A photo of former Assistant Minister for Internal Security, Stephen Tarus, who was arraigned before a Ugandan anti-corruption court on January 10, 2024.
Former Assistant Minister for Internal Security in former President Mwai Kibaki's regime, Stephen Tarus, was arrested by Ugandan authorities over claims of smuggling gold.
Reports indicated that the politician was accused of illegally ferrying 13 kilos of gold into Uganda using forged documents.
When translated into currency according to calculateme.com, the 13 kilos of gold amounts to Ksh134 million.
Following his arrest on January 6, 2024, Tarus was arraigned before a Ugandan anti-corruption court on Wednesday.
The prosecution was handed seven days to complete investigations into the allegations with Tarus detained at Luzira Prison.
According to press reports, Tarus is expected to answer to charges of gold smuggling, fraud and forgery of URA documents including a payment of Ksh4.7 million in Kampala for the gold to be ferried into the country.
Ugandan authorities, in a joint operation with Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) officials, recently launched a crackdown to tame the vice that has been rampant in the region.
Tarus served as an assistant minister under the late President Mwai Kibaki's regime as well as Kenya's high commissioner to Australia between 2009 and 2012.
The 57-year-old also served as a Member of Parliament for Emgwen Constituency between 2003 and 2007.
The latest data from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime shows that Uganda is an attractive market for illicit gold owing to its proximity to neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya and South Sudan.
This was occasioned by corruption at weak border points, airports and porous borders hence making it easier for perpetrators to smuggle goods into the country.
The high-risk areas for illicit gold flows include the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and Arua in Uganda. By Brian Kimani, Kenyans.co.ke
KIGALI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Burundi said Thursday that it had closed its border with Rwanda, nearly two weeks after President Evariste Ndayishimiye accused the neighbor of supporting rebels.
"We have closed our borders with Rwanda," Burundi's Minister of Interior, Community Development and Public Security Martin Niteretse was quoted by local media as saying on Thursday. The minister said his country was suspending diplomatic ties with Rwanda, closing their border and deporting Rwandan citizens.
In response, Rwanda's Office of the Government Spokesperson released a statement on Thursday evening, saying it regrets the unilateral border closure by Burundi.
"The government of Rwanda has learned through media reports of the unilateral decision by the government of Burundi to again close its borders with Rwanda. This unfortunate decision will restrict the free movement of people and goods between the two countries, and violates the principles of regional cooperation and integration of the East African Community," the statement said.
In late December, Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda of hosting RED-Tabara rebels who claimed responsibility for an attack on Dec. 22 in the border region between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that left 20 people dead and nine others injured.
The accusations were made in a live program on a local radio station on Dec. 29, during which Ndayishimiye said, "Members of this rebel group (RED-Tabara) are hosted, fed and taken care of by Rwanda. They are offered money and working offices by that country."
However, Rwanda rejected the accusations.
"The Rwandan government rejects comments by Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye alleging Rwandan support to Burundian armed rebel groups based in eastern DRC. Rwanda is not associated, in any way, with any Burundian armed group," said a statement from the Office of the Government Spokesperson.
"The government of Rwanda urges the government of Burundi to address its concerns through diplomatic channels where they can be amicably resolved," the statement said.
The RED-Tabara rebel group is based in eastern DRC and has been battling Burundi's government since 2015.
Burundi's border closure with Rwanda marks a recent escalation in tensions, but it is not entirely unprecedented. The two countries closed their borders in 2015 due to political turmoil and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2020, the two sides began restoring their diplomatic relations, resulting in the reopening of the borders in 2022. - Xinhua
NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 11 – Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has raised objections to the recent 16 per cent increase in electricity prices, expressing concerns about its adverse impact on Kenyan citizens.
Kalonzo said President William Ruto’s government has been failing Kenyans by continually raising taxes, making life difficult for Kenyans.
He further noted that these price hikes had led to an escalation in the cost of living, leaving Kenyans feeling “tired, hungry, and angry.”
“The 16 per cent increase in tokens by @KenyaPower is the latest unacceptable burden on tired, hungry, and angry Kenyans. This is a clear example of the government’s inability to address the rising cost of living,” he declared.
“They may want to plunge us into darkness, but I want to remind them that there is light in the darkness,” he added on his X platform.
The rise in electricity token prices can be attributed to surcharges, including the fuel cost charge and foreign exchange rate fluctuations due to the weakening shilling.
As a result, consumers are now expected to pay 16.5 per cent more for electricity, with prices increasing to Sh4.33 per unit from Sh3.98 in December 2023.
Musyoka’s protest underscores the need for government accountability in managing essential services and ensuring that citizens can afford the basic necessities of life. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News
Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, and his deputy, Hajat Aisha Lubega
President Yoweri Museveni has reappointed Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, and his deputy, Hajat Aisha Lubega for another seven-year term.
Byabakama was first appointed chairperson of the commission in November 2016 and now in a January 5 letter to the speaker of parliament, Museveni has awarded Byabakama and Lubega another term in office. The new faces at the commission include Robert Kasule Sebunya, a former MP for Kyandondo North in the 9th parliament and later Nansana Municipality in the 10th parliament. Sebunya has been working as head of the delivery unit at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).
The other new face is Dr Sallie Simba Kayunga, a political science lecturer at Makerere University. Museveni also appointed former Kioga county MP, Anthony Okello to join the commission. Museveni also reappointed former Kajara MP, Stephen Tashobya to the commission. He will serve his last term on the commission at the end of the seven-year term. Tashobya is a lawyer by profession.
He was a member of the 8th and 9th parliament of Uganda. He rose to the limelight at parliament especially when he served as the chair of the legal and parliamentary affairs committee. Also reappointed is Pamela Etonu Okudi, who has been acting head of administration at the commission. She previously worked at the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
The commission is expected to immediately continue the implementation of the strategic plan whose implementation began from FY 2022/23–2026/27. It should take up the process of planning for and administration of the 2025/2026 general elections.
The implementation of the strategic plan which includes the 2025/26 general elections roadmap, was estimated to cost Shs 2.41 trillion. The 2026 general elections have been scheduled between January 12 and February 10, 2024.
The outgoing commission had documented some of the lessons based on a review of EC’s performance in the past 5 years. One of those is the need for increased focus on civic and voter education as well as the dissemination of information through the community. The lack of civic education was raised as an issue of concern during the last elections.
The team also suggested the need to streamline the commission’s engagement with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), ministry of Local Government and ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development concerning citizen data, creation of administrative units and workers register. By URN/The observer
The Government has been accused of having a “woefully inadequate” plan to curb Channel crossings after failing to offer asylum seekers more legal ways to travel to the UK.
Ministers faced claims the urgent need to cut the dangerous journeys was being “completely overlooked” as they came under fire for ignoring calls from campaigners to establish fresh safe and legal routes, and to test out a humanitarian visa for refugees.
It comes as the Prime Minister is braced for a Commons showdown next week over his Rwanda plan.
Last year, Rishi Sunak said new laws under the Illegal Migration Act would make it “clear that if you come here illegally, you can’t claim asylum” as he vowed to “stop the boats”, prompting questions over how people fleeing war and persecution would legally be able to seek protection in the UK.
The Government was dutybound under the Act to produce a report setting out what is meant by safe and legal asylum routes, and detailing which programmes are already in place, as well as any proposed additional ones.
In a written statement to Parliament on Thursday as the document was published, Home Secretary James Cleverly said the UK had a “proud history of providing protection for the most vulnerable”, highlighting resettlement schemes for people from Hong Kong, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as routes available to relatives of refugees.
Safe routes are essential if we truly want to stop people having to take dangerous journeys to the UK
Olivia Field, British Red Cross
He insisted the report “reaffirms the Government’s commitment to providing safe and legal routes for those most in need” despite no plans for new safe and legal routes being announced.
“As we get control on numbers, we will keep under review whether we are able to do more to support vulnerable refugees and whether we need to consider new safe and legal routes,” he added.
The Refugee Council said the report “offers no new safe routes and no improvement of existing schemes”, arguing they are needed to tackle Channel crossings.
The charity’s chief executive Enver Solomon said: “There urgently needs to be an ambitious plan to expand safe routes by improving resettlement and family reunion as well as piloting humanitarian visas.
“The Government’s plans are woefully inadequate with no meaningful commitment to expand safe routes for refugees from war-torn countries such as Sudan and Syria, and those fleeing repressive regimes in countries such as Iran.
“By simply focusing on describing the existing limited schemes, the Government has completely overlooked the urgent need to reduce dangerous Channel crossings by providing safe passage to our shores.”
If the Government was “serious” in its “stop the boats” pledge, it must take “decisive action to significantly increase safe routes for refugees, rather than pushing ahead with the unlawful, costly and ineffective Rwanda plan”, he warned.
Katie Morrison, chief executive at charity Safe Passage, said: “It’s extremely disappointing that this Government is still refusing to open safe routes for refugees now. The Government’s plan is totally misguided. Without safe routes, more people will have no choice but to take dangerous journeys across the Channel in the hands of smugglers.
“If this Government is truly serious about providing safe routes for those in need, then it needs to move beyond meaningless reports and actually open them.”
Olivia Field, director of policy and advocacy for the British Red Cross, said safe routes were “essential if we truly want to stop people having to take dangerous journeys to the UK, after they flee their homes and search for a place of sanctuary” because for the vast majority of asylum seekers there are “simply no safe routes open to them”.
She also reiterated calls for a humanitarian visa scheme so people can apply for asylum from outside the UK.
“Until we have this, we will continue to see people risk their lives in search of safety,” she added.
The Government instead plans to introduce a cap on the number of people it provides sanctuary to each year from 2025.
Proposals are expected to be put before Parliament by the summer after a report on a consultation with councils to establish their capacity for housing and providing services to refugees is published in the spring.
Asked why no new safe and legal routes had been announced in the report, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters the UK had “significant numbers of current routes already” but this would be kept “under review”.
Pointing to Government figures showing over half a million people had been offered sanctuary in the UK since 2015, he said: “While the compassion of the UK is clearly unlimited, our capacity is not”.
Right wing Tory MPs are gearing up for a parliamentary battle after warning the Prime Minister his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill will not work unless it is significantly beefed up. Dozens are backing amendments to the proposed legislation aimed at effectively ignoring international law and to severely limit individual migrants’ ability to resist being put on a flight to Kigali.
Meanwhile former justice secretary Robert Buckland, part of One Nation group of centrist Tories, put forward a bid to remove clauses which declare Rwanda a safe country, disapply human rights laws and force courts to some disregard European Court of Human Rights rulings ahead of the Bill being scrutinised again by MPs on Tuesday and Wednesday. By Flora Thompson, The Independent
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