JUST IN: Plane carrying 19 people crashes on takeoff in Nepal

A tragic accident occurred in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday morning, when a Saurya Airlines passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff, erupting into a massive fire.

Emergency responders swiftly sprang into action, battling to extinguish the blaze and rescue those on board.

The incident happened at approximately 11:15 am local time (0530 GMT), according to a statement released by Nepal’s military.

“Rescue work is going on” with the army’s quick response team lending assistance, the statement added.

Further details were “still being confirmed”, Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP.

Dozens arrested in Uganda anti-government protests

Dozens of people have been detained in the Ugandan capital Kampala after joining scattered anti-corruption protests in defiance of an official ban.

Lawyers said around 60 people, including a prominent TV presenter and three young protest leaders, were hurriedly brought before courts and remanded in custody following a march on the country’s parliament on Tuesday.

President Yoweri Museven, who has ruled Uganda for almost four decades, had warned before the event that protesters were “playing with fire”.

The march was organised on social media amid anger over long-running allegations of corruption involving several high-profile public officials.

The protests were partly inspired by demonstrations last month in neighbouring Kenya which forced President William Ruto to drop planned tax rises.

Police previously announced that they had refused to give permission for the march and would not allow any demonstration that threatened Uganda’s “peace and security”.

On Tuesday, riot officers were seen manning roadblocks, while members of the security forces sealed off roads and stood guard around the parliament building.

Pictures showed marchers holding signs that read “Stop corruption” and calling the parliament a “den of thieves”. Another said: “We are peaceful protesters”.

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Others showed protesters being manhandled by police and pushed into the back of riot vans.

“We are tired of corruption,” protester Samson Kiriya told AFP news agency through the bars of a van after being arrested.

Those detained included well-known television and radio presenter Faiza Salima as well as three protest organisers – George Victor Otieno, Kennedy Ndyamuhaki, and Aloikin Praise Opoloje.

Bernard Oundo, president of the Uganda Law Society, said one hearing saw 50 people charged.

“This was a rushed trial. They were arrested and taken to court in a very short time and remanded to prison without securing them bail,” he said.

“We will ensure these people receive justice.”

On the eve of the march, Uganda’s main opposition leader, Bobi Wine, said security forces had besieged the Kampala headquarters of his National Unity Platform party.

He said some of his party officials had been “violently arrested” and that the offices had been turned into a “military barracks”.

Writing on X following the march, Mr Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said: “Salutations to all who have courageously marched and are still marching against corruption and misrule – even in the face of very brutal actions by the military and police!

“The cowards have been picking up young people whose only crime is lifting up a placard.”

He added that legal and welfare teams would be made available to those who needed them.

Earlier this year, the UK and US imposed sanctions on a number of Ugandan officials, including parliament speaker Anita Among and three former or serving ministers, over alleged involvement in corruption.

Dozens arrested in Uganda anti-government protests

Kenya: Court stops police ban on Gen Z protests

The High Court of Kenya has suspended the National Police Service’s (IG) ban on protests by Kenyan youths (Gen Z). The ban was issued by IG Douglas Kanja.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the Milimani High Court declared the application challenging the ban urgent. The case will be prioritized.

“Pending the hearing on 18/07/2024, a conservatory order suspending the National Police Service’s ban on demonstrations in Nairobi Central Business and nearby areas is issued,” the ruling stated.

The judge restrained the acting IG from enforcing his decision dated 17th July 2024. This order also applies to all other personnel in the National Police Service (NPS) or those supporting them.

This suspension remains until the case is heard on July 18. The judge also directed IG Kanja to communicate these orders to all NPS officers.

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