By Our Staff Writer – 30th Aug-5th Sept

Last week, Uganda’s main media houses published a number of important stories that we feel Uganda Correspondent’s weekly readers must not miss.  Read excerpts here.

Constitutional Court strikes down sedition law

The Constitutional Court has struck out the law of sedition from the Penal Code, paving way for Ugandans to enjoy full freedom of speech and expression.

Five judges of the Constitutional Court led by Deputy Chief Justice Leticia Mukasa Kikonyogo unanimously agreed that the existence of sedition in the Penal Code is unconstitutional as it infringes on the freedom of speech and expression of Ugandans.

“The State Attorney merely cited the sections in the Penal Code on the law of sedition but did not adduce evidence to justify limitation of freedom of speech and expression.  On that account, we allow the petition on sedition”, the Judges declared

Consequently, sections 39 and 40 of the Penal Code that had allowed existence of sedition have been struck out and sections 42, 43, and 44 which relate to sedition have been declared redundant by the Constitutional Court.

Sedition is where a person utters or publishes statements aimed at bringing hatred, contempt or disaffection against the President, the Government, or the Judiciary.

The judgment follows a petition filed by East African Media Institute and Independent Magazine Managing Editor Andrew Mwenda in 2005 when he was arrested over statements he made while still the political editor at Daily Monitor and host of Andrew Mwenda Live programme on KFM Radio.

Mr Mwenda had been accused of inciting public hatred towards the person of the President when he repeatedly said during the programme that the government of Uganda was partly responsible for the death of former President of South Sudan John Garang.

Museveni wants to eliminate me, says Otunnu

Uganda People’s Congress President Dr. Olara Otunnu last week accused President Museveni of trying to arrest him, keep him in custody, and possibly “eliminate” him.

Speaking to journalists on the day that the Constitutional Court outlawed the crime of sedition, Mr Otunnu, who was facing two charges of sedition, couldn’t have chosen a better day to launch his attack on Museveni.  He said imprisonment of political opponents is a tactic that President Museveni has perfected against “his perceived enemies.”

“Mr Museveni has now perfected certain methods of dealing with his perceived enemies. One is poisoning. The second method is staging road accidents. He has already tried that. And the third method is staging robbers and criminals to do outright shooting”, Otunnu said.

Information Minister Kabakumba Masiko however said the government has no intention of eliminating any opposition rival.  Mr Otunnu also repeated his demands for an independent inquiry into atrocities allegedly committed since 1980.  “A lot of innocent people were caught up in crossfire and UPC calls for a thorough investigation.  Whoever will be found guilty should be held responsible for their actions.  Whether it was NRA or Museveni himself”, Mr Otunnu said.

More violence, intimidation at NRM campaigns

Violence, intrigue, intimidation, and bribery allegations are defining NRM party’s campaigns in the run up to the August 30 elections.  A look at the campaign progress so far suggests that whereas incumbents are facing stiff challenges from young NRM cadres, they, like their leader Yoweri Museveni, are not prepared to leave the field.

Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo and Patrick Nkalubo have already drawn the first blood in the race for the parliamentary seat.  Theirs is an age-old rivalry.  MP Sekikubo added another episode to his political drama series after he stopped a police officer from arresting his bodyguard in Lwenzo Trading Centre in Sembabule.  The bodyguard is allegedly wanted over several cases but Mr Sekikubo says all that is part of his political nemesis Sam Kutesa’s bagful of intrigue.

In Fort Portal, NRM hooliganism is taking centre stage as Steven Kaliba and Asaba Ruyonga’s supporters clash.  Both aspirants have opened cases of assault against each other.

Second Deputy Premier Henry Kajura’s quest for the Hoima Municipality MP seat has also attracted violence.  Stick-wielding men allegedly waylaid Kajura’s political rival in the NRM Dr Patrick Isingoma and smashed his car.

Ms Janet Museveni’s sole opponent in Ruhama County Mr Hannington Kanyate is petitioning the NRM secretariat for disciplinary action against the First Lady because she has arrogantly refused to hold joint rallies.

In Rubanda West, the incumbent MP Mr Henry Banyenzaki has also abandoned joint campaigns after his opponents filed a case against him at Kabale Police Station claiming that he was bribing voters.  They also lodged a petition at the district NRM party office asking for his disqualification from the race.

In Budadiri West, Dr Beatrice Wabudeya has also had allegations of voter bribery labelled against her.  Dr Wabudeya’s opponent Mr Paul Wakou said “…we hear the minister is moving in the villages buying off voters and planning to rig.  She is dodging tough questions from voters on what she has done”, Mr Wakou said.

Mr Michael Werikhe, who is standing in Bungokho South, has been accused of bribery and the NRM district party office said it has not received his campaign programme though they know he is carrying out a door-to-door mobilisation.

Govt withdraws licence from Tullow Oil

The government of Uganda has taken back a major oil field in western Uganda over a tax dispute.  The incident has brought Tullow Oil’s operations in the country to a standstill.

Energy Minister Hilary Onek wrote to the oil companies informing them that the exploration licence they hold over block 3A which expired in February would not be renewed until the tax is paid in full.  “We have put our foot down and nothing moves until they have paid tax”, Mr Onek

The oil-rich Kingfisher field is part of block 3A that Tullow shared with Heritage Oil but which it acquired after buying out Heritage’s 50 per cent stake for $1.5billion.

The sale has sparked off a dispute over $405 million that the government says Heritage must pay in capital gains tax.  Heritage says the transaction does not attract that tax and it paid $121m to Uganda Revenue Authority out of $1.045b it received from Tullow.

Tullow’s shares on the London Stock Exchange fell by 59 pence on receipt of the news and that wiped over £500m off the company’s value.  END.  If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent.  Never miss out again.