FUFA has confirmed the latest and improved financial benefits for the Uganda Cranes ahead of the opening two fixtures in the 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON Campaign.

The new figures cater for the match day allowances and bonuses as Uganda prepares to take on Algeria tonight in Algiers and Niger next week.

The latest development was communicated to the team last night by the FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim via zoom.

He addressed the entire contingent currently in Algiers for tonight’s AFCON Qualifier match with Algeria set to kick off at 10pm (EAT).

‘These are our new structures and we believe in motivating the entire team whenever on National team duty. We have improved on the remuneration and let the boys go and deliver for the country and fans. I am sure they will continue representing the Country with a lot of pride when they pull on the Uganda Cranes jersey. The latest figures cater for the two matches against Algeria and Niger’ noted the FUFA President.

The new figures indicate;

An increase of match day allowances from USD500 to USD750 per person on the team

Bonuses: Algeria vs Uganda on Saturday 4^th June 2022

Away Draw: USD 1,000 (Before) to USD 3,000 (New)

Away win: USD 2,500 (Before) to USD 5,000 (New)

Bonuses: Uganda vs Niger Wednesday 8^th June 2022

Home win: USD 2,000 (before) to USD 3,000 (New)

Source: FUFA 

“Iam delighted this morning (Saturday, June 4, 2022) to receive the certificate that will allow Kenya Kwanza and myself to participate in the August 9 General Election. I am also happy for my very able deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

“Mr. chairman (Wafula Chebukati), I want to say that Kenya Kwanza has confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). We are confident that you are up to the task. I also want to commit that my team and I will work with you diligently so that we have a credible, free, fair, democratic and verifiable election.

“Anytime you need our cooperation or support, Mr. chairman, I want to tell you that we are available. 

“I have appointed responsible and professional people, a lady and gentlemen, to be our liaison [officers] between Kenya Kwanza and the IEBC.

“Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who is here, will be our chief agent assisted by [UDA Secretary-General] Veronica Maina and [Turkana Governor] Josphat Nanok. These are the gentlemen and lady who will work with you, making sure that the communication and the relationship between us, as candidates, and the IEBC is useful and helpful in making sure that we run the length and breadth of this election without hitches.

“I want to tell all our supporters across the country that this is a moment of our lifetime and we must do everything to protect it from violence and unnecessary sideshows. We must keep our eyes on the ball and avoid unnecessary engagements.

“Let the Kenya Kwanza fraternity focus on the imminent win that God will grant us in this election.

“Mr. chairman, we are committed to the [Electoral] Code of Conduct that we have signed to keep this election above board. We are confident in your stewardship and that of the IEBC in the elections of 2022. 

“Let me also say that, on behalf of Kenya Kwanza, we don’t want to be favoured. We want to be treated fairly like everybody else. We are not asking for what is more than fair and a right to us.

“Respectfully, we want to request our friends in the Fourth Estate, the media, to be fair. So far, we have been treated unfairly by some media houses. We respect the decision of whatever media house to have a [preferred] candidate in this election. But the media houses should be decent and declare that they have a [preferred presidential] candidate in this election.

“We have raised these concerns [before], and through you, Mr. chairman, we want to raise these concerns [again today]. The IEBC has a duty to ensure that there is a level playing field for all participants in this election.

“When some media houses give our competitors 10 minutes of airtime, and they give us one minute [of the same], it flies in the face of integrity, fairness and balance. We have no problem with them taking sides, but they should be honourable and say: ‘in this election, we have chosen this particular candidate’.

“That will allow Kenyans who are watching their news, reading their headlines or listening to the issues, be informed that ‘this or that particular media house has taken sides’. 

“Recently, we were being told about an [upcoming] presidential debate, and we raised concerns. I saw yesterday (Friday, June 3) they told us that ‘this is a podium or platform that is supposed to assist the people of Kenya to understand their candidates, know their issues and ideas so that they can choose on the basis of information and knowledge’.

“If the presidential debate is being organised by media organisations that have taken sides; by people who already have skewed the playing field in favour of one side, what moral authority do they have to ask the rest of us, who are not their [preferred] candidates, to attend a pre-arranged, pre-rigged presidential debate? We are not asking for too much; just fairness.

“If you have chosen to take a side, organise a presidential debate for that side [that you are supporting]. Don’t expect us to come and sanitise a debate that you have already skewed with the coverage of your news. We already have huge challenges that we are facing; for instance, the deep state and the so-called system.

“As Kenya Kwanza, we are going into this election with a lot of clarity, and we will work with all Kenyans. I want to ask the people of Kenya to [responsibly] participate in this election. Whichever side you are [supporting], know that this is our country, and it is our responsibility to keep it safe and peaceful, irrespective of who you vote for. Thank you very much.” By Brian Okoth, The Standard

The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court, on Friday, June 3, upheld Kicukiro Primary Court’s decision to remand Dieudonne Ishimwe for 30 days, pending further investigations.

Ishimwe, or Prince Kid, as he is commonly known, is pinned on two charges- which are soliciting or offering sexual favours, and harassment.

The decision to send Ishimwe on 30 days remand was ruled by Kicukiro Primary Court on May 16, saying that there are reasonable grounds to suspect him of having committed the crimes he is being prosecuted for.

A bail hearing on appeal was held in camera (closed to the public) on May 26 upon request of the prosecution, arguing that it was for the protection of witnesses and that the case also has elements that can endanger public morals.

At court…

Around 1:40 PM, various journalists crowded before the court expecting to take pictures and videos of Ishimwe during the bail appeal ruling; however, he did not show up as expected; only his lawyer Emeline Nyembo was present.

In the courtroom however, many people were present including his family members and friends, among others.

At 2:08 PM, the case was mentioned and the judge took the audience through the case hearing which was held in camera.  The hearing went on briefly, and the judge pointed out some key factors presented by both sides.

Text messages and voices were presented by the prosecution, and these were pinning Ishimwe against crimes he is suspected of. His lawyer however defended him denying all crimes using various articles and testimonies.

During the bail hearing on appeal, prosecution requested to remand Ishimwe saying that he would jeopardize investigations in his case.

However, Ishimwe and his lawyer asked for bail arguing that there is no reasonable ground to remand him, adding how bail fees were ignored, among other factors.

The judge however said that the court’s main focus on his appeal was to examine the factors, which are reasonable grounds for pinning him.

The court also said bail fees, as a reason, has never been examined before by the lower court, noting that unless Ishimwe offered movable and immovable properties, he wouldn’t be granted bail by paying a bail fee with such a case.

The judge revealed that certain points will be discussed during the substantial. Factors which will be verified in a substantial trial include letters which were written during the investigation by former Miss Rwanda, Elsa Iradukunda among others.

Ishimwe was arrested on April 26, over charges related to sexual abuse towards contestants of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant on various occasions, and he appeared before court for the first time on May 11.

He started organising Miss Rwanda in 2014 and had seen the annual event become one of the most popular in the country.

However, on May 9, the government announced the official halt of his company from organising the annual beauty pageant, following several allegations of misconduct and abuse towards contestants.

Ishimwe will be remanded at Nyarugenge prison, commonly known as Mageragera as he waits for the substantial trial to start. - Aurore Teta Ufitiwabo, The New Times