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The High court has declared illegal the attempted removal of Usher Wilson Owere as the chairman general of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) by a section of the organization's leadership. 

In November 2022, a group led by NOTU secretary-general Peter Werike and deputy chairman general Stephen Mugole chaired a general council meeting in Kampala and overwhelmingly voted to dismiss Owere.

They said he was free to appeal to the general council at their next meeting (this) year. They accused him of dictatorship, failure to conduct meetings, and abusing his powers, among others. At the same meeting, Werikhe, also Bubulo West MP stepped down "willingly" following concerns from members including Owere, that it was wrong for one to be secretary general while also a serving MP. 

Owere sought a judicial review of the process in the High court, calling for the declaration that it was illegal and violated the Labour Unions Act and the NOTU Constitution. 

Justice Musa Ssekaana has now declared that Tom Amiti, the acting secretary general had no mandate to call a council meeting and that all the outcomes of the said meeting were null and void. 

He also ruled that the consultative meeting convened by the minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi on January 9 at which she recognized the new leadership was illegitimate. 

Owere was represented by Okello Peter Jabweli and Emma Opio while Alex Tuhimbise and Henry Kurukayo represented the respondents. While the applicant filed final written submissions that were considered by this court, the respondents "failed or refused to file their submissions as directed" and the court proceeded to determine the matter. 

"A declaration doth issue that the purported removal of the applicant from the office of chairman general of NOTU was unfair, unjust, malicious, irrational and illegal and contravenes the principle of fair hearing and natural justice," he ruled. 

He also directed the six respondents; Werikhe, Mugole, Bigirwa, Mauku, Bandaru, and Amiti to pay Shs 5 million each in damages to Owere, as a punitive measure against them. Court also granted Owere an injunction blocking the respondents from removing him from office in violation of the laws.

"A permanent injunction doth issue restraining the respondents and their agents from suspending and or removing the applicant from the office of chairman general of NOTU or carrying out any activities for and on behalf of the 1st respondent (NOTU)," reads the judgment.

The judge also nullified a consultative meeting on December 22 between Owere's rivals and the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, which gave them a go-ahead to meet on January 9 where resolutions would be made to dismiss or reinstate the suspended Owere.

According to him, the minister had no mandate, according to the laws, to cause the consultative meeting. 

"The Labour Unions Act did not give the minister such a mandate to cause a consultative meeting that leads to the calling of an organ of NOTU. NOTU meetings are held by their Constitution and not at the whims of a minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development or any other person in the ministry," he said, adding that all outcomes of the meeting were illegal. 

Court was told that that meeting was called to make a memorandum of understanding on how Owere would be removed and what happens later, regarding the sharing of positions. 

"It was indeed irrational since the movers of the illegal meeting were to benefit from the new positions after the successful organization ‘coup d’etat’," he said.

The respondents were also adjudged to have failed to follow the rules of natural justice in their effort of removing the applicant. The body with the power to decide lawfully, like NOTU, cannot unlawfully proceed to remove the applicant without affording him a proper opportunity to state his case.

"Since the meeting was illegally convened by the 2nd (Werikhe) and 7h (Amiti) respondents then any resolutions arising therefrom cannot be of any legal effect and this would make everything void ab initio," ruled Ssekaana.

This also made the election of Stephen Mugole, Richard Bigirwa, Moses Mauku, and Barbara Bandaru illegal, null, and void. 

"A declaration doth issue that the purported election of the 3rd, 4the, 5th and 6th respondents respectively as acting chairman general, acting secretary general, acting treasurer general, and acting treasurer of NOTU at the unlawful meeting of November 15, 2022, was illegal, irrational and null and void." - URN/The Observer

"By avoiding partisanship, depoliticizing policymaking, encouraging public participation, fostering transparency and accountability, and educating the community, we can ensure that policies are driven by the collective well-being rather than political agendas."

OPINION, JULY 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Politics and community policies have a profound impact on society, shaping the way people live, work, and interact. However, the intertwining of politics with community policies can often lead to division, polarization, and hinder the overall progress of a community. In this article, we will explore the importance of separating politics from community policies, and how doing so can foster harmony, inclusivity, and effective governance. 

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE

It is crucial to differentiate between politics and community policies. Politics refers to the activities, actions, and strategies used to gain power, influence, and control over government or public affairs. On the other hand, community policies encompass the rules, regulations, and decisions made by a community to address common issues, ensure public welfare, and promote the well-being of its members.

 

AVOIDING PARTISANSHIP

One of the main challenges in separating politics from community policies is avoiding partisanship. Partisanship occurs when individuals or groups prioritize their political beliefs and affiliations over the common good of the community. To overcome this, it is essential to emphasize collaboration, inclusivity, and evidence-based decision-making rather than focusing on political ideologies alone.

DEPOLITICIZING POLICY-MAKING

To separate politics from community policies, it is crucial to depoliticize the policy-making process. This can be achieved by establishing independent, non-partisan bodies responsible for crafting and implementing community policies. These bodies should comprise experts from various fields who can objectively analyze data, assess the impact of policies, and ensure their alignment with the community’s needs and values. 

ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Involving the community in the policy-making process is key to reducing the influence of politics. By encouraging public participation through open consultations, town-hall meetings, and online platforms, individuals can voice their concerns, provide valuable insights, and contribute to the development of inclusive policies. This approach ensures that policies reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of the community.

FOSTERING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Transparency and accountability are essential in separating politics from community policies. The decision-making process should be transparent, allowing community members to understand how policies are formulated and implemented. Additionally, mechanisms for accountability should be established to hold policymakers responsible for their actions, ensuring that policies are driven by the community’s best interests rather than political motives. 

EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

To successfully separate politics from community policies, it is vital to educate and engage the community. By promoting civic education, individuals can develop a greater understanding of the importance of community policies and their impact on daily life. This knowledge empowers community members to actively participate in the policy-making process, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.

CONCLUSION

Separating politics from community policies is a fundamental step towards building a harmonious and progressive society. By avoiding partisanship, depoliticizing policymaking, encouraging public participation, fostering transparency and accountability, and educating the community, we can ensure that policies are driven by the collective well-being rather than political agendas. Through this approach, communities can thrive, promoting inclusivity, social cohesion, and effective governance for the benefit of all. 

The author is a youth, student, and civil society leader. He can be reached via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


The views expressed in the ‘OPINIONS & ANALYSIS’ section of Sudans Post are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author not this website. If you want to submit an opinion piece or an analysis please email us here.  By Duol Peter Lam, Sudan's Post

The Central Bank of Kenya, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NMG

In a notice published on Monday, the Nigerian lender said that it will adjust its lending rate to 14.63 percent up from the current 14.22 percent with effect from August 8. 

The CBK on June 26 raised the central bank rate (CBR) from 9.5 percent to 10.5 percent — the highest point in close to seven years. 

“Following the increase of the CBR on June 26, 2023 from 9.5 percent to 10.5 percent, we wish to advise our customers that we shall adjust our loan interest rates to reflect a revised Access Bank Base Rate of 14.63 plus a margin, based on the customer’s credit risk with effect from August 8, 2023,” said the lender.

The changes, the bank said, will apply to all existing and new Kenya shilling-denominated facilities.

Equity Bank was the first lender to review loan prices following CBK’s adjustment of the CBR, increasing its rate from 12.5 percent to 14.69 percent effective July 10, followed by NCBA, which raised the rate to 13 percent up from 12 percent with effect from August 7. 

Other lenders are expected to follow in the trend in coming days in a shift that will set up borrowers for high cost of credit at a time when economic struggles have been entrenched by among other factors introduction of new taxation regimes that have heavily raided workers’ pay slips.

CBK data shows that borrowers hit banks with an additional Sh82.9 billion in loan defaults in just four months of the year while the share of non-performing loans hit a 16-year high.

Lenders have been shifting to a risk-based pricing regime where different consumers are charged different interest rates based on the estimated risk that the consumers will fail to pay back their loans. By KABUI MWANGI, Business Daily

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Five of the future Cardinals - whose names were announced yesterday, Sunday 9 July, by Pope Francis - come from territories entrusted to the Dicastery for Evangelization. They are Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, Archbishop-Coadjutor of Tabora Protase Rugambwa, Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang and Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan S.J. of Hong Kong.


For each of them, the path so far has been marked by different realities and challenges, but always nourished by a deep faith. The Archbishop of Juba (South Sudan), Stephen Ameyu Mulla, had to wait a long time for his installation: the fact that he is not originally from the capital had given rise to long months of protests, tensions and violence (see Fides, 27/4/2021).


The Archbishop of Cape Town (South Africa), Stephen Brislin, who has always been committed to peace in a conflict-ridden country, had appealed to all South Africans "to show their unconditional respect for human life and their commitment to peace. We will not allow those with sinister motives to pit one faith against another, nor to exacerbate tensions within religious groups", the newly appointed cardinal had declared (see Fides, 19/6/2018). "At the end of my mandate in the Vatican offices, particularly in the Dicastery of Evangelization, God wants me to serve him in a different place and in a different way."

These were the words of Archbishop Protase Rugambwa upon his arrival in Tabora (Tanzania) (see Fides, 4/7/2023). Archbishop Rugambwa is a much loved and well-known figure in the Dicastery for Evangelization, where he offered his service for a long time, as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and finally as Secretary of the same Dicastery.


An invitation to "have no fear" was extended by Penang Bishop Sebastian Francis to 128 catechumens from 12 parishes and the northern deaneries of the diocese at a multilingual mass for Lent 2023. "You are in the heart of Christ, disciples of Jesus Christ" (see Fides, 18/3/2023).


The Jesuit Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, ordained bishop in the Diocese of Hong Kong in December 2021, after his recent visit to the Diocese of Beijing (see Fides, 17/4/2023) had exhorted to pray to the Holy Spirit to "guide us so that we can learn to love our country and our Church at the same time". "Love for our country is part of the teaching of the Catholic Church", the newly appointed Cardinal had emphasized in this regard. Agenzia Fides

Raila Odinga and his aides walks on foot after alighting from a matatu at Ambassadeur. Visits the monuments of Tom Mboya and Dedan Kimathi.(Denish Ochieng)

Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga opted to use a matatu to work on Monday, July 10 instead of his usual motorcade.

The video that has since gone viral was posted by Azimio TV captioned ‘Embracing the convenience and camaraderie of public transport heading to work’.

When asked by one of the passengers in the matatu why he opted for a matatu, he said that he needed to share the everyday feeling of Kenyans. 

“I opted for the matatu today so that I can experience what other citizens experience,” said Raila.

While enjoying the ride along the Ngong - Nairobi route, Raila mingled with other passengers and discussed an array of issues including the escalating costs of basic commodities. 

Odinga’s action comes a few days after he urged Kenyans to boycott the use of highly taxed commodities, including fuel. By Denish Ochieng, The Standard

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