When Donald Trump, a first-time, unconventional candidate, was elected president of the United States of America in November, many people considered it to be one of the most shocking political upsets of 2016.
But even back home, the year started and has ended with shocking events ranging from the grue- some killings in Kasese, road accidents, the breakdown of the Mulago cancer machine,a minister beating a journalist, the ‘resurrection’ of Christopher Aine, among others. ZURAH NAKABUGO highlights some of the defining and memorable moments of 2016.
MUSICIAN MASTER BLASTER’S DEATH
This year got off to a sad start after local musician Master Blaster was shot dead at Eden Service park, Bwaise, as people were celebrating New Year’s day (2016). He was reportedly hit by a stray bullet in an incident involving South Sudanese.
COCAINE STOLEN FROM POLICE STORES
On January 3, senior police officers and their junior detectives clashed over seize cocaine worth Shs 13bn, which was stolen from the police stores in Entebbe.
SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCKED
On the eve of the February general election, the government switched off social media platforms in Uganda. However, several internet users using mobile broad-band on devices like phones and Ipads managed to by- pass the blockade by using the virtual private network (VPN) to continue accessing social media sites.
CLOSURE OF NEW MULAGO
In March, it was reported that the national referral hospital, Mulago, would be closed for nine months for renovation. This created confusion. Patients were referred to Kiruddu and Kawempe general hospitals. Mulago, the biggest referral hospital, handles the most complicated cases.
MINISTER BYANDALA BEATS JOURNALIST
Still in March, Abraham James Byandala, the then minister without Portfolio, turned court premises into a battleground when he reportedly beat up a female television journalist.
He punched Judith Naluggwa of Bukedde TV in the lower abdomen at the registry of the Anti-Corruption court. Byandala was infuriated by Naluggwa filming him as he entered court to answer corruption-related charges.
FOOD INSECURITY
In March, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), jointly with the agriculture ministry released a report on food insecurity within the country.
The report revealed that at least four million Ugandans were food-insecure and even those who have food, don’t eat a balanced diet. The report by the UN agency also noted that between 70 and 80 per cent of Ugandan children eat a diet of inadequate diversity and lack nutrient-rich foods.
AINE’S RETURN
On April 7, Christopher Aine, the former head of security for former presi- dential candidate Amama Mbabazi resurfaced after disappearing for four months. He resurfaced in the company of Gen Salim Saleh.
Aine had disappeared after he was arraigned in Jinja Magistrate’s court for assaulting Edgar Nyabong, the then Kiira regional police commander, and his involvement in clashes be- tween NRM party supporters and those of Mbabazi in Ntungamo district during the campaigns.
CANCER MACHINE
On April 8, news of the breakdown of the old cancer machine at Mulago hospital made rounds, triggering an exchange between government and the public.
Some patients with advanced cancer were referred to Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi. A few of them went but the rest were told to wait until 2017 when the new cobalt 60 radiation machine will be installed.
DR NYANZI STRIPS
On April 18, Dr Stella Nyanzi, a senior researcher at the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), stripped and shared her half-nude pictures on social media protesting the closure of her office by Prof Mahmood Mamdani, the executive director.
Her nude photos went viral on social media and she was later suspended.
MUSEVENI’S ROADSIDE PHONE CALL
On July 12, President Museveni surprised Ugandans when he stopped his huge motorcade by the roadside to make a phone call. Museveni was on his way from attending a World Population day event in Isingiro district.
MUKAJANGA’S DEATH
On July 16, renowned Catholic preacher John Baptist Mukajanga died under mysterious circumstances. His personal doctors revealed he died of a blood clot in one of his vessels.
COMPANIES BAILOUT
On July 22, it was revealed that government was in the process of bailing out close to 100 business entities saddled with huge debt.
The likes of Senana Enterprises, Simba Group, Steel Rolling Mills, Shumuk Aluminum Industries, Roofings Limited, Grapes Construction, Ham Enterprises, Ssebaggala and Sons were on the list.
The companies blamedthe weak economy, depreciating shilling, slow recovery of war torn South Sudan and high interest rates for their woes. Ugandans raised concern that bailing out companies without correcting the economic situation in the country would not resolve the problem.
KABAKA SUED OVER LAND
On July 26, the High court summoned Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II to defend himself. Samuel Miwanda Katongole, a resident of Katwe, a Kampala city suburb, accused the king of refusing to renew his lease.
In his suit through his lawyers of Tumusiime, Kabega & Co Advocates, Katongole claimed to be the rightful owner of the contested land, which he inherited from his father, Aineya Katongole.
In the same vein, city lawyer Male Mabirizi dragged Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II to court. Mabirizi sought declaration that the compulsory registration of people living on land registered in his (Kabaka’s) name at a fee is illegal. The Buganda Lukiiko later described the lawyer’s act as undermining the Kabaka.
UNIVERSITIES PRODUCE ‘FAKE’ NURSES
On August 29, four universities were accused of graduating unqualified nurses. This was attributed largely to failure by the uni- versities to pay attention to detail by admitting people who lacked the minimum academic qualifications to the course.
The universities faulted for offering “fake” nursing degrees included Uganda Christian University, Bishop Stuart University, International Health Sciences University and Kampala International University.
MAN FALLS OFF MABIRIZI COMPLEX
On September 6, one Kalule Mustafa, jumped off the rooftop of Mabirizi complex but miraculously survived.
THE OBSERVER BREAK-IN
On October 15, thieves broke into The Observer offices and property including laptops, company computers and other files were stolen. Police is still investigating the matter and no suspect has been arrested yet.
CRANE BANK CLOSURE
In October, a cash-strapped Crane bank was taken over by Bank of Uganda (BoU). In order to avoid a complete collapse of Crane bank, the government injected Shs 200bn to try and rescue the third-largest indigenous bank in the country.
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY CLOSURE
On November 1, President Yoweri Museveni ordered the closure of Makerere Uni- versity following a lecturers strike, which led to students’ unrest. Police instructed students to vacate the uni- versity and all the business communities around the university were affected.
However, in December, the lecturers called off their strike and Museveni directed Makerere Univer- sity council to reopen the university and resume busi- ness, starting January 2, 2017.
TRUMP ELECTED US PRESIDENT
On November 9, the world woke up to the shocking news of the election of Donald Trump, an eccentric and antagonistic politician, as the 45th president of the United States. Trump overcame his far more experienced Democratic rival Hillary Clinton to win the bitterly-fought election.
Trump, who had never held elective office, had remained confident of his ability to win the hard-fought race, predicting a surprise victory throughout the eventful final days of the turbulent two-year presidential campaign.
AKENA’S DEATH
On November 13, Kenneth Watmon Akena was shot dead after a mini scuffle with Matthew Kanyamunyu, the chief executive officer of Quantum Express Logistics. Akena was a community development officer and a child protection specialist working with an organisation in Kasese district.
Nakawa Magistrate’s court later charged Kanyamunyu, his brother Joseph Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend Cynthia Munangwari with the murder of Akena basing on the deceased’s dying declaration. However, they denied killing Akena, claiming that they acted as good Samaritans.
They are still remanded in Luzira prison.
MAJ MUHAMMAD KIGGUNDU’S MURDER
The grisly murder of Maj Muhammad Kiggundu, one of the former commanders of the rebel Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in Masanafu, Kampala, shook the nation.
KASESE MURDERS
This was perhaps one of the most riveting stories of 2016. On November 26, security forces clashed with royal guards aligned to the Rwenzururu kingdom leading to the death of at least 100 people.
In the ensuing saga, Charles Wesley Mumbere, the Rwenzururu king, was arrested and charged with murder and terrorism.
MURDER AT JUMA SEIKO’S HOME
On December 4, two people including a boda boda cyclist and a private security guard were shot dead at 3am at the residence of Maj Juma Seiko in upscale Nakasero.
The deceased are Lameck-Ogwang, a security supervisor with SGA, a private firm, and Fred Ssembatya, a boda boda cyclist based at Balintuma road in Mengo.
zurah@observer.ug