Uganda Correspondent

The Ogole interview on Luwero war: Part 1 of 2

28.06.2010

UC: How and when exactly did you get involved in the Luwero war?

Col. Ogole: Let us first get the basic facts out of the way. The Luwero war was Museveni’s creation. The government I served didn’t start that war; it merely responded, as it was indeed constitutionally enjoined to do, to the threat to national security that such a war inevitably posed. But what most people have failed to appreciate all this time is that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni did not start his war against Ugandans from Luwero in 1981. Neither did he start it because the 1980 elections had been stolen. (more…)

IPC sets up another branch in the UK

28.06.2010

By Our London Reporter

The Inter Party Cooperation [IPC], a loose coalition of Ugandan opposition parties that wants to unseat President Museveni’s ruling NRM government in the general elections scheduled for February 2011 seems to be on a relentless forward march. The partners in the IPC, it will be recalled, are the Forum for Democratic Change [FDC], Uganda People’s Congress [UPC], the Conservative Party [CP], Jeema, and the Social Democratic Party [SDP]; the last to have joined the alliance. (more…)

Michael Jackson makes $1billion in death

28.06.2010

By Our Staff Writer

Michael Jackson, the so-called “King of Pop” who died on the 25^th of June 2009 aged 50, must be smiling in his grave. Jackson’s estate has made more than $1bn since his death a year ago, according to estimates by trade paper Billboard. The magazine says Jackson’s album sales have generated about $383m, while revenue from the film This Is It has hit nearly $400m. Profits from publishing rights, licensing and touring are also included in the total. (more…)

The Ogole interview: Part 1

UC: Colonel, for nearly a quarter of a century, you have maintained a very loud silence on Ugandan politics. What have you been up to?

Col. Ogole: I left Uganda bare-handed to start a new life as a refugee. Like most refugees, I had to rationalise almost every aspect of my life to create an uninterrupted period that would enable me settle down and mature into my newly acquired second exile life. It has been very painful. (more…)

“IPC Volunteers Corps” launch campaign for change

By Our Staff Writer

The social networking site facebook is fast becoming a rich political mobilisation ground for Uganda’s top most politicians; especially the main party leaders. Museveni, Besigye, Otunnu, Mao, Muntu and a few lesser mortals all have some sort of presence on facebook. In the last few weeks, a hitherto unheard of organisation calling itself “The IPC Volunteers Corps” has also joined the fray. (more…)

Col. Ogole Breaks 25yr Political Silence

By Staff Writer

Uganda Correspondent

Col. John Charles Ogole

In terms of stature, he is most definitely not your typical Ugandan. For a start, he is very well built; throughout in fact! Secondly, going by my rudimentary estimation, I would say that standing, he easily hits above 6ft mark. Thirdly, I think he probably weighs something that the Doctor would say is perfectly proportionate for that sort of stature; so you work it out for yourself. Fourthly, his hands are blessed with long and larger than average fingers that give you more than just a firm grip when you greet him. For most small people, I am sure a handshake with him would feel like a “David and Goliath” hand-squeezing contest. His head is now covered in neatly trimmed silver-white grey hair. And yet, only a few minutes with him will tell you that his grey hair is very deceptive. Beneath that grey covered skull lies a brain that could put that of many Ugandan graduates to shame. It is, in other words, a head that is still firing on all cylinders; like a brand new car! (more…)

Mo Foundation Cancels 2010 Prize

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim

The 2010 Mo Ibrahim Prize for outstanding leadership by African leaders is off. The Prize Committee met yesterday to discuss the award of the 2010 Mo Ibrahim Prize. Following its deliberations, the Prize Committee informed the Board of the Foundation that it had not selected a winner. Last year the Prize Committee announced that it had considered some credible candidates, but after in depth review could not select a winner. This year the Prize Committee told the Board that there had been no new candidates or new developments and that therefore no selection of a winner had been made. The Mo Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The prize is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government who has served their term in office within the limits set by the country’s constitution and has left office in the last three years. The first winner of the Prize was Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique in 2007, followed by Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana in 2008. (more…)

Identity Crisis Hits “Ugandans” in the Diaspora

By Timothy Nsubuga,

Uganda Correspondent

For many Ugandans, being Ugandan is something that they consider to be fairly straight forward; hardly debatable in fact. For them, it is as simple as either being born in Uganda to Ugandan parents, [or at least one of them] or by registration as a citizen. For Miss Brown however, [not her real names] it is not that straight forward. For a long time, she considered herself to be Ugandan without much question. After all, she was born and raised in Uganda and both her parents were Ugandans through and through! But she began to question her uncritical, almost dogmatic beliefs recently when she was granted citizenship in a European country. Her nationality identity crisis story goes like this: (more…)

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