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CAN’T TOUCH THIS: DPP fears and refuses to take over court martial cases, preferring to stay in her lane

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The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Frances Abodo had rejected proposals by some MPs to consider taking over cases of civilians being charged before the Court Martial, saying she wants to stay in her lane because the Constitution bars her from interfering in proceedings at Court Martial.

Abodo made her stance while appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee on Wednesday to present the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper for the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

“I can’t institute and I can’t takeover cases under the Court Martial. We have looked at it, I just want to stay in my lane until, you will forgive me that I may not comment on that case because the next question is that I comment on those cases, I may not comment because it is a case in the Supreme Court as well, so, you will just excuse me for that otherwise, I may be quoted or misquoted and then the subjudice rule gets me,” said Abodo.

Abodo’s remarks were in response to a question raised by Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) who tasked Abodo to consider taking over cases of civilians being charged before the Court Martial, a plea Abodo vehemently rejected, citing Article 120 of the Constitution that spells out the duties of the DPP.

“Her appreciation from Article 120 is different from ours but we still invited her to take a thorough thought for purposes of creating sanity in the court martial,” said Basalirwa.

“We are of the considered opinion that whereas the Constitution in one limb is to the effect that the DPP can institute cases in all courts except the Court Martial, when it comes go taking over and discontinuing, we have the opinion that actually, the Constitution permits.

So we invited the DPP to seriously consider that provision and see whether the office can move to takeover proceedings and discontinue proceedings in the Court Martial, especially relating to the trial of civilians,” Basalirwa explained.

PROGRESSIVE: Mulago to commence liver transplant in April; successfully starts In vitro fertilization

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The Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, Rosemary Byanyima has revealed plans by the Hospital to expand its organ transplant services by embarking on liver transplants in April 2025.

She made the revelation while appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee, where she was presenting the Hospital’s 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper.

She requested the Committee to ensure that all funds for the critical medicines and supplies are availed in the budget in order to ensure that these transplants go on smoothly.

“We want to increase our scope of organ transplant. We want to bring on board liver transplant. We have been working with hospitals in India, but we are now getting another team on board through Health Education England, and this is from the hospital in Manchester, and it’s the team that is coming around April and May 2025 to do transplants with us,” said Dr. Byanyima.

Byanyima also warned that if all the UGX101Bn for the purchase of medicines isn’t availed in Mulago Hospital’s next year’s budget, the Hospital will be forced to keep sending patients to buy their own medicines and reserve the other medicines for the critically ill patients that require medicine by their bedsides.

“If we are to have no patients walk out to buy any medication, we would need Shs101Bn, and currently, we are receiving UGX18.256Bn, so we will continue writing lists for patients to go and buy, and we get, of course, backlash from the public. But you know, the areas of concern are those who are critically ill where you need to have the medicines by the bedside,” explained Byanyima.

In vitro fertilisation

Dr. Evelyn Nabunya, Executive Director of Mulago Specialised Women & Neonatal Hospital has revealed that the government has finally started offering fertility treatment services like the In vitro fertilisation (IVF) with already 11 stimulations having been carried out, while two women are pregnant following this procedure.

She made the revelation while appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee where she was presenting the Hospital’s 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper. She went on to detail some of the achievements the facility has registered in the past six months.

“Some of the achievements we have had in their first half is the starting of the long-awaited IVF services. As we stand, we have already done a total of 11 stimulations. We had six embryo transfers; five are awaiting while the embryos are frozen as they are prepared better.

Two of these patients are still pregnant; two were clinical pregnancies; however, they were lost. But we are hopeful as we are moving on with our team,” explained Nabunya.

Nabunya also informed the Committee that 858 neonates were handled, and of these, 32.9% were preterm, 75 were weighing below 1 kg, and their survival rate was 59.1%. “So babies even less than 1 kg are being looked after and surviving. Those between 1-1.4Kgs were 88, and their survival rate was 79.4%, while those 1.5-2.4Kgs had a survival rate of 87.3%.”

She further explained that the survival rate for those considered normal weight was on the lower side compared to those bigger preterm because these babies are received at Mulago Women Hospital while they are very sick and are mostly transferred from the other hospitals like Kawempe National Referral Hospital and the private hospitals that transfer these babies directly.

“Our smallest surviving baby was born at 24 weeks and weighed 500 grams, just like this bottle. That baby is now a healthy 2-and-a-half-year-old baby. This is a baby who survived retinopathy of prematurity because of the vigilance of the team. These babies are exposed to prolonged oxygen, and they are in danger of getting blindness. So these babies survived that; it was detected early,” noted Dr. Nabunya.

NOT A POOR COUNTRY: Auditor General exposes gov’t wastefulness in new damning resources performance report

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The new Auditor General, Edward Akol, Wednesday presented the 2023/24 Annual Auditor General’s report to Parliament, his maiden annual report. The report received by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, details how Ministries, Departments & Agencies (MDAs) spent the money they received for the year ending June 2024.

Snippets of the report, however, showcase the government’s unseriousness in handling the budgeted money, most of which has been borrowed from local lenders, donors, foreign governments, and development partners.

Several overpaid pensioners

The Auditor General warns that if no reforms are undertaken in the government’s pension sector, Ugandan taxpayers would be spending over UGX4.5 trillion in pension and gratuity by 2034. He revealed that the government overpaid several pensioners to a tune of about UGX31.2Bn in pension and gratuity.

“The sustainability of our pension system faces mounting pressure from multiple fronts, such as early retirement policies, allowing exits at the age of 45, enhanced pay for science professionals, among others. From my analysis, I project a 12% annual increase in retirees over the next decade with pension liabilities exceeding UGX4.5 trillion annually by 2034,” explained Akol.

“The pension system audit has revealed critical challenges that demand attention. I noted that 1502 pensioners were overpaid gratuity benefits of Shs22.3Bn. These overpayments were in 19 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and 115 Local Governments. In addition, 2193 pensioners were overpaid pensioner benefits by Shs8.9 billion, and this was in 23 MDAs and 104 Local Governments,” noted Akol.

Low absorption of funds

The Auditor General also expressed concerns over the low absorption of funds in the national budget, which he said is affecting service delivery, noting, “For FY 2023/24, the initial budget was UGX52.7 trillion; it was later revised upwards to UGX61.4 trillion. However, only UGX54.3 trillion was warranted, leaving an unfunded gap of UGX7.1 trillion. even more concerning, of the warranted, only UGX47 trillion was spent. This underutilisation is impacting service delivery across government corporations.”

Health ministry destroys medicine worth GX316.65Bn

The Ministry of Health destroyed COVID-19 vaccines, ARVs, and test kits worth UGX316.65 billion in 2023/24, which is an increase from drugs worth UGX33 billion destroyed in 2022/23.

“In the health sector, there are substantial challenges of expiration of medical supplies. The government had to write off UGX316.65 billion worth of COVID-19 vaccines, ARVs, and test kits, an increase from last year’s UGX33 billion. This represents a significant waste of resources that could have served other pressing healthcare needs,” noted Akol.

The Auditor General also called for urgent intervention in addressing the human resource needs of Uganda’s healthcare sector, revealing that Mulago National Referral Hospital’s ICU is operating only 15 beds out of 27, which is just 56% of its capacity due to staff shortages.

“Critical equipment remains unutilised in several hospitals because of a lack of trained personnel to operate them. The health infrastructure department of the Ministry of Health requires Shs20 billion annually for equipment maintenance but receives only Shs1.8 billion,” added Akol.

Poor waste management in Uganda

The Auditor General also raised concerns over poor waste management in Uganda, revealing that Cities & Municipalities only collected 37% of the 4 million tonnes of garbage produced in their areas.

“Looking at solid waste management in our cities and municipalities, the numbers are concerning. Over the past three years, only 37% of the 4 million tonnes of generated waste was collected and dispose of. The cities collected just 34.4% of their 3.2million tonnes, while municipalities handled 50% of their 812,462 tonnes,” noted Akol.

BEST ANALYST: We cannot remove Museveni when people are ignorant — Moses Bigirwa

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Ugandans who want to remove the regime of President Yoweri Museveni will not achieve their goal if they remain ignorant, Moses Bigirwa, the President of the Eastern Revolutionary Platform, has said.

“We cannot succeed (in removing Museveni from power) when we have an ignorant population. People who want regime change should base their arguments on facts and critical thinking. We need to know the strength of our enemy, who is President Museveni, and you cannot know this if you are ignorant,” Bigirwa told journalists in Kampala.

Bigirwa was speaking to journalists in Kampala at a function where he was bestowed with an award as the Best Analyst by Uganda Social Media Political Platform, an umbrella body that brings together bloggers on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, X, and others.

“This (winning the award) has motivated me. It shows that I am a special person. It has put me above others, and I am going to work hard to maintain this status. Of course I know it won’t be easy,” he said, advising Ugandans, especially those in the opposition, to build a knowledge base through research.

“We are grateful for uplifting our voices and recognising us with this award. We must give time to politics because it determines the way we live our lives. We should not take politics casually. It is an important aspect of our lives; I am happy that my unbiased analysis has been noticed for opening people’s eyes,” he stated.

Former Rubaga North MP, Moses Kasibate, thanked the Uganda Social Media Political Platform for choosing Bigirwa because he was the automatic choice. “If we can get like 100 Bigirwas, then we will march into 2026 with an informed country. People who want regime change want informative content so that they can also make an informed decision.

Kasibante said social media is a big challenge for the ruling challenge; that is why they switched off Facebook and are looking at other social media platforms with a keen eye. “People thought social media was for propaganda. Today, social media is for content. To get content, you must research and be composed. This is what Bigirwa offers you as a content creator,” Kasibante stated.

FOOTBALL DELAYED: Here is why CAF has postponed the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 tournament

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CAF Announces Postponement of TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 to August Due to Infrastructure Readiness
By Musa Kikuuno, Busoga Times ll whatsapp 0756322265
January 14, 2024 – In a significant development that will reshape the African football calendar, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the postponement of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, which was originally scheduled to run from February 1st to 28th, 2025. The tournament will now take place in August 2025 across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The decision to delay the competition comes after CAF’s technical and infrastructure experts, who have been closely monitoring the progress of preparations in the three host countries, recommended that additional time be allocated to complete the required upgrades to stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals, and other essential facilities. Despite the fact that significant progress has been made, the experts advised that more time is needed to meet CAF’s high standards for hosting the continental tournament.

CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, thanked the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for their ongoing commitment and leadership in ensuring that the infrastructure projects are completed to the highest standards. He expressed his confidence in the successful delivery of the tournament come August.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to President William Ruto of Kenya, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for their leadership, commitment, and the good progress made in the construction and upgrading of the football infrastructure,” said Dr. Motsepe in the statement. “I am particularly impressed with the ongoing work on the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals, and other facilities. I am confident that by August 2024, these facilities will meet the required CAF standards, and we will be able to host a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship.”

The postponement, though disappointing to fans who had eagerly awaited the tournament’s February debut, will allow for finalizing the preparations, ensuring that the event is executed without compromise.

CAF also announced that the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship will take place in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 20:00 Nairobi time. The exact dates of the tournament in August will be confirmed in due course.

This announcement marks a continuation of the challenges faced by the tournament, which was previously postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The CHAN is an important competition for African players who participate exclusively from their domestic leagues, and its success is vital for the continued development of African football.

While the delay may have dampened the excitement of fans and players alike, the additional time is expected to result in a more organized and well-executed tournament. CAF has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship 2024 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be a memorable event that highlights the best talent in African football.

Key Dates:
Draw for CHAN 2024: January 15, 2025, at 20:00 Nairobi Time
New Tournament Dates: August 2025 (Exact start date to be confirmed)

BUSOGA CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP: 2024 races set to begin this weekend

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By Musa Kikuuno, Busoga Times Sports Writer ll whatsapp 0756322265

The countdown is on for the 2nd Edition of the MTN Busoga Cycling Championship, with the preliminary races set to begin this weekend. Cyclists from all over the region are gearing up for the challenge, as they race through the varied terrains of Busoga to qualify for the grand finale.

In an exclusive interview with Busoga Times, Hambaali Jojo, the spokesperson for the MTN Busoga Cycling Championship, shared the final details ahead of the races, which will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2024, and Sunday, January 19, 2025.

Saturday, January 18, 2024: Bulamogi and Luuka Chiefdoms

The competition will kick off at 8:00 AM on Saturday, January 18, with participants racing in Bulamogi and Luuka Chiefdoms. Cyclists will tackle two exciting routes in these areas, battling for the top positions in both Tippa (Gaali Ensoga) and Mountain Sport Bikes categories.

Bulamogi Chiefdom Route : The race will start at Namukooge Trading Centre, passing through Lumbuye, Bulumba, Bumaana, Nankoola, and Kaliro Town Council, before looping back to the finish line at Namukooge Trading Centre. The route offers a blend of terrain, with both flat stretches and challenging uphill sections.

Luuka Chiefdom Route : The second route will start from Bulanga Trading Centre and take cyclists along Mawundo Road, Butte Road, Waibuga, Bukanga, Bumaana, Kigaya, and Busiro, before returning to the finish at Bulanga Trading Centre. This course will challenge cyclists with its variety of surfaces and sharp turns.

Jojo confirmed that all participants are required to bring their own bicycles to compete, as no bikes will be provided at the event. He also emphasized that the races will begin promptly at 8:00 AM, and urged cyclists to arrive early to ensure they are ready for the start.

Sunday, January 19, 2025: Bukooli and Bunhole Bunanhumba Chiefdoms

On Sunday, January 19, the races will move to the Bukooli and Bunhole Bunanhumba Chiefdoms, with the same start time of 8:00 AM. Cyclists will face new routes in these areas, designed to challenge their endurance and skill.

Bukooli Chiefdom Route: The race will begin at Nankoma Trading Centre, passing through Buwunga, Busowa, Bugiri, and Muterere, before looping back to Nankoma Trading Centre. This route promises to test the riders’ stamina over a combination of road types and elevations.

Bunhole Bunanhumba Route: Starting from Bugadde, the race will take participants through Bukoba, Bumwena, and Kaloba Roundabout, before returning to Bugadde. The course features a series of twists and turns, demanding fast-paced and strategic racing.

As with the previous day, the top two finishers in each category will qualify for the Kingdom-level grand finale, where the championship’s best cyclists will be crowned.

A Call to Spectators

Jojo also took the opportunity to call on the people of Busoga to come out in large numbers to watch the races and cheer on the participants. He encouraged spectators to enjoy the event, which promises to be an exciting display of cycling talent and determination.

However, he also urged the public to maintain a safe distance from the race lanes for their own safety. “While we want everyone to enjoy the spectacle, we must remind people to stay well away from the bike lanes. This is crucial for the safety of both the cyclists and the spectators,” Jojo cautioned.

A Thrilling Championship Ahead

The MTN Busoga Cycling Championship 2024 promises to be an unforgettable event for both participants and fans. With the top two finishers in each category qualifying for the grand finale, the competition is set to be fierce and thrilling.

For those looking to participate, remember to bring your own bike and be ready for the race to start promptly at 8:00 AM. For those planning to watch, come out and enjoy the high-speed action while staying safe.

The preliminary races kick off this weekend, and the entire Busoga region is excited to see who will emerge victorious and secure a place in the grand finale later this year.

INTERVENTION: Kyabazinga issues directive to fight teenage pregnancy in Busoga

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The Kyabazinga, His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, has implored leaders across various structures within the Busoga Kingdom to prioritize combating teenage pregnancies.

This approach, he said, will reduce the issue that has made hundred of pre-teen girls in Busoga.

“Through unity, I urge our leaders to concentrate on enhancing service delivery and improving the quality of life for the Basoga.

Statistics released by various organisations under the United Nations show that Busoga region has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies and recently UNAIDS officials appointed me to be their ambassador in fighting teenage pregnancies and HIV/AIDS in the sub region—lets join efforts in this fight to reduce the vice in Busoga,” the cultural ruler stated.

Late last year, the Kyabazinga was designated as a UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for engaging men and boys to end teenage pregnancies.

The Kyabazinga is to lead this pivotal campaign with efforts to involve men and boys in Busoga and Uganda at large to address the root causes of teenage pregnancies, poverty, lack of parental involvement, HIV prevention and limited access to reproductive health services in various rural and urban communities.

The campaign, dubbed ‘ABASADHA N’EMPANGO’, translates to ‘Men are the Pillars’ Aims to empower men to take charge and alter the narrative of negative development indicators in the Busoga sub-region.

This campaign will be supported by UNAIDS in collaboration with 11 UN agencies, each focusing on different aspects of reducing teenage pregnancies in Busoga and Uganda at large.

These agencies include; UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank.

REQUEST FOR MONEY: Jinja Regional Referral Hospital seeking UGX500M to start offering dialysis services; requests for boreholes

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To start offering dialysis services to patients, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital needs UGX500M.

This, the hospital said, will reduce on the long distances and traffic jam patients endure while seeking for the same services at Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala.

The request was made by Dr. Alfred Yayi, Director of Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. He was appearing before Parliament’s Health Committee to present the Hospital’s 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper estimates.

He informed MPs of the increasing need for dialysis services and there is an organisation that have provided the machines and all government has to do is avail money for reagents.

“Patients travel every week to Kiruddu for dialysis services and there is a huge demand on us to start providing these services.

We are partnering with some organization they are ready to give us the equipment and we have the space, but we need resources for reagents and utilities so that we can provide these services at slightly a subsidized cost.

So on behalf of the people of Busoga, we would request for at an allocation of at least Shs500M to support dialysis services that we want to start as soon as possible,” Dr. Yayi explained.

Jinja Hospital also asked for the provision of funds for the construction of boreholes and water harvesting facilities in order to reduce on the huge water bills that have condemned the facility into perpetual water arrears.

Dr. Yayi stated that the situation is exacerbated by the old water infrastructure that have caused numerous leakages, thus increasing the water bill.

“We want to overhaul the plumbing system and that requires UGX300Mn. We have a huge problem of arrears especially for NWSC and we need support to establish motorized borehole and improve on water harvesting and also improve on the issue of overhauling the plumbing system because what is happening is that we are losing a lot of water through the leakages because of the old systems,” noted Dr. Yayi.

COMPETITION: What the second edition of MTN Busoga Cycling championship offers Busoga

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By Musa Kikuuno – Sports Writer, Busoga Times | WhatsApp 0756322265

Busoga Kingdom, in collaboration with MTN Uganda, has officially launched the second edition of the MTN Busoga Cycling Championship, locally known as Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga.

The grand launch took place at the Kingdom headquarters in Bugembe on Friday, where His Royal Highness William Wilberforce Kadumbula Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga, captivated attendees with his impressive cycling skills, officially setting the championship in motion.

Promoting Unity Through Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga
The cycling championship, designed to promote unity and celebrate sports in the region, will see participants from all eleven chiefdoms of Busoga (Bunha, Luuka, Bulamogi, Bukooli, Bunhole Bunanumba, Busiki, Bugabula, Bukono, Kigulu, Bugweri, and Butembe) competing for glory.

The preliminary races are scheduled to begin on January 18, 2025, with the grand finale set for February 15, 2025, at the kingdom level. Each chiefdom will field four cyclists—two in the Tipper (Gaali Ensoga) category and two in the Mountain Bike category.

Kyabazinga’s Vision for the Championship
The Kyabazinga emphasized the importance of sports in fostering unity and development among his people. His participation in the launch was a symbol of his commitment to inspiring the youth and promoting cultural pride through Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga.

MTN Uganda’s Continued Support
Speaking at the launch, MTN Uganda’s Sponsorship and Events Manager, John Paul Okwi, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering communities through sports.

“We are thrilled to be part of the second edition of Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga. This championship is a testament to the resilience and unity of the people of Busoga. At MTN, we believe in the power of sports to bring about societal change, and we are honored to continue this partnership,” Okwi stated.

Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, thanked MTN for its steadfast support and called on participants to uphold discipline and integrity throughout the races.

Preliminary Race Schedule
January 18, 2025: Luuka and Bulamogi
January 19, 2025: Bukooli and Bunhole
January 25, 2025: Busiki and Bunha
January 26, 2025: Bugabula and Bukono
February 1, 2025: Kigulu and Bugweri
February 2, 2025: Butembe
Grand Finale and Awards
Winners of the championship will ride away with prestigious prizes, including brand-new motorcycles. Other awards include:

2nd place: UGX 2,000,000
3rd place: UGX 1,000,000
4th place: UGX 500,000
5th place: UGX 300,000
Cyclists finishing outside the top five will receive a token of UGX 50,000 for their participation.

Celebrating the Legacy of Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga
The MTN Busoga Cycling Championship began in 2022 as a platform to showcase talent and foster community pride. Bukooli emerged victorious in the Tippa category, while Butembe claimed the Mountain Bike title in the inaugural edition.

This year’s edition, spearheaded by the Kyabazinga, promises to strengthen the legacy of Obugaali bwa Amasaza ga Busoga and inspire future generations.

CULTURE: Kadaga roots for diversity in the army as a tool to cause social economic transformation

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The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, believes that united diverse cultures in the army can lead to social economic transformation in society.

She made the remakes recently while officiating at a cultural gala organized at Senior Command and Staff College (SCSC) Kimaka by the students of undergoing intake 20 of 2025 at the college in Jinja City.

Kadaga said the gala, which was a showcase of ‘our cultural roots and origin,’ was a clear testimony for the love and value of ‘our cultural diversity’. She encouraged the soldiers and people who attended the gala learn from each other something that can lead to development.

She underscored the need by the army leadership to continue with this syllabus in their training colleges for better understanding and marketing our cultural diversity. Kadaga noted that, some of the army’s cultural preservation methods are famous all over the world.

“When we are not at war, we can continue to promote such diversities to signify that the army is part of the community,” Kadaga said, adding that “we can build on technology and improve on our culture especially in the area of production but also allowing people to do what they can do naturally without forcing them or destroying their old roots.”

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The Commandant SCSC Maj Gen George Igumba said the 20th Cultural Gala at Kimaka had brought people together to witness the rich diverse cultures. He noted that students are showcasing their social, economic, political, technological and cultural findings related to the areas they did research on.

Maj Gen Igumba added that, this event is a testament of the beauty of unity and commonality in spite of their diverse background and divergent views and helps us share unique traditions.

Maj Gen Igumba implored that, preserving one’s culture does not mean disrespecting other people’s cultures or imposing one’s culture on to others. He added that preserving one’s recognizes culture as the most important dimension of security in a contemporary security environment where threats have become high bread and arithmetical in nature.