MUSEVENI: Somalia can heal completely and stand on its own

London, UK| THE INDEPENDENT UG | Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has said Somalia can heal completely and stand on its own feet if the country's business class is supported, patriotic pan-Somalia political parties emerge and a truly national army is recruited and equipped.

Museveni outlined eight key achievements brought about by the intervention of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) troops. He said the AMISOM effort has led to the revival of Somalia, but pointed out economic, political and military bottlenecks stand in the way to full recovery of the country.

Key to the achievements, he said, is that the Somali Government moved from exile in Kenya where it had been based, to Mogadishu, and indirect elections have been held regularly since. He also mentioned that the menace of piracy at sea has been tamed.

"Our strongly held view is that it is not enough to check Al-Shabaab. Somalia must heal completely and stand on its own feet. In our view, there are a number of bottlenecks that stop the complete healing of Somalia," Museveni told the International conference on Somalia in London on Thursday May 11, 2017.

At the meeting, attended by key African leaders, US defence secretary Jim Mattis and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Somalia struck a new stability pact with the international community that is aimed at steadying the fragile state by bolstering its security, staving off famine and rebooting its economy.

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President Museveni statement at the Somalia Conference London 2017 by The Independent Magazine on Scribd

Dr Stella Nyanzi "delighted to be out of the ugly belly of the state's brutality"

Here is Dr. Stella Nyanzi's first facebook post since being released on bail. She was granted bail today.... FULL STORY HERE

Uganda's Magogo named on four CAF committees

Magogo speaks at a recent FIFA session attended by Infantino

Uganda's top football official Moses Magogo has been co-opted as a member of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee, and placed on three other working committees.

Reports from Bahrarin, where CAF held an Extraordinary General Assembly Congress under the new leadership of Ahmad from Madagascar, indicate FUFA president Magogo was also placed on three other committees - Committee for Revision of Statutes, Organising Committee for Women's Football and Organising Committee for Futsal and Beach Soccer.

In wide ranging changes, Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya was named Chairman of the CAF Technical and Development committee, while the continental body's first and second vice-presidents and another representative to the world soccer governing body FIFA were named. 

"In recognition of the progress of football development in Uganda and contribution towards African football, I have been appointed a member of the CAF Executive Committee 2017 - 2021 and a member of the CAF Reforms Committee," Magogo said soon after the decision had been taken.

Magogo was seen to be at the forefront of global football politics  last year as Gianni Infantino campaigned for the top job in FIFA. After the election, FIFA president visited Uganda in February, on a trip that many said was a campaign to unseat then CAF president Issa Hayatou. Hayatou was beaten.

CAF CHANGES BELOW

The CAF Executive Committee Under the Chairmanship of CAF President Ahmad Met on Monday by jadwongscribd on Scribd

Kiplimo manages 7th in very fast Doha Diamond League 3000m race

RESULT
Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo finished 7th with a personal best 7:43.73 in Doha Diamond League 3000m race on Friday.

The race was won by Kenya's Ronald Kwemoi in the world's fastest time this year. Kwemoi gets 8 Diamond League points, Kiplimo gets 2.

It was a good time for Kiplimo, taking into account it is still early in the track season. 
The national record is 7:30.95 set by Moses Kipsiro in 2009.

Result Doha by jadwongscribd on Scribd

Shanghai next

Focus now turns to the Shanghai Diamond League May 13, where two Ugandans will compete.

Seventeen-year-old Peruth Chemutai, who finished 7th in the  junior women's race of the World Cross Country Championships, renews her 3000m steeplechase rivalry with several Kenyans and Ethiopians who did well in Kampala.

Top on the list is Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Ruth Jebet of Bahrain and silver medalist Hyvin Kiyeng from Kenya.

Mercyline Chelangat will run the 5000m that has a star field led by world number one Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia and Kenya world cross country champion Irene Chepet Cheptai

*****

RACE PREVIEW

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo will hope to transfer his cross country running form to the track when he runs in the season's athletics curtain-raiser, the opening IAAF Diamond League event in Doha at about 8.45pm today.

Kiplimo, fresh from his victory in the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, will take on an array of seniors in the lucrative now-traditional Doha Diamond League curtain-raiser.

Sixteen-year-old Kiplimo will run the men’s  3000 meters against a strong field that includes Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto, Rio's 5000m Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo, World Indoor Champion 2016 Yomif Kejelcha and Muktar Edris (2015 World Running World Championships and World Junior Champion at 5000m in 2012.

The teenager became the first Ugandan to win gold at the World Cross Country Championships in March, when he won the men’s junior title in front of thousands of cheering fans including President Yoweri Museveni.

His traditionally runs the 5000m and 10000m on track. He finished 11th in his 5,000m heat at last year's Rio Olympics.

Today's meeting marks the beginning of the eighth season of the Diamond League that is this year spread over 14 meetings in 13 different countries.

Sixteen reigning Olympic and world champions will assemble in Doha to help kick off the 2017 IAAF Diamond League series.

The best performances in the Doha leg of the Diamond League have traditionally come in the long-distance races. 

The sprints should however provide one highlight when Justin Gatlin ,35, who finished second  at last year's Olympics 100m final, and Andre De Grasse 22,  who came third, renew their rivalry. The two will have their eyes on London in August, when they will take on Usain Bolt in his international farewell.

New structure for the Diamond League

The IAAF Diamond League changes formula this year. Starting from the Doha stage, athletes will pick up points in the first 12 meetings to qualify for the two finals in Zurich (24 August) and Brussels (1 September), which will include the Diamond Trophy and $ 100,000 for each of the 32 Diamond Races, of which $ 50,000 is reserved for every single winner of the final.

Previously, athletes accumulated points throughout the season with the overall winner of each of the 32 disciplines being the athlete with the most points, irrespective of whether they won the final.

Eight points will be awarded to the first, seven to second and so on to one point for the ranked eighth. At the end of qualifying matches, the best eight or twelve depending on the discipline will be invited to the finals. The winner of each race entered in the 12-day schedule will receive a $10,000 cheque.

IAAF Diamond League NewFormat 2017 by jadwongscribd on Scribd

World X-Country champ Kiplimo looks for 3000m glory in Doha Diamond League

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo will hope to transfer his cross country running form to the track when he runs in the season's athletics curtain-raiser, the opening IAAF Diamond League event in Doha at about 8.45pm today.

Kiplimo, fresh from his victory in the World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, will take on an array of seniors in the lucrative now-traditional Doha Diamond League curtain-raiser.

Sixteen-year-old Kiplimo will run the men’s  3000 meters against a strong field that includes Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto, Rio's 5000m Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo, World Indoor Champion 2016 Yomif Kejelcha and Muktar Edris (2015 World Running World Championships and World Junior Champion at 5000m in 2012.

The teenager became the first Ugandan to win gold at the World Cross Country Championships in March, when he won the men’s junior title in front of thousands of cheering fans including President Yoweri Museveni.

His traditionally runs the 5000m and 10000m on track. He finished 11th in his 5,000m heat at last year's Rio Olympics.

Today's meeting marks the beginning of the eighth season of the Diamond League that is this year spread over 14 meetings in 13 different countries.

Sixteen reigning Olympic and world champions will assemble in Doha to help kick off the 2017 IAAF Diamond League series.

The best performances in the Doha leg of the Diamond League have traditionally come in the long-distance races. 

The sprints should however provide one highlight when Justin Gatlin ,35, who finished second  at last year's Olympics 100m final, and Andre De Grasse 22,  who came third, renew their rivalry. The two will have their eyes on London in August, when they will take on Usain Bolt in his international farewell.

New structure for the Diamond League

The IAAF Diamond League changes formula this year. Starting from the Doha stage, athletes will pick up points in the first 12 meetings to qualify for the two finals in Zurich (24 August) and Brussels (1 September), which will include the Diamond Trophy and $ 100,000 for each of the 32 Diamond Races, of which $ 50,000 is reserved for every single winner of the final.

Previously, athletes accumulated points throughout the season with the overall winner of each of the 32 disciplines being the athlete with the most points, irrespective of whether they won the final.

Eight points will be awarded to the first, seven to second and so on to one point for the ranked eighth. At the end of qualifying matches, the best eight or twelve depending on the discipline will be invited to the finals. The winner of each race entered in the 12-day schedule will receive a $10,000 cheque.

Kiplimo PDF by jadwongscribd on Scribd

DOHA SCHEDULE by jadwongscribd on Scribd

Moses Kipsiro expected to challenge at Ottawa Marathon

FILE PHOTO: Kipsiro

Ottawa, Canada| IAAF| Although his best time is almost eight minutes slower than the course record, Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro is expected to challenge a contingent of Ethiopian runners at the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on 28 May.

The 2007 world 5000m bronze medallist and three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist has been a major force on the track for the past decade, but the 30-year-old has also had his share of troubles.

He missed the podium by one place at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships. At the London 2012 Olympic Games he fell during the Olympic 10,000m final and wound up a disappointed 10th. But it was only a year ago that he turned his attention to the marathon, recording a PB of 2:14:18 at the 2016 New York Marathon where he finished seventh. Now he is preparing to show the athletics world what he is really capable of at the classic distance.

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This is what happened when a Ugandan minister walked to work

Uganda's Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde on Thursday walked from parliament to her offices. It was immediately tweeted about.

Photographs posted on @AKyambadde, show her walking on Kampala streets accompanied by officials. @AKyambadde stated that "This morning walked from Parliament to Office. Using every opportunity to keep fit and healthy."

Ugandan ministers are better known for travelling in convoys, with lead cars. It forced police to ban the usage of vehicles with sirens, roof lights and specify that the ministers did not have a right of way.

The 'keep-fit' gesture by Kyambadde, got the now usual Ugandan social media treatment.  
Who is Kyambadde?