President Yoweri Museveni has returned the National Local Content Bill, 2022 to Parliament for the second time asking the House to reconsider his earlier recommendations which he said have not been fully addressed.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa made the revelation as he chaired the House on  Tuesday, 15 August 2023.

In his letter dated 01 August 2023, the President details sections that ought to be reviewed by the House, before the Bill is enacted.

Museveni said clause 1(g) should be amended to allow the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives negotiate the local content in the agreements to the extent possible.

The clause states that, ‘a local content act shall apply to a local content entity whose activities are financed through public borrowing or such arrangements’.

Museveni noted that, ‘this is not practical since each development partner has its own policies and guidelines that are negotiated before the commencement of the project.’”

Museveni proposed that clause 7 of the Local Content Bill be amended to include locally manufactured goods and services in the East African Community Market as opposed to the bill’s proposal for preference of goods and services readily available on the market.

Clause 11 of the bill requires sub-contracting of public works by at least 30 per cent which the President said is not feasible.

The president also returned the Competition Bill, 2023 calling for amendment of clause 4 which establishes the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to administer the bill.

He said the bill should be administered by the Ministry of Trade and not the proposed commission cognizant that government halted rationalization.

He observed that the commission attracts a charge on the Consolidated Fund.

UNESCO designated Mount Elgon Conservation Area as one of the ten new biospheres reserves in the world.

According to a UNESCO statement, Mount Elgon shared between Uganda and Kenya joins the 748 sites in 134 countries, including 23 transboundary sites.

The Director-General of UNESCO said that biosphere reserves are tangible proof that humanity can live in balance with nature.

“Since 1971, this community-led program has successfully found a model for development where people live well and biodiversity is respected. I am pleased that this year, 11 more sites are joining this powerful network, which is more relevant and necessary than ever,” said Audrey Azoulay in a statement on Wednesday

The additions of Mount Elgon was decided by the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, the Programme’s governing body composed of 34 UNESCO Member States. It met from 12 to 15 June at UNESCO’s headquarters.

Biosphere Reserve is an area where locals work with biodiversity and its sustainable use. They are designated by UNESCO in consultation with host governments. For an area to be designated, the government must affirm conservation protecting, wildlife, habitats, and the environment among others.​

The designation of the Mount Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve consolidates the water tower functions of the Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve in Kenya since 2003.

And the Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve in Uganda, the areas provides a range of ecosystem functions and supports forests, wildlife, and livelihoods in the area.

Mount Elgon Biosphere Reserve is home to over 300 bird species and has an exceptional diversity of ecosystems as well as plant and animal species distributed across four distinct ecological zones characterized by different vegetation types like the mixed montane forest, bamboo and low canopy forest, sub-alpine montane heath, and alpine moorland varying with altitude.

Other species of biodiversity including the rock and tree hyraxes, blue monkeys, elephants, buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, oribi, bushbuck, duiker, forest hog, bush pig, leopard, civet and serval cats, serval cats, spotted hyena; aardvark,

Several rodent species and the endangered Lammergeyer are hosted in Mount Elgon.

Mt Elgon is home to two dominant tribes, the Bagishu and the Sabiny and other ethnic minorities namely Benet and the Ndorobos all spread across the eight districts of Bukwo, Kapchorwa and Kween for Sabinys and Bulambuli, Sironko, Mbale, Bududa, mnafwa and Namisindwa occupied by the Bagishu or Bamasaba.

The transboundary biosphere reserve has a population of nearly 1,150,000 that is evenly split between Kenya and Uganda.

Uganda has two Biosphere Reserves: Mount Elgon and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The vast Queen Elizabeth Elizabeth National Park was designated by UNESCO as Biosphere Reserve in 1979 while Mount Elgon was designated in 2005. There are a number of other sites proposed for nomination including Mount Moroto, Budongo Forest, Mabira, Timu Forest, Morungole, Kalinzu-Kasyoha-Kitomi, Bungoma, Sango Bay, Zoka, Kadam, Lake Mburo and Lake Victoria Basin among others.

The area is inhabited by a diverse population of Sabaot, Luhya, Teso, Bagisu as well as other indigenous peoples and local communities who depend predominately on agriculture for both their livelihood and their subsistence.

Communities rely on gathering forest products such as firewood, fodder, medicinal plants, vegetables, bamboo shoots, stakes, mushrooms, thatching grass and salt for their cattle. Several community conservation initiatives and programmes have been implemented as a way of securing community support for conserving the ecosystem.

Each biosphere reserve promotes innovative local solutions, in order to conserve biodiversity, preserve ecosystems and tackle climate change while improving people’s livelihoods, such as by developing agro-ecology, renewable sources of energy and green industries.

The other reserves elevated by alongside Mount Elgon include Korup Rainforest Biosphere Reserve in Cameroon, Central African Republic’s Biosphere Reserve,Tribugá-Cupica-Baudó Biosphere Reserve in Columbia, Onon-Balj Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia and Germany’s Drömling Biosphere Reserve among others.

The Anti-Corruption Court has dismissed an application made by State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, to halt her trial in connection with the iron sheets scandal. Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga ruled against Nandutu’s request to forward her case to the Constitutional Court for an interpretation of the charges, questioning whether her right to a fair hearing would be infringed upon. Nandutu faces charges of dealing with suspect property, as alleged by the prosecution.

It is claimed that during June 2022, at the Office of the Prime Minister’s Stores in Namanve and Kkola Cell Bulwanyi Parish, Mukono District, Nandutu was involved in the handling of government property, specifically 2,000 pre-painted iron sheets Gauge 28. The prosecution argues that Nandutu had reason to believe these iron sheets were obtained through the loss of public property, an offense under Section 10 of the Anti-Corruption Act of 2000 as Amended.

During the hearing, Nandutu’s lawyers, led by Caleb Alaka, objected to proceeding with the case, citing imprecise, ambiguous, and vague charges that could potentially infringe upon her right to a fair hearing. They argued that the charges were not clear, as the charge sheet specified one offense of dealing with the suspect property while introducing another charge of causing the loss of public property in the particulars of the offense.

Alaka also revealed that they had filed a constitutional petition seeking the interpretation of Section 21A of the Anti-Corruption Act, under which Nandutu was being charged. The petition argues that this provision is imprecise and fails to guarantee a fair hearing as protected by the Constitution. They sought a declaration that the law and the actions of the police and Director of Public Prosecutions in charging Nandutu under this provision are unconstitutional.

In response, the prosecution, represented by Jonathan Muwaganya and David Bisamunyu, opposed halting the trial, asserting that the charges were clear and did not require constitutional interpretation. They accused Nandutu and her legal team of engaging in a “fishing expedition” by filing both a constitutional petition and an application for reference by another court, thereby wasting time and violating the right to a fair and speedy hearing.

In her ruling, Lady Justice Kajuga agreed with the prosecution, dismissing Nandutu’s application. She deemed the charge against Nandutu to be clear and framed in a manner easily understandable by the ordinary person. Kajuga emphasized that the charges did not exhibit the ambiguity and vagueness that would necessitate forwarding the case to the Constitutional Court. She advised Nandutu that if she wished to halt her trial, she should seek a temporary injunction from the Constitutional Court instead.

Following the ruling, State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya requested at least one hour to present witnesses against Nandutu, but her defense lawyers, Caleb Alaka and Evans Ochieng, requested an adjournment to review the ruling and determine their next steps. Consequently, the trial has been adjourned until June 8th, 2023, when the proceedings will commence.

President Museveni has officially signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has confirmed. The Anti-Homosexuality Act, a highly contentious piece of legislation, has been a subject of intense discussion and lobbying both within and outside Uganda.

“His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has executed his constitutional mandate as prescribed by Article 91 (3) (a) of the Constitution. He has assented to the Anti-Homosexuality Act,” Speaker Among said in a statement on twitter.

“As the Parliament of Uganda, we have answered the cries of our people. We have legislated to protect the sanctity of family as per Article 31 of the Constitution of Uganda. We have stood strong to defend our culture and aspirations of our people as per objectives 19 & 24 of national objectives and directive principles of state policy.”

She noted that the Parliament of Uganda believes that the law safeguards the sanctity of the family, in accordance with Article 31 of the Ugandan Constitution. Additionally, she stated that the legislation aligns with the cultural values and aspirations of the Ugandan people, as outlined in objectives 19 and 24 of the national objectives and directive principles of state policy.

She further commended the Members of Parliament for standing strong against external pressure and criticisms, attributing their resilience to the commitment to upholding Uganda’s motto, “For God and our Country.”

Speaking on behalf of the Parliament of Uganda, Among extended gratitude to the people of Uganda for their prayers and encouragement throughout the legislative process. “I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act. The people of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner,” she said.

The enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act triggered widespread international reactions, with human rights organizations and advocacy groups expressing concern over its potential impact on the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. The law has faced criticism for its potential to promote discrimination and persecution.

The Otikokin clan, to which the slain Minister of State for Employment and Industrial Relations Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola belonged, is demanding blood compensation.

Engola, who was also a deputy clan elder (Awitong), was shot dead at his home in Kyanja on Tuesday by his bodyguard, Private Wilson Sabiiti. Traditionally, when murders of this nature occur, the clan to which the perpetrator belongs is required to pay blood compensation as a way of reconciling the two factions.

This compensation usually involves seven cows, goats, and some money, depending on a number of other factors. Dr. Christopher Oleke, the Deputy Awitong of Otikokin, argued that Engola’s murderer took a key pillar of the clan, and added that emotions are too high, although the clan leaders are trying their best to calm the situation.

He then invited the leadership of Private Sabiiti’s clan to compensate their son to avoid more problems.

According to Dr. Oleke, the clan and people of Lango as a whole also want the government to make public all information pertaining to Private Wilson Sabiti, who ended the life of their son.

David Kennedy Odongo, the District Chairperson Alebtong, who is also the Chairperson of the Lango Chairperson’s and Mayor’s Forum, shared the same idea. He argued that the late Okello Engola was instrumental in advocating for peace in Lango and his gruesome murder should not go unpunished, adding that Lango as a tribe should not tolerate the killings of their sons.

Meanwhile, Charles Osendro, the spokesperson of Otikokin Clan, wants the government to take action against people who are celebrating Engola’s death.

The late Charles Okello Engola is survived by a widow and three biological children.