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Crested Cranes team for 2019 CECAFA Women Challenge Cup named

Crested Cranes team

The final list of 20 Crested Cranes players for the forthcoming CECAFA SENIOR Women CHALLENGE CUP from 16th to 25th November 2019 in Tanzania has been released.

Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardinals) will captain the team. She is assisted by Bridget Nabisaalu (She Corporate) and Fazila Ikwaput (Lady Doves) as first and second assistants respectively.

The team will travel to Tanzania on Thursday 14th November after completing 10 days camped at the FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru.

The team’s last practice game ended in a 5-0 win against the UCU Lady Cardinals.

Juliet Nalukenge scored a hat-trick for the national side. Fazila Ikwaput and Hasifah Nasuuna also each netted one goal during the warm up game.

On Sunday 17th November 2019, Uganda will play the first group B match against Djibouti at Chamazi Stadium.

The second game will come against Ethiopia on Tuesday 19th November before finalizing the group matches with a hot duel against rivals Kenya on Thursday 21st November at Chamazi Stadium

Final Squad:

Goalkeepers: Daisy Nakaziro (Lady Doves), Ruth Aturo (UCU Lady Cardials), Namusisi Joan (Isra soccer Academy)

Defenders: Viola Namuddu (Makerere University), Shadia Nankya (UCU Lady Cardinals), Bridget Nabisaalu (She Corporate),  Eunice Ariokot (Olila High School )  Grace Aluka ( Kawempe Muslim SS Ladies FC), Aisha Namukisa (Kampala Queens).

Midfielders: Asia Nakibuuka (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC),  Riticia Nabbosa (Lady Doves),Harriet Nakuba (Kampala Queens), Amina Nababi (Makerere University), Fauzia Najjemba (Kampala Queens)

Forwards: Hasifa Nassuna (UCU Lady Cardinals), Juliet Nalukenge (Kawempe Muslim), Margret Kunihira (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC), Zainah Namuleme (Kampala Queens), Fazila Ikwaput (Lady Doves), Shamirah Nalugya (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC)

Uganda’s fixtures

  • 17th Nov – Uganda Vs Djibouti
  • 19th Nov – Uganda Vs Ethiopia
  • 21st Nov – Kenya Vs Uganda
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FIFA announces Arsene Wenger as Chief of Global Football Development

Arsene-Wenger

Arsene Wenger has been unveiled as FIFA’s new Chief of Global Football Development.

The illustrious French manager was welcomed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the world football governing body’s headquarters in Zurich.

Wenger will be chiefly responsible for overseeing and driving the growth and development of the sport for both men and women around the world.

He will also be the leading authority on technical matters, both as a member of the Football and Technical Advisory Panels involved in The IFAB’s review and decision-making process on potential changes to the Laws of the Game, and as chairman of the FIFA Technical Study Group, which has conducted the technical analysis of FIFA tournaments since 1966.

Leaning on a highly distinguished coaching career, Wenger’s role will include a particular focus on coach education, while he will also offer invaluable contributions to an executive programme – currently in its inception phase – tailored to encourage former professional players to enter management and which will support them through the post-career transition and bridge the gap between managerial and technical positions in football.

Known as Le Professeur for his meticulously studious approach to the game, Wenger has spent his whole career in football. After hanging up his boots, Wenger found his true calling in football management, his career taking him from his native France, where he enjoyed a successful stint with AS Monaco, to cup success with Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan, and to England, where with Arsenal he went on to become one of the longest-serving and most eminent coaches in English top-flight history, winning the Premier League three times. Away from the pitch, he is a highly respected TV match analyst.

New FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger commented: “I very much look forward to taking on this extremely important challenge, not only because I have always been interested in analysing football from a broader perspective but also because FIFA’s mission as world football’s governing body is truly global. I believe that the new FIFA we have seen emerging in recent years has the sport itself at the very heart of its objectives and is determined to develop the game in its many different components. I know I can contribute to this objective and will put all my energy into this.”

On the new appointment, President Infantino said: “Arsene Wenger’s profound knowledge and passion for the different aspects of our game sets him apart as one of the most respected personalities in football. I am delighted to welcome him to the team. Since I arrived at FIFA, we have placed football at the centre of our mission, striving to learn from those who know the sport inside out: Arsene is someone who, with his strategic vision, competence and hard work, has dedicated his life to football. His arrival is just another example of how we keep strengthening our purpose to bring FIFA back to football and football back to FIFA.”

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Exponential growth of a newly rising denomination ‘Shincheonji Church of Jesus’ in the Republic of Korea

In just over a year, 103764, people graduated after completing a Bible study in Shincheonji…this is an unprecedented phenomenon that is taking place globally.

Due to the corruption and the secularization of today’s religious world, a great number of people are coming to Shincheonji to study the Bible and to fill their spiritual needs. Although there is a decrease in the number of people who identify themselves with a religion worldwide, there was also a rare phenomenon of 103764 people streaming into a Church called Shincheonji, Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (a newly rising denomination in the Republic of Korea) in a short time of a year.

On November 10, 2019, Shincheonji held a graduation with

103764 graduates that completed a Bible study offered in Shincheonji. Shincheonji offers a free six-month Bible study course that one must complete in order to be registered as a church member.

The graduation took place in the province of Gyeonggi-do with a total of 101,286 people who passed their graduation exam after studying the Bible in its entirety. Approximately 50,000 were present in the audience and the graduation was broadcasted in other major cities of Korea. International graduates overseas also participated through live stream broadcast.

Having 103764 graduates is equivalent to having 100 Churches of 1,000 congregation members, which is greatly different from the drastic fall of the number of congregation members seen globally in the world of religion. Shincheonji is the only place in the world where 103764 people come after completing an in-depth Bible study.

A survey conducted on the 103764, graduates showed that 41.7 per cent were believers practicing their faith under pre-existing denominations such as Protestantism, Catholicism, and others,. Additionally, the reason why they decided to go to Shincheonji was because of its “sublime teaching of the Word.”

 A graduate said, “In a traditional Church, I was not able to fill my spiritual hunger; however, in Shincheonji I was able to fill it with the words of the Bible and understand a clear purpose of my life as a Christian,” and he continued, “numerous people are leaving their Churches due to the corruption and secularization that is prevalent in many Churches today, but Shincheonji helps believers to have a logical and a clear understanding of what it means to be reborn with the Word. Therefore, I chose to go Shincheonji.”

It is incredible to see a 103764,person graduation; however, what is more shocking is that Shincheonji – which is teaching the fulfillment of revelation and has been growing at an incredibly rapid pace since 1984— is labeled as a “cult” by the Christian world of the Republic of Korea.

To the major allegations made against Shincheonji such as “Shincheonji claims that the founder of Shincheonji is the One Who Overcomes,” and “Shincheonji hides their true identity when evangelizing and brainwashes the people with their teaching,” the graduates reported that those are all false accusations.

Another graduate stated, “For the past six months of Bible study, I saw if it’s true that Shincheonji makes people quit jobs, divorce, and leave their homes, and I realized that those were false rumors and far from the truth. I am thankful that I had a chance to study the Bible for the past six months and to see for myself that Shincheonji’s teaching of the Bible is biblical and logical.”

A participant stated that there are times when Shincheonji does not reveal their Church when evangelizing; however, this is because traditional Churches spread false rumors about Shincheonji that people do not want to study the life giving words of the Bible due to the fear of such accusations being true. The reason why evangelism is done in such way is to be fair and give a chance for everyone to judge using the standard of the words of the Bible.

The people of Christianity in the Republic of Korea responded to the rapid growth of Shincheonji by saying, “Everyone in the world of religion must repent for becoming entangled with the world, interfering with politics, and losing trust of believers. It seems that those who want to carry out a genuine life of faith wandered off and ended up in Shincheonji.”

However, Shincheonji states that 95 per cent of those who chose to come to Shincheonji (according to the survey done on graduates) is because of the excellent teaching of Bible. Shincheonji teaches the Bible in its entirety from the book of Genesis to Revelation in half a year, and the greatest difference between traditional churches and Shincheonji is the only place that teaches the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation.

The graduation will be the starting point of Shincheonji’s continuous growth. Because the 103764 graduates have fulfilled a 100 per cent evangelism rate, there are currently there are 200,000 people that are studying the Bible in Shincheonji. If Shincheonji continues to grow at this pace, then within three years Shincheonji will reach a million congregation members and the status quo of the religious world will change.

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Africa Finance Corporation issues $500m 10 year Eurobond

Mr. Zubairu President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Africa Finance Corporation (“AFC” or “the Corporation”), the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has announced the successful issuance of a US $500 million Reg S Only Eurobond for general corporate purposes, maturing in October 2029.

The Senior, unsecured Eurobond which carries a coupon of 3.75 per cent was priced to yield 3.895 per cent for a tenor of ten years. It is the longest tenor bond issued by the Corporation till date. The bond received strong global interest across the Middle East, Asia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Europe. Prior to the launch of the bond, AFC held a global investor call followed by investor meetings in London.

The issuance is the fourth Eurobond issued by the Corporation, under its US $ 3,000,000.00 Global Medium-Term Note Programme. The bond proceeds will provide capital for AFC to support its growth and long-term approach to infrastructure investing in Africa.

The bond was rated A3 by Moody’s Investor Services, in line with AFC’s issuer rating. It is listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and was distributed to investors in Asia (28 per cent), United Kingdom (26 per cent), Switzerland (17 per cent), Middle East and Africa (15 per cent) and other Europe (11 per cent).

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, commented on the announcement: “AFC is pleased with the successful placement of its fourth Eurobond, which enjoyed a strong subscription rate across multiple geographies. The level of appetite for this bond is a true testament to the growing confidence that global capital markets are placing on Africa’s investment potential, especially in infrastructure, as well as the capital markets’ confidence that AFC is the right partner to de-risk opportunities for institutional capital on the continent.”

MUFG, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch International, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC and Rand Merchant Bank acted as Joint Lead Managers and Bookrunners for the U.S.-dollar-denominated Reg. S issue.

About Africa Finance Corporation

AFC, an investment grade multilateral finance institution, was established in 2007 with an equity capital base of US $1 billion, to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa.  With a current balance sheet of approximately US$4.2 billion, AFC is the second highest investment grade rated multilateral financial institution in Africa with an A3/P2 (Stable outlook) rating from Moody’s Investors Service.

AFC successfully raised US $750 million in 2015 and US $500 million in 2017; out of its Board-approved US $3 billion Global Medium-Term Note (MTN) Programme. Both Eurobond issues were oversubscribed and attracted investors from Asia, Europe and the USA. In 2019, the Corporation also issued a Samurai Bond which raised US $233 million and JPY 1 billion.

AFC’s investment approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.  AFC invests in high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. To date, the Corporation has invested over US$4.5 billion in projects within 29 countries across Africa.

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Court grants 20M cash bail to five Total Uganda staff members

staff members

Five senior members of staff of a petroleum firm, Total Uganda have been granted 20million cash bail after spending four days in jail.

The company dragged its staff to court on allegations that they caused a financial loss of Shs 28billion stolen through collusion between company staff and the fuel dealers during a period of two years at total head office and other offices in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala.

Appearing before Anti-corruption Chief Magistrate, Pamella Lamunu Ochaya earlier today, the five were temporarily released on grounds that it’s their constitutional right and that they are presumed innocent till proven guilty.

The Magistrate also directed that they should to each to deposit their land titles, passports and ordered the 15 sureties to sign a non-cash bond of Shs 800m each to ensure that the suspects return to whenever they are required.

The suspects include; Priscillah Nansikombi (a cashier), Belinda Nakasi (treasury assistant and taxation accountant) and Moses Sebalu (a treasury officer and senior accountant).

The were on Friday produced before Anti-corruption Grade One Magistrate, Moses Nabende and charged with embezzlement of Shs 28billion worth of petroleum products, electronic fraud and conspiracy to defraud. They however denied all charges and remanded to Luzira prison.

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Afcon 2021 Qualifiers: Sudan referees to officiate Uganda vs Malawi

FIFA Referee badge

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed match officials that will take charge of Uganda versus Malawi encounter at Mandela National Stadium on Sunday, 17th November 2019.

The Cranes will take on The Flames of Malawi on Sunday in the match day two games of the 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

The referees appointed come from Sudan and will arrive in the country on Friday evening aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

The Centre referee is Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail and will work with Omer Hamid Mohamed Ahmed and Abdelgabar Mohamed Abdelgabar as his first and second assistant referee respectively.

The fourth official is Elsiddig Mohamed Eltreefe who also comes from Sudan.

The referees’ assessor, Yohannes Ghirmai comes from Eritrea while the match commissioner, Aimable Habimana is from Burundi.

Uganda is in group B alongside South Sudan, Malawi, and Burkina Faso.

Match Officials

  • Centre referee – Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail
  • First assistant referee – Omer Hamid Mohamed Ahmed
  • Second assistant referee – Abdelgabar Mohamed Abdelgabar
  • Fourth official –  Elsiddig Mohamed Eltreefe
  • Referees’ assessor – Yohannes Ghirmai
  • Match commissioner – Aimable Habimana

Afcon Qualifiers 2021

Match Day Two

Sunday, 17th November 2019

Uganda Vs Malawi

Mandela National Stadium – 4:00 PM

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Defence ministry seeks US$10 million to repair cargo plane

Adolf mwesigye

Parliament has learnt that government has never financed the nearly 20-year-old Uganda Air Cargo Corporation (UACC), whose services benefit mainly State House and Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

Parliament was told, has been surviving on revenue generated from charter services for both passengers and cargo it renders, right from purchase of the aircraft to servicing of its operations.

The corporation, over stretched by a series of setbacks threatening its survival, ran to Parliament seeking a supplementary budget of US$10 million to repair a C130, one of the grounded aircrafts and another US$5 million to acquire a B737-500 plane.

Officials from the corporation led by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Adolf Mwesige, appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs to make their case.

The board chairman, Captain John Emily Otekat, explained that the corporation currently runs one aircraft which has disadvantaged the corporation’s business prospects saying most clients require a backup aircraft to enter into a contract.

“In aviation, you cannot win a contract when you have one aircraft. As a result, last year, we missed a contract from the USA which would have earned us US$11million annually,” said Otekat.

He also told Parliament, that the corporation rents premises at Entebbe Airport where it incurs high costs.

This withstanding, Otekat said the corporation with its one aircraft, has grown profitably from Shs 15 billion in 2007 to Shs 138 billion in 2017. He interested government in joining the lucrative air cargo business.

In line with their investment plan, he also requested government to provide US$88 million for construction of an aircraft hangar, so that all planes are serviced within the country as opposed to Nairobi as is currently the practice. If Uganda is able to service aircrafts, Otekat said, it would earn about US$160 million annually.

The committee, impressed by the corporation’s operations wondered why the ministry had never addressed the matter during the budget process. “It beats my understanding that government has not been able to borrow for its own where we can even generate income but borrows for projects we even get to pay for,” said Doreen Amule, the committee chairperson.

Minister Mwesige said he had untiringly approached the finance ministry over the corporation’s funding needs but was unsuccessful.

State Minister for Veteran Affairs, Bright Rwamirama, said they were grappling with competing priorities, hence the failure to allocate funds to UACC. “We, for instance, do not have a referral hospital and you have been asking us why we take the army to Nakasero Hospital – but even the money we have is not enough to complete construction of the hospital,” said Rwamirama.

The committee unpleased with ministry’s laxity over the operation of corporation, resolved to engage the finance ministry before escalating it to the plenary.

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WHO prequalifies Ebola vaccine, paving the way for its use in high-risk countries

Health worker prepares to vaccinate a man

The World Health Organization (WHO) today prequalified an Ebola vaccine for the first time, a critical step that will help speed up its licensing, access and roll-out in countries most at risk of Ebola outbreaks. This is the fastest vaccine prequalification process ever conducted by WHO.

Prequalification means that the vaccine meets WHO standards for quality, safety and efficacy. United Nations agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, can procure the vaccine for at-risk countries based on this WHO recommendation.

“This is a historic step towards ensuring the people who most need it are able to access this life-saving vaccine,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Five years ago, we had no vaccine and no therapeutics for Ebola. With a prequalified vaccine and experimental therapeutics, Ebola is now preventable and treatable.”

The injectable Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, is manufactured by Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada). It has been shown to be effective in protecting people from the Ebola Zaire virus and is recommended by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for vaccines as part of a broader set of Ebola response tools. The decision is a step towards greater availability of the vaccine in the future, though licensed doses will only be available mid-2020.

This announcement comes less than 48 hours after the European Commission decision to grant a conditional marketing authorization for the vaccine, following the recommendation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Due to the urgent public health need for a prequalified Ebola vaccine, WHO accelerated prequalification by reviewing safety and efficacy data as the information became available. Representatives from the prequalification team participated in the EMA evaluation process to address programmatic suitability for at-risk countries in Africa.

“The development, study, and rapid prequalification of this vaccine show what the global community can do when we prioritize the health needs of vulnerable people,” said Dr Tedros.

WHO is also facilitating licensing of the vaccine for use in countries at risk of Ebola outbreaks, based on the reviews and positive outcome by the EMA. WHO, with the support of EMA, has worked closely with many African regulators who have indicated they will quickly license the vaccine following the WHO recommendation.

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UPDF inaugurates force to secure Rwenzori region

updf

Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), has inaugurated a mountain Division to reinforce security in the Rwenzori region.

The region according to UPDF has been under the threat of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) now located in Eastern democratic republic of Congo (DRC).

A fully fledged Division will have its headquarters at Muhooti Barracks, Kabarole District.

In his remarks the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. David Muhoozi, said there was an urgent need to create a mountain Division in order to have a specific force that focuses on issues regarding the Rwenzori region which is mountainous.

The Division is now commanded by Brig Gen Moses Kwikiriza formerly the second in command of the three Infantry Division. Mountain Division stretches from Katunguru in Kasese district to Mubende and Kyegegwa districts

Gen Muhoozi further said that there were already forces in the area before President Museveni directed its formation in the region to handle security issues.

“ADF and other negative forces still distabalize the eastern part of DRC and this creates greater threat to our country, the formation of this Division was long overdue.” He said.

The Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu who was represented by Maj Gen Sam Kawaga counseled soldiers to remain fit and avoid living a reckless life that will put the security of the region at risk.

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Uganda protests continuous gun down of its nationals at Rwanda border points

bodies arriving

Government of Uganda has protested the continuous killi of its nationals by Rwanda security police at a common shared border.

On Sunday, Rwandan security operatives shot dead Job Ebindishanga and Bosco Tuheirwe at around 5am in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare district, Eastern Province as they accessed Rwanda. The deaths were however acknowledged by Rwanda.

And yesterday, government of Rwanda led by Mayor of Nyagatare district David Claudian Mushabe handed over the two bodies to Ugandan authorities led by Prikeria Muhindo Mwiine, the Rukiga Resident District Commissioner (RDC). The handover took place at Buziba border post, at Kamwezi Sub-County, where officials from both sides signed documents confirming receipt of the bodies.

In a protest letter delivered to Rwandan high commissioner to Uganda, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage, by the ambassador Patrick Mugoya, the permanent secretary ministry of foreign affairs, Uganda protested the gun down of its citizens for allegedly indulging in to smuggling of goods at the border.

“The alleged crime cannot justify the high handed and criminal act by Rwandan security personnel against unarmed civilians residing along the common shared border,” reads in part of the statement adding that the murders are inimical to the efforts peddled at improves relations of the two countries.

Uganda through the ministry of foreign affairs demanded that a joint investigation into the murders be conducted and the perpetrators held accountable.

Rwanda has been hostile to citizens crossing from Rwanda to Uganda and with the latest incident, on November 4, 2019, a Rwandan national, peter Havugimana was shot in Rwanda as he crossed with 10 kg of Irish potatoes however after shootings he ran back into Uganda territory where is receiving medical attention.

“The government of Uganda considers the shooting a grave matter although the latest is a Rwandan, it constitutes a pattern of recklessness and high handed acts on the part of Rwandan security personnel against simple and ordinary people that live along the border. Government of Uganda is ready to hand over Havugimana to relevant Rwandan authorities if he wishes to return.” The statement reads.

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