Uganda Rural Community Support USA

A local human rights organization has expressed concerns
about the detention of one of the Vice President’s office staff.

The Liberians United for Democracy in Africa (LUDA), says the
detention of James Grupee beyond the constitutionally required 48 hours
without charge violated his rights. Mr. Grupee is the chief of office
staff in Vice President Enoch Dogolea’s office. Police arrested Mr.
Grupee recently and has since been detained. The Vice president’s
office said Mr. Grupee was arrested for questioning by the Police. The
office did not give details of what Grupee did that warranted his
arrest. But the Vice-president’s office maintained it was only fair to
give the police chance to do their work. It said Mr. Grupee was not
above the law. However, LUDA criticized the prolonged detention of Mr.
Grupee, saying it was an act of disrespect to international covenants.

***********************

The Liberian government has given reasons for the repeal of PRC
Decree number 86. Justice Minister Eddington Varmah says the decree was
unconstitutional. Minister Varmah said it was illegal to seize
properties in compliance with Decree 86. Minister Varmah spoke
yesterday during public hearing on the proposed Act seeking the repeal
of the decree. The Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives
conducted the hearing at the Capitol building. Minister Varmah said
Decree 86 misrepresents government’s reconciliation and re-unification
program. The proposed Act is calling for the return of all properties
seized by government after the 1980 coup. The Dean of the Louis Arthur
Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia also spoke during the
hearing. He said Decree 86 was not only unconstitutional but also
discriminatory. Professor Jonathan Williams observed the decree didn’t
support constitutional provisions on the right to own private property.
He called on the Senate to repeal Decree.

***********************

Liberia’s Ambassador designate to the U.S. has emphasized the need
for Monrovia to engage Washington. Ambassador William Bull says a
constructive engagement of the US will identify new areas of
cooperation between the two countries. He spoke yesterday during
confirmation hearing at the Liberian Senate. President Taylor recently
nominated Ambassador Bull as Liberia’s ambassador to the United States.
His nomination followed the resignation of former Ambassador Rachel
Diggs last year. Ambassador Bull called on government to provide
financial support to Liberia’s foreign missions. He said the lack of
financial support was affecting the operations of the foreign missions.
Ambassador Bull is Liberia’s former Ambassador to Britain. He’s also
Liberia’s former ambassador to the United Nations.

***********************

The second round of the polio vaccination campaign has begun
throughout the country. The official launching took place in Gbarnga,
Bong County. In Buchanan, the campaign started with the County
Superintendent administering the first dose at the government’s
hospital. In Monrovia, there were reports of low turn out at the start
of the second round. At one center a health worker complained that many
parents didn’t know their children were to be vaccinated throughout the
three rounds. Health authorities say one doze of the vaccine will
partly protect the child against the disease. They say a child needs to
go through the three rounds to be fully protected. The campaign targets
more than seven hundred thousand children. The vaccination campaign is
a global effort to eradicate polio. Health officials said the first
round results far exceeded their expectations.

***********************

The National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) has charged three
persons with theft of property. The three men were charged for
allegedly selling five bars of fake gold to Liberia’s former envoy to
Belgium, Ambassador Othello Coleman. Two of the suspects, George Konneh
and George Dankwan put the value of the fake gold at U.S.$36,000.
Ambassador Coleman reportedly paid U.S.$2,000 to the accused as
advanced payment for the fake gold. Reports say the Ambassador also
gave six power generators worth U.S.$12,000 to the suspects as part
payment. The third suspect, Jerber Erskins, was charged with
facilitating the sale of the power generators. Agents of the National
Bureau of Investigation have retrieved three of the generators. The
buyers of the generators have also been charged with buying stolen
property. The three suspects have admitted committing the act of
larceny by tricks and artifice. The NBI has turned them over to the
Monrovia City Court for prosecution.

***********************

The Elections Commission (ECOM) has given certificate to the winner
of the Grand Bassa Senatorial by-election. Mr. Thomas Woewiyu received
the certificate yesterday at the Elections Commission headquarters in
Monrovia. ECOM Chairman Paul Guah described the process as tedious,
especially in the absence of adequate funding. Chairman Guah said the
by-election was not held on time due to the delay in the disbursement
of funds from the Finance Ministry. He said the commission would not
hold any election until the required budget from the commission is
funded. For his part, Senator-elect, Thomas Woewiyu promised to serve
in the interest of Grand Bassa citizens. Mr. Woewiyu praised his
opponent for the level of maturity exhibited during the election. He
described Mr. Charles Johnson’s protest as a test for democracy. The
Grand Bassa senatorial by-election was held as a result of a vacancy
created by Senator Charles Brumskine’s resignation. Meanwhile, ECOM
says the calendar of events for the next by-election will be released
soon. The by-election is a result of a vacancy in the House of
Representatives. The House has formally notified the commission about
the unexcused absence of Grand Gedeh Representative William Youlu.

***********************

President Charles Taylor is expected to pay an official visit to
Mali on Thursday. The Ministry of Information says President Taylor’s
visit is at the invitation of Malian President Omar Konare. President
Taylor is expected to meet his Guinean colleague, President Lansana
Conte during the visit. The meeting is aimed at restoring cordial
relations between the two neighboring countries. Relations between
Liberia and Guinea have been strained since April last year. Liberia
accused Guinea of allowing Liberian dissidents to launch an incursion
into Liberia through Lofa County. It renewed the accusations last
August, when another armed incursion was launched into Lofa. Guinea has
persistently denied the accusations. It instead accused Liberia of
attacking villages in Guinea. Both countries announced the closure of
their borders following the trading of accusations and counter
accusations. Two weeks ago however, Liberia announced the reopening of
its border with Guinea. But the Guinean side of the border remains
closed.

***********************

The Secretary General of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) has
called for more involvement of political parties in the democratic
process of the country. Mr. John Whitfield says the NPP has observed
that many of the opposition political parties have crumbled since the
1997 elections. He said their involvement would reawaken the democratic
spirit. Mr. Whitfield said these parties have also refused to
participate in municipal and by-elections. He said the NPP would
shortly engage government for a policy to assist opposition political
parties. The NPP Secretary-General said most of the other parties have
complained of lack of funds to participate in mini-elections. This he
believes would be a recipe during the next general election. Mr.
Whitfield cautioned that political parties not interacting with their
membership might face problems in the next elections.

***********************

The FAO Representative to Liberia says the survival of Star Radio
will benefit not only Liberia but also the international community. Mr.
KASA Kimoto says information provided by the station has been of great
assistance to society. Mr. Kimoto said the closure of the station would
create an information gap between Liberia and the international
community. He said this would also create doubt about future
international support to Liberia. The FAO head spoke when he donated a
check of U.S.$200 and stationeries to Star Radio yesterday. Mr. Kimoto
also made a personal contribution of U.S.$100 on behalf of his staff
and himself. He said the gesture was in recognition of the important
role of Star Radio in Liberia. Star Radio Station Manager, James Morlu,
thanked the FAO for the assistance. Mr. Morlu again appealed to
government to reconsider its decision to lift the ban on the station’s
short wave frequencies. He said the withholding of the station short
wave has denied the rural population of much needed information. The
government withdrew the Star radio short wave more than a year ago. A
staff of the Liberian Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI),
Kollie Byrant also donated U.S.$10 to STAR yesterday.

***********************

An Iranian trade fair opens today at the Monrovia City Hall. It is
the first fair by an Iranian group of companies to be held in the
country. Made in Iran products have been brought into the country for
today’s exhibition. Members of the Iranian delegation unloaded several
containers containing the goods to be displayed over the weekend. The
products include soft wares, furniture and building materials.

********************

A Christian ship sailing around the world to promote Christianity
has donated an assortment of books to the University of Liberia. The
crew of the ship (Logos Two) presented over 20 cartoons of books
yesterday on the main campus of the University. The crew of the ship is
engaged in evangelism, distribution of relief materials and training of
Christian leaders. Members of the crew are from Germany, Mexico,
Sweden, America, Uganda and other countries around the world. The Ship
is presently docked at the Freeport of Monrovia. A spokesman for the
group said the donation was their way of identifying with the
University. Gabriella Matain said it is also another way for them to
share the word of God with others.

***********************

STAR radio, an independent radio station transmitting since July 15,
1997 on FM 104 MHz from Monrovia, Liberia, broadcasts in Bassa, Dan,
English, French, Gbande, Gola, Grebo, Liberian English, Lorma, Kissi,
Kpelle, Krahn, Kru, Mandingo, Mano, Mende and Vai.

STAR radio is managed and staffed by Liberians and controlled by a
Liberian Board of Directors. Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle provides
technical assistance with financing from the U.S. Agency for
International Development through the International Foundation for
Election Systems. The government of The Netherlands and the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) provides additional
funding.

STAR radio Sekou Toure Avenue Mamba Point Monrovia, Liberia Tel (+
231) 226 820 Fax (+ 231) 227 360 E-mail:
star@liberia.net/libe@atge.automail.com

Fondation Hirondelle 3, rue Traversiere 1018 Lausanne, Suisse Tel (+
41 21) 647 2805 Fax (+ 41 21) 647 4469

E-mail: info@hirondelle.org Visit our World Wide Web site:
www.hirondelle.org

The international NGO, International Rescue Committee,
Guinea Mission has quite recently commended CARITAS Makeni “for the
fine work they have done on behalf of the refugee community”.

In a statement issued during the official launching ceremony of
CARITAS-Makeni, Basic Skills Training Programmes for refugees, IRC
Delegate Jereme Egerton to Guinea said “there is no other organization
working right now in the camps of Forecariah that has a native
understanding of the problems faced by the refugees as does CARITAS-
Makeni”.

Some 250 unaccompanied and separated children are receiving foster-
care, household hygiene packages, trauma healing, and peace education
in the three refugee camps of Kaliah, Farmoriah and Dakhagbe. An
additional 1444 disabled and vulnerable youths in these camps also
benefit from the newly introduced skills training programme.

“This new initiative will help to provide activity for those
children who have little to do and are in danger of becoming victims of
whatever kind, in the frequently tumultuous world of the refugee camp.
It is very important for children to have something to concentrate on,
to direct their youthful energy to a positive end. This is a step in
that direction,” Delegate Egerton added.

On food security, CARITAS supports 500 farm families targeting
CARITAS foster parents, animators, and other vulnerable refugee groups
in the cultivation of sweet potatoes, rice and maize.

Talking to Concord Times, CARITAS Makeni head of mission in Guinea,
Mr. Joseph A. Turay said “our skills training, food security, peace
education and reconciliation are all measures geared towards preparing
refugees for a meaningful life when once they return home”.

CARITAS - Makeni has been operating in refugee camps in Guinea since
February 1999. It receives funding from the Bishop of the Diocese of
Makeni George Biguzzi and from the British base donor agency CAFOD.

CARITAS is the only Sierra Leonean NGO working in camps in Guinea.
It collaborates with UNHCR, IRC and two Guinean NGOs - ADRIP and CECI.

Losses in the share prices of Ghana Commercial Bank and
British American Tobacco during trading Monday contributed to another slide in
the Ghana Stock Exchange All-Share Index as negative pressure piled up on most
of the equities.

The GSE All-Share Index, the main market indicator, declined by 0.44 points
from 741.17 points to 739.73 points although total shares demanded and traded
improved substantially.

The change for the year after the close of Monday’s trading stood at 0.48
percent as the Accra bourse continued to limp under heavy bearish sentiments.

Total shares traded went up from 12,200 Friday to 103,800 shares while shares
demanded were 105,600, up from 37,100 as investors continued to dump their
shares on the market. Shares offered remained well ahead of demand at 927,900
compared with Friday’s 829,570.

There was no trading in the shares of troubled Ashanti Goldfields Company
despite an announcement of measures to bail it out of its financial troubles.

No share was offered for sale and no bid was made.

Market capitalisation was down at 3,211.03 billion cedis from 3,213.21
billion cedis following the loss of Ghana Commercial Bank, the fourth company
with the highest market capitalisation after Ashanti Goldfields Company,
Standard Chartered Bank and SSB Bank Limited (3,683 cedis = 1 US dollar).

On the broader market, Ghana Commercial Bank lost 13 cedis to close at 735
cedis while BAT closed two cedis down at 464.

Paul Bailey made a triumphant entry into Safari Park Hotel
waving the national flag. A sizeable crowd, which had patiently waited
for the first Kenyan to arrive on the finish ramp, broke into wild
cheers and danced to the beat, Mwana Mberi, belted out by the Kenya
Prisons Band.

Six minutes later, the crowd went wild with the arrival of Phineas
Kimathi.

“This is victory for the Kenyan people,” said Bailey, who finished
12th overall navigated by Reju Sehmi in a former works Toyota Celica
Turbo.

“It is rare in a world championship event for local drivers to place
so highly in a field crowded by champions,” said Bailey.

“It is only in athletics in the Kenyan context where Kenyans meet
champions.”

Kimathi, in a Group ‘N’ Subaru Impreza, said the finish means the
world to him.

“When I left here on Friday, I promised you that I will fight for
you as Kenyans,” said Kimathi, a driver with a great future if he can
get support.

“But I am not really pleased with the organisers who seeded me far
behind the field. But since I am a friend of the Safari Rally I did not
want to complain and create negative publicity.”

Kimathi said he had more seeding points than some drivers who were
seeded ahead of him. “I was held up by the dust of many slower
drivers,” he added.

Kimathi, who finished fifth in Group ‘N’, had started 12th in the
third leg on Sunday but two punctures dropped him to the 14th spot.

His navigator Abdul Sidi, who writes a motoring column for the Daily
Nation, said it was a memorable experience to sit next to Kimathi and
added that he had enjoyed every bit of the action.

Bailey and Kimathi now lead the Kenya National Rally Championship
standings with 50 points each.

On Sunday, Bailey paid tribute to Kimathi for giving him a run for
his money although he (Bailey) had been driving a more powerful car.

“We are going to have a really competitive season locally.” he said.

Bailey said that Pirelli had to stepped in with a healthy supply of
tyres in the third leg and ended his woes after suffering 10 punctures
in the first two legs.

Winner Richard Burns, Juha Kankkunen and Didier Auriol used Pirelli
tyres as well.

Windhoek Old Boys stretched their lead at the top of the
Tafel Lager Indoor Hockey Men’s Premier League to a comfortable seven
points after coming from behind to beat SFC 5-3 at the SKW Hall on
Saturday.

Dale Swann opened the scoring for WOB, but three quick goals (two by
Michael de Gouveia and one by Rudi Germishuys) gave the visitors a 3-1
halftime lead.

Eight minutes after the break WOB reduced the deficit after a goal
by Luke Pennefather from a short corner and three minutes later Archie
Botha equalised with a field goal. Swann scored the goal of the match
in the 37th minute, slotting the ball into the top left-hand corner of
SFC’s goals, to put WOB back in front and Pennefather wrapped up the
victory with another goal from a short corner two minutes later. WOB
now have 20 points from five matches, ahead of Unam on 13 and DTS on
12.

Unam were in impressive form against SFC and eventually beat the
coastal visitors 3-1 after a 2-1 lead at halftime. Gareth Griffiths
opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a penalty flick, before
Heinrich Swartbooi increased the students’ lead in the 9th minute from
a short corner. Timothy Venter pulled one back for SFC but Swartbooi
added his second in the 27th minute to put the issue beyond doubt.

With the return of Joseph Kashamako alongside other national
players, Swartbooi, Griffiths and Erwin Handura, Unam were at full
strength and deserved their victory to maintain second spot on the log.
Their victory could however have been much bigger had it not been for
the magnificent form of SFC’s goalkeeper, Fanie Dorfling who made at
least three point blank saves, drawing great cheers from the crowd.

SFC’s miserable weekend continued on Sunday when they were hammered
6-2 by DTS. Darren Martin, Randy Slabbert and Werner Gouws scored for
DTS and Marshall van der Linden for SFC to make the halftime score 3-1,
while three more goals by Gouws against one by Lucky Shitatu gave DTS
their emphatic win.

DTS are currently third on the log with 10 points, followed by
Pirates on nine and Wanderers and SFC on two and one each.

There was no action in the women’s premier league, where Wanderers
are leading the log with 12 points from four matches, followed by DTS
with 11 from four and Wanderers with nine from three matches.

In the men’s first league Windhoek Old Boys’ second team pulled off
a dramatic victory against the X team from Walvis Bay, after being
reduced to only four players. Already a player short when the match
started, Old Boys also lost Russel Bartlett after ten minutes after he
was hit in the face. At that stage they were leading 2-0 but the X team
soon levelled the score at 2-2.

Goals by Rowan Slabbert and Herman Huber made the score 3-all but
Dawie Hartzenburg ensured a memorable win for the Old Boys with a great
solo effort three minutes before the end of the match.

In other men’s first division matches DTS II beat the X team 7-1, St
Pauls beat the X team 5-0 and DTS III and the X team drew 2-all. DTS A
currently lead the first division log with 24 points, just ahead of
Windhoek Old Boys and St Pauls who each have 23 points.

In women’s first league matches, Sparta had a worthwhile trip to
Windhoek, winning three and drawing one match. They beat Ramblers III
5-0, DTS II 2-1 and Wanderers II 4-0 and drew 3-all with Ramblers II.
Sparta lead the log with 20 points, ahead of United who have 15.

Meanwhile, Unam will host the Pepsi Indoor Hockey Tournament at the
Old SKW Hall in Windhoek this weekend. The closing date for entries is
at 12h00 today and teams which would like to enter must contact the
tournament director, Erwin Handura at cell number 0811248249.

Sports Minister Hlalele Motaung says Lesotho government takes a
great interest in the development of sport. Speaking at the official opening of
Masianokeng High School cricket field, the minister made a stern appeal to
parents to give their children time to engage in sport.

“It is important to introduce sports to young people while they are young
because that inculcates in them a culture of participation,” said Motaung,
adding that the sport builds up the youngsters’ physical and mental fitness.

“The special significance is in the fact of a sports facility becoming
available for use by these young people,” continued Motaung. The minister
thanked president of Lesotho Cricket Association (LCA), Terry Fraekel for his
hard work in putting up a cricket field in Masianokeng.

Present at official opening were instructors, Africa Cricket Association
(ACA) Development Officer, Hoosain Ayob, Ahmedi Gabru who is also the cricket
coach together with Charles Nyathi. The trio were send by the International
Cricket Confederation to help the youngsters in cricket basics.

The minister promised that cricket will, in the near future, be gunning for
the first position with football in the country. “With a lot of children eager
to get involved in this sport, we hope your efforts will not be in vain,” he
said to the coaches.

“Much as we talk about developing sport, we have limitations when it comes to
providing the required facilities,” the minister stressed.

Motaung thanked Maluti Irrigation for its undying support to cricket in
Lesotho. The company together with South African based National Trading and the
International Cricket Confederation contributed largely in putting up the
Masianokeng field.

LCA’s Terry Fraekel said he was pleased to witness the opening of Masianokeng
cricket field, “for this is the first cricket field that has been put up through
our development programme,” he said, addingthe event was aimed to hand over
cricket kit to Masianokeng High cricket club. “The kit is worth five thousand
Maluti,” he said, adding that the pitch had cost M35 000 which came from
government through Lesotho Sports Council.

Hoosain Ayob said he was happy that students show interest in cricket and are
eager to learn. “If the students continue like this, cricket will become one of
the sports in this country,” he noted.

The initial 25-man Likoena squad, was reduced to 20 when five of
theplayers were axed from the team that will face Zimbabwe in COSAFA Cup match
to be played in Harare this Saturday.

The off-loaded players include Lekoane Lekoane who was on his prolific goal-
scoring form in the early nineties. The 31-year old player was last seen playing
for the national team in 1995 when Likoena were thrashed 2-0 by experienced
Zambians. He also had a one season spell with Kaizer Chiefs who loaned him to
Dynamos who got relegated last season and later to Johannesburg based outfit,
Arcadia Shepherds.

Otherplayers who saw the coaches’ axe include Qetelo Koaeane (LMPS), Lire
Phri and Moeketsana Ramoepane (Chelsea) and Lefa Khooa (Linare).

None of these players pitched on when Likoena slaughtered Swaziland in the
Toyota Challenge Cup last Sunday.

Likoena assistant coach Mahao “Bomber” Matete who held fort in the absence of
head coach Monaheng Monyane who was at the time with the students at intervasity
in Botswana, said he is satisfied with the current squad as is set according to
the game-plan.

He scorffed at the opinions that say he has selected young and inexperienced
players in the defence. “Those boys are good, people say they are inexperienced.
Now if we can not play them now when will they gain the experience?” he asked,
adding “The world is focussing on the development now, so we must also develop
our youth”.

The new players selected to place resistance in front of the Likoena’s
goalmouth include Mpitsa Marai who played well in his debut against Sihlangu.
The 20-year old Arsenal centre-back was in the Under-20 squad that obtained the
fourth position in the COSAFA tournament held in South Africa in December.

Moitheri Ntobo is another ingredient in the Likoena’s defence. The 19-year
old Arsenal full-back also made the squad that travelled to Johannesburg.

He is due to make his debut. Another new player is skinny Kutloisiso
Nthonyana who was at his best in last week’s encounter. Nthonyana (19) has
become one of the crowd-pleasers and without doubt, he is set to help Likoena in
their campaign to bring back the glory days.

Matete said the selected players do not display their individual skills but
play as a unit. “I mean those boys have potential and they must play now in
order to gain experience,” he said.

Likoena will play friend-lies against Botswana and Zambia before proceeding
on a 4,000km journey to the neigh-bouring Zimbabwe in COSAFA Cup. The Crocodiles
were booted out of the previous tournament by the winners Angola after the local
side had pipped Namibia in the first round.

Goldstar was back to its high scoring ways in the Stanbic sponsored
Kampala Kids Basketball League at Rainbow International School last Saturday.

The Super Seniors (11-12yrs) table leaders came down from 10-13 down with the
help of Ryan Alexander (20pts), Andrew Knight (17) and Jonathan Leslie (12) to
beat AAR 61-28.

Newcomer Daniel Chen made 12pts for AAR, but he and Nazier fouled out in the
3rd quarter to weaken AAR’s attack.

Monica Oberly had 10pts and Kevin Arnold 12 as Uganda Tourist Board (UTB)
battled to keep their unbeaten record against bottom placed Sadolin with a 32-25
win.

Alliance beat Sprite 37-18 in the other Super Senior game.

Seniors (10-11yrs) table leaders Sabena faltered as Asiatic rallied to for a
10-10 tie before going ahead to win 14-12.

Shell remained unbeaten with a 14-12 win over Barclays, while NCR got its
first win, 18-4 over Kiwi.

In the Mids (8-9yrs), World Wide Movers beat DHL 15-8, while Alam rallied
late to pip Sanyu FM 18-17. Both teams kept their unbeaten records. AON beat
Nile Plains 14-8.

In the Juniors (6-7yrs), NID overcame MTN 10-4 and Sheraton beat Infocom 12-0
to remain unbeaten too. British Bulls came from behind to beat AES 12-8 in an
entertaining game.

Uganda’s 800m ace Grace Birungi has been ranked 12th over that
distance, in Commonwealth. A release from Birungi’s coach Kevin O’Connor said
distinguished statistician Stan Greenberg had ranked her 12th, despite the fact
that she was not ranked last year.

O’Connor said Birungi’s bronze medal performance at the All Africa Games (a
personal best of 2:01.76) had influenced the ranking.

Mozambique’s Maria Mutola was ranked first and England’s Kelly Holmes 2nd.

The other 5 Africans in the top 20 were Paulino (Mozambique), John Lwiza
(Tanzania), Wamuyu and Macharia (both Kenya) and Sakara (Tanzania).

The Shell sponsored Birungi was happy with news.

A semifinalist at the last Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, Birungi said she
would try to win a medal and improve on her time in the 2002 edition in England.

Birungi also climbed up the world rankings, from 104th to 73rd.

However, things did not go for well for national 400m record holder Davis
Kamoga.

Kamoga, who left for Italy last week, slipped from the top 10 to 14th. A
succession of injuries and illness have kept him out of international
competitions for a while.

Fast rising star Steven Kawuma completed a brilliant preliminary
performance, taking a half-point lead into Phase II of the World Chess
Championship qualifiers.

Kawuma, joint leader in the opening phase two weeks ago, held on to secure a
crucial 7th round draw against former Olympiad Kenneth Kakooza last Sunday at
Eagen House.

The draw earned the youngster 5.5 points from the seven rounds and he now
leads 24 top performers into the next phase of the qualifiers due in March.

Shaddrack Kantinti, Steven Kisuze and Kakooza closely followed Kawuma with 5
points each.

Entebbe SS student Farouk Fauzi and Michael Mawanda of Kyambogo Polytechnic
were the surprise package, amassing 4.5pts each.

National champion Grace Nsubuga, Umar Kakumba, Godfrey Luberenga, Opio, Bob
Bibasa and Edward Ssentongo also collected 4.5 points each. Others qualifiers
are Vianney Luggya, Peter Maguzi, Ignatius Wanderema and Paul Kabuye.

Ugandan Chess Federation (UCF) President Dan Nsibambi said the 8-round Second
Phase is set for March 18-19 and 25-26 at the same venue. Top 10 performers go
for the final selection competition between April and May.

The UCF boss also disclosed Godfrey Makumbi and Godfrey Bisereko, both out of
the country, would be included in the qualifiers if they appeared before April.

A six-man team will be selected for the championship due in Turkey later this
year.

Meanwhile, UCF has invited Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Seychelles,
Egypt, Tanzania and Madagascar for the Uganda Open. The most prestigious UCF
event is due April 21-24. The winner receives trophy and a top prize of $350.