Uganda minister pleads not guilty over graft scandal
Patience Atuhaire
BBC News, Kampala
A Ugandan government minister who has been remanded in custody in connection with a corruption scandal involving the theft of thousands of metal roofing sheets has pleaded not guilty in court.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister of the north-eastern Karamoja region, was denied bail and will spent Easter weekend in jail.
The metal sheets were intended for vulnerable communities in Ms Kitutu's region.
Her brother was charged with receiving stolen property.
Officials say at least 10 other government figures including the vice-president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament received some of the stolen roofing sheets.
The prime minister has apologised and urged other officials to return the sheets.
One minister was recently forced to remove some from the roof of his goat shed.
President Yoweri Museveni has called for the prosecution of all those involved.
Some single women in Burundi have been targeted after being accused of breaking up marriages (stock photo)Image caption: Some single women in Burundi have been targeted after being accused of breaking up marriages (stock photo)
A provincial governor in north-east Burundi has dissolved the decision of a mayor to force a
female resident out of the area after others “accused her of taking their
husbands”.
A letter
giving the woman 24 hours to leave signed by Butihinda district mayor Gilbert
Ndikumasabo made the rounds on
social media.
“For such
misbehaviour aimed at breaking marriages that woman must leave Butihinda
district from the 7th
of April 2023,” the mayor’s letter reads.
Some social media users criticised the mayor’s decision while others supported it, as infidelity
and an increase in divorce are currently concerning people in Burundi.
The woman
in the letter hasn’t publicly commented.
Hours after
the letter was shared, Muyinga province announced
on Twitter that the mayor's decision was annulled by the governor for “not abiding by the law”.
Recently,
Burundi’s first lady publicly condemned infidelity and targeted single women
for breaking up marriages.
West Africa has become a major hub for trafficking cocaine from South America to EuropeImage caption: West Africa has become a major hub for trafficking cocaine from South America to Europe
Authorities in Guinea have seized 1.5 tonnes of cocaine from a ship flying the Sierra Leone flag.
The crew included four Sierra Leoneans, three Ghanaians and three Guineans, according to the AFP news agency.
They have all now been arrested, Guinean television reports.
Authorities found more than 60 bags each containing 25kg (3.9 stone) of cocaine, the Reuters news agency says.
DR Congo enjoys new bank holiday to honour clergyman
Emery Makumeno
BBC News, Kinshasa
AFPCopyright: AFP
The Kimbanguist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, with President Félix Tshisekedi (sitting down) in attendanceImage caption: The Kimbanguist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021, with President Félix Tshisekedi (sitting down) in attendance
Congolese people are celebrating a new public holiday to honour Simon Kimbangu, who founded his church on 6 April 1921, when the country was still under colonial rule.
This fulfills a promise made by President Félix Tshisekedi to honour the man viewed as one of DR Congo's independence heroes.
Father Kimbangu called for the liberation of black people from colonial rule. After only five months of preaching, he was arrested and was charged with undermining public security and disturbing the peace.
He was convicted and sentenced to death before King Albert of Belgium commuted the sentence to life in prison.
He died in jail on 12 October 1951, after 30 years in detention.
His church, the Kimbanguist church, was officially recognised by the World Council of Churches in 1969 and is believed to count about six million believers, mainly in the Central African region and the African diaspora today.
Raila Odinga wants President William Ruto to address a series of demands before permanently halting opposition protestsImage caption: Raila Odinga wants President William Ruto to address a series of demands before permanently halting opposition protests
Kenya's opposition Azimio coalition wants a review of the country's 13-year-old constitution to
be part of discussions in its proposed dialogue with the government to end
protests in the country.
A statement released by opposition leader Raila Odinga, after a meeting with Azimio's parliamentary
group, says they will be adding a review of the constitution "to remove the last
vestiges of an imperial presidency".
The opposition referred to Kenya's "winner-take-all culture".
In February, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was widely
criticised for saying the government was like a company with shares, in which
some have large stakes and others none at all.
He has since defended himself, saying he was referring to government appointments, which he said must be given
to people who support the president's agenda, and not state resources, which he
said will be equitably distributed.
Mr Odinga has been holding bi-weekly
protests since 20 March against the cost of living and to oppose
the appointment of a new electoral commission without consultations.
He has
also been questioning the legitimacy of President William Ruto, who was elected
last year and had his election validated by the Supreme Court.
At least three people
have been killed in the protests, businesses destroyed and private property
vandalised especially in the main cities of Nairobi and Kisumu.
Last Sunday, President Ruto asked Mr Odinga to halt the protests and allow a
parliamentary dialogue on the formation of a new electoral commission, to which Mr
Odinga agreed.
But on Tuesday the opposition leader added a fresh demand for an
external dialogue akin to the 2008 National Accord, which was led by former UN
Secretary General Koffi Annan after the disputed elections of 2007.
Some
government leaders have strongly opposed such a move and accused Mr Odinga of
trying to sneak back into government.
In 2007, the accord led to a coalition
government with President Mwai Kibaki, in which Mr Odinga was made Prime
Minister.
Mr Odinga insists he does not want a similar arrangement, but
an honest conversation about electoral justice with solutions for more honest
elections.
He insists he will go back to the streets if the talks don't bear
fruit.
The government parliamentary group is yet to offer its
counter-proposal on the grounds for the talks, but the president has been clear
that his election will not be up for discussion.
Ghana deploys officers to town bordering Burkina Faso
Thomas Naadi
BBC News, Accra
AFPCopyright: AFP
Ghana is beefing up security in Bawku in the north-eastImage caption: Ghana is beefing up security in Bawku in the north-east
The authorities in Ghana say 1,000 soldiers and police officers are being deployed to a north-eastern border town after gunmen killed an immigration officer and left two others in hospital.
It is not yet clear who opened fire on their vehicle in Bawku on Tuesday but there is concern about the security situation there because of the escalating jihadist conflict in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
There are fears that Islamist militants causing havoc across the Sahel region could destabilise countries further south - including Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Bawku also has a long history of ethnic tensions with outbreaks of violence.
Video caption: The moment lightning strikes Toronto's CN TowerThe moment lightning strikes Toronto's CN Tower
Lightning struck the famous tower early on Wednesday morning.
Korean court sentences two Liberians for sexual assault
A court in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday sentenced two employees of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) to nine years in prison each for sexual assault, local media report.
Moses Owen Brown and Daniel Tarr had been detained in South Korea since last year for allegedly raping two Korean teenagers, according to Korean police.
The Liberian government said it has requested its legal representation in South Korea to furnish it with the various appeal options available.
"The government shall continue to remain engaged with the Republic of Korea through official diplomatic channels to explore many options which may be available to Browne and Tarr," a government statement said.
It said the families of the two Liberians have been notified of the court decision and will be facilitated to visit the men.