaayo n’amazima naddala mu by’ensimbi. Emiwendo gye gibadde wansi ddala era y’emu ku nsonga lwaki abadde yeeyunirwa nnyo,” bwe yategeezezza.

Mu nteekateeka y’Omusumba Mulinde, abagenda e Yisirayiri yabasabye ddoola 2000 (ze za Uganda 5,000,000/-) nga buli kimu kiwedde era nga baakukolera ku byetaago byonna omuli viza, entambula, ebyokulya, okusula n’ebirala. Abalala babadde basaba abantu ssente eziri wakti wa ddoola 2,500 ne 3,000 ate nga babakolera ku ntambula, viza ne yinsuwa ebirala ne beerabirira.

Mu mbeera eno, ensonda ziraga ng’abamu ku basumba bwe kitaabayisa bulungi kwe kusalawo okumutuusaako obulabe nga mu lukiiko lw’abasumba 10 omwali n’abalina okutuukiriza ddiiru basooka kusalawo kumutomeza mmotoka.


Wabula kigambibwa nti olukwe luno lwagwa butaka oluvannyuma lw’omu ku bannaabwe okugaana okukkaanya nabo. Kigambibwa nti ekirowoozo kya asidi kyajja luvannyuma lwa kulemesebwa kwa ddiiru yaakumutomeza mmotoka eyali esoose okukolebwa.

Mulinde ku ntandikwa y’omwaka guno yakuba olukung’aana olunene mu kisaawe e Nakivubo n’akunga abantu okweyunira kampeyini ye ey’okugenda okulamaga e Yisirayiri era ng’omwezi gwa October, November ne December omwaka guno abadde akuba enkung’aana ez’amaanyi mu bifo eby’enjawulo gy’abadde abuulirira enjiri n’okukunga abantu ku ky’okugenda e Yisirayiri.

Ku miryango egiyingira mu kkanisa ya Mulinde wajjuziddwa ebipande ebiraga ebifo ebitukuvu mu ggwanga lya Yisirayiri era nga kuliko n’ekifaananyi kya Mulinde wamu n’ebigambo ebikunga abantu okumwegattako.

Omutume Mulinde ayogedde
Mulinde ng’asinziira ku kitanda gy’ajjanjabirwa mu ddwaaliro lya Kampala International Hospital e Namuwongo yakkirizza nga bw’abadde ategese okutwala abantu abasukka mu mutwalo e Yisirayiri okulamaga omwaka guno n’agamba nti abamu yasoose na kubabuulira njiri ne balokoka.

“Kituufu ntambudde mu bifo bingi nga mbuulira enjiri era abantu bangi balokose naye era mu kino mbadde ntegeeza abantu ku ky’okulamaga e Yisirayiri era nga bangi bakkirizza okugenda nange,” Mulinde bwe yategeezezza.

Ensonda mu basumba b’abalokole zaategeezezza nga ddiiru y’okutwala abantu e Yisirayiri bw’efuna emirundu ebiri anti n’Abayisirayiri babaako engeri gye basiimamu oyo yenna atutteyo abantu abangi.

Akulira abasumba ky’agamba

Omusumba David Kiganda akulira abalokole mu kitundu kya Kampala mu kibiina ekibagatta ekya National Fellowship Of Born Again Pentecostal Churches of Uganda yagambye nti bataddewo ekirabo kya bukadde 20 eri asobola okubawa amawulire agabatuusa ku yakoze ettemu lino.

“Bannaffe bwe baba bavuddeyo ne bawa obujulizi nga buno kirungi nnyo era tubasaba babututuseeko naye nga bamanyi ssi bwakutujja ku mulamwa.Mulina amawulire amalungi naye tusabe gabeere nga tegatujja ku mulamwa”Kiganda bwe yategeezezza.

Yagasseeko nti: Mulinde kituufu abadde n’abalabe abamuyigganya okumla ekiseera naye abamu bamanyiddwa kubanga babadde bamulabula okumala ekiseera. Bwe wabaayo abalala ababeegattako ekyo kirala kubanga abasumba bangi abatwala abantu mu Yisirayiri.

Omusumba John Mulinde owa Prayer Mountain ku luguudo lw’ e Ntebe atwala abalamazi ebweru, Omusumba Oyet abatwala, nange ntegeka kubatwala mwaka gujja ate n’abalala bangi ababatwala n’olwekyo kino kiraga nti ssi muntu omu oba babiri abakirimu, basumba bangi abali mu ky’okutwala abantu e Yisirayiri.

Basumba ki abanoonyerezebwako?

Ensonda mu bambega zaagambye nti Abasumba abaali mu lukwe luno bataano ku bbo balina amakanisa ku luguudo lw’ e Ntebe, omu ali ku luguudo lw’e Gayaza, babiri bali mu Ggombolola y’e Lubaga, omu mu Makindye ate omulala yategeezezza nga bwe yeerimbika mu busumba kyokka nga mupanzi wa ddiiru atalina kkanisa ntongole okuggyako okubuna amakanisa gonna nga bw’abeera asanze.

Kigambibwa nti mu lukiiko abasumba bano lwe batuuza ku Pope Paul e Lubaga mu October 2010 okulonda obukulembeze mu kitundu kino abamu mwe baalagira obukyayi eri Paasita Mulinde mu lujjudde.

POLIISI BY’EGAMBA
Omwogezi wa poliisi mu Kampala n’emiriraano Ibn Senkumbi yategeezezza Bukedde nga bwe bali ku kaweefube w’okufuna obujulizi bwonna obwetaagisa okuva mu buli muntu era nga buno bwakubayamba okuzuula omutuufu eyayokya Mulinde asidi.


“Tetulina muntu yenna gwe tujja kutaliza, buli alina amawulire agayinza okutuyambako tumwaniriza era n’abo abasumba abavuddeyo okulokooma bannaabwe tulina kukolagana nabo bulungi kubanga batuyamba ku kunoonyereza kwaffe,” Senkumbi bwe yategeezezza.

Yagambye nti obujulizi poliisi bwe yaakafuna ssaako bwe yeeyongera okufuna mu kiseera kino bubawadde essuubi ly’okutuuka ku bantu abatuufu abaayokya omusumba.

Thursday 5 January 2012

OH! Uganda the sick man of Africa: Corruption , corruption and More corruption : MPs want LC bike tycoon’s death probed


MPs want LC bike tycoon’s death probed



http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/628188-628188-mps-want-lc-bike-tycoon-s-death-probed.html

Publish Date: Jan 06, 2012

By Henry Sekanjako

MPs have asked the Police to urgently institute a probe into the mysterious death of Asian businessman Mohinder Singh Chal, one of the directors of Amman Industrial Tools and Equipment Ltd (Aitel) the company at the center of the botched $1.7m (Sh4.7b) LC Bicycle deal.

Mohinder was on Sunday Morning found dead in his house number 17 situated on block L in the Bukoto Brown flats.

Addressing Journalists at Parliament, the MPs led by Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu demanded that government forms a commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances under which Mohinder died.

“We want government to investigate how this man died. They are saying they found him with drugs which cannot kill someone,” Katuntu said.

The MPs threatened that if government fails to commission an inquiry into Mohinder’s death, they would table a motion in parliament for the formation of a committee to investigate the matter when parliament reconvenes early next month.

“You may find that people are trying to kill evidence. The struggle to fight corruption is worse off than fighting the Al shabaab. We demand that government immediately sets up a committee to investigate his death because he is the only person who had key evidence,” added Katuntu.

Mawokota South MP Kiyingi Bbossa who is also a member of the public service committee that was investigating the botched bicycle deal said it was prudent for the government to carry out investigations into Mohinder’s death and come up with a conclusive report to avoid unwanted suspicion by the public.
“It is not proper if somebody dies when investigations in which he is one of the key suspects are at a very crucial stage. I call upon government to look into the matter because people will get scared if we don’t find out what really killed the man,” added Rukungiri municipality MP also public service committee member Roland Mugume.
Youth Mp western Region Gerald Karuhanga said there was need to investigate the untimely death of Mohinder to enable both the government and the public understand whether they was any underhand cause to his death.

“The ‘mafia’ groups have all the monies in the world, they can use it to kill evidence and investigations into the botched bicycle deal so we should have investigations into his death,” Karuhanga added.

Preliminary investigations into Mohinder’s death have indicated that he died of a blood clot. Upon his death his body was taken to Mulago hospital for a post-mortem examination which police ruled out any foul play in his death.


LCs Bicycle Company Dished Out Sh4.7 Billion in Two Days


Joyce Namutebi and Catherine Bekunda

The New Vision, 22 September 2011

OVER $1.7m (about sh4.7b) that was paid to a company contracted to supply bicycles for LC leaders was withdrawn from Stanbic Bank in two days.

The money was then reportedly wired to accounts in different countries, including India and Hong Kong.

This was disclosed by the Stanbic's legal head, Gertrude Wamala, while appearing before the public service and local government committee of Parliament yesterday.

She represented the managing director, who had been summoned to clarify the bank's role in the transaction. The summons followed accusations by the former head of procurement in the Ministry of Local Government, Robert Mwebaze, that the bank gave a "fake" bill of lading.

Wamala told MPs that the company account was credited with over sh4.7b on March 15, 2011. However, on the same day, various money transfers were made from the account.

A total of $240,000 was paid to a middleman, Patrick Bagarukayo, who also received another $100,000 on March 16. The document she presented also indicated that there was a cash withdrawal of $20,050 to Mohinder Singh Chal (Kenyan).

It further shows that $600,000 went to Infinity Exim Fze in Hong Kong. Other recipients were Wuyi Trade ($400,000), Vinsara Impex ($110,000) and Nishita Maina (Ugandan) who received $150,000.

The account, she explained, was opened on August 26, 2010 and was to be operated by Chal and Maini, but on September 2, 2010 the mandate was amended to introduce a new signatory, Arjunan Rajasekaran.

About the withdrawals, she said: "We have no responsibility with the supplier. If you take on other people's roles you become liable."

The MPs also summoned the directors of Amman industrial tools and Equipment Limited to explain why the bicycles had not been delivered, but only one of them, Mohinder Singh Chal appeared yesterday.

Chal told MPs that he left the firm before the money was paid on March 15.


Whoever embezzled LC bicycle money should pay

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/30006-whoever-embezzled-lc-bicycle-money-should-pay.html

Publish Date: Nov 15, 2011

By Moses Balyeku
LAST month, Parliament received a report of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government in regard to the investigation into failure to procure and deliver bicycles for villages and parish councils by the ministry of Local Government.
During the investigations on June 20 when the line minister Adolf appeared before the committee he informed its members that although the ministry had paid $ 1,719,454.58 representing 40% of the purchase price for the 70,000 bicycles up to then no bicycles had been supplied yet the supplier had a contractual obligation to meet the schedule on March 25.

It is a pity that some technocrats in the Ministry of Local Government who were charged with this responsibility behaved the way they did.

Ironically, for these technocrats, the Government periodically allocates them four wheel drive cars, their fuel cards are credited promptly by the ministry’s accountant together with corresponding hefty travel allowances. One would expect that such a person who is treated that way would have sympathy to ensure that his colleague at the LC level gets a modest means of transport which is a bicycle. But was not the case.

Shockingly, in face of such scandals, the authorities that are charged with reprimanding or prosecution of the culprits become indecisive yet the Constitution is very clear on how to proceed.

Article 164 (2) states that “ Any person holding a political or public office, who directs or concurs in the use of public funds contrary to existing instructions shall be accountable for any loss arising from that use and shall be required to make good the loss even if he or she has ceased to hold that office”.

That would be the dictum for relevant organs like Criminal Investigations Department, Inspector General of Government, Director of Public Prosecutions and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority. Much as Parliament is also charged with the oversight role but if the above organs would act first, then Parliament would have a lot of concentration in making laws.

With increasing cases of corruption in the Government, the above relevant organs should make a radical change from reactive to proactive line. The best way for them to achieve this is by encouraging whistle blowing strategy. However, this will not give results if the principle of confidentiality is not adhered to.

There are cases where the confidentiality of the whistle blower is violated and he or she ends up being hunted by the corrupt he reported.

Secondly, there are higher chances that such a scandal would have been avoided if the ministry opted to award the tender to a local based company. Otherwise what is the essence of awarding such a lucrative tender to an elusive foreign company yet we have our own which can deliver.

Dealing with a local company would be more prudent considering that before the award; it is cheaper and easier to make pre investigations on the company profile, its ability to deliver and character of its directors. Procuring bicycles is not such a technical issue which would demand sourcing a foreign company which in fact makes it more expensive.

Awarding non complex tenders to foreign companies should always cause suspicion whenever a government department opts for so during procurements. Otherwise the bicycle scandal was avoidable if vigilance was mounted by the relevant organs.

Writer is the Jinja West MP


PATRICK BAGARUKAYO ALIAS BERNARD


http://www.nbs.ug/2011/09/24/wanted-patrick-bagarukayo-alias-bernard/

Finally, the public service and local governments’ committee has identified one of the responsible individuals who caused government a loss of over 1.7m USD meant for the purchase of over 70,000 bicycles for village and parish councilors and chairmen.

The committee chaired by the vice chairperson, Hon Magyezi Raphael, issued a warrant of arrest for one Patrick Bagarukayo also known as Bernard who withdrew 390,000 USD in just two consecutive days.
Stanbic Bank represented by its head of legal Gertrude Wamala Karugaba revealed this withdrawal made by Bagarukayo who is still a mystery yet he is neither share holder in the company nor responsible for the bicycles deal.

Meanwhile, Stanbic bank cleared its image when it stressed that its only responsibility was to advice its client and ensure that the documents received are authentic.

Members of parliament are stunned by the fact that all that amount of money moved in just a few hands at the expense of Uganda’s tax payers’ money.

They have insisted that Bagarukayo appears before them and reveal the whole lineage of others on wanted list.

The vice chairperson of the committee has instructed Bank of Uganda and Stanbic Bank to freeze all the accounts of AITEL company not to allow any further withdrawals.

Hon Magyezi has also issued a warrant of arrest to search for Bagarukayo wherever he maybe hiding to either return the money they feasted on, bring the bicycles or faces arrest and be charged of embezzlement.

The committee has also bitterly moved ahead to hand over one of Stanbic bank’s staff Allan Atuhirwe, a branch manager of Stanbic garden city to CID to investigate his questionable relationship with the Bagarukayo clique.

Members of this committee probing this mysterious saga have vowed to search for one Raja Kasharan who is said to be currently in India to account for the same.

According to reports, Raja Kasharan withdrew 20,000 USD for his personal upkeep, he paid AMANI IMPEX INDIA a profit share of 85,000 USD and 1,000 USD to other companies in HongKong which were not involved in any way of this deal.
Investigations are also underway to find out more about the allegedly 8,500 bicycles in Mombasa as it was revealed by Mohinder Singh Chai when he appeared before this very committee.

Namirimu Bushrah and Byanjeru Edna

Bagarukayo Arrested Over Bicycle Scandal

Sheila Naturinda

The Monitor, 26 September 2011

The man at the center of undelivered local government bicycles scandal, Patrick Bagarukayo has been arrested this Monday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations that he defrauded taxpayers.

Mr Bagarukayo, who was being hunted by Police, is accused of misappropriation of $1.7 million (about Shs5 billion) worth of public funds meant for the procurement of 700,000 bicycles for village chairpersons and local councils.

Mr Bagarukayo had appeared in the Parliament's Public Service and Local Government Committee to explain circumstances under which he picked more than Shs1.4 billion from an account in Stanbic Bank belonging to Amman Industrial Tools and Equipment Ltd, a phantom company contracted to supply the bicycles in question. The alleged Indian supplier took the money but the bicycles were never delivered.

Nigeria Christians Warned Against Retaliation As Deadline Looms To Leave

Nigeria Christians Warned Against Retaliation As Deadline Looms To Leave


http://www.worthynews.com/11149-nigeria-christians-warned-against-retaliation-as-deadline-looms-to-leave

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 (9:02 am)

ABUJA, NIGERIA (Worthy News)– With a deadline looming to leave their homes or be killed, Christians in northern Nigeria were urged Tuesday, January 3, not to retaliate against Islamic violence.

"We have appealed that there be no retaliation and we continue to preach peace…" said Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the volatile city of Jos where hundreds of Christians have been killed since last year.

Fighters of the Islamist group Boko Haram, or "Western education is a sin" on Sunday, January 1, issued a three-day ultimatum for Christians to leave the African country's northern state and called on Muslims in the south to move north.

However, Kaigama said, he is still "hoping that all of us in Nigeria, Muslims and Christians, will be able to work and live happily" and added "We continue to appeal to reason, for dialogue."

Boko Haram warned it would fight government troops in parts of the country where President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, declared a state of emergency following a series of bombs killed at least some 50 Christian worshipers on December 25, Christmas Day.

ISLAMIC LAW
The group has pledged to establish Sharia, or Islamic, law in the country, although its 155 million population is roughly equally divided between Christians, who live mainly in the south, and Muslims in the north.

Christians in the north have made clear it is very difficult to leave their homes behind as they no where to go and are in many cases already facing the daily burden of life in the impoverished nation.

Archbishop Ignatius, who is also the Vice President of the Nigerian Bishop's Conference, said he appealed to Nigerians not to allow their country to be overtaken by terror.

“Churches have been destroyed and lives were lost and there is no sign that this might end, until the government intervenes decisively. We continue to ask Christians to be vigilant and aware of the issue of safety when they go to church and even in their own homes," he said in an interview with Vatican Radio, monitored by Worthy News.

Yet, This is our position: no violence, no retaliation. We want to live in peace," he stressed.

PATIENCE RUNNING OUT

There were signs, however, that patience was running out among religious Christians, whonews reports linked to a bomb that detonated in an Islamic school last week.

A spokesman of Open Doors, an advocacy and aid group supporting "persecuted Christians", said colleagues urged local believers not respond with violence to ongoing attacks. "Really, if we want to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, retaliation is not the way to do that. In fact, that would just make it harder for them to
see us as Christians," said spokesman Jerry Dykstra.

He acknowledged that some believers, who reportedly watched their families killed, "are beyond thinking that way" though.

Dykstra quoted an unidentified young man as telling an Open Doors worker, "It's no longer a time for forgiveness; they have pushed us to the wall. So no pastor can stop me from killing and destroying the lives and property of the Muslims."

BEGGING FOR ANSWERS
In published remarks, Dykstra said that Christians are "begging" for answers. He said his workers had received questions that included "Should we fold our arms and watch our killers kill us and take our land because we want to share Christ?"

Other Nigerian Christians reportedly asked: "Should we begin to show love the people who are killing us on a daily basis? Haven't all of our efforts to live at peace with them failed?"

However, "I think the questions are questions that we would ask too in that situation," Dykstra explained.

He said his group has urged believers worldwide to pray for Nigeria. "Pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ would respond exactly as Jesus would want them to. Pray that bitter hearts would be made at peace, and that forgiveness would reign. Pray also for those who need trauma counseling after watching family members killed. Above all, pray that this would build God's kingdom rather than hinder it."

Bishop Ignatius said it remains unclear "who the Boko Haram really are" and, for instance, where they get their weapons from. "What is certain is that there are some forces behind them, either in Nigeria or abroad, who want to profit from instability in our country." Yet, he pledged, "We will not give in to terrorism, we will not allow these fundamentalists to ruin our country.”

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Uganda is sick says Archbishop Orombi

Uganda is sick says Archbishop Orombi


http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/628109-uganda-is-sick-says-archbishop-orombi.html

Publish Date: Jan 02, 2012

By Norman Katende


The archbishop Church of Uganda, Rev. Luke Orombi has said Uganda is a sick country that needs spiritual healing in 2012.

In his New Year’s sermon to the Christians at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe, Orombi said that all Ugandans need is spiritual healing and that not even the organizers of the walk-to work-campaign or the government itself are righteous enough to lead the country through this turmoil.

“Corruption and greed is embedded in us right from childhood. That is why a baby who is suckling a breast will make sure he protects the other one [breast] from any intruder even when it is free. Ask yourself why someone should build a house with 12 bedrooms yet it is only him and his wife living in it,” asked Orombi.

The cleric said that there is no use stealing money from people yet you cannot effectively use it to satisfy yourself.

“At the end of the day, the biggest bed we can sleep in is a six by six bed and you cannot even utilize more than a third of it. You, like others, eat one plate of food so the question is, what is that greed for. Why do you steal all that money for?”

Stressing that all the action in Kampala like theft in the house of the Lord, littering the street and corruption make Ugandans sick. He pointed out that “we need hope.”

“It is this hope that will heal us and this hope can start by us blaming ourselves for all the wrong actions that have impacted on our nation.”

“The heart is deceitful. The human heart is a liar, corrupt and greedy and it is beyond cure. Only God can heal it,” remarked the archbishop before adding the words of Timothy chapter 6:7, that runs thus:

“For we brought nothing into the world and we will take nothing when we go out.”

Precedent for African Dictators : Obama Signs Defense Bill Despite 'Serious Reservations'

Obama Signs Defense Bill Despite 'Serious Reservations'


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/31/obama-defense-bill_n_1177836.html


WASHINGTON -- Indefinite military detention of Americans became the law of the land Saturday, as President Barack Obama signed a defense bill that codified that authority, even as he said he would not use it.


The National Defense Authorization Act states how the military is to be funded, but also includes a number of controversial provisions on arresting and holding suspected terrorists, which at first drove Obama to threaten a veto.


He retreated from that threat after Congress added provisions that took the ultimate authority to detain suspects from the military's hands and gave it to the president. Congress also clarified that civilian law enforcement agencies -- such as the FBI -- would still have authority to investigate terrorism and added a provision that asserts nothing in the detention measures changes current law regarding U.S.
citizens.


Still, the signing on New Year's Eve as few people were paying attention angered civil liberties advocates, who argue that the law for the first time spells out certain measures that have not actually been tested all the way to the Supreme Court, including the possibility of detaining citizens in military custody without trial for as long as there is a war on terror.


"President Obama's action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union.


"The statute is particularly dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations, and can be used by this and future presidents to militarily detain people captured far from any battlefield," Romero added. "The ACLU will fight worldwide detention authority wherever we can, be it in court, in Congress or internationally.”

The administration was especially sensitive about the law and about reaction to the president signing it. In addition to enacting the measure while few people were paying attention -- and many opponents still had hopes the president would veto the bill -- the White House added a signing statement specifying that the Obama administration would not detain Americans without trial. The White House also sent out a notice to its online community highlighting Obama's complaints with the law, in a tacit admission that many of the president's more ardent supporters despise the detention provisions.

"I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists," Obama said in the signing statement.

Presidents issue such statements when they feel a law conflicts with the executive's constitutional powers. Obama criticized them during the Bush administration, but has found the practice useful on a handful of occasions.

In this case, Obama argued that the changes Congress made to the bill affirm only authorities that the Bush and Obama administrations have already claimed in fighting terrorism. But he noted that the codification of those powers in law was unnecessary and perhaps harmful. And he insisted he would not use the powers to detain citizens without trial.

"I want to clarify that my administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens," Obama wrote. "Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation. My administration will interpret section 1021 [of the bill] in a manner that ensures that any detention it authorizes complies with the Constitution, the laws of war, and all other applicable law."

Civil liberties advocates like Romero pointed out that once the provisions are law, however, they will be available to a President Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney or any future president, who could choose to use the powers granted more aggressively.

"We are incredibly disappointed that President Obama signed this new law even though his administration had already claimed overly broad detention authority in court," said Romero. "Any hope that the Obama administration would roll back the constitutional excesses of George Bush in the war on terror was extinguished today."

Because of the provisions specifying that the new legislation does not change current law, the new law leaves the authority it grants open to interpretation and to the possibility -- albeit in very difficult circumstances -- of someone challenging a detention through the courts.

"Thankfully, we have three branches of government, and the final word belongs to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the scope of detention authority," Romero said. "But Congress and the president also have a role to play in cleaning up the mess they have created, because no American citizen or anyone else should live in fear of this or any future president misusing the NDAA's detention authority."

Obama also said he will not abide by the law's requirement to detain terror suspects using the military.

"I reject any approach that would mandate military custody where law enforcement provides the best method of incapacitating a terrorist threat," Obama said. "While section 1022 is unnecessary and has the potential to create uncertainty, I have signed the bill because I believe that this section can be interpreted and applied in a manner that avoids undue harm to our current operations."

Finally, he rejected a number of other provisions, saying the White House is concerned they interfere with the president's constitutional powers and ability to fight terrorism.

"My Administration will aggressively seek to mitigate those concerns through the design of implementation procedures and other authorities available to me as Chief Executive and Commander in Chief, will oppose any attempt to extend or expand them in the future, and will seek the repeal of any provisions that undermine the policies and values that have guided my Administration throughout my time in office," Obama warned.

Error of the year!!! Iran test-fires missiles in Strait of Hormuz exercises

One Event to Watch for sure: Iranian Leaders are on a path to Suicide; The West has sought every opportunity to hit them hard, and for sure the foolish Iranian leaders might have their 'prayers' answered; the West will strike and strike hard, and Balkanize that nation into plots of Oil... This BEAST called the West is out to Conquer and "Who can make War against Her?" Kato Mivule



Iran test-fires missiles in Strait of Hormuz exercises


http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/02/world/meast/iran-missile-test/?hpt=hp_t1
By the CNN Wire Staff

January 3, 2012 -- Updated 0049 GMT (0849 HKT)


Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran test-fired two missiles Monday, the final day of its naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, state-run media reported.

The Qader missile, a long-range sea-to-shore missile, was fired during the "power" stage of the maneuvers, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. The test was successful, and the missile hit its intended targets, according to the report.

"A large number of the long-range surface-to-sea Qader missiles have already been delivered to the Iranian Armed Forces," IRNA said.

A surface-to-surface Nour missile was also successfully tested Monday, according to Iran's Press TV.

The Nour is an "advanced radar-evading, target-seeking, guided and controlled missile and can easily find its target and destroy it," IRNA reported, quoting 2nd Adm. Seyed Mahmoud Musavi.

"Iran's navy test-fired a number of medium-range and long-range missiles in the final stage of the naval drills," Press TV said.

A short-range Nasr missile would also be test-fired Monday, IRNA said.

Iran began the exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman on December 24, IRNA said. Western diplomats have described the maneuvers as further evidence of Iran's volatile behavior.

Iran also successfully test-fired a medium-range, surface-to-air and radar-evading Mehrab missile on Sunday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. A submarine also successfully fired torpedoes at mock vessels, according to the report.

Fars added that plans for Monday involve "a new tactic which is designed to prevent any movement in the Strait of Hormuz if the Iranian navy so desires."

The French Foreign Ministry said Monday the missile tests send a "very bad signal to the international community."

"We want to underline that the development by Iran of a missile program is a source of great concern to the international community," the ministry said in a written statement. That's why Iran is prohibited from "pursuing any activity on ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear (war)head," per a U.N. Security Council resolution, the statement added.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he believes the Iranian exercises and missile tests reflects "the dire straits of Iran in light of the tightening sanctions around her, including the considerations in the last few days regarding the sanctions of exporting petroleum as well as the possibility of sanctions against the Iranian Central Bank."

Because of their "dire situation," Barak said, Iran is "pulling out the envelope of threats in order to deter the world from continuing the sanctions."

The naval exercises focused attention on the strait -- a shipping channel leading in and out of the Persian Gulf between Iran on one coast and Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other. It is strategically important because tankers carrying oil travel through it -- some 15 million barrels daily in 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Iran last week threatened to close the strait over planned sanctions targeting its oil industry and companies that do business with Iran's Central Bank. The sanctions are intended to force Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

The Obama administration was quick to say any closure would be unacceptable and vowed to keep the strait open. But Iran's Press TV reported on Saturday the nation has no plans to close the strait.

The French Foreign Ministry statement emphasized the need for the "freedom of navigation" in the strait.

On Sunday, Fars reported that Iran had succeeded in building and testing the country's first domestically produced nuclear fuel rod. The rod was successfully tested and installed in the core of a research reactor in Tehran, the news agency said, citing the nation's atomic energy agency website.

Iran has repeatedly insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian energy purposes only. But it has rebuffed demands to halt its production of enriched uranium, and a November 8 report by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog found "credible" information that Tehran has carried out work toward nuclear weapons -- including tests of possible bomb components.

In December, the United States as well as several other Western and Asian nations announced increased sanctions against Iran in an international effort to tighten the screws around the suspected nuclear weapons program.