The competition to have a bigger bum and curvy hips than the other woman is real as a lot of African ladies are turning to artificial bum and hips enhancers. Many people would assume that when it comes to such sensitive body parts like the bum and hips, you either have them or you don’t. But now there is a middle ground and it is big business. Urban Kenyan women are now flocking beauty shops to purchase what you can only call fabulous fakes or simply put, artificial bum and hips enhancers. And as NTV’s Jane Ngoiri reports, the users have absolutely no apologies to make to anyone for wearing these artificial bum and hips enhancers.
More and more women want to be bootylicious like Beyonce and Nicki Minaj, and if they don’t have it naturally, they’re are ready to pay a surgeon to give it to them. For those who cannot afford surgery, artificial bum and hips enhancers seem to be the answer to their ultimate look.
The parents of murdered American teenager Trayvon Martin have called on British people to stop racially profiling each other during an emotionally charged visit to London in which they met with Stephen Lawrence’s mother Doreen.
The remarkable meeting brought together two families on different sides of the Atlantic who both suffered the tragedy of having a loved one murdered, only to have that pain compounded by racism and indifference from the police.
Trayvon was shot in the chest by armed neighbourhood volunteer George Zimmerman as he walked through a leafy gated community in Stanford, Florida, because his killer assumed he was “up to no good”. He was unarmed, wearing a hooded top and was visiting his father’s girlfriend at the time of his death.
His killing generated international headlines and caused a searing national discussion in America about racial profiling and the seeming indifference of local police who initially refused to arrest Zimmerman.
But it has also led to the emergence of a new alliance between civil activists in Britain and the States who want to create an international campaign against the tendency of both police and the pubic in general to make assumptions about people purely because of their outward appearance or race.
At a meeting this afternoon in central London Trayvon’s parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin spoke out against profiling – both by police and the wider public.
“It’s an issue in the US and also here in London,” said Miss Fulton. “We recognise that. We are communicating with different groups right now so that we can try and raise the issue of profiling. I should not be looked at differently because of the colour of my skin. You also have to look at my character and my education as well. This is something we must try to get resolved.”
In American cities thousands have rallied in recent months under the banner of the “Million Hoodies Movement for Justice” to protest against the prejudices of people who judge others because of their appearance. Backed by the Occupy movement, there are plans to initiate similar protests in Britain.
Tracy Martin, a soft spoken truck driver who, like Trayvon’s mother, has been has been thrust into the international spotlight following the murder of their son, said young black men shouldn’t have to be worried about how people viewed them.
“You can’t be afraid to leave your home,” he said. “You can’t be afraid to walk down the street.“
Daryl Parks, one the family’s solicitors, said he had held meetings with the Society of Black Lawyers on how profiling affected people in the UK.
“This issue of profiling is one that has affected our country in so many ways,” he said. “It’s been very insightful to be able to talk to Great Britain and have an opportunity to have a dialogue with people here – all in the name of justice. The issue is profiling. Profiling of any type of person is wrong, wrong, wrong.”
The timing of the alliance is prescient. Last summer the shooting to death of 29-year-old black man Mark Duggan in Tottenham by armed police lit the spark for some of the worst rioting seen in Britain for two decades. Stop and search policies – in which black men are significantly more likely to be stopped by police – has also caused growing resentment.
The Martin family travelled to Britain at the behest of Doreen Lawrence whose son Stephen was murdered by a racist gang in South London 19 years ago. Two of his killers were finally imprisoned earlier this year and police are still hoping to prosecute between three and four others thought to have been involved in his murder.
“As soon as I heard about Trayvon’s death I wanted to stretch a hand out over the water,” she said today. “I understood what they were going through. One minute your son is communicating, the net he is dead. Someone is responsible for that.”
Both families held a silent vigil outside Downing Street today to highlight “victims of senseless crimes of prejudice.” The Martin’s also toured the centre set up in Stephen Lawrence’s name which helps fund courses in architecture.
Trayvon’s father said meeting Doreen Lawrence was helping them come to terms with what had happened to his own family.
“She’s been very inspirational,” he said. “She’s helped show us that some good can come out of such an awful tragedy.”
Miss Fulton added that although they had received support from all around the world, few people understood their pain quite the way Mrs Lawrence did.
“A lot of people have said to us they know how we feel and they sympathise with us. But until you have lost a child it is very difficult to understand how we feel – the hurt and the pain we have,” she said. “I have a brother right now in a wheelchair and I tell him all the time I understand how he feels. But I really don’t because I’m not in a wheelchair. I can sympathise with him, but I don’t know the pain he goes through. I don’t know the hurt he goes through because he can’t walk.”
Asked what message she wanted to give to people in Britain she replied: “Stand up and be heard. Don’t let this happen to another one of your children. I say it so often that Trayvon wasn’t just my son, he’s your son too.”
An EXCLUSIVE interview with British Member of Parliament, David Lammy, who represents Tottenham, the London area where riots sparked in July 2011. Topics include the problems facing people of colour in his constituency, Afro-European politicians coming together and whether we could see black Prime Minister in his lifetime.
As the Cannes Film Festival take place, you all know there are people who are very good in stealing the show. Here we present today’s photo of the day with Diana Kruger who wore the most glamorous and elegant dress to the festival. She takes it all in our today’s Cannes Look Book.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, Ohanglaman Makadem will not perform at the Cultural Collage World Music Festival in Manchester on 19th May 2012 as previously planned.
Makadem was supposed to make his first UK appearance at the Reggae and African Dance Party.
Apart from Makadem, other musicians scheduled to perform have been confirmed. They include Gabbidon (led by ex Steel Pulse founder, Basil Gabbidon), Golty Farabeau from the Seychelles and Freedom Masses Soundsystem operators.
Each act will play their own set and then during the final hour all will be on stage together for a tribute to Reggae legend, Bob Marley.
Tickets for this Reggae and African dance extravaganza are £15 advance and £20 on door.
Whilst in other parts of the world, the debate is about legalising gay marriage, in an East African country the ongoing discussions are about to legalise the death penalty for those found guilty of homosexual acts.
In substitute for public executions that were normal daily permits of Idi Amin’s tyrannical regime; now homophobic attacks have turned a trademark in an east African country of Uganda.
Rolling Stone newspaper that calls for the killing of gays
From those days when Ugandans used to disappear in the hands of State Research Bureau and never to be seen or heard from again due to their political beliefs, now it is the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTs), that have no one to turn to for safety. With many security organs handling suspects; relatives find it hard to locate their loved ones.
In Uganda, there are two categories of suspects, those arrested to make it to the court of law and those who are arrested and will never be seen before the judge. Not everyone that being arrested, tortured, persecuted or disappears is not a gay or lesbian; people who render assistance to the homosexuals also face persecution.
Information obtained by this newspaper, a family of Norman Walugembe is in fear, panic and despair that he might have been killed because the last time he was seen on TV, he appeared to be in a coma. Walugembe’s appearance on one of the networks in the country some years ago left some bad ‘memories’ to the family. The cause of his beatings was not clear, as the newsreader did not mention for self-censorship. The family members have searched all places including; the city mortuary, all gazetted prison facilities and ‘Safe-Houses’ but the pursuit has hit a dead end.
According to a family member who preferred not to be named for fear of reprisal, Walugembe, 34, has been giving medical assistance to a number of gays and lesbians. “It’s true, his source of income has been that little earning from medication he delivers to gays. He has been the bridge between the gays and medical professionals who provide medicine to the homosexuals,” said a family member, adding that: “I know he is not a gay because he has a wife and a child.”
The family member went on to defend and describe, Walugembe: “He’s been the kind of character who wouldn’t want to see a certain group of people being persecuted. That is the reason why sometimes he could go all the way to get them some medication.”
“Not everyone here likes to associate with those people [homosexuals], if you’re not careful, you might be construed as one of them,” Walugembe’s sister-in-law said, adding that: “We as a family had advised him not to…, but paid little attention. My greatest worry; he’s such person known everywhere and there is no way he can sneak out of the country, that is the reason we believe he is dead.”
“Another issue we don’t know the welfares of my sister and her 2-year-old son, she also left their house, three weeks later,” said a member of the family.
Since the brutal murder of a Ugandan gay rights activist, David Kato who was bludgeoned to death on January 26, 2011, life is gradually getting more harder for the gay community in Uganda. Many people remain with their mouths tight brimmed in regards to questions relating to homosexuality for fear of being mistaken to be gays. Particularly, the re-emerge of the anti-homosexuality bill, gives no room to the gays and lesbians to seek protection from the authority.
Now a suspected gay Walugembe, a father of a 2-year old son, was included on a long list of disappearances because he hasn’t been seen since last August. Little is known about the whereabouts of Walugembe.
Walugembe, who has been living with his partner, and a resident of Mawanda Road Upper Nsoba Zone, went missing in August last year following his arrest on allegations unlawful gathering.
A friend who conducted a secret search [for fear of being persecuted] told this newspaper that they have tried to locate Walugembe but in vain. “At Kireka, we were told he is not there. Suspects are normally bundled into unmarked cars; we hear sometimes they are transported as far as southern Sudan for interrogations, if lucky you can come back with your wounds, but if not … you’re killed and the body dumped there,” says the source. She was in reference to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which was established in December 2011, after a Human Rights Watch’s damaging report incriminating the disbanded Rapid Response Unit (RRU) with gross human rights abuses. The Human Rights Watch has authored several reports accusing these organs for carrying out torture and extrajudicial killings.
The RRU had earlier been transformed from Violent Crime Crack Unit (VCCU), which also replaced Operation Wembly, which was established in 2002 to fight hard criminal gangs in the country. “It is just a change of name the faces remain the same plus their brutal acts,” the source claims.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch had reported that a couple of suspects had died at Kireka headquarters in RRU custody during the interrogations.
“I have tried to locate him [Walugembe]but nothing positive. We fear taking the matter to the police, it will generate more questions and the police were involved during his arrest”, a family friend told this newspaper, adding that: “We have been carefully consulting a few friends familiar with state agents. Very few lawyers who would like to be construed over the issue.”
According to a source who requested not to be named so that he can talk freely, they have searched for Walugembe, his wife and a 2-year old son for more than eight months but the search is unproductive. “We are highly suspecting the former boyfriend of his wife because he works for one of the security agents. He had knowledge that Walugembe was actually helping the gays, and he might have used that chance [Gay Hate] which is supported by many in the country to terminate the life of an innocent person,” our source said because she is convinced that some people settled their scores using the security agents. Many victims have complained about being tortured on trumped-up charges.
This newspaper could not independently verify the allegations that some security agents, after picking Walugembe, the mother of his one 2-year-old also went missing.
Although the controversial legislation was widely disapproved outside Uganda soon after it was introduced and submitted to the Ugandan Parliament, the bill has strong appeal among all religious leaders.
MP David Bahati, now a minister from the ruling party the National Resistance Movement (NRM) sponsored a private anti-homosexuality legislation, with penalties as severe as the death in 2009 and seemed to have gone into pause after it was condemned by a number of donor governments to which Uganda is heavily dependent.
The recent re-emerging of the proposed legislation is not a surprise but a direct defiant result of the recent Obama administration move to use foreign aid to push gay rights. “Gay rights are human rights’, declared Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper criticised the legislation as President Obama trademarked it as “Odious”.
Independently, this newspaper has established that there are no more hangouts or clubs in the country where the proposed legislation would penalise not just being homosexual but also a failure to report such individuals.
President Yoweri Museveni’s previously negative statements towards the sexual minorities possibly could highlight the homophobic tendency in Uganda.
While attending the consecration of Rev. Canon Patrick Gidudu as the seventh Bishop of Mbale Diocese on August 17th, 2008, President Museveni also appeared to lend weight to the anti-gay movement in Uganda.
“I salute the Archbishop and Bishops of Africa for resisting disorientation and a decadent culture”, Museveni said.
Recently, appearing on BBC’s HardTalk show programme, hosted by Stephen Sackur in February this year, Museveni, said that: ” The issue [homosexuality] is mishandled by the western countries and their activist groups.”
However, Museveni warned the western countries to avoid making the mistake of trying to tie aid to promoting homosexuality. The warning was in response to a question about Museveni’s views on US President Barack Obama,
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Happier and other donor’s partners who have been calling for the protection of the LGBTs and respect their human rights, without which aid to Uganda would be cut.
“That will be their biggest mistake because they should be careful about black Africans…are humble people,” Mr Museveni warned, adding that: “…We never imposed our views on anybody else. We are not like Europeans or like Arabs who want to impose their views.”
The October 2, 2010, article that appeared in a local tabloid The Rolling Stone newspaper [not connected to an American Magazine], which was calling on the population to ‘Hang’ the gays, resulted into the murder of the gays rights activist Kato. The tabloid had published the photographs of Ugandans suspected of being gays and lesbians, with a headline “100 Picture of Uganda’s Top Homos” with a banner reading: “Hang Them”. The tabloid’s print of Kato’s name, photographs are addressed alongside those of other LGBTs, it claimed were gays or lesbians and called for them to be hanged. Should the legislation go through, the police could potentially use the information to hunt the gays from their respective addresses.
The legislation calls for a death penalty for homosexuals as well as a seven years jail term to anyone found guilty of not reporting to the authority about the activities of gays in their respective communities.
The bill also forbids any “promotion of homosexuality” and incarcerates gays rights defenders.
As it stands; according to the bill, mainly- article of Promotion of homosexuality, under section 13: A person who- acts as an accomplice or attempts to promote or in any way abets homosexuality and related practices; commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a line of live thousand currency point or imprisonment of a minimum of five years and a maximum of seven years or both fine and imprisonment.
The funny part of this legislation, it includes a provision for Ugandans abroad that engage in the same sex relations outside the country, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda. It also includes penalties for individuals; companies, media organisations or non-governmental organisations that know of gay people or support the LGBT rights.
Anyone who acts as an accomplice or attempt to promote or in abet homosexuality-related practices commits an offence and reliable to a big fine or imprisonment between 5-7 years. What is not understood; is what might happen to a lawyer representing a gay suspect, a doctor treating a gay patient or a journalist filing a report about the gay persons!
I long list of people suspected to be gays or lesbians whose whereabouts remain a mystery include Adela Ashabomwe from Bushenyi (33), a 2005 Makerere University graduate who disappeared in March 2008. Adella and her partner Abaasa Adelyn were arrested in a police raid in March 2008, they have since not been heard from. Charles Kagaba, Jalia Nakiyaga, Saida Mwebaze, Zulah Naiga, Yudayah Kazibwe, Susan Namutebi, Ruth Mukasa Naluwooza and Asuman Kabugo of Ndejje are among the homosexuals whose relatives have never had a chance to find the whereabouts of their remains.
Others are; Xaevier Francis, Nicholas Atuheire Rugasira a dual citizen of Rwanda and Uganda, Peter Kayanja of Mukono district whose home was destroyed; Steven Sebaggala of Katikamu Luwero district, he was initially suspended from Kisule Boarding School due to his homosexual acts and Mathew Muwonge and Jamal Ali.
Efforts to get the police spokesperson were futile, as his known cell phones could not be answered. Only recently; another police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba told this newspaper that: “there is no way police can help those people [homosexuality] because they don’t come to us and report cases of persecution.” She added that: “We just hear
about it from newspapers…that is where police find it difficult to help. We don’t just act on rumours. Let them come and report to the police.”
It is also worth noting that whilst the government is often quick to crash and disperse opposition demonstrations including teargassing and the used of ‘Kiboko Squad’ [ an illegal stick-wielding group which has been beating civilians in the presence of the police since 2007], which is linked to Kayihura’s Police, it has also turned a blind eye to anti-homosexuality demonstrations around the country.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has condemned Queen Elizabeth II’s decision to invite “dictator monarchs” to her Diamond Jubilee celebrations this Friday, 18 May. Mr Tatchell is also calling for the withdraw of the invitations of what he described as “Royal despots” saying that: “The celebrations tarnished by invites to dictator monarchs”.
Her Majesty the Queen of England will host the royal autocrats for lunch at Windsor Castle and for dinner at Buckingham Palace.
“It is outrageous that the Queen has invited royal tyrants to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. She should not host the monarchs of countries such as Brunei, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and United Arab Emirates. All of them preside over regimes that abuse human rights,” said Mr Tatchell, who is Director of the human rights campaign group, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
“Inviting blood-stained despots brings shame to our monarchy and tarnishes the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It is a kick in the teeth to pro-democracy campaigners and political prisoners in these totalitarian royal regimes.
“The invitations should be withdrawn immediately, as a mark of respect for those who have been murdered, arrested, jailed and tortured.
“Buckingham Palace’s refusal to confirm the guest list is arrogant and anti-democratic. As the Head of State of a democratic nation, the Queen should be transparent and accountable to the public. This secrecy and evasion is the enemy of democracy. The vast majority of the British people would not want the Queen to wine and dine these vile dictators.
“All eight royal families preside over a variety of human rights abuses, such as detention without trial, torture, the denial of free speech, restrictions on press freedom, discrimination against women, oppression of minority faiths, homophobic persecution, ill-treatment of guest workers and the violent suppression of peaceful protests.
“These monarchical regimes are backed by Britain and other western governments, despite their appalling human rights record.
“The invitations are a shocking misjudgement. They show the Queen is out of touch with the humanitarian values of most British people. She’s putting royalty before human rights.
“The guest list displays gross insensitivity to the suffering of people who have been persecuted by royal despots. It is an insult to the victims of dictatorship for our royal family to welcome and embrace these oppressors.
“Our monarch should not be colluding with human rights abusers. She should be on the side of the victims,” added Mr Tatchell.
By Florence Mugarula, The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is facing the increasing challenge of human trafficking and influx of illegal immigrants, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Saidi Mwema, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Speaking at the opening of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), IGP Mwema said concerted efforts were needed to fight the problem because it was transboundary.
Mr Mwema made the remarks shortly before the delegates attending the meeting elected him SARPCCO chairman, taking over from Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of South Africa. However, the IGP said generally Tanzania had recorded a decrease of 19 per cent in serious crime from January to December last year, compared to 2010 when the percentage was higher.
He said the meeting was set to enable Tanzania and South Africa to establish and discuss initial cross border transformation issues that would help the Police Force and all security organs to maintain peace and control crime in their areas.
“In this two-day meeting, we are looking forward to addressing bilateral issues between Tanzania and South Africa…we hope this will help us to set our plans and move forward,” he said.
The police boss said Tanzania has recorded at least 114 cases of illegal immigration and human trafficking from January to March, 2012.
Most of the illegal immigrants were from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Pakistan, he said. According to IGP Mwema, a big number of illegal immigrants were caught on their way to South Africa to seek greener pasture.
“In a period of two months, we have already recorded 114 cases of human trafficking and illegal migration in our country… this is to say there is a big problem that needs to be tackled effectively,” said IGP Mwema.
He added that as Tanzania looked forward to the SARPCCO chairmanship next year, the country was also bullish about cooperating and working together with other African countries in tackling cross border crimes.
Among issues that will be discussed in the meeting include terrorism, which the IGP explains as a problem that needs to be tackled.
“My country is working hand with hand with others in facing and solving threats from Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab groups. Terrorism has remained a big challenge to the Police Force and therefore it is our responsibility to join hands in fighting the problem,” said Mr Mwema.
Other issues to be discussed include cyber crime, importation of counterfeit products and piracy. Others include human trafficking and illegal immigration as well as vehicle theft.
The police officials also discussed progress in the implementation of the SARPCCO resolution, assessment of policing challenges experienced in the country as well as appreciation of the Tanzania Police Force’s support of regional activities.
On vehicle robbery, IGP Mwema said last year, the Police managed to seize 19 stolen vehicles. He added that 13 vehicles were stolen from Japan, four from South Africa and one from the United Kingdom.
On piracy, the Inspector General of Police said Tanzania was working closely with other countries, including South Africa, to ensure success in the war against maritime piracy.
“We understand that there is a big problem of piracy, but the issue here is how we handle the matter and how we work as a country. Several task forces have been formed and they are working hard to control the situation,” said the IGP. For his part, Mr Mkhwanazi, the outgoing SARPCCO chairman who is also the acting national commissioner of Police in South Africa, said the reason why he visited Tanzania was to see how the resolution of fighting crime was being implemented.
As South Africa prepares to hand the SARPCCO chairmanship over to Tanzania, he said, his team was in Tanzania to see how resolutions were taking place. SARPCCO is an official forum comprising all the police chiefs from Southern Africa. It was established in 1995 at a conference of Police Chiefs at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and it was decided that the Council of Police Chiefs should meet at least once a year.
A Secretariat, comprising officers from the member countries, has been formed as a permanent administrative and technical body through which SARPCCO operates.
The member countries of SARPCCO are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Jay-Z, the 42-year-old hip-hop mogul, has announced his backing for President Barack Obama‘s support of same-sex marriage, comparing the issue to discrimination against black people.
During a press conference to announce a “Made In America” music festival taking place in Philadelphia this summer, the rapper spoke about the legalisation of gay marriage.
“I’ve always thought it as something that was still, um, holding the country back,” Jay-Z told CNN Monday.
Although religious leaders have seen the issue as one of religious freedom, to define marriage through scriptural guidance, Jay-Z expressed his opinion that he believed it was solely an issue of discrimination: “What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. [It] is no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.”
Obama vocalised that he was in support of gay marriage last week, citing the “golden rule” as his reason.
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” the president said in an interview with ABC News. “At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
