Museveni to study anti-gay Bill before assenting

President Yoweri Museveni has said he will first peruse the anti-gay Bill before signing it into law.

“I will first go through it. If I find that it is right I will sign but if I find that it is not right I will send it back to Parliament”, he said.

The President was reacting to the comment made by the head of the Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Apostle Joseph Serwadda, calling on the President to sign the Bill against homosexuality that was passed last week by Parliament.

The Bill seeks, among other things, to slap charges of life imprisonment to those found guilty of the acts.

The President, who was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Janet Museveni, was the chief guest at the Christmas prayers that were organized by the Pentecostal Church at Daystar Cathedral in Mbarara Municipality in South Western Uganda.

The prayers attracted delegations from other religious denominations including those from the United States of America and Finland.

President Museveni, on arrival, toured the construction site, unveiled a plaque for kick starting the mobilization of funds for the completion of the multi-million complex with a sitting capacity of 10,000 worshippers.

He congratulated Bishop Ibrahim Nathan Turyamureeba for the big cathedral project and urged churches in the country to encourage their followers to work hard and exploit their talents in order to improve their life.

The President reminded the congregation of St. Paul’s caution in his letter to the Thessalonians that says ‘someone who does not work should not eat.’

Quoting a Bible verse from the Book of Genesis where God commanded man to dominate the earth, the President advised Christians to harness the natural resources.

He contributed sh60m towards the construction of Daystar Cathedral and a further sh20m for Daystar Savings Credit Co-operative Organization (SACCO).

Bishop Ibrahim Nathan Turyamureeba praised the NRM government for reinstating the freedom of worship in Uganda.
He added that the Pentecostal Church does not only believe in worship but has also ventured into economic and social activities that include, among others, the media industry, education and health sectors. He said Daystar Cathedral had established a SACCO with 270 members.

The leader of the Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Apostle Joseph Serwadda, commended President Museveni for supporting Pentecostal Churches in the country.

Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) Results to be Released Today

Alupo told the press on Wednesday that, “by UNEB officials on P.7 results and they will be ready for release on Friday.”

Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) officials briefed the minister on Thursday on happened with the general performance of PLE exams.

PLE results will be released today the Statistics House in Kampala at 10:00am

Alupo announces release of PLE results on Friday

The Ministry for education and sports has confirmed that Primary Living Education (PLE) for 2013 will be released on Friday January 31, 2014.

Education and sport minister, Jessica Alupo, on Tuesday told reporters at parliament  that results are ready.

This comes after media reports last week suggesting that the examinations body, UNEB had failed to complete marking of exams due a breakdown in computer system.

A total of 582,085 candidates sat for Primary Leaving Examinations in November last year.

There was an increase of 16,422 candidates from the number that sat for PLE the previous year

Anna Kendrick’s Rant About Newcastle Beer Is the Best (Non-)Super Bowl Ad You’ll See Read more: Anna Kendrick Rants In Super Bowl Ad for Newcastle Ale

The hottest ad for the Super Bowl this year is one that doesn’t exist, featuring Anna Kendrick ranting about Newcastle canceling her Super Bowl commercial at the last minute.
Kind of. It’s actually the latest in a series of web videos from British beer company Newcastle Brown Ale documenting the commercials they didn’t make for the big game because they couldn’t afford them. Sitting in a hairdresser’s chair, the Pitch Perfect actress rants about Newcastle, mourning the paycheck she’s not going to receive. The role, had she gotten to play it, would have been stretching her acting chops, because she’s not even sure she’s “beer-commercial hot.” “I’m approachable hot, like the hottest girl in your improv class hot,” she says.
The whole fake “Mega Huge Football Game Ad” campaign (they’re not allowed to say “bowl”) is pretty meta, but that’s the whole point. Other videos in Newcastle’s series, called “If We Made It,” include a hilarious reel of actual focus groups responding to their fake ad, which includes a surreal mixture of everything from conga-dancing sharks to hyper-intelligent apes.

Jose Chameleone Cleared of Karamagi’s Death Case

East Africa’s No 1 artiste, Jose Chameleon is now a free man after being cleared of the murder case which have haunted him for several months.
A man identified as Stephen Karamagi allegedly set himself ablaze at Chameleon’s home in Seguku and died a few days later at Mulago hospital.
The first story that broke was that Karamagi was a thief with the intention of killing Chameleone’s wife, Daniella Atim . However, he allegedly poured on himself petrol by mistake and set himself on fire.

Some other reports indicated that it was the boys in the home of Chameleone who beat up Karamagi , poured on him the paraffin and set him on fire.
However, the spokesperson at the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Kajugo told the press today that all the evidence attained in the investigations was contradicting and inconsistent.
With this ,police was directed to close the file against Chameleon.

Anna Kendrick: "Katy Perry Finger-Banged My Cleavage" at the Grammys

"I know everybody is, but I'm totally obsessed with Beyonce. I walked past Beyonce at one point, and because I'm not worthy I didn't look at her," Kendrick joked. "[My friends and I] did make a detour down the front just to walk past Beyonce . . . We thought, 'We'll just walk past her and get some of her aura.' We walked past and my friend was like, 'Dude, she was motioning to you and you just walked past her!' And I panicked. I mean, I didn't know quite what to do, but I thought, 'Once in a lifetime, just do it.' I went back and I was like, 'I'm so sorry to do this, I just wanted to meet you. You're such an inspiration.' And she stood up -- she was so nice -- and she points to Jay Z and was like, 'Oh, we just watched you on the Kennedy Center Honors. You were so great. You were so cute in your little red dress.'"
"She said that I had a little red dress, which means that she actually watched it," the Up In the Air star reasoned. "Or it means that I was having a stroke and I imagined the entire thing."

Rep. Michael Grimm rips reporter. Why so angry?

“I’ll break you in half. Like a boy,” Representative Grimm told Mr. Scotto after the latter asked him about a federal investigation into his campaign finances.
Grimm was initially unrepentant Wednesday morning. He said that he was doing Scotto a favor by agreeing to be interviewed about Mr. Obama’s speech and that to ask him about the federal investigation as part of that interview was a “cheap shot.”


“I doubt that I am the first member of Congress to tell off a reporter, and I am sure I won’t be the last,” Grimm said in a statement.
On Wednesday he apologized for his actions, telling reporters he had "lost his cool."
It’s true he won’t be the last lawmaker to tell a reporter to shove it. But Grimm may also be touchy about this subject because the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe is a serious one that could send people to jail and end others’ careers.
Grimm himself has been charged with no crime. Diana Durand, a woman described in press reports as Grimm’s former girlfriend, has been arraigned in federal court on charges that she used so-called straw donors to funnel illegal contributions to two members of Congress.
Neither lawmaker is named in the federal complaint. But press reports say they are Grimm and Rep. Aaron Schock (R) of Illinois.
Ms. Durand may not be the final target of this FBI probe, according to Roll Call political money specialist Kent Cooper. The charges against her “may be part of a strategic plan to bring pressure on someone under investigation,” he wrote earlier this month.
Grimm himself was an FBI agent at one point in his colorful past. He can put these dots together without the media’s help.


“Straw donors” are donors used to evade federal limits on campaign contributions to individual candidates. They work like this: Say you’re a friend of a member of Congress, and you want to give him or her more than the $4,800 you can legally give a campaign. You enlist another friend to give $4,800 – and then, in turn, you pay that friend back for his or her largess.
This is what the Feds have charged conservative author-filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza with doing. They charge he funneled $10,000 to the campaign of New York Republican Senate candidate Wendy Long in 2012.
Mr. D’Souza has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Prosecutors have told the federal judge handling the matter that Ms. Long, who attended Dartmouth with D’Souza, will testify against him.
As for Durand, she is a Houston resident who was a friend of Grimm’s, according to the complaint filed against her. News reports say the pair became acquainted in 2008, when Grimm had business dealings in Texas.
The FBI complaint says that Durand recruited two co-workers to serve as straw donors to “Congressman A” in 2010.
The complaint quotes an e-mail that Durand wrote thanking them for their help, which she called “priceless.”
“I still have to make the deposit but I can write you both a check, or I can get your account numbers and do a transfer, whatever works for you,” Durand wrote, in an apparent reference to reimbursing the co-workers for their expense.
The New York Times has identified “Congressman A” as Grimm and said the details of the contributions match the disclosed records of Grimm’s campaign contributions.
In a separate matter, the FBI is also probing whether Ofer Biton, an associate of a charismatic Orthodox rabbi, collected questionable money for Grimm’s campaign from the rabbi’s congregation.
Many of the rabbi’s followers are Israeli citizens. Foreign donations are barred from US campaigns.
It is not illegal for a candidate to accept straw donor money if the candidate does not know the scheme behind the contribution. As noted above, Grimm has not been charged with any campaign finance violation.
But among lawmakers, he is not seen as a phlegmatic colleague. Quite the contrary. A former member of the US Army and an 11-year FBI agent, Grimm is an avid weight lifter known to the New York tabloids as “Mikey Suits.” He’s threatened other NY1 journalists in the past, according to NY1 political director Bob Hardt.
“Rep. Michael Grimm’s bizarre and scary rant against our Michael Scotto last night is not an isolated incident; it’s part of a pattern in which the congressman has tried to avoid questions from NY1 about an ongoing probe into his campaign finances – and then become enraged when we’ve dared to ask him about a legitimate story,” Mr. Hardt writes.

Stephen Hawking biography

Quick Facts

• NAME: Stephen Hawking
• OCCUPATION: Physicist
• BIRTH DATE: January 08, 1942 (Age: 72)
• EDUCATION: Oxford University, University of Cambridge, California Institute of Technology, Gonville & Caius College
• PLACE OF BIRTH: Oxford, England, United Kingdom
• Full Name: Stephen William Hawking
• AKA: Stephen Hawking
• ZODIAC SIGN: Capricorn

Best Known For

Stephen Hawking is known for his work regarding black holes and for authoring several popular science books. He suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Chinese New Year: those born in Year of the Horse urged to lie low

Friday, January 31, marks the first day of the Chinese New Year and communities around the globe will say goodbye to the snake, and welcome in the horse.
The Chinese animal zodiac is on a 12-year cycle. The years do not coincide exactly with the Western calendar because the start and end of each year depends on the lunar cycle. Years of the horse take in 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 and 2014.

Lin Abbott. Photo: Amanda Hoh

While those born in the Year of the Horse are said to be stable, adventurous and extremely energetic, unfortunately this year they are going to have to lie low.
According to Chinese philosophy, those born with the same zodiac sign as the year's designated animal are going to have a particularly difficult year.
The reason for this, Mrs Abbott explains, is the animal is positioned at the top of the zodiac chart, or “on the ruling god's head”.

It's the Year of the Horse. Photo: Amanda Hoh

“If you're born in the Year of the Horse, you're clashing with the god so you need to lie low and let it peacefully go past,” she said.
“People born in those years need to either go overseas for a big round, then come back. If they are 60 years old this year, they need to have a big party ... to balance the bad luck.”
“Don't get married or make big investments, but go to a lot of weddings and do happy things.”
Mrs Abbott also suggests that people born in the Year of the Horse should avoid changing jobs and be careful of dealing with the boss, as this year “there will be a lot of gossip about you”.
Chinese astrologer and Sydney feng shui master Lok Tin explains that having the same animal throws the Chinese ying-yang philosophy off balance, and therefore all those born in the Year of the Horse will experience some sort of pressure or tension this year.
He also warns the Broncos to watch out for a potential sex scandal.
As this year marks the wooden horse, Mr Tin forecasts that many southern countries of the world could experience disasters involving fire.
“The wooden horse represents fire energy,” Mr Tin said.
“In the last month, we've seen a lot of fire issues in the southern areas, like South Australia and, in extension to that, we'll see more in South America and south New Zealand. Because the fire energy is so strong, we'll get a lot of fire issues like volcanos and gunfire protests, which will be very violent.”
Previous years of the horse were marked by "fire issues" such as the Sino-Japanese war in 1894, and nuclear bomb tests by the US and former Soviet Union in 1954.
For those looking to form new relationships, those most compatible with the horse were born in the year of the tiger, sheep or dog.
While many may be sceptical about Western zodiac affirmations, some Chinese are just as dubious about Chinese folklore, Mrs Abbott said.
However, she believes Chinese astrology is ingrained in the culture and therefore most ethnic Chinese grow up understanding the philosophies.
To welcome in the new year, families will be gathering together on Thursday for their last meal of the year.
Countries and territories, such as China, Hong Kong and Malaysia, have experienced a travel rush as hundreds of millions of people leave the cities to return to their hometowns to visit relatives for the holiday.
“It's about celebrating eating and family,” the director of Sydney University's China Studies Centre, Professor Kerry Brown, said.
“This is a nice point of stability to let people sit back and really reconnect with their roots.”
In Sydney, Chinese New Year is being celebrated in a two-week festival, involving dragon-boat races, a twilight parade on Sunday and lion dances throughout the city.
“The big festival that happens in Sydney is a time for ethnic Chinese people to get their culture and the richness of their culture appreciated,” Professor Brown said.
“It's more about the culture than the country. No matter where you are, this is a common thing that people can celebrate; there's no politics to it.”

Tips - Buying Tablet PC for kids/young student

some tips about choosing tablet pc for young students

Technology and multimedia has been introduced to education for decades, we all know it works well. Thanks to the technology, now we can learn faster and easier than many years ago.

Students can use Tablet PC for study, reading E-textbook, and very many different programs, also learn from Internet. To say Internet, let's consider this, what website is your child viewing? What computer game is he/she playing? Who did he/she chat with on Internet?

For the convenience of knowing what did your child doing with Tablet computer, simply pick a simple and easy-to-use Wi-Fi Tablet PC is enough for his/her study. Parents can download the E-Books, game, software that suitable for their children's age. If possible, you can add a keyboard case to enhance the input experience. Tablet PC with cellular network functions are not recommended to children, because once he/she can access Internet anytime anywhere, he/she may also play anytime anywhere.

We understand how parents want their children get higher quality education, we also appreciate the parents bought or considering buying a Tablet computer for their children, you had the foresight in early age education. Your kids will win from the starting line of his/her school life.

Remark:
1. Wi-Fi is a system for connecting electronic equipment such as computers and electronic organizers to the Internet without using wires.

Tips - Buying Tablet PC for University student

choose the right tablet pc for university student

This is the age of information. New things and new technology pop up anytime, we have so many things to learn, and otherwise we may fall behind.
Imagine when you're busy working on a thesis, and people around you can't help you out from the work, how to solve the puzzle as soon as possible? The answer is Internet. You need to connect to Internet anytime anywhere.

You can Google a question with a desktop in your university library, or with a laptop in the hostel. Libraries not open every minute, sometime you have to leave the puzzle tomorrow, but we also have other work tomorrow, what we need, is to solve the puzzle now.

You may also meet the similar issues when you're using a laptop. We all know the battery life for laptop is short. Your laptop battery may just goes off after you find few answers, and your work has to be suspended before give a charge. And you'll be starting looking for a socket and sit near it. By the way, where to find available socket when you're moving with a laptop? After you find a secured sit with a socket in library, library staff tells you that 'time to close, please come tomorrow', and you have to rush to another place, after you sit down in the new place, you find your Internet bundle expired and you rushed to telecoms operator's office to join the queue to recharge your Modem in working hour if you are lucky enough, otherwise you have to wait for another working day! A Sad Academic Day just ends up like this without any academic result. That's why we decide to introduce Tablet PC to university student after we've been suffered something like this in our bitter and sweetness mixed university life.

This is just a figure of speech, a humorous explanation. Your premier purpose just search something on Internet, things can be easier if you have a small portable, functional, less cumbersome, longer battery life and flexible Tablet PC. You can simply access Internet with a SIM card by the help of cellular Tablet PC, and easily top up the Internet bundle with airtime recharge card. That's what we recommended to university student, a Tablet PC that support cellular network.

We hope this article is helpful to the people confusing on choosing a Tablet PC.

HOW can i choose a tablet pc

what kind of tablet pc is suitable for me

We have been asked by different people, how to choose a suitable Tablet PC for different needs. Here's some information for your reference.

The most difference on Tablet PC is how you connect to Internet.
That's why you see Wi-Fi Tablets starting at Ush199,000, and cellular Tablets are starting at Ush299,000.
1. When you're using a Wi-Fi device, you will need to have Wi-Fi hotspot around you, so that you can connect to Internet by Wi-Fi.
2. When you're using a Wi-Fi+Modem device, you can connect to Internet either using Wi-Fi or a Modem.
3. When you're using a Wi-Fi+Cellular device, you can simply access Internet with a SIM card as long as your area was covered by the telecommunication company's network. You can also use Wi-Fi network with this kind of devices.

Choosing a device also depends on the Internet condition you're staying with.
1. Cellular devices suitable for the people need Internet anytime anywhere, as long as you have airtime or Internet bundle in the SIM.
2. Wi-Fi+Modem device suitable for the people already has a Modem.
3. Wi-Fi devices suitable for the people not so reliable to Internet or the person whom can easily access to Wi-Fi hotspot.

Remarks
1. Wi-Fi is a system for connecting electronic equipment such as computers and electronic organizers to the Internet without using wires.
2. A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology. Hotspots may be found in coffee shops and various other public establishments in many developed urban areas throughout the world.
3. If you're interested in any Wi-Fi+Modem device, please come with your own Modem, we can assist you to set the Internet.

Summary
1. Wi-Fi model: Uses high-speed Wi-Fi networking to connect to the Internet. It’s ideal if you have a wireless Internet router at your place or near a wireless hotspot in campus, for example. Tablets can find Wi-Fi automatically.
2. Wi-Fi + Cellular model: Keeps you connected to the Internet using a fast mobile data connection when Wi-Fi isn’t available.

What is tablet pc

A tablet computer,

or simply tablet, is a one-piece mobile computer. Devices typically offer a touchscreen, with finger (or stylus) gestures acting as the primary means of control, though often supplemented by the use of one or more physical context sensitive buttons or the input from one or more accelerometers; an on-screen, hideable virtual keyboard is generally offered as the principle means of data input. Available in a variety of sizes, tablets customarily offer a screen diagonal greater than 7" (18 cm), differentiating themselves through size from functionally similar smart phones or personal digital assistants.
Tablets, like regular computers, can run a number of operating systems. These come in two classes, namely traditional desktop-based operating systems and post-PC mobile-based ("phone-like") operating systems, mostly, Windows system or Android system.

Tablet computer could be use for create Word, Excel, PowerPoint documents, viewing PDF document, and carry out a host of computing tasks like scanning news feeds, browsing the web, emailing, Facebook and Tweeting, listen to music, watch photo slides and videos while on field tours.
You can use it to download free EBooks from Internet, and view the EBooks on it. When you connect it to a keyboard case, you can use it as a mini-laptop.

Students can use it for study, reading E-textbook, and very many different programs.

People, who have mobile computing needs, will find this device can help you do a lot of things even if when you're out of office.
Compare with laptops, Tablet PC is more portable, functional, less cumbersome, longer battery life and more flexible.

Education ministry warned Fagil Mandy over the UNEB job

THE education ministry, ‘New Vision’ has learnt, cautioned Fagil Mandy against proceeding with an ‘irregular process’ of recruiting Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) board’s executive secretary; even before the Inspector General of Government’s intervention.
Mandy, who is UNEB’s board chairperson, is under investigation by the IGG, Justice Irene Mulyagonja for allegedly abusing the process to replace Mathew Bukenya, whose contract ended last year.
Latest investigations show that, way back in December 2013, the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr. Rose Nassali Lukwago had declined to front one of the candidates Kendrace Turyagenda, as per Mandy’s request, and also warned him against what she termed an ‘irregular’ process.
Mandy, is reported to have to written an email to the education ministry’s permanent secretary, on November 19, 2013, requesting her to back Turyagenda for the job.
Dr. Nassali declined to back Turyagenda, stating that this would easily result in contention with the IGG’s office and ultimately undermine the candidate’s chances of getting the job.
In her directive, she said the inspectorate had received “numerous complaints” that Mandy had abused the recruitment process by handpicking the candidates for the job.
“Complaints have already reached my office that you as Chairman of the Board are directly involved in receiving applications, sorting them out and selecting candidates to be shortlisted for interviews as well as directly informing both successful and unsuccessful candidates of the outcome of the selection exercise,” she noted.
 “I wish to remind you that your actions are not only irregular, but are also outside the board’s normal procedures and process of the recruitment policy as stipulated in the UNEB Act,” Nassali writes in her letter to Mandy dated December 9, 2013.
“In the matter of recruiting a successor to the current Executive Secretary, I wish to bring to your attention that there is already a succession plan that was approved by the Board which was chaired by Prof Lutalo Bbosa,” she added.
“I am therefore, advising you in retrospect to refer to the Minutes of that Board and implement the recommendations made therein on the succession of Mr. Mathew Bukenya. This will facilitate a smooth transfer of power, and continuity of the Board’s functions without any adverse disruptions,” the letter reads.
In the letter, Nassali cautioned Mandy on ensuring that that the integrity of the examination system and the Board ‘remains paramount.’
The IGG on January 15, 2014 directed the education minister, Jessica Alupo to halt the recruitment of a new UNEB Executive Secretary, citing a corruption.
Mandy, in the IGG’s letter to the minister, is accused of personally having drafted the advertisement for the vacancy, shortlisted the candidates and later contacted them, yet these are roles of UNEB’s human resources office; according to a letter from the IGG.
Among other allegations, Mandy is accused of setting up a committee to operate on behalf of UNEB, yet some of its members were not part of UNEB.
He is also reported to have fronted some candidates for the post, including John Bosco Ntangaare, whom he reportedly awarded ‘exorbitant' marks and declared new UNEB boss.
MANDY SPEAKS OUT
Mandy has since refuted reports of his alleged corrupt dealings at UNEB, claiming that the reports are being peddled by some people who are opposed to his methods of work.
Appearing on Bukedde TV’s Akabbinkano programme on Tuesday, Mandy acknowledged taking part in identifying UNEB’s next Executive Secretary, but denied engaging in acts of corruption.

Marshawn Lynch: The Man Behind Beast Mode

I’ve looked into Marshawn's eyes and listened to him speak as he laid on the grass at a water park somewhere in the Bay Area on a hot summer day. We had just finished up a grueling summer camp as the 2004 season was nearly ready to kick off. Marshawn Lynch had yet to take a single snap as a collegiate athlete, but his reputation as a guy to keep an eye on had long since been established.
During this time I was entering my senior season and had earned my stripes among the team to some degree at that point. A small group of us were eating lunch on the grass when Lynch slid his way over to us in a vivacious yet innocent manner. This was my first real opportunity to interact with him in any significant way.
I’ll always remember how difficult it was to pinpoint just who this guy was. His unique personality was unmistakable whenever his social walls come down. It’s at this time when compassion and a gentle heart flood to the surface.
Lynch spent that time on the grass singing our praises and sharing his thoughts on his new team. He genuinely appeared honored to be a part of such an exceptional group of guys. He was oddly able to wear equal doses of bashful and confidence in a way I’ve yet seen duplicated. He showed an incredible amount of respect to the older guys, yet somehow, you could sense that he was destined for something bigger.
Most people who seek out others to talk with generally have an identifiable agenda of some type. Lynch’s character has always been a challenge to peg down in that regard because any predictable motive for his interaction is likely one that cannot be anticipated or, often times, fully deciphered.

Natalie Grant responds after leaving Grammys early; Mass wedding at award show criticized as 'political stunt' to push gay marriage agenda;

The mass wedding held at the 56^th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night has sparked controversy and been criticized by many as a political stunt to promote same-sex marriage.
The mass wedding involved 33 homosexual and heterosexual couples, and took place as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed a rendition of their pro-gay marriage anthem 'Same Love.' The segment, which has been criticized by many for being inappropriate for the music awards, also featured Madonna and Mary Lambert.
The mass wedding was presided over and officiated by Queen Latifah, who was deputized by Los Angeles County to legally conduct wedding ceremonies.
The couples exchanged rings as Queen Latifah said: "Music has the power to bring people together at the Grammy's. This song is a love song not for some of us but all of us!"

Performers, from left, Macklemore, Mary Lambert, Madonna, Ryan Lewis and Queen Latifah appear on stage during a performance of "Same Love" at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Latifah then officiated the marriages after introducing the couples: "It is my distinct honor to ask the participants to exchange rings. By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you a married couple."
The mass marriage segment was kept under wraps until just days before the Grammys, with organizers seemingly under no illusions as to the controversy the pro-gay stunt would stir among some viewers.
The mass marriage news in fact did not surface until Lewis and Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich revealed the plans to The New York Times on Sunday.
Ehrlich has a daughter who is gay and said that the marriage segment reflected his own personal beliefs: "But, I would not want to make a broad statement that it represents the views of the academy or the CBS television network."
Gay marriage is a hugely divisive issue across the United States, as well as many countries around the world, and many critics slamming the segment have said that it was clear Grammy Awards organizers - by including the segment - knew that they were making a political statement. Organizers, though, have continued to deny any such intention.
The couples who took part in the mass wedding ceremony were found by a casting agency, and upon agreeing to take part, were then forced to sign confidentiality agreements to keep the event a secret, even from their own families.
Macklemore & Lewis' 'Same Love' is widely known as a pro-gay marriage anthem, and has been used by gay activists in their push for a redefinition of marriage. The lyrics of the song push for a redefining of marriage, so that it would be between any two consenting adults, as opposed to what Christians believe is the biblical definition of marriage as created by God – the union between one man and one woman before God.
Macklemore's rap segment in the song states: "The right-wing conservatives think it's a decision/And you can be cured with some treatment and religion/Man-made rewiring of a predisposition. Playing God, aw nah here we go/America the brave still fears what we don't know/And God loves all his children, is somehow forgotten/But we paraphrase a book written 3500 years ago."

13 Times Harry Connick Jr. Stole The 'American Idol' Spotlight

"American Idol" is back with a few new shakeups this year, including rookie judge Harry Connick Jr. During Wednesday's (January 15) season 13 premiere, the 46-year-old stole the spotlight with his quick quips and constructive criticism.
Returning judge Jennifer Lopez needs no invitation to make her presence known, but where Keith Urban struggled to escape from the shadow of Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's near-constant bickering in season 12, this year he's front and center with Connick. It didn't take the full two hours to see this bromance brewing, and we like it.
"I don't know what kind of judge I'm going to be other than to say I have to be honest," Connick said during Wednesday's premiere. "To send somebody out of the room crying is a terrible feeling, but if it's the right thing to say, I think you have to say it."
Turns out, Connick is both honest and pretty darn funny when it comes to judging — even when contestants are calling him "Harsh Harry." In honor of (un)lucky season 13, we present to you 13 of Connick's best quotes of the night.
1."He is a long shot, but it just might twerk!"
2."Jen, I am impressed by the rocks that you got."
3."You can't just go out there and shake it. You need to know your s--t."
4.To a contestant's nervous mother, rocking back and forth: "She's already good enough to be a backup dancer. Just that move alone, you got the gig with me. So if nothing else works out..."
5.Urban: "What did you do last night?" Connick: "I went to the bar and got drunk because nobody knew who I was."
6.Contestant: "I've never been this close to celebrities before." Connick: "Neither have I."
7.To a Patriots cheerleader: "I almost wore that exact same outfit."
8."Don't argue with me Jennifer. Jennifer, I will slap you on national television."
9."I just said no to four cheerleaders. If I had that chance in high school..."
10."You do know who I am, right? ... No, I am Chris Isaak."
11."You know how you know you're a superstar? When they call you by both names. Isn't that right, Keith Urban?"
12.Criticizing Keith Urban: "Well, you are Australian."
13.To a contestant: "You blow us away on the first song, I'd like to pick you up and hold you like a baby on the second."

What Happens When the President Sits Down Next to You at a Cafe

Before
Thursday into Friday, my head cold got worse, so on Friday morning I walked down to a bar-cafe-restaurant in my neighborhood. I had been there for a few hours when youthful, vigorous men and women wearing Business Semi-Formal started quietly going one by one among the customers sitting near me. They would crouch, adopt an expression of deep sympathy, and say something. The customer would look a little confused, pick up laptop and coat, and move to another table.
Next to me, cafe staff had made a long table by pushing three smaller tables together. Five Millennials sat around it. They were well-dressed like Ryan Seacrest is well-dressed, and they seemed nervous. The head of their table hadn’t been filled. I had assumed someone important, someone hoity-toity, would be coming, someone like a foundation executive director.
This was a little bit annoying, but my legs ached and the Internet was spotty and I wanted to go to a different, better coffee shop, so I asked for the check.
Then a man, another of the handsome ones, came by.
“Hey,” he murmured. “Will you be leaving soon?”
I said I wasn’t sure. I’d asked for the check.
“Okay,” he said. “I just wanted to let you know the president will be stopping by.”
Oh, I thought. The president of what?
“You’re welcome to stay, but one of our agents will be coming around to swipe you.”
Then I understood. An agent came around to swipe me.
The world is made of people: I get this. Our republic only works if we know our leaders are fallible humans. I disagree with the Obama Administration about plenty. None of this kept me from experiencing immediate, full-on, feverish anxiety.
During
When the president arrived, 40 minutes later—stepping out of his SUV, smiling, with a little wave—the nerves subsided. The cafe is split into two long halves, and he first turned to visit its opposite half, smiling, shaking hands, shaking more hands.
And then—for the first time in nearly an hour—I could work. I found that I was so accustomed to his voice, how he holds his body, his aura, that ignoring him in person is as easy as ignoring a TV. Easier, in fact. He stops being the president and starts being That Guy Who You See In Tweets, That Guy Who Gives Speeches, That Guy.
That Guy shook exactly half the hands on the other side of the restaurant. He came back to our side. He addressed the five people sitting adjacent to me—who were, indeed, apparently there to talk to him.
That Guy said he would save our whole side of the restaurant for after the meal. But then, next to me, on my other side, he spotted a baby.
He apologized to the group. He could not resist, he said, a baby.

Why Millennials Fell Out of Love With Obama

There's no heartbreak like the heartbreak of first love, and when it comes to politics, no disappointment more bitter than that of a young person who grows up to realize her one-time idol is all too human.
That's the explanation offered by Harvard Institute of Politics pollster John Della Volpe and IOP Director Trey Grayson for the precipitous drop in Millennial generation support for President Obama in this year's annual Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes toward Politics and Public Service.
"We are now seeing a sea change among this critical demographic," Grayson said. "The president has experienced a double-digit drop among Millennials over the past seven months and that rating is now the lowest we've seen during his presidency."
The poll, conducted between October 30 and November 11, found that the president's approval among 18- to 29-year-olds had dropped from 52 to 41 percent over the course of the year, and that younger Millennials—those between 18 and 24—were trending less Democratic. "For the better part of four or five years, young people have been the outliers. They've been the folks who have been the most optimistic and most trusting of the president and Congress to actually solve the problems they most care about," Della Volpe said, explaining what happened.
"You have a combination of two things. One is: Expectations [were] incredibly high—not just for the president but for Washington and adults in general—that have been unmet," he said. "And then the second part of it is, you can see that there are very few aspects of the healthcare initiative that they approve of. They think quality will decrease, prices will increase. So it's not surprising that that is taking a significant hit to the president's approval ratings."
Asked whether the president, who is holding a Youth Summit at the White House today, has been ineffective in communicating with Millennials about Obamacare, Della Volpe said: "I believe that's absolutely the case."
Given media reports about how young healthy people are expected to subsidize sick older people in the new health-insurance exchanges, feeling put-upon is "probably a rational conclusion that they're drawing" about the new mandate, Grayson added.
And it's not just the Affordable Care Act. "There's a couple of things at work," Grayson elaborated. "We've had a tough economy for many years. It's better, it's better than it was four or five years ago. But for 18- to 29-year-olds, many of them are graduating with serious college debt ... often unemployed or underemployed. That takes its toll."
Add to that the botched rollout of Healthcare.gov and "the Snowden stuff"—polling data that "shows that these 18-29 year olds are not that supportive of giving up personal information for national-security interests"—and you have a real recipe for disillusionment.
"People are disappointed because they are passionate," Della Volpe said. "They're passionate about government. Passionate about America .... Sometimes the people who are most disappointed by anything, it's because they are passionate and their expectations are so high. So I think those kinds of expectations are just different for younger people for lots of reasons, including the fact that this is  their first opportunity to support somebody for president."

Mexican Vigilantes Battling Cartel Seize Town From Knights Templar, Arrest Police

Mexican vigilantes battling drug cartels have seized a town from the Knights Templar gang and arrested police as traitors.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, members of a drug cartel stormed a Mexican jail, resulting in deaths and a prison riot.
The Knights Templar drug cartel originated as meth dealers out of the larger group called La Familia. The Mexicans state of Michoacan is almost controlled by this gang, ruling through fear and violence. Anyone who dares speak out against them is murdered, tortured, and/or raped. Since 2006, it’s been estimated that around 70,000 people have died due to the drug violence.
The fight against the Knights Templar started with Mexican vigilantes starting so-called “self-defense squads” in order to combat the cartel. During 2013, these squads have successfully pushed the cartel out of several large towns and other smaller villages. But progress has been slow since these armed militia groups have to patrol any seized territory in order to prevent the cartels from taking them back over.
Mexican vigilantes under the name Tepalcatepec, or community force, took 100 vehicles of armed men into the town of Nueva Italia. After a “light confrontation” they seized the city. In the town of Paracuaro, 300 militia men were needed and now they surround much of the area around Apatzingan, which is the headquarters of the Knights Templar. The local boss of the drug cartel is known only as “the Toucan” and it’s believed the militias are planning an assault soon.
What’s considered controversial is how the Mexican vigilantes arrested police, accusing them of being traitors working for the cartels. Federal troops have apparently been watching these events but haven’t taken action, although the Mexican state attorney general has requested additional troops in order to ensure “tranquility and security.” But opponents of the Mexican vigilantes accuse the militias of working secretly with the New Generation Jalisco cartel, who are the main competitors of the Knights Templar.

WHO IS PADDY BITAMA’S FATHER?

If the dead could speak, deceased comedian Paddy Bitama would, presumably, be the loudest. Today marks four days since the date (January 13) he was supposed to be lowered into his grave. But that has not happened yet because of the controversy about who his father is. There are two parties in the brawl; one led by Peter Njegula, the alleged dad who is said to have appeared upon Bitama’s death. The other is headed by Richard Tamale, who claims to be the heir to the man in whose home Bitama grew up, the late Sam Tamale. It is said the dispute shall be resolved by a DNA test whose results are expected on Friday. Abdulaziizi Tumusiime talked to both parties.

Peter Njegula - I am determined to bury my son
Nejugla is 57 years old and an employee at City View High School in Kyebando. In 1979, Njegula visited a friend whom he worked with at a garage in Makerere. At the friend’s home he met a beautiful young lady, Florence Nalubega (Bitama’s late mother) who impressed him. As the days went by, he became friends with Nalubega. The relationship later blossomed into love.

“We had been together for some months when a friend told me that the lady I was dating was someone’s wife. I absolutely had no idea about this. In our culture it is an abomination to date a married lady. So I vowed to break the news of the end of our relationship, the next time I saw her. I told her my mind and at the end of my talk she informed me that she was pregnant. I was in shock. I denied being responsible. She walked away. It was the last time I saw her in a long time,” the father of seven narrates.

In 1994, Njegula operated a shop along Namirembe Road, in Kampala. That year, he was approached by a woman who looked familiar. They exchanged pleasantries. He learned that it was Nalubega. She inquired whether he had completely disowned his son. She informed Njegula that his son wanted to see him. The latter consented and Bitama was brought to Njegula the next day.

Moving to another home
He left Nansana (where his mum stayed) and started leaving with Njegula in Kyebando . Bitama was enrolled at Bat Valley Primary School where he studied up to primary seven. “In his primary seven vacation, he told me that he wanted to study his secondary level while staying with his mother in Nansana. I replied that I would not pay his school fees if he was not staying in my home. He preferred to leave my house. Nevertheless he would still come around and visit.
“In the late 90s I was informed that he had joined comedy. At the time, Paddy was an adult and I did not want to poke my nose into the decisions that he took in his life unless he sought my advice,” he says.

In 1997, Nalubega died. It is alleged that since then, Bitama inherited the house in Nansana and it is where he has been staying till his death. He continued his periodic visits to Njegula’s home. He would bring his friends along and introduce him as his father. Nicholas Mpeire alias Messe one of the founders of Amarula family, says that around 2007, they were having a chat with Bitama about life after comedy. Suddenly, the late comedian informed him that his father had not died as he had always told them. “So, there was a time we were returning from a show and he took us to some house in Kyebando. We were ushered in by Mr Njegula, who Bitama told us was his real dad,” states Messe.

Helping out Bitama’s children
Njegula says that he has the baptism and immunisation cards of all of Bitama’s four children. When asked him about the claims that he abandoned the comedian when he was sick, he replies that his wife, children and himself, were by Bitama’s side since his admission in Mulago, last week, on Wednesday till the afternoon of Saturday when he passed away. He proves this by sharing with me details of events of Saturday.

“My daughter Fiina Namulindwa was by his bedside. She called and asked us that while bringing breakfast in the morning, we should carry along a food flask. We arrived at the hospital at around 8am. We found the deceased going to shower. Upon his return, he started eating breakfast.

He remarked that the greens were delicious. We had a casual chat. We all thought that he was getting better. I left him in the care of my daughter and his other siblings and went to work. At around midday I received a call informing me that my son had died,” says Njegula.

He adds that after arriving at the hospital, a burial preparation meeting was held that was attended by members of Amarula, Bitama’s siblings from Nansana and Njegula’s children. It was agreed that his body be taken to Nansana. The next day, Sunday, prayers would be held at Pastor Wilson Bugembe’s church, Light The World Ministries. Then there would be public viewing of the body at National Theatre and burial was to take place on Monday in Njegula’s ancestral village in Mitalamaria, Mpigi.

Njegula’s assertions about the burial arrangements were verified by Messe. “That was the programme that we had even given folks at Uganda Funeral Service. But, when we reached Nansana, Bitama’s siblings from the Nansana side of the family, changed their mind. They said that they wanted Bitama buried in Bbira. That is why we had to eventually involve the police to help in resolving the dispute,” Messe remarks.

Attempts to get a comment from Uganda Funeral Service were futile as they said that they could not avail such information about their clients. Njegula says that he is determined to bury his son in his ancestral home.

The Nansana family - Paddy is our ‘blood’

Robert Mugerwa is the late Paddy Bitama’s brother. He belongs to the family in Nansana. He says that their dad Sam Tamale who was a dentist, died in the early 90s. “I am 26 years old but for all those years I have always known Bitama to be my brother and the son of our late dad, Tamale.”

He says that Njegula was lied to by Nalubega (Bitama’s late mum). “After the death of our father, life became hard. We were poor. So, my mum remembered that she had been in a relationship with Njegula. She believed that Bitama looked a lot like Njegula and so she introduced the two to each other, as father and son, but it was a scheme to get money from “that man”. Indeed she succeeded because I understand he paid Bitama’s school fees for some time,” Mugerwa says. I ask him how he was able to know all this information yet he was a sheer six years when the incidents he is talking about occurred. He counters that it is a tale that has been told to the family by elders and his father’s friends.

Pictures of The Most Beautiful Uganda Women

 

Aisha Ismail

She is married, living in Kampala and born on 27th Decemeber. She is a member of 'Uganda Muslim Brothers & Sisters( UMBS) on facebook

Aisha Rashid Lukwago

 She is a manager at a clinic on AIDS research owned by Dr. Rashid Lukwago. She has got tow degrees from both Islamic University of Uganda and University of Manila

Brenda Nabukenya

She is a dietician at NDC in Kampala and a member of 'Ugandans At Heart' forum.

Nakishimail Aisha

She works at UMEME offices. She is an OG of both Kibuli .S.S and Mbogo High School. She graduated from MUBS. She is also a member of 'Uganda Muslim Brothers & Sisters(UMBS).

Eva Rukikaire Mwine

She is one of the daughters of former cabinet minister, Mathew Rukikaire. She is married to Winston Mwine. She owns Travel and Tour agency in Kampala.

Fatimyu Yusuf Ashuariah 

She is a an OG of Taiba Secondary School and Green Hill Academy. She is also a member of 'UMBS'

Aaliyah Sharif

She is a Ugandan originally from Jinja but lives in London.She is married and a member of UMBS

Baariann Nyanjura

She is a model and a member of 'Ugandans At Heart' Forum

Angella Katatumba

She is musician and a daughter to the famous Bonny Katatumba. She is a graduate of Oxford Brooks University.

Vicky Ruth

She is a graduate of Makerere University and a member of UAH.

Afrah Mahmoud Saad

She is a member of UMBS. She works at Metropolitan Forex Bureau and she is an OG of Kibuli .S.S and MUBS.

Dr.  Alie Rugaya

She is a member of UMBS and studied medicine at  Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences

Aisha Basajabalaba

She is a daughter of Kampala Tycoon, Hassan Basajjabalaba. She is married and studied at Kampala International university

Safah Abdallah

She is a member of UMBS and works at Uganda parliament offices.She is a graduate of Islamic University of Uganda

Fatuma Nagujja.She is a member of UMBS. She is also OG of both Kawempe Muslim school and Kyambogo University. She is a resident of Seeta in Mukono.

Mpungu Afrah. She is a member of UMBS and resides in London, United Kingdom.

Brenda Kiberu Kalema. She is an OG of Kibuli High School. She used to be the treasurer for the famous Uganda organization in North America called UNAA. She is a graduate of Wayne State University and lives in USA.

She is a FDC political activist and a member of UAH forum. She has been in prison more times than any other Ugandan lady for fighting for human rights and freedom of Ugandans.

Mrs.Rashidah Nassali Mutebi. She is the Secretary for UMBS in Uganda. She is a graduate of Makerere University.She is married to Mr.Mutebi Hamza who is based in London

Iryn Namubiru is a musician in Kampala.She had her education at Mityana Senior Secondary School , then she continued to Bugema Adventist (She says that there was a lot singing going on) and then she continued to Namasagali College .

Julian Kanyomozi is also a musician in Kampala.She is a female artist behind tracks like Say Yes, Nabikoowa and Nkulinze.

 Zuena Kirema is married to Musician, Bebe Cool.
 

Zari Hussein is a Ugandan socialite, businesswoman and budding musician  based in South Africa. She is 31 years old and a mother to three kids.

Doreen Baingana is a multiple-award winning Ugandan author, who is based in Washington, USA. She won the 2003 Associated Writing Programs Award for Short Fiction for her short story collection, Tropical Fish: Stories out of Entebbe. She is also the winner of the 2004 Washington Independent Writers Fiction Prize, and was a two-time finalist for the Caine Prize for African Writing, in 2004 and 2005. Her most recent award is the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for The Best First Book Award in the Africa region for Tropical Fish: Stories Out of Entebbe. Incidentally, Baingana is also a columnist for the African Woman Magazine and is a member of the Ugandan women writers association, FEMRITE.

Ivan Ssemwanga tops police wanted list after beating man to comma,further beats her Sisters-in-law.

Nelson Mandela Biography

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
His father died when he was 12 years old (1930) and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.
He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.
He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.
Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.
He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.
On his return to the Great Place at Mqhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn’t return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead, arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, who introduced him to Lazar Sidelsky. He then did his articles through a firm of attorneys, Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.
Meanwhile he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1952 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London after his imprisonment in 1962 but also did not complete that degree.
In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.
Nelson Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League.
In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons, Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.
Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work, in 1949 the ANC adopted a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action.
In 1952 he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months hard labour, suspended for two years.
A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law, and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo.
At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only permitted to watch in secret as the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955.
Nelson Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop on 5 December 1955, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr Mandela were acquitted on 29 March 1961.
On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest against the pass laws held at Sharpeville. This led to the country’s first state of emergency and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among thousands detained during the state of emergency.
During the trial on 14 June 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker, Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.
Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved that he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a non-racial national convention, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. As soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March. In the face of massive mobilisation of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).
On 11 January 1962, using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela secretly left South Africa. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.
He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment which he began serving in the Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists, and several of his comrades were arrested.
On 9 October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined ten others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became immortalised:
“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused: Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Denis Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white, while the others went to Robben Island.
Nelson Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son Thembi in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.
On 31 March 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery Nelson Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee visited him in hospital. Later Nelson Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.
On 12 August 1988 he was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. After more than three months in two hospitals he was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl where he spent his last 14 months of imprisonment. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of his remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.
Nelson Mandela immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.
On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.
True to his promise Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
In April 2007 his grandson Mandla Mandela became head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.
Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived; to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.
He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.

Uganda MPs pass controversial ‘Mini-skirt’ bill

Members of parliament have finally passed the controversial anti-pornography bill which has been a centre of controversy amid heated debate amongst members of the august house.
The bill, which also outlaws overtly sexual material including music videos, was voted through after a short debate amongst members of parliament who have finally proposed to have it passed without much interference from the Civil Society Organizations which have mostly been opposed to it.
When Simon Lokodo, Uganda’s ethics and integrity minister, proposed the legislation earlier this year, he said that women who wore “anything above the knee or have any of their  private parts of their body exposed” risk being arrested.
The bill which now  awaits the President’s approval before it can become law, flourishes  in Uganda , a socially conservative country and also considers legislation to increase the punishment for homosexual acts, including the death penalty in some cases and life imprisonment where need be.
In related development the new legislation will also outlaw material which shows parts of the body including breasts, thighs and buttocks, or any erotic behaviour intended to cause sexual excitement in public places and other related areas of public occupation.
According to Ethics Minister Lokodo, the new bill also intends to   ban anything that shows indecent acts or behaviour that are intended to corrupt morals, and dubious erotic appearances that can cause great damage to contemporary Ugandan morals.
The Bill, which has been criticised in some quarters as posing a threat to women’s rights, could also see many films and TV dramas being banned. Opponents claim it would stop performers such as Beyonce and Madonna appearing on their television channels.
Fr. Lokodo, the Ethics and Integrity Minister and backer of the law, adds that the Bill comes at a time when there has been a reported increase in pornography in the country particularly in formative institutions for teenagers like universities, high schools and among jobless youths.
The bill comes as a throwback to the reign of former dictator Idi Amin who banned miniskirts by decree in Uganda during the 1970s and ordered for the arrest of whoever was found moving on the streets of Kampala wearing a miniskirt.
However activists like former ethics and integrity minister Miriam Matembe have gone ahead criticizing the bill saying that the conditions under which this bill has been passed hasn’t been favourably discussed.
“this is total infringement of human rights particularly to the women, this she says mostly targets women, and not men, and it seems we are getting back to colonial way of behaviour where women were not allowed to eat chicken, this where we are heading this is un-fair” says angry Matembe.
“Even the time they have accorded to the bill is not enough, state needed to have given this bill enough time this is total injustice to the women of this country and I can assure you we shall protest against it Matembe adds.
Soon after the president’s signature, this will become a law and whoever is found possessing any erotic dress made of, risks being arrested.

GEN. SEJUSA LINKED TO SOUTH SUDAN JUBA CRISIS

Security in Uganda is on high alert following intelligence reports that the former coordinator of intelligence services and now exiled Gen David Sejusa might be behind the Juba recent coup attempt in S. Sudan that was foiled Gen Salva Kiir, and is plotting to come after President Yoweri Museveni next, we have exclusively and reliably been informed.
Intelligence sources from South Sudan revealed to us that Gen Sejusa has been in secret talks with former Vice President of Southern Sudan Riek Machar for a long time.
“Information which we have so obtained indicates that the pair has been holding talks since Kiir fired Machar from the post of Vice President,” said a reliable security source. The source further revealed to us that ever since he was fired, he has rarely been long in the country, spending a lot of his time outside.
“All his telephone contacts showed that he has been in London and UK where Gen Sejusa is reportedly hiding,” added another source that declined to be named for security reasons.
Security now believes that after the pair met, they agreed to helping one another achieve their respective political and military targets.   Reliable intelligence sources added that Gen Sejusa accepted to help Machar to topple out Kiir Government which has been in power for only two years.
Sources added that Gen Sejusa, whose job as Intelligence coordinator in Uganda would have given him considerable influence and contacts of both Ugandan and other spies in the region, has a big network of informers in S. Sudan who are now being used to feed security information to Machar’s troops which are now battling Kiir government.
On his part, it is alleged that Machar assured Gen Sejusa that after taking over Southern Sudan, he would avail him and his forces help to remove President Museveni from power. It is now feared that Gen. Sejusa plans to set up a rebel group to war against the M7 regime and that he plans to set up base in S. Sudan
“After removing Kiir, I will give you the straight way to remove President Museveni,” a source close to the pair quotes Machar as saying.
Machar calls on army to topple Kiir
In a related development, South Sudan’s former vice-president Riek Machar has called on the army to overthrow President Salva Kiir, according to French broadcaster, Radio France International. Speaking to RFI from an undisclosed location, Machar reportedly slammed Kiir as a dictator who is tearing the country apart.
“I appeal to the SPLM and the SPLA to remove Salva Kiir from the leadership of the country,” Machar said on Thursday. “He is tearing it apart and it is the right of the people, using their vanguard, which is the SPLM party and the SPLA, to remove someone who wants to make himself a dictator and somebody who mismanages issues of the state.”
Earlier this week Kiir announced that he had defeated an attempted coup, closing borders and imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew until further notice.
Hundreds have been killed since then in battles between Dinka soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and Nuers supporting Machar.
But Machar told RFI that the president is creating ethnic divisions.
“It is my responsibility, as well as the responsibility of others, to unite our people, all the ethnic groups in South Sudan – there are 65 of them,” he said. “There is no enmity between the Nuer and the Dinka … It is just the leadership, we have got the wrong leadership, that wants to in our new state ethnic tension for no reason.”
Machar’s comments came as three Indian peacekeepers were killed in in Jonglei state when attackers stormed a UN base where civilians had taken refuge.
The UN says it lost contact with the base at Akobo and the fate of more than 30 ethnic-Dinka civilians sheltering there remains unknown.
UPDF deploys heavily at border
Meanwhile our security sources have told us that UPDF has heavily deployed troops at the Uganda-Sudan border to make sure that no enemy enters the Country.
When we contacted UPDF mouthpiece Lt Col Paddy Ankuda he said that the heavy deployment at the border was to make sure that there s peace is secure.
However, he denied the reports that the UPDF sent troops to war-torn Southern Sudan.
“UPDF has not sent any troop to Southern Sudan, and who ever says it has is telling a lie,” said Ankunda when contacted on phone.

Sejusa claims Besigye won 2006 elections

In a video released on Youtube yesterday, Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) General David Sejusa has disclosed that Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Kizza Besigye won the elections of 2006 by 69%.Sejusa who was speaking at a Freedom and Unity Front Uganda meeting said "we had our own electoral commission of intelligence at Basiima House.All results from the electoral commission passed through our electoral commission and it is our own results that we would push to the National Electoral Commission." The revelations put a spin on the outcome of that election that was heavily contested between Museveni and Besigye. Sejusa in the video goes on to recommend that Museveni should be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC) because of participating in the violence in Kenya in 2007.

None of his allegations could be independently verified by the type we pressed this story. General Sejusa fled the country early this year arguing that those opposed to a project to 'install' Brigadier Muhoozi Kainerugaba as the successor to President Museveni have their lives in danger. His letter leaked to the press concerning the same matter led to the closure of some media houses as Government sought to ascertain the authenticity of the letter.

Google Lays Fibre Network In Kampala

Google has launched Project Link, a fibre network access project for developing countries that has already begun in Uganda’s capital Kampala.
Google’s Loon balloon-powered connectivity project launched earlier this year with ambitions to deliver better internet access to poorly-connected parts of the world.
On Wednesday, Google revealed a more direct plan, Project Link, to deliver higher-speed broadband to locations that don’t have the infrastructure to deliver stable internet connections.
With Project Link, Google has laid a fibre broadband network in Uganda’s capital. Kampala, a city of three million people, relies on connectivity that “often sputters on pre-broadband speeds or unreliable connections”, Kai Wulff, an access field director for the project, wrote on Google’s Africa blog.
“Project Link is about unleashing what’s possible when cities like Kampala are better connected. Solutions with virtually unlimited capacity are prepared for the future and ensure we can work with local providers to build a stronger web everywhere, including Africa,” Google wrote on the Project Link page.
There’s no indication from Google which city it will launch Link services in next. Unlike Google Fibre in the US, where the company sells broadband access to end-users, Project Link’s fibre network is aimed offering higher-speed wholesale access to local mobile operators or ISPs who, according to Wulff, can then create their own product lines.
“It enables local providers to offer new mobile data plans or high-speed internet for office buildings and universities, and support newer technologies as they come to market,” Wulff noted.
Uganda mobile providers include Orange, UTL and MTN, which has already launched an LTE network in Kampala with theoretical maximum download speeds up to 100Mbps.
The network fills a blackspot in the city’s internet supply chain, according to Wulff. “Some parts of the chain are already strong: undersea cables are bringing data to Africa’s shores and mobile providers are expanding services across the continent. We’ve now built quality infrastructure in between these points to deliver the speed and capacity that supports the latest and greatest of the web.”
Unlike Project Link, Project Loon is a more experimental play — announced in June, Loon is a Google X Lab ‘moonshot’ scheme that launched 30 radio-equipped air balloons over New Zealand with the aim of delivering 3G-like speeds.

A Year in Uganda Search: Google’s Top Searches of 2013

Paul Walker, Nelson Mandela and Eclipse search queries top the 2013 trending list
On Tuesday, Google announced its annual Year End Zeitgeist, a look at 2013 through the collective eyes of the world on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on what people in Uganda searched for most in 2013.
Paul walker, Nelson Mandela and the rare Hybrid Eclipse that occurred in Uganda were the search queries that topped the 2013 trending list with Paul Walker being the most – searched celebrity of the last 12 months.
This year’s trending searches show a maintained interest in entertainment, sports and current affairs with general concentration on both local and international content evidenced in searches like Paul Walker, an American actor famous for his role as Brian O’Conner in The Fast and the Furious film series.
On the sports scene, Ugandans indicated keen interest in German footballer Mesut Ozil who plays for Premier League club Arsenal and the German national team.
The death of James Mulwana, founder of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)Ugandans saw Ugandans generating great interest in 2013 as Ugandans mourned the death of one of the country’s greatest industrialists.
That Ugandans love love is reflected in the “How to” query, which revealed that Ugandans want to learn how to kiss and love. However ‘How to” hack and bet come third and fourth. The “What is” category also shows love as the dominant theme. Development and internet queries come closely after.
Google reveals the internet “Zeitgeist” (German for “the spirit of the times”) through an exploration of the over one trillion search queries we receive each year. In addition to the Year-end Zeitgeist, which highlights the top trends of 2013, we also have several tools that give insight into global, regional, past and present search trends. Google Zeitgeist tools can never be used to identify individual users because we rely on anonymized, aggregated counts of how often certain search queries occur over time. These tools are available year-round for you to play with, explore, and learn from.
Here are the top categories searched on Google by Ugandans in 2013:
Uganda’s Top Trending Searches
1. C…e connect
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Tubidy
4. Kenya Elections
5. Choti Bahu
6. Mesut Ozil
7. Zulu bet
8. Mara clara
9. Eclipse
10. Martin Angume
Uganda’s Trending People
1. Paul Walker
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Mesut Ozil
4. Martin Angume
5. Iryn Namubiru
6. Pope Francis
7. Luis Suarez
8. James Mulwana
9. Uhuru Kenyatta
10. Stephen Kiprotich
Most searched sites
1.facebook.com
2.livescore.com
3.waptrick.com
4.soccervista
5.xscore
6.flashcore
7.windrawwin
8.new vision
9.daily monitor
10. goal.com
Most searched people
1.Bobi Wine
2.Chris Brown
3.Rihanna
4.Bebe Cool
5.Kim Kardashian
6.Messi
7.Obama
8.Konshens
9.Eddy Kenzo
10.Beyonce
How To
1.kiss
2.love
3.hack
4.bet
5.pray
6.meditate
7.romance
8.save
9.swim
10.download
What is..?
1.love
2.development
3.Internet
4.research
5.communication
6.management
7.culture
8.marketing
9.leadership
10.planning
What is (health)?
1.Stress
2.Health
3.Ovulation
4.Bloating
5.AIDS
6.Nutrition
7.Orgasm
8.Cancer
S9.potting
10.Schizophrenia
Most searched institutions
1.Makerere University
2.Uganda 3.Revenue Authority
4.Kyambogo University
5.Orange Uganda
6.Kenya Airways
7.MTN Uganda
8.NSSF 9.Uganda
Bank of Uganda
10. Airtel Uganda
Most searched news sites
1.New Vision
2.Daily Monitor
3.Bukedde
4.BBC news
5.Red Pepper
6.Daily Mail
7.Daily Nation
8.CNN
9.Weekely Observer
10.Al Jazeera
What is (business)?
1.Management
2.Marketing
3.Planning
4.Entrepreneurship
5.Motivation
6.Ethics
7.Economics
8.Law
9.Technology
10.Business