Connect with us
  • NEWS

    Interfaith Prayers Held For Dr. Celestine Barigye, A ‘Rare Gem In This Generation’…

    Published

    on

    Wednesday last week, was a ‘D-Day’ at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital as a Thanksgiving Mass was organized for the Hospital Director Dr. Celestine Barigye.

    Earlier thought to be an internal arrangement, it was irresistible to refrain people from all walks of life who thronged the hospital premises.

    Heavenly speaking, it’s healthy and fit to say God thank you for the life of the man whose astonishing recovery lasted for about four months.

    He had been diagnosed with a swelling on the brain which was effectively dealt with, catapulting his fresh comeback.

    The function which was streamed live across different social networks was graced by religious leaders from different denominations.

    Fr. Didas Tumwine, the Hospital Chaplain led the mass and the main theme was extracted from Joshua 1:9 and it says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”.

    Fr. Tumwine reminded the congregation that Dr Barigye’s healing was a gesture that God still wanted to use him to do His work on this planet earth.

    He further assured them that the position one is holding is not only by human making but divinely inspired.

    “It’s through His goodness that Dr Barigye is alive and fit. Who knew who would come alive, not even the hospital administration, supporting staff, different heads of departments, family and relatives. We were all expectant and indeed God made it”, he says.

    Dr Deus Twesigye, a Senior Consultant General Surgeon who spoke on behalf of the hospital staff said that the Hospital Director’s sickness threw them in panic mode.

    But, his return stirred happiness among Mbarara community and Uganda at large and the Hospital is at it again.

    “Dr Barigye is a unique gentle man, we love him, he is a very good team player and a social gentleman. There is a lot to talk about him. He is the one behind most of these mushrooming structures including the perimeter wall which has created sanity.”, he says.

    He was further talked about as a transformative man who lobbied for many projects such as the administration block.

    To Dr Twesigye, for long, the administration was housed in the university building with inadequate space to accommodate administrators.

    The functionalization of Computed Tomography (CT) scan services couldn’t be   omitted from the catalogue of his achievements.

    “When he came in he found our CT scan services were grounded and the cause was known; he took some courage and took some members to courts of law, they lost a case and rectified the problem. Ever since the CT scan has never broken down, there are a lot of things to talk about Dr Barigye”, he adds.

    Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is the teaching center of Mbarara University with some of the staff serving as both lecturers and clinicians in the hospital.

    The prevailing harmonious existence between two institutions calls for a charismatic and an accommodative leader which Dr Barigye has achieved.

    “We cherish the partnership between the Hospital and the Medical School. As stewards, let us serve humanity and make these two entities better”, Prof. Joseph Ngonzi says.

     

    Prof Joseph Ngonzi, the Dean Faculty of Medicine described Dr Barigye as a ‘rare gem in this generation’ as he prayed for his strength to continue performing good works that the Government of Uganda and God entrusted him with.

    His note address was delivered by the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer Halson Kagure as he has been in Belgium for official errands.

    However, the MUST community was represented by Prof Nixon Kamukama, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of academics and his speech was spot-on.

    A soft-spoken Prof Kamukama hailed him as a great mentor and a developmental leader who has greatly contributed to the growth of MRRH and MUST.

    “We thank God because He has given him another chance. What we thought to be the end of the road turned out to be a corner. We thank God for giving our mentor a second chance”, he said.

    Prof. John Iraka Owange, the Hospital Board Chairman says that Dr Barigye is a great friend and his sudden sickness made him fall sick. He described him as a man who has united people regardless of age, religious creed adding that he still has a lot to do for this institution.

    “Barigye represents that group of people who don’t see the difference between the Greek and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Tutsi and Hutu, is that kind of person; May God bless him”, he says.

    Mr Robert Kanusu, the Mbarara City South Division Resident Commissioner joined the congregation to thank God for the life of Dr Barigye.

    Kanusu, who was the guest of honor, reminisces about unsolicited social media news which he said shocked them as he praised God for restoring his health.

    “…And indeed, God has made it possible for us to meet him, to interface with him in good health. When you meet him, you may even wonder whether he has been sick! His smile remains standard as it was, he remains jolly, very encouraging and inspiring’, he says.

    Men of God Ask the Lord…….

     “…. In the name of the Almighty Allah the most gracious, the most merciful praise be to Allah the cherisher and sustainer of the world

    We thank you for sustaining us. We thank you for sustaining Dr Barigye. May the Almighty Allah give us strength, praise all we have done here”, Sheikh Siraj Ntutumu, Secretary Religious Affairs UMSC, Mbarara branch.

    “…..On behalf of Dr Celestine Barigye and his wife Ruth Birungi, we join our faith today to ask you Lord to forgive us where we didn’t do the right thing and where we did the right thing oh God I pray that you bless this function, bless the life of Dr Celestine Barigye and his family, bless with double portion where they have lost a lot strength, things, wealth, time. Lord, today may you reward him with a double portion and preserve him, protect him, cover him with precious with your precious blood that was shed on the cross….”, Bishop Cyrus Tayebwa, the Provincial Overseer of Ankole National Fellowship of Born-Again Pentecostal Churches

    “Father Lord we are ending this service but we are commissioning you to go and tell others that God heals. And you did it many times in the bible even today… we can witness that Jesus heals… Father Lord we are going and you do promise us in psalms 121 that I shall ever be with you as ever you go out and even going in.., May you extend our thanksgiving to that great man Dr Celestine Barigye and Ruth his wife. We thank you for the Administration, MUST administration and progress we see because of the good work relationship with the Director….”, The Very Rev. Canon Bobs Mwesigye, Dean of Ankole Diocese

     

    About the Author:

    Halson Kagure is the Public Relations Officer of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, a Government Hospital serving as a teaching center of Mbarara University of Science and Technology and other Medical Schools in the country.

    Comments

    NATIONAL

    Gloves Off As Prime Minister Nabbanja Declares War On Minister Lumumba Over UN Trip…

    Published

    on

    Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (R) and minister Kasule Lumumba (L)

    Furious Prime Minister who also doubles as the Kakumiro district woman Member of Parliament Robinah Nabbanja Musafiiri has declared a war on Justine Kasule Lumumba the minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister over the recent trip to United States of America to attend the United Nations Assembly.

    Nabbanja revealed that she was surprised to see Lumumba attending the Assembly meeting because she was not given permission from her as the leader of government business who is responsible for giving ministers and government officials permission to travel abroad.

    She explained that she kept quiet while in US. However, when they immediately landed at Entebbe, she issued a directive not to refund any money to Lumumba and the people she travelled with because they traveled on their own.

    “She will not bring here her fighting practices she has exhibited where she came from. We don’t even have that slot of the minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister. I directed that she should not receive a refund for the money she used in that trip,” a furious Nabanja told CBS radio.

    She added that she was told that Lumumba was part of the delegation that went with Jessica Alupo the vice president whom Nabbanja said does not have authority to ask because she is her boss.

    She however explained that president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni gave her the green light to travel to the UN Assembly.

    Nabbanja noted that for her to travel to the US to attend the UN Assembly, she first received a special invitation from the UN and report to the president who allowed her to travel.

    She said that while in the US, she meet a number of investors on the sideline of the UN Assembly who picked interest to invest their money in Uganda.

    She added that she also met some of the top leaders of the World Bank who promised her that very soon, they are going to lift the ban they slapped on Uganda because of the Anti-Homosexuality Act passed by the parliament and signed by President Museveni.

    Nabbanja denied allegations that she travelled with a huge delegation including his physical trainer.

    She divulged that she traveled with only five people and among them was his bodyguard, protocol officers and others.

    She threatened to take legal action against the Monitor Publication adding that some papers are used to fight her by publishing malicious stories which put her in bad light before right thinking members of socity.

    “They wrote that I stole Shs9bn which was allocated to teach youths how to drink coffee, yet the money was misused before I was even appointed a prime minister. Enough is enough, I’m going to act against them and you will hear the results,” a furious Nabbanja threatened.

    She explained that her predecessors used to travel abroad with huge delegations but they were never publicised as it was done to her.

    It is on this note that she alleged that her enemies are using the media to put her down but vowed to go down fighting.

    Hamson Obua the government Chief Whip in parliament revealed that during the NRM parliamentary caucus meeting at State House Entebbe, Nabbanja and Alupo were given the opportunity by the president to clear the air over the huge delegation they both traveled with to UN Assembly. They both denied the allegations.

    theGrapevine has established that there has been a silent war between Nabbanja and Lumumba with the Prime Minister accusing Lumumba of disrespecting her and backbiting her.

    Before being appointed a minister, Lumumba, who was the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party Secretary General had a bad working relationship with Dr. Tanga Odoi the party Electoral Commission chairperson.

    theGrapevine made efforts to get a comment from Lumumba over her boss’ allegations against her but her known phone numbers were not going through.

     

    By Sengooba Alirabaki

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    CRIME

    Brig. Gen. Ddamulira Advised To Clear Air On Allegation Of Shielding Criminal Gangs To Avoid Ending Up Like Gen. Kayihura…

    Published

    on

    Criminal Intelligence boss Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira

    Uganda’s representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) James Kakooza has advised the nonsense police’s Director for Criminal Intelligence Brig. Gen. Christopher Ddamulira Sserujogi to come up openly and clear the air on allegation made against him of shielding criminal gangs in Kampala city and Metropolitan areas because he fears a nasty ending like former Inspector General of Police Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura.

    Kakooza revealed that when Gen. Kayihura was at the helm of police leadership, allegations were made against him that he used criminal gangs to solve political questions.

    Kakooza narrated that he severally pleaded with Kayihura that if the allegations are true, he should stop because it was soiling his name.

    He added that Gen. Kayihura’s enemies based on his cooperation with criminal gangs to fabricate criminal allegations against him including pinning him over his involvement in the high level murders in the country.

    He stated that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni based on the said allegation to fire Kayihura from police leadership and ordered for his arrest and prosecution in the court martial.

    “If president Museveni didn’t handle Gen Kayihura’s issues with maturity and experience, he would have ended up being sentenced to death or life imprisonment because the allegations placed on him were very treasonous. So my young brother Brig. Gen. Ddamulira should come out and clear the air on those allegations put against him,” Kakooza stated.

    He added that Brig. Gen. Ddamulira’s statement will not only cleared him but it will also clear the good name of the UPDF institution.

    Kakooza’s advice comes days after Kira Municipality legislator and also the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda accused Brig. Gen. Ddamulira of shielding criminals that beat up FDC delegates and stole their belongings both at Busabala and Katonga where they had gone to attend the Extra-Ordinary Delegates Conference summoned by party national chairperson Wasswa Birigwa.

    The Observer newspaper journalist Baker Batte also accused the criminal gang of stealing his brand new laptop.

    However, while speaking to theGrapevine, Batte confirmed that his latotop was recovered by Katwe police even though they have not yet handed it over to him.

    The ghetto leadership in Kampala city, Mukono, Wakiso districts also issued a statement asking Ssemujju to apologize to Brig. Gen. Ddamulira for tarnishing his name that he is shielding criminal gangs in the city.

    Shafik Kalyango, the coordinator ghetto structures, John Lukuse and Geoffrey Nsamba who were arrested by police for terrorising FDC delegates.

    They confessed that they are members of the ghetto structures which is supervised by State House, Brig. Gen. Ddamulira and officials from the ministry in charge of Kampala Metropolitan whose objective is to turn them into good citizens.

    Kalyango added that they are mobilizing the ghetto youths who have not yet joined their structures to avoid being used by the politicians to fight their battles against their political enemies and among them are those who beat FDC delegates and journalists.

    Ssemujju admitted to having seen Kalyango’s letter on social media even though it he not yet been officially served.

    He appreciated the efforts made by Brig. Gen. Ddamulira to organise youths in the city.

    He added that officially, Brig. Gen. Ddamulira denied having knowledge of the criminals hired by the Najjanankumbi FDC camp of party president Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Nathan Nandala Mafabi the Secretary General.

    Ssemujju however noted that there are elements in security circles who are working with criminal gangs in the city.

    He pleaded with Brig. Gen. Ddamulira to use his office to tame them because they will wreak havoc in the country.

     

    By Sengooba Alirabaki

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    NEWS

    Shadow Minister Warns Speaker Among To Prepare For The Worst As Zaake Asks For Special Audit On Parliamentary Commission…

    Published

    on

    The shadow Internal Affairs ministers who also doubles as the Mukono North legislator Abudallah Kiwanuka has warned his boss the speaker of parliament Annet Anita Among to prepare the worst after the Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka on behalf of the parliament lost the Constitutional petition against maverick Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament (MP) Francis Butebi Zaake.

    In a majority judgment of 4-1, the Constitutional Court allowed Zaake’s petition and declared the actions of Speaker Among to dismiss him from the parliamentary commission illegal.

    Court ordered the Attorney General to pay half of the costs of the petition.

    In her leading judgement, Justice Irene Mulyagonja supported by the judgment of other justices who include; Justice Eva Luswata, Justice Muzamir Kibedi and Justice Oscar Kihika declared that the then deputy speaker Among acted as a judge in her own case when she continued chairing the parliament in a matter which she had personal interest which resulted into contravening with Article 2(2),(2), 8A, 28, 42, 44(c) of the constitution.

    They added that parliament violated rule 111(5) of the Rules of Procedure of the parliament during the debate of the motion to remove Zaake from the office of the Commissioner.

    The amendment of the recommendations in the report of the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline to include a recommendation that Zaake be removed from the office of the commissioner had no legal basis and was illegal.

    However, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire disagreed with other members of the panel and dismissed the application but her judgment was defeated by the majority judgment.

    The entire legal battled started in 2022 when speaker Among made statements while presiding over plenary concerning legislator Zaake’s gold medal win in the East African parliamentary games even though he claimed he was still nursing torture wounds as a result of State operatives torture which did not went well the youthful legislator.

    Zaake took his anger to social media and blasted Among which resulted into his dismissal from the parliamentary commission.

    However, Kiwanuka insists that Zaake’s win in the Constitutional Court is a vote of no confidence from President Museveni explaining that if he wanted Among to win, she would have won.

    He insisted that Museveni wanted to show that she doesn’t have the powers she thinks she is exhibiting and she should be very careful because very soon, she could be impeached from her office.

    Kiwanuka explained that Museveni has been sending serious warning signals to Among that she is nothing.

    That’s why he refused to respond to her when parliament impeached junior Lands, Housing and Urban Development minister Persis Namuganza.

    Namuganza is still sitting on the front benches at parliament where ministers sat even after her impeachment.

    Kiwanuka’s warning comes hours after Zaake boasted that he is going back to the parliamentary Commission in high gear and he will start with asking for a special audit on the funds which were okayed by the parliamentary commission to be used by parliament.

    He insisted that one of the reasons why he was illegally dismissed from the parliamentary Commission was because he questioned the manner in which the money was released and sabotaged some of the deals in the commission.

    Zaake asked fellow legislators like; Dr. Twaha Kagabo, Jim Lukwago to believe in themselves and stop taking looking at Among as goddess because she can also be defeated.

    However, Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda warned Zaake that even if he has won the court case, he might fail to perform as a Commissioner as a result of being frustrated by fellow commissioners.

    He pleaded with the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba to talk to the speaker so that she mends her relationship with Zaake to create a good working relationship.

    The Attorney General has already filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court against Justice Mulyagonja’s leading judgment.

    Comments

    Continue Reading

    like us

    TRENDING

    theGrapevine is a subsidiary of Newco Publications Limited, a Ugandan multimedia group.
    We keep you posted on the latest from Uganda and the World. COPYRIGHT © 2022
    P.O Box 5511, Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256-752 227640 Email: info@thegrapevine.co.ug
    theGrapevine is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)