The mission of Ruby Nuby is to provide an environment that facilitates immersive learning by a Community of Contributors(TM) who contribute, learn and succeed by collaborating, cooperating and supporting each other. We work to promote a path to success where equal access, social justice, equability, diversity and sustainability are embraced.
To achieve this, Ruby Nuby plans to:
-Create an environment that allows all to succeed in a collaborative, cooperative manner.
-Train the next generation of web developers and tech entrepreneurs in Kampala,
-Train disadvantaged and at-risk youths and fund their training
-Fund startup companies and attract additional funding for your companies.
Economically develop the arts.
-Change the educational system from a pay forward model where one incurs debt without a guarantee of a job to a payback model where one collaborates with and contributes to a community and is placed in a career.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rwandan Journalists Jailed
Two Rwandan journalists, Agnes Nkusi Uwimana, and Saidati Mukakibibi have been sentenced to jail over opinion pieces they wrote ahead of the August 2010 presidential elections.
Agnes Nkusi Uwimana, editor of the private Kinyarwanda tabloid newspaper, Umurabyo, was sentenced to 17 years. Her deputy editor, Saidati Mukakibibi, was sentenced to 7 years.
Agnes Nkusi Uwimana was found guilty of threatening state security, genocide ideology, divisionism and defamation. Saidati Mukakibibi was found guilty of threatening state security.
The pair was prosecuted over several articles they had written in which they criticized government policies and made corruption allegations against senior government officials, including President Kagame.
Among several articles, the judge referred to one saying some Rwandans were unhappy with the country's rulers. Prosecutors said this was "meant to stir [up] hatred and fury against the government".
The judge cited several other offending articles including one which criticised the Gacaca traditional community courts set up to deal with 1994 genocide cases and others criticising Rwanda's reconciliation process.
“Today’s verdict marks yet another blow to freedom of expression and opinion in Rwanda”, said Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director, Erwin van der Borght. “The government has not adequately demonstrated how the articles could be construed as a threat to national security or were intended, or likely, to incite violence” He added.
Rwandan government defends its tough media laws, pointing to the role of "hate media" ahead of the genocide.
Before prosecution, Uwimana was called before Rwanda’s Media High Council, a government-aligned media regulatory body, to respond to allegations that her articles were defamatory.
In 2007, Uwimana served a one-year sentence after being convicted of divisionism and defamation. The prosecution was based on an article comparing the current Rwandan administration to the government of former President Habyarimana. Uwimana said she accepted some of her articles may have lacked professionalism.
“Journalists must be free to criticize public officials and policies without fear of criminal sanctions for defamation”, said Erwin van der Borght. “Rwandan officials should respond to criticism, rather than try to stamp it out”.
Vague laws on “genocide ideology” and “sectarianism” laws were introduced in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, to restrict speech that could promote hatred.
The law prohibits hate speech, but also criminalizes legitimate criticism of the government.
The Rwandan government expressed commitment in April 2010 to review the “genocide ideology” law.
The Rwandan government clamped down on critics before the August 2010 presidential elections. They used regulatory sanctions, restrictive laws and criminal defamation cases to close down media outlets critical of the government. Some leading editors and journalists fled Rwanda after facing repeated threats.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by a number of international conventions.
Minimal impairment of the enjoyment of this right is permitted only in special circumstances and must be acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society.
President Paul Kagame came to power in 1994, ending the genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.
Agnes Nkusi Uwimana, editor of the private Kinyarwanda tabloid newspaper, Umurabyo, was sentenced to 17 years. Her deputy editor, Saidati Mukakibibi, was sentenced to 7 years.
Agnes Nkusi Uwimana was found guilty of threatening state security, genocide ideology, divisionism and defamation. Saidati Mukakibibi was found guilty of threatening state security.
The pair was prosecuted over several articles they had written in which they criticized government policies and made corruption allegations against senior government officials, including President Kagame.
Among several articles, the judge referred to one saying some Rwandans were unhappy with the country's rulers. Prosecutors said this was "meant to stir [up] hatred and fury against the government".
The judge cited several other offending articles including one which criticised the Gacaca traditional community courts set up to deal with 1994 genocide cases and others criticising Rwanda's reconciliation process.
“Today’s verdict marks yet another blow to freedom of expression and opinion in Rwanda”, said Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director, Erwin van der Borght. “The government has not adequately demonstrated how the articles could be construed as a threat to national security or were intended, or likely, to incite violence” He added.
Rwandan government defends its tough media laws, pointing to the role of "hate media" ahead of the genocide.
Before prosecution, Uwimana was called before Rwanda’s Media High Council, a government-aligned media regulatory body, to respond to allegations that her articles were defamatory.
In 2007, Uwimana served a one-year sentence after being convicted of divisionism and defamation. The prosecution was based on an article comparing the current Rwandan administration to the government of former President Habyarimana. Uwimana said she accepted some of her articles may have lacked professionalism.
“Journalists must be free to criticize public officials and policies without fear of criminal sanctions for defamation”, said Erwin van der Borght. “Rwandan officials should respond to criticism, rather than try to stamp it out”.
Vague laws on “genocide ideology” and “sectarianism” laws were introduced in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, to restrict speech that could promote hatred.
The law prohibits hate speech, but also criminalizes legitimate criticism of the government.
The Rwandan government expressed commitment in April 2010 to review the “genocide ideology” law.
The Rwandan government clamped down on critics before the August 2010 presidential elections. They used regulatory sanctions, restrictive laws and criminal defamation cases to close down media outlets critical of the government. Some leading editors and journalists fled Rwanda after facing repeated threats.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by a number of international conventions.
Minimal impairment of the enjoyment of this right is permitted only in special circumstances and must be acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society.
President Paul Kagame came to power in 1994, ending the genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Congo’s Presidential Palace Attacked
Unidentified gunmen attacked the house of Democratic Republic of Congo’s president on Sunday 27, setting off a short but fierce firefight that killed at least six people, Congolese officials said.
The security forces have so far arrested 50, out of estimated 60 people who attacked the palace. The motive for the attack was not clear, said Lambert Mende, information minister for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Mr. Mende, a group of heavily armed attackers clashed with security guards around 2 p.m. at at the first of three heavily fortified roadblocks about a half mile from the presidential residence. President Joseph Kabila was home at the time of the attack, but was never in danger.
The assailants were armed with machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. After about 15 minutes of fighting, the presidential guard repelled the attackers.
Other people close to Mr. Kabila said the attack might have been intended to feel out the weaknesses of the president’s personal security forces as part of a wider plot to assassinate him.
Mr. Kabila won a major election in 2006 and faces re-election this year, but his grip on most of the country, which is thickly forested and the size of Western Europe, is considered weak.
For the past 15 years, various parts of the country have been engulfed in civil war or insurrection, and gun battles have broken out on the streets of Kinshasa before. Most of the violence tends to be in the eastern provinces, where myriad armed groups fight one another over Congo’s mineral riches, including gold, copper, tin ore and diamonds.
In early February, gunmen attacked the airport in Lubumbashi, a town in southeastern Congo that had been thought to be relatively stable.
The security forces have so far arrested 50, out of estimated 60 people who attacked the palace. The motive for the attack was not clear, said Lambert Mende, information minister for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Mr. Mende, a group of heavily armed attackers clashed with security guards around 2 p.m. at at the first of three heavily fortified roadblocks about a half mile from the presidential residence. President Joseph Kabila was home at the time of the attack, but was never in danger.
The assailants were armed with machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. After about 15 minutes of fighting, the presidential guard repelled the attackers.
Other people close to Mr. Kabila said the attack might have been intended to feel out the weaknesses of the president’s personal security forces as part of a wider plot to assassinate him.
Mr. Kabila won a major election in 2006 and faces re-election this year, but his grip on most of the country, which is thickly forested and the size of Western Europe, is considered weak.
For the past 15 years, various parts of the country have been engulfed in civil war or insurrection, and gun battles have broken out on the streets of Kinshasa before. Most of the violence tends to be in the eastern provinces, where myriad armed groups fight one another over Congo’s mineral riches, including gold, copper, tin ore and diamonds.
In early February, gunmen attacked the airport in Lubumbashi, a town in southeastern Congo that had been thought to be relatively stable.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Ugandan Journalists Attacked during Election Period
From the street: As Ugandans went to the polls on February 18 to vote for a presidential candidate of their choice, journalists were at hand to report the proceedings and outcomes. Some overzealous supporters and loyalists turned their fury onto the people’s eye and ears.
Journalists were attacked, intimidated and property destroyed.
Journalist Julius Odeke from the Red Pepper and the Razor Newspaper was shot at by security agents while covering the vote casting at Budadiri West constituency in Mbale district. Mr. Odeke was injured with a bullet when security operatives tried to confiscate his recordings of electoral violence in this area.
During the mayoral elections in Kampala, more violence and physical attack was done on the journalists.
The six journalists attacked included; Nixon Bbaale a camera man and Brian Nsimbe, a reporter, both from Channel 44 TV, Jane Anyango, a senior reporter with UBC TV, Nabazziwa Lydia a reporter from Bukedde TV, Nabukeera Florence a reporter with Bukedde newspaper, Namatumbwe Christine a reporter and News anchor at Metro FM whose radio recorder, mobile phone and hand bag were all stolen.
The police has promised to investigate the cases. The government is under obligation to remove attitudes and end actions that undermine independent journalism; freedom of expression and the free flow of information to the public.
Journalists were attacked, intimidated and property destroyed.
Journalist Julius Odeke from the Red Pepper and the Razor Newspaper was shot at by security agents while covering the vote casting at Budadiri West constituency in Mbale district. Mr. Odeke was injured with a bullet when security operatives tried to confiscate his recordings of electoral violence in this area.
During the mayoral elections in Kampala, more violence and physical attack was done on the journalists.
The six journalists attacked included; Nixon Bbaale a camera man and Brian Nsimbe, a reporter, both from Channel 44 TV, Jane Anyango, a senior reporter with UBC TV, Nabazziwa Lydia a reporter from Bukedde TV, Nabukeera Florence a reporter with Bukedde newspaper, Namatumbwe Christine a reporter and News anchor at Metro FM whose radio recorder, mobile phone and hand bag were all stolen.
The police has promised to investigate the cases. The government is under obligation to remove attitudes and end actions that undermine independent journalism; freedom of expression and the free flow of information to the public.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Uganda Votes
The people of Uganda will line up to cast their vote on this 18th February 2011. The presidential and parliamentary posts are up for grabs. The National Resistance Movement, NRM, which has had the majority vote in parliament, will seek to dominate, while the opposition will try to turn the tables. But all the opinion polls conducted in this campaign period have shown the NRM, and its presidential candidate and incumbent, Yoweri Museveni Kaguta leading in the poll results by over 64%, of which the opinion polls had a margin of error of 2.5%. Whether this is a reflection of the voters remains to be seen.
The presidential candidates are:
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Kizza Besigye; Forum; Democratic Change (FDC)
Abed Bwanika; People’s Development Party (PDP)
Olive Betty Namisango Kamya; Uganda federal alliance (UFA)
Olara Ottunu; Uganda People’s Congress (UPC)
Nobert Mao; Democratic Party (DP)
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali; People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
Samuel Lubega; Independent
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sudan Secedes
Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly for separation from the north, with 98.83% of voters in favor of the split, according to results released on late Monday, February 07, 2011 by Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman Electoral Commission. Only 1.17%, equivalent to 44,888 votes, favoured unity of the two Sudans.
Sudanese president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir has said he respects the decision of the people of the new 54th state of Africa. This was contained in a Republican Decree read out by minister of presidency affairs Bakri Hassan Salih, according to official Sudan TV.
The White House has also promised to formally recognize South Sudan as a sovereign state in July.
As the journey to form a new state begins in 5 months time, few obstacles stand in the way, mainly the definition of the border, especially of the disputed oil rich Abyei region. Whether the resolution by the permanent court of arbitration in the Hague is enforced remains to be seen. Other concerns include citizenship. Resolving these issues will be a test on how the two countries move on the peace path.
The south Sudan capital, Juba, was in a celebratory mood as the results were released. Residents converged on a projector that had been set up to broadcast the announcement at the mausoleum of former leader John Garang.
Dr. John De Maboir Garang made history as pioneer of the southern rebellion and architect of peace, Dr. Salva Kiir is set to become an ionic figure as father of a newly independent south Sudan.
Cultural ties binding the two Sudans are too deeply rooted to be severed over night. How they maneuver this is a test of time that is more than the borderline of over 2,000 kilometres. Determination and ambition are the two ingredients flowing across.
Fact Page
South Sudan Coverage: 619,745 km2
Capital: Juba
Population: 7.5m – 9.7m
Currency: Sudanese pound
Official Languages: Arabic, English,
Time Zone: East Africa
Major Languages: Dinka, Nuer, Zande, Bari, Shilluk
Major Religions: Christianity, Islam, Animism
Some Exports: Oil, Cotton and Sesame
Life Expectancy at Birth: 42 Years
Government: President; Salva Kiir Mayardit
Vice-President; Riek Machar Teny
Sudanese president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir has said he respects the decision of the people of the new 54th state of Africa. This was contained in a Republican Decree read out by minister of presidency affairs Bakri Hassan Salih, according to official Sudan TV.
The White House has also promised to formally recognize South Sudan as a sovereign state in July.
As the journey to form a new state begins in 5 months time, few obstacles stand in the way, mainly the definition of the border, especially of the disputed oil rich Abyei region. Whether the resolution by the permanent court of arbitration in the Hague is enforced remains to be seen. Other concerns include citizenship. Resolving these issues will be a test on how the two countries move on the peace path.
The south Sudan capital, Juba, was in a celebratory mood as the results were released. Residents converged on a projector that had been set up to broadcast the announcement at the mausoleum of former leader John Garang.
Dr. John De Maboir Garang made history as pioneer of the southern rebellion and architect of peace, Dr. Salva Kiir is set to become an ionic figure as father of a newly independent south Sudan.
Cultural ties binding the two Sudans are too deeply rooted to be severed over night. How they maneuver this is a test of time that is more than the borderline of over 2,000 kilometres. Determination and ambition are the two ingredients flowing across.
Fact Page
South Sudan Coverage: 619,745 km2
Capital: Juba
Population: 7.5m – 9.7m
Currency: Sudanese pound
Official Languages: Arabic, English,
Time Zone: East Africa
Major Languages: Dinka, Nuer, Zande, Bari, Shilluk
Major Religions: Christianity, Islam, Animism
Some Exports: Oil, Cotton and Sesame
Life Expectancy at Birth: 42 Years
Government: President; Salva Kiir Mayardit
Vice-President; Riek Machar Teny
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Turmoil in Egypt, Media under attack
From the Square: With Mubarak facing unprecedented mass protests in Egypt against his 30 year rule, he has turned on the messenger – the media. Qatar based Arabic channel, Al jazeera has had its bureau closed and accreditation for its correspondents in Egypt suspended. This is as a result of the exclusive coverage the network was giving to the protesters.
Already the internet and mobile phone services were already interrupted. Vodafone, a UK based and one of Egypt’s mobile phone service providers issued a statement, reading that it has been ordered to shut down some of its connections in the area, according to media reports.
But as Al jazeera News Development chief, Mustaph, told BBC Radio, this makes reporting from Egypt hard, but not impossible.
It’s a toothless bite to cut information from flowing from one region to the world. The media has too many tools in practice that no government or oppressor can suppress. Mustaph referred to citizen journalism as one of the ways the channel will continue to offer coverage from the troubled area. Ordinary people have been sending in videos, photographs and updates of on scene recordings.
Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher, the other suspended channel have also given alternative channel settings on Nilesat, Hortbird, Arabsat, to tune to and watch the channels.
To watch Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher tune to;
On Nilesat: 10949 Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Hotbird: 12111 MHZ Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Arabsat: 11585 MHZ Horizontal SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
Already the internet and mobile phone services were already interrupted. Vodafone, a UK based and one of Egypt’s mobile phone service providers issued a statement, reading that it has been ordered to shut down some of its connections in the area, according to media reports.
But as Al jazeera News Development chief, Mustaph, told BBC Radio, this makes reporting from Egypt hard, but not impossible.
It’s a toothless bite to cut information from flowing from one region to the world. The media has too many tools in practice that no government or oppressor can suppress. Mustaph referred to citizen journalism as one of the ways the channel will continue to offer coverage from the troubled area. Ordinary people have been sending in videos, photographs and updates of on scene recordings.
Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher, the other suspended channel have also given alternative channel settings on Nilesat, Hortbird, Arabsat, to tune to and watch the channels.
To watch Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher tune to;
On Nilesat: 10949 Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Hotbird: 12111 MHZ Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Arabsat: 11585 MHZ Horizontal SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)