Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
25.7 C
Kampala
Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
Home Blog Page 1192

KIU hold research dissemination and innovation conference

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
-
HURRAY! Graduates of KIU after receiving their degrees

 

Kampala International University Western Campus (KIU-WC) is  to hold three days research dissemination and innovation conference dubbed multi-sectoral collaboration towards the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.

According to organisers, the conference will avail a multidisciplinary platform for knowledge dissemination on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to around 20,000 students in various universities within and outside Uganda.

The event is scheduled to take place from  September 11-13, 2019, at new biomedical block, 3rd floor, KIU western campus in Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda.

It will also provide a platform for researchers to share the outputs of their research, stimulate young scientist to develop new interventions to manage non-communicable diseases and create awareness on non-communicable diseases that will in turn promote healthy lifestyles that are essential towards the fight against these diseases

It is also scheduled to Increase the investment in research and development through public funding and encouraging the investments of the business sector in research and innovation in non-communicable diseases and advocate for the inclusion of health promotion and public health approaches to the global burden of non-communicable diseases in health science school curricula.

Africa has previously been challenged by infectious diseases; however, the continent is now currently facing a new challenge of non-communicable diseases. In Uganda for example, according to the 2018 WHO report on non-communicable diseases, a death rate of 33 per cent was accounted for due to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Consequently, there is an urgent need for Africa to start addressing this challenge and develop interventions towards these diseases that are suitable for resource limited settings.

The key note speakers include Prof. Andre Renzaho of Western Sydney University, Australia, Dr. Gerald Mutungi; Commissioner Non-Communicable Diseases Uganda, and Prof. Fred Wabwire Mangen of the College of Health Sciences, Makerere University. Also, gracing the occasion are delegates from the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Uganda, among other notable personalities to mention but a few.

Over time, students have been involved in scientific research and innovation on various local and international platforms. However, only a few students have been able to share their innovations on these platforms owing to lack of enough publicity and access to the media.

Two outstanding innovations have been shared extensively with the science community, the Petograph App; an application and software that can be used by health practitioners to improve diagnosis, management and follow up of pregnant mothers with pre-eclampsia and the HDA App; an offline application that helps patients to verify drugs, medical personnel and health centres.

It will be held under sub themes of Nutrition based Interventions, Community initiatives in prevention of non-communicable diseases, Workplace Initiatives in prevention of non-communicable diseases, Alternative Medicine for Non communicable Diseases, Access to Health Information and Health Care Delivery, Environmental Health in Mitigating Non-Communicable diseases, Lifestyle and Non-communicable disease and Drug and substance abuse and mental health.

The conference will be packed with Pre, Main, and Post Conference activities that will challenge the thinking of all participants as well as enable them explore the heights. Side attractions like KRIC Run, Hub of Science Tour, Game Drive, among others, have been enshrined in the programme to make the event rewarding and memorable.

Stories Continues after ad

Justice Duncan Gaswaga named new Principal Judge

By
Our Reporter
-
Justice Duncan Gaswaga

Justice Duncan Gaswaga has been appointed new Principal Judge to replace Yorakamu Bamwine who is retiring, sources say.

When contacted for a comment, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire was non-committal to say anything on the latest development in the judiciary.

Justice Gaswaga has been serving as judge of High Court since 2014.

He also served as head of the criminal division of the Supreme Court in Seychelles and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Stories Continues after ad

Fifa appoints experts to assist Caf reforms

By
Our Reporter
-
The reform taskforce.

 

 

Fifa have appointed five members on a task force to help reform the scandalous Confederation of African Football (CAF), having temporarily taken over its management last month.

CAF President Ahmad Ahmad and FIFA President Gianni Infantino jointly inaugurated the Reform taskforce at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt yesterday.

The mission of the Reform Taskforce is to strengthen and accelerate the ongoing reforms at CAF.

Members of the CAF/FIFA Reform Implementation Taskforce include: Abdoulaye Diop (Mali), Hossam El Shafei (Egypt), Janet Katisya (Kenya), Martin Ngoga (Rwanda) and Anin Yeboah (Ghana) who discussed the three main areas of cooperation identified under the joint CAF-FIFA roadmap.

Speaking at the meeting, CAF President Ahmad thanked the members of the taskforce for accepting to help CAF to accelerate its reforms programme in addition to their professional activities.

“There are obstacles that we faced that resulted in our request for assistance. That’s why we also need you, the independent experts. Together we will move forward.” President Ahmad said in a statement on caf website.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his full support to the work of the group: “If this CAF/FIFA cooperation succeeds African football will be even more envied around the world. You members of the task force are the foundation from which the future African football will be built. We count on your support, your passion & innovation.”

The joint CAF/FIFA Roadmap covers three main areas: financial management, good governance and internal procedures.

Key topics of discussion centered on auditing, underlining transparency in all of CAF’s operations, necessity for the highest standards of compliance, effective and professional organisation of competitions, growth and development of African football, as well as advancement and support for CAF’s 54 Member Associations.

The meeting also touched on football safety and security, African football governance and revenue generation for the continent’s competitions and events.

Meanwhile, the CAF-FIFA leadership and senior management will continue their activities today when they meet with the CEOs of some of Africa’s top football clubs to share ideas on improving the continental club competitions.

Stories Continues after ad

Chaos at International Crimes Division Court as plain clothed armed men re-arrest bailed suspects

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
-
A suspect being rearrested

Chaos ensued at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kololo, when plain clothed armed security operatives re-arrested four suspects implicated in the gruesome murder of former assistant inspector general of police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi moments after had released them on bail.

On March 19, 2019, High Court judge Lydia Mugambe released each of them on a non-cash bail of Sh150 million as their sureties were ordered to pay Shs250 million not cash.

The four are part of the eight suspects who had returned to court to see the documents signed off after being granted bail.

The rearrested suspects include Jibril Kalyango alias Abu Aisha, Yusuf Mugerwa alias Wilson, Joshua Magezi Kyambadde alias Abdu Rahman and Siraje Nyanzi alias Jimmy Ssentamu however Abdul-Rashid Mbaziira, Aramanzani Noordin Higenyi alias Taata Abdullazack, Bruhan Balyejusa alias Jimmy Masiga Ogutu, and Shafik Kasujja were ordered to be returned to the coolers on grounds that the prison has a production warrant from Nakawa magistrates court.

Their layers however suspected that the released suspects could be re-arrested as it has been happening to at various courts and they decided to transport them in one car Toyota Noah Reg no.UAY 077T to their destinations.  Armed men however could not allow them to leave court premises and surrounded the car that was driven by one of their layers James Mubiru who in turn no spare.

He tried to explain that he is a layer but armed men paid a deaf ear, roughed him up before being bundled into the car Toyota Noah Reg no. UAF 257E that sped off to unknown destination.

The group is part of the 23 suspects who were arrested in relation to the March 17 assassination of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Felix Kaweesi, his driver Godfrey Wambeewa and bodyguard Kenneth Erau at Kulambiro, a Kampala suburb.

They were later committed to the High Court on October 23, 2017, to stand trial. Their co-accused have since been released on mandatory bail by Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court pending police investigations. Mandatory bail is granted to capital offenders that spend over six months on remand without committal.

The recently released suspects include Umar Maganda, Ahmed Ssenfuka, Sheikh Musa Ntende, Hassan Tumusiime, Ibrahim Kissa, Hamid Magambo, Abdul-Majid Ojerere, Sauda Ayub, Osman Muhammed Omar, Asuman Mugoya, Ibrahim Ssemwanga alias superman and Swaleh Ddamulira.

Stories Continues after ad

Former Masaka mayor Ssemwogerere dies aged 83

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Late Gerald Ssemwogerere

 

 

Former Masaka Municipality mayor Gerald Ssemwogerere has passed on.

According to family members, Ssemwegere died Tuesday evening after visiting a clinic in Masaka Town where he had gone to have his blood pressure checked.

“Doctors have told us that he suffered a heart attack which led to his death,” John Kawanga, a cousin to the deceased said.
Ssemwogerere served as Masaka mayor between 1992 and 1996 and is remembered for installing the first set of street lights on the streets of Masaka town.

Godfrey Kayemba Afayo, the incumbent Mayor Masaka Municipality, has eulogized the deceased as a hardworking man who tirelessly developed Masaka after it had suffered destruction during the 1979 Tanzanian invasion.

According to Kayemba, although Ssemwogerere wasn’t elected by the public, he was instrumental in improving service delivery and development in the war torn town.

The deceased was widely considered as perhaps the richest man in Masaka sub region, owning a number of assets including shopping malls, rental houses, chunks of prime land and petrol stations.

 

Stories Continues after ad

Murdoch to help empower 1,000 entrepreneurs across Africa by 2022

By
Agencies
-

 

A new partnership between Murdoch University in Western Australia and the South African-based Kingdom Business Network (KBN) took a first step towards formation after a visit to Perth for Africa Week by a delegation of five of its members.

The KBN is a programme created and funded by the South-African diversified investment company, the Beryl Group, to inspire entrepreneurs to create and acquire sustainable wealth, enabling them resources and training to build and develop their communities and positively impact their generation.

Murdoch hosted KBN Chief Executive Officer Joarina Matthys and four of its entrepreneurs to participate in a panel at the 9th Annual Africa Australia Research Forum and meet with Murdoch Alumni, members of the Perth African diaspora and entrepreneurial community.

The KBN was founded 10 years ago by Neverl and Beryl Kambasha and has a goal to empower 1,000 entrepreneurs across Africa by 2022.

“We are passionate about developing quality entrepreneurs who will have a positive impact on their communities,” Ms Matthys said.

“After 10 years of operation in South Africa we have made the decision to expand our reach, to other parts of Africa and to seek partnerships within Australia, including with Murdoch.”

Murdoch University Africa Research Group Chair David Doepel said Murdoch was keen to understand what structures facilitated creative and innovative thinking, and to harness the formidable African brain power globally.

“This is absolutely critical to Africa’s participation in the creation of the 4th Industrial revolution,” Mr Doepel said.

“Our digital interconnectedness holds great promise, but it only works if we have the human networks formed to leverage the digital ones.

“We have been exploring how we can be more embedded with each other to ensure the success of this burgeoning phenomena on the continent.”

Mr Doepel said there were 314 tech hubs in Africa in 2016, which had grown to more than 618 in 2018.

“More than 50 per cent of those tech hubs have incubators with in-kind support for idea and early stage start-ups, developing innovations in agtech, healthtech and fintech focused on African solutions for African opportunities.

“Coming together to ensure the success of these entrepreneurs, and finding ways to straddle continents with ideas that lead to businesses that solve problems, exploit opportunities, create jobs and deliver inclusive growth, is the work we must support.”

Ms Matthys said the KBN could also provide a trusted partner for companies interested in investing in African companies or your partners in Africa.

“A key role we play is developing and maintaining strategic partnerships to create a web of networks for our entrepreneurs as well as for people looking for opportunities in South Africa and Africa generally.

“We understand how government and local systems work; if you don’t know who to trust we are the place to come to.”

 

 

Stories Continues after ad

Neymar’s rape accuser charged with fraud and extortion

By
Agencies
-
Neymar

 

Police in Brazil have charged a woman who accused the international footballer, Neymar, of raping her in a Paris hotel in May with perverting the course of justice.

Najila Trindade and her former husband, Estivens Alves, have been accused of lying to police and attempting to blackmail the player.

The Paris St-Germain player has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Ms Trindade’s lawyer said the indictment had taken him by surprise.

Cosme Araújo rejected the police accusations and said his client had never colluded with Mr Alves to extort money from the Brazilian football star.

‘Consensual sex’

The case dominated newspaper headlines in Brazil and abroad for several weeks.

It first came to light in June, when the Paris St-Germain star released a seven minute video on Instagram revealing that he had been accused of rape.

He also published Whatsapp messages and images that he claimed to be of the woman.

In the video he says he had to make them public to “prove that nothing really happened”.

He said they met online. He paid for her trip to France and they had consensual sex before Ms Trindade returned to Brazil and went to a police station to accuse him of attacking her.

Ms Trindade then went public, giving a television interview and releasing footage and a video clip purportedly showing an altercation between the two.

Police later filed a defamation suit against Ms Trindade, who allegedly insinuated the force was corrupt, according to news agency AFP.

Neymar denied the allegations from the beginning and said he was being extorted.

Police closed the case at the end of July. The São Paulo attorney general’s office said the case was suspended due to a lack of evidence.

Stories Continues after ad

Grief as seven people are killed in Nakasongola road accident

By
Simon Kabayo
-
Wreckage of the bus. Photo credit, Daily Monitor.

Seven people were on Wednesday morning  confirmed dead while 11 others sustained injuries in a road accident involving a bus and a truck at Namayonjo village, Nakasongola District.

The accident according to the Traffic Directorate Spokesperson Mr Charles Ssebambulidde involved a bus Reg.No.UAQ 643W belonging to Roblyn Coaches that reportedly rammed into a packed truck Reg. No. UAX 001Y at Namayonjo village in Nakasongola District with the preliminary findings pointing to reckless driving.

Mr Christopher Ssendijja, the Officer in Charge Nakasongola Police Station said 5 people died on the spot while two of the victims died as they were being rushed to hospital.

“We rushed at the accident scene at 1:00am and tried our best to ensure that we save lives from the accident wreckage on the Kampala-Gulu Highway. It is unfortunate that 2 of the injured victims of the accident were pronounced dead on their way to hospital,” Mr Ssendijja explained.

“We have always cautioned drivers to ensure that they get police help and ensure that the road is secured when their respective vehicles develop mechanical problems. In this particular accident, there were no road signs to warn the other road users about the parked truck that had developed a mechanical problem,” he said.

Stories Continues after ad

Fighting fraud from the top

By
Guest Writer
-
Ayanda Kotobe

 

 By Ayanda Kotobe

 

Why do we stop at traffic lights? It’s not because we are naturally attuned to seeing red as the order to stop. If that were the case, red dresses and apples wouldn’t be as popular as they are! Red catches our attention, but we stop at a red light because everyone else does.

Humans copy each other. It’s often said that if you want someone to be more comfortable with you, mimic how they sit or stand. Psychologists call this ‘mirroring’, but it doesn’t just happen during social gatherings. Seeing someone drop a bit of trash or cutting a traffic light gives us a slight nudge into thinking it’s okay. If they are doing it, maybe I can too.

Fraud is at its essence the result of mirroring. It would be convenient to consider all fraudsters as hardened criminals who’d sell their granny if the price were right. But fraud investigators often point out that such activities have simple beginnings. The Enron scandal, so devastating that it destroyed an American energy giant, had its roots in some minor manipulations to meet earnings expectations. Yet when the people involved got away with that, they scaled up and even justified their actions as legitimate – at least to themselves.

This is why fraud prevention starts at the top. There has to be no tolerance among an organisation’s leaders for fraud. When accountability and consequences are lacking, fraud will thrive. The culture of an environment, as well as its treatment of ethics and governance, will reflect management’s attitude towards fraud.

Leadership attitudes are fundamental, reinforced by internal controls to spot fraud. Illegal activities usually involve acts that siphon amounts from a business’ coffers. These can include payroll fraud, writing double cheques for payments, skimming tax money or over-ordering1. A common fraud in South Africa and elsewhere is to overvalue a purchase and split the difference with the supplier. More recent activities include credit card fraud and bank scams. The Bankers Association of Botswana warned last year that fraudsters are becoming increasingly savvy about loopholes, especially technology ones, that organisations are not fixing fast enough.

In all these examples, it only takes a few people to abuse the trust they earned. Sadly, it’s the company that suffers when their wrongdoing is uncovered, usually because it became cataclysmic…

These can be prevented by internal checks and structures to monitor governance and compliance. Companies should also create pipelines for concerned parties and whistle-blowers to relay their suspicions. The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) sets out the following five components for an effective fraud prevention system2: control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information & communication, and monitoring. These work together to establish sound internal controls through directed leadership, shared values and a culture that supports accountability.

Increasingly, more of these controls can be automated in modern companies, particularly where high transaction volumes take place. It’s additionally effective to consolidate suppliers to a few that you know can be trusted and are serious about their integrity. Creating reliable procurement channels with those suppliers will help employees stick to legitimate activities.

There is also no reason any more to be ignorant of a company’s finances: even if you have accountants and other fiscal gatekeepers, it is possible with modern software services to generate ad hoc reports and scrutinise patterns using visualisation dashboards. At Kenya’s major banks, employee fraud is often a greater risk than third-party fraud3. Headline-grabbing South African frauds such as seen at Fidentia and Steinhoff were perpetrated by the very accountants meant to have policed such activities.

It might sound as if the fight against fraud means reducing trust in employees. This isn’t the case. Instead, it is about narrowing those gaps where fraud might take place, so as not to normalise such activities. The tone should start at the top, from leadership and management who embrace sound controls and good governance. Consequences must be enforced and felt.

Everyone will eventually ignore a traffic light if they see enough people do this. In some countries, you can see traffic officers haplessly direct vehicles that ignore them. Are all those drivers criminals? In terms of traffic laws, yes. But did they start as criminals? No. And do they see their behaviour as bad? It’s unlikely. Not until they are caught – and if it were business fraud, by then it might be too late for their employers.

The writer is Finance Director at RS Components

 

Stories Continues after ad

Hanging of Killers will reduce murders  – Museveni

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
President Museveni

 

President Museveni consoled the families of Maria Nagirinya, Joshua Rushegyera and other individuals who were killed in the recent spate of murders along Entebbe express way, Mukono and Lyantonde where three family members were trampled to death.

Museveni in his latest message to the bereaved families and Ugandans at large says that murderers should be hanged.

Days ago a staff of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI), Maria Nagirinya and her driver Ronald Kitayimbwa were reportedly kidnapped on August 28th, 2019 from the gate of her Lungujja home, murdered and their bodies dumped at Nakitutulu village, Nama sub-county in Mukono district.

According to her family members, assailants accessed her vehicle registration number UBA 570V, Spacio, moments after her young sister had just opened her the gate.

The assailants according to Sylvia Nambalira a family member who also witness the scuffle as, men grabbed Nagirinya to the back seat before speeding off, said the abductors never demanded for a ransom from any of the family members.

Alluding to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, three prime suspects have been nabbed with the help of sister security agencies of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and they are currently held at CMI facility in Kireka.

Museveni also consoled the families of Joshua Rushegyera and Tumukunde Merina who were killed on 5th of September, 2019 between 22:28 and 23 hours on the Entebbe Expressway.

Preliminary findings availed by police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the deceased were going to Millennium Hotel in Zana, where they had arranged business transaction, with a car dealer, identified as Robert Suubi.

Museveni said Joshua Rushegyera was his nephew, being a son of my cousin Kyohairwe, who was married to an NRM supporter in Bushenyi by the names of Rushegyera. There have been other killings reported in the Lyantonde area.

“As I told you before, these criminals are pigs. Anybody who kills people outside war, is a pig. Moreover, many are stupid. They forget that all crime leaves clues and, eventually, the criminals will be captured.” He said in latest letter to his grand sons and daughters

He said up to the killing of Kaweesi, Kiggundu and Abiriga, the security infrastructure had lagged behind. This prompted him to present to Parliament a 10 points anti- crime plan on the 20th of June 2018 which included among other fingerprinting of guns and introducing electronic number plates.

“You may commit a crime, carelessly taking away the lives of others; however, you will also lose your own life. We need to make this clear to the Courts. It must be an eye for eye. Nothing less will be acceptable to the freedom fighters that I represent and the entirety of the electorate of Uganda that I represent.’

“As I write now, the killers of Nagirinya have all been arrested, including the red-jacketed character that was driving Nagirinya’s car after killing her. The police have already made some arrests. The punishments must also be severe, including the hanging of Killers. The NRM always believes in the Law of Moses: An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

Stories Continues after ad
1...1,1911,1921,193...2,401Page 1,192 of 2,401

© Eagle Online. All rights reserved.

About Us

Popular Category

Editor Picks