Abdallah Kitata, the leader of Boda boda 2010 and the chairman of NRM Lubaga was recently arrested by CMI.

Ugandans can now see how Kayihura is bad, he has miss managed the Police Force and made everyone unprofessional. Military Police arrested Boda Boda 2010 Malitia without shooting a bullet, there are no cases of brutality yet these guys were armed according to pictures released. We have seen Police Flying Squad shooting at people in the back and claiming they were armed only to recover a rusty gun. we have seen citizens being beaten up including journalists by the Police force.

“I am his friend and I can’t stand anyone who dares to get in his way.” Here is KITATTA’S INTERVIEW WITH the NEW VISION LAST YEAR.

Abdallah Kitatta is an ordinary man who is feared by the powerful, the rich and the police, both high and low! Yet he is just an NRM chairperson for Rubaga division and a patron of the Boda Boda 2010. He is said to have mobilised the gang which besieged court last week to protect IGP Gen Kale Kayihura from appearing at Makindye Chief Magistrates Court. Umaru Kashakaasked him where he gets all these powers

Who is Kitatta, who scares even the Police?

I am an ordinary person. I was elected as NRM chairman for Rubaga division and patron of all Boda boda riders in Uganda. I am also the chairman of National Union of Drivers, Cyclists and Allied Workers (NUDCAW). When I became popular, I entered politics and became the youth chairman of Kitaka zone in Busega parish, youth chairman of Rubaga division and now the NRM chairman for Rubaga division. Nevertheless I am still a common man.

Any school qualifications?

I failed to study but I knew I had to work hard to make a living. But now, I have gone back to school and I am in S. 4. I want to finish university and be able to communicate effectively with whites in my business and operate a computer. I won’t tell you the school because my enemies, who are hell-bent on tarnishing my name, may follow me up. I also want to ensure that all my children complete school. I am a devout Muslim with two wives and children.

Are you a rich man?

Some people say I am rich. Yes but I don’t get money from boda boda riders. I used to supply maize to Bulemezi Farm Enterprises Ltd in 2007 before it collapsed and would make a lot of money. When it collapsed I bought a maize milling machine which business I am still doing. I even export maize flour to South Sudan. I also have six taxi minibuses but I don’t own any boda bodas because I don’t want to have conflict of interest. But I rode a boda boda for about seven years in Mukono and Kasangati before I came to Nateete. I am the one who began Kevina boda boda stage in Busega. Otherwise I was born in 1978 in Kyampisi Sub-county, Mukono district to Hajji Muhamood Naggoba and Hasifah Nabukeera.

Are you Gen Kayihura’s aide?

How? I am not a policeman. I am his friend and I can’t stand anyone who dares to get in his way. I have the capacity to save the Inspector General of Police and the entire Police force from any enemy. I am the one who made the youth love the Police and the government. Even if I died now, there are 1000 Kitattas who can save this government from collapsing.

Oh, we saw how you mobilized to stop Kayihura from appearing at Makindye Magistrates Court last week!

No! I wasn’t even there. But I was with them (demonstrators) in spirit. My team knows what to do even when I am not around. Nobody mobilised them; they just abandoned their businesses in markets, abattoirs, taxi parks, etc. and went to court to show their discontent. They did this because of the good job the Police, led by the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura, is doing

But their actions attracted widespread condemnation

Why? If Kizza Besigye can have people following him whenever he goes to court; what not Kayihura? Is Besigye more powerful than Kayihura? Did they go to the wrong place to show their discontent? They did the right thing by going to court. I didn’t see any chaos there, but I don’t want to delve into this because I am not a spokesperson of the Police or Judiciary.

So is your Boda Boda 2010 Association a militia group?

I am not a leader of Boda Boda 2010 Association; I’m just its patron. And as its patron, I cannot be held accountable for its actions because every division has its leadership. Yes, I am their patron, but I don’t know everything they do. And as a person who loves the NRM government and who doesn’t want to see it collapsing, I came in to fix the cracks that were starting to emerge. I wanted to know why cyclists were always striking and opposing the government because I knew the Boda boda industry like the back of my hand.

Some bodaboda riders accuse Boda Boda 2010 of harassment

What I know for sure is that some things are not true. For example, you can’t say they are battering people. When Boda Boda 2010 is attacked at their offices, they fight back and the strong ones win.

But some battered cyclists recently showed security minister Gen Henry Tumukunde injuries they said you inflicted onto them?

If they had wounds, the minister would have helped in taking the matter to court because I am not above the law. Media are not courts of law. I am ready to go to court if any charge is preferred against me.

People say you command goons who beat people

That is not true. How can I batter people? That is bad! If I batter people, I should be taken to court because I am not above the law. People just want to tarnish my name because I am doing things which the ministers can’t do. I can sit here and, with just 10 phone calls, summon 10,000 people. I have built a force of 1,000 people who can do what I want. So those battering people are politicians because we have frustrated their schemes for protests like walk-to-walk…

Where do you get the power from? You even warned a full general (Gen Tumukunde) to steer clear of boda bodas or …

I never warned him; I just informed him! People should not think they are above other people because they are ministers or generals. There is no way a security minister can start planning for boda bodas or registering them. That is not how matters of security are handled.

Who is your Godfather?

I get the power from people, but to be able to do all this you have to have roots (emirandira).

Do you have a command structure?

I can’t disclose my structure due to security concerns. If I was giving out that information I would not have found it easy doing my work. But I have people everywhere—in taxis, abattoirs, boda bodas, lorries etc. Just know I have the capacity to save this government from any uprising. So anyone who thinks can destabilise this country should think twice because we have the capacity to liquidate him. I have been playing politics within security to save this country and that is why protests or defiance campaigns have failed in Kampala.

You must tell us your trick of how you became this powerful

I told you I am always with the people. I get to know their issues and I know where to take the issues. I don’t mince my words. I don’t tell the President lies because I don’t want him to make mistakes. I have the President’s ear. I call Museveni direct anytime; I don’t need to pass through anyone! I tell him what I believe is true, whether it pleases him or not. And he likes me for that! I also have Gen Kayihura’s ear. Can you imagine? It’s because I am selfless. By the way, President Museveni invited me to State House to address his Cabinet. But I was busy on official duties elsewhere, so I sent three representatives. That shows I have reached a certain level.

Do you know you have created enemies? Don’t you fear what might happen to you if this government fell out of power?

I am the only person you can walk with in Kampala and nobody picks up a stone to throw at me because I am always with the poor people. Many people have tried to buy me to their sides so that they can push their selfish interests using me. But I have refused to betray the common man. In Uganda I am the only person who can talk to everybody, including the Opposition. I can sit with you, tell you your problem and we reach an agreement. I managed to take all the elected city councillors to President Museveni in Entebbe in April after they had been refused to swear in. Politics should not divide us. Let’s put aside our political differences and work together for a bright future because elections are over.

You were identified as the person who failed KCCA from registering all boda bodas in the city!

I have never opposed the registration exercise of boda bodas, but people got it wrong. I tried in vain to ask KCCA to involve the boda boda riders and their local leaders in the exercise. I proposed that the cyclists should first be sensitized about the exercise but nobody listened. If people see that you are forming cliques and promoting your own interests, they will fight you. During the registration, KCCA gave several conditions which convinced us that the exercise was not well-intentioned. Unfortunately they claimed it was Kitatta who failed them yet they are the ones who failed themselves by rejecting my proposals. And the President is aware of this.

Century Riders Association is now fighting your Boda Boda 2010 Association

That Century Riders Association is a clique formed by mafias in government to fight wars. I will tell you who these mafias are in future. But we shall also crush this clique the way we crushed those before it. Like tell me; where is Kampala Metropolitan Boda-Boda Association (KAMBA) and others? When I fought for the welfare of bodaboda cyclists and helped their elected leaders in 2010 to form an association, those that lost power were not unhappy and have since fought and lost.
Mpaawo Atalikaaba!

Morocco on Saturday said it has started the third and final operation to repatriate its nationals stranded in Libya, a stepping stone to illegal migration to Europe.

The ministry of expatriates and migration said the operation was launched on Friday and aimed at bringing home 338 Moroccan migrants stuck in Libya.

The migrants were to be flown to Casablanca on the Libyan airline Afriqiyah and then transported by bus to their home towns, the ministry said in a statement.

It did not say when the operation was expected to be concluded.

Since the 2011 fall and killing of its longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has become a key launch-pad for migrants making desperate bids to reach Europe, often on unseaworthy vessels.

The plight of migrants in Libya has garnered fresh attention after an outcry over reports of slave auctions in the country, an enormous transit hub for sub-Saharan Africans seeking to reach Europe.

Morocco has already repatriated 435 of its citizens from Libya in two separate operations in August and December.

The International Organization for Migration has called on Libya to shut down 30 detention centers holding 15,000 migrants.

Source AFP

Dixon Godfrey Ssengonzi, the fallen Radio Buddu all round journalist was on Tuesday laid to rest at his ancestral home in Ssanje village Kakuuto Sub County, in Kyotera district.  He was laid to rest on 9^th January 09, 2018.

Ssengonzi died of lung infection and skin cancer. He was 50 years. He is described by many as one of the most disciplined professional reporters in the country. Mary Babirye Kabanda, the Masaka district Woman Member of Parliament who intervened to save his life describes Ssengonzi as her friend who loved doing his work “I am a member of Democratic Party but I heard that Ssengonzi supported NRM. I must say that despite the fact that Ssengonzi loved NRM, he was never biased in reporting stories about me as a Democratic Party member,” MP Kabanda notes.

“ I think Ssengonzi died prematurely because we didn’t intervene on time to save his life. He had kept his health conditions secret and by the time we learnt about it, it was too late. I was informed by members of South Buganda Journalists Association Network-SOBUJA that Ssengonzi was too sick but refused to go for serious medication. Matilda Nabukalu, the treasurer of SOBUJA asked me to intervene and save Dicxon life since he respected me and when I went there, I found him in really bad state,” notes MP Kabanda.

“I can only reward Ssengonzi by providing schools fees to the youngest of his two children up to master’s level.  I promise to take up responsibility of paying school fees for that young girl who is in senior two up to master’s level, MP Kabanda promised.

Mark Tamale, the General Manager of Radio Buddu described Ssengonzi has irreplaceable.  “ He has been an all round journalist. He was a Luganda news anchor. He also hosted the our Monday to Friday Twezimbe show between 10am and 12noon. Also did the Tumutendereze show on Sunday where he hosted Catholic priests?

Above all, he was also a reporter. That is why I say it will be very hard to find his replacement, “ Tamale remarked.

Tamale added that Ssengonzi who has worked for Buddu for Five years had never asked for his annual leave. “This shows how committed to his work the late has been. In December, his editor came to me and told me Ssengonzi was not feeling well but he continued coming to work. When I saw him, I realized he was very weak. That is why i asked him to take a sick leave,” Tamale explained.

South Buganda Journalists Association Network President Edward Bindhe described Ssengonzi as a very disciplined person. He noted that his death is a big loss to the media fraternity since he was also a member of the association disciplinary committee. “Because he was a very disciplined person, members voted him on the disciplinary committee to work on those members who embarrass the association, “ Bindhe noted.

He was also a personal friend of mine who advised me on many issues, “Bindhe added.

Ssengonzi is described by Uganda Media Development Foundation –UMDF as a resourceful person.

Below  is a statement by James Kigozi, the Executive Director UMDF.

“We have learnt with great sadness that our colleague Dickson Sengonzi passed away over the weekend.

Dickson was a very hardworking and resourceful journalist who diligently served his audiences with very informative programs on a variety of topics including; Peace Journalism, Gender equality, Human rights and Agriculture.  We shall greatly miss him.

On behalf of the Board, management and all media partners of Uganda Media Development Foundation, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the management of Radio Buddu, the late Dickson’s family, the media fraternity in Greater Masaka and all your listeners,”

Ssengozi first worked for Masaka-based Radio Equator before quitting to joining Radio Buddu five year ago.  He has mentored many radio presenters who have gone on to become serious radio personalities.