No love lost as Umeme plans exit from Uganda, Museveni urges youth on corruption fight, 5 Iranians sentenced to death over protests

There will be no love lost since there has been no love between Ugandans and power distribution company Umeme, as the company winds up business in the country. Umeme last week confirmed that they will exit Uganda in 2025. Umeme have formally received written communication from the Government notifying it that the current Concession will continue to run until its natural end in March, 2025 as stipulated in the Concession Agreements after which, there will be no renewal. While announcing the news the company state that they would remain committed to performing its obligations as per the existing Concession Agreements and will continue to operate and maintain the electricity distribution system in line with prudent utility practice to ensure continued service delivery through to the end of the concession.

Ugandans have over the years complained about the company’s performance as they suffered intermittent power cuts which Umeme attributed to maintenance works.

Museveni urges youth on fighting corruption

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the youth to use their powers given to them by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to fight corruption in Uganda. Speaking to over 10,000 youths including professionals at the Patriotism for Youth & Investment Symposium held at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Saturday under the theme: “Patriotism for social-economic transformation”. The President said the NRM from the onset, was very clear about the problem of corruption and put in place measures to fight it; part of which, the democratization process that gave people the mandate to elect leaders they trust despite the presence of those appointed by government like sub county Chiefs. According to President Museveni, corruption worsens poverty and aggravates inequality as resources meant for the poor and the underprivileged are diverted to line the pockets of the corrupt, thus hindering “Prosperity for all” which is part of the 3 core historic missions the NRM government has been preaching since 1986.

Iran sentences 5 to death over protests

Iran has sentenced to death five people over the killing of a Basij paramilitary force member during nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death, the judiciary said Tuesday.

AFP News reports that another 11 people, including three children, were handed lengthy jail terms over the murder, judiciary spokesman Massoud Setayeshi told a news conference, adding the sentences could be appealed.

Prosecutors said Ajamian, 27, was stripped naked and killed by a group of mourners who had been paying tribute to a slain protester, Hadis Najafi.

Najafi had been killed on September 21, five days into the wave of protests that erupted across Iran after the death of Amini, following her arrest by the morality police for an alleged breach of the country’s hijab dress code for women. Iran has struggled to quell the protests and street violence. The government on Monday executed a second man convicted over the protests that have shaken the regime for almost three months, defying an international outcry over its use of capital punishment against those involved in the movement. Rights groups had at the weekend warned that several other people arrested over the demonstrations were at imminent risk of being executed.

Majidreza Rahnavard had been sentenced to death by a court in the city of Mashhad for killing two members of the security forces with a knife, and wounding four other people, the judiciary’s Mizan Online news agency reported.