Victoria University located in the heart of Kampala has elevated three senior academic staff to the professor and associate professor levels in a move that should boost the university’s academics.

The promotions, which took place following an academic process running from January to December 2018.

Those elevated include; Krishna N. Sharma, the University Vice Chancellor who is now an associate professor; Prof. Stephen Lawoko and Prof. Omotayo Adegbuyi.

Dr. Sharma whose career began in Mau in 2005, has written more than 100 books on medical and health sciences, music and literature.

Mr. Sharma in 20017 started as an Assistant Lecturer and then Head of Department and Vice Principal at Jeevan Jyoti Institute of Medical Sciences, Allahabad, India.

He was also the Dean at St. Louis University, Cameroon; and Dean Faculty of Health Sciences at Victoria University Kampala before he became Vice-Chancellor.

Mr. Sharma is also the youngest Vice-Chancellor in the world and three-time world record holder in education and research.

He is a physiotherapist, serving in various famous TV shows. On top of studying science, he is also a music graduate.

Prof. Stephen Lawoko (Health Sciences), also the Dean Faculty Health Sciences at the city university.

Having completed secondary and high school at St. Mary’s College Kisubi and Caltec Academy in Kikoni Makerere, respectively, Stephen Lawoko relocated to Sweden in 1989.

He completed an MSc. in Statistics at Linkoping University, and a PhD and Associate Professorship in Public Health at the world re-known Karolinska Institute, where he served for 13 years. He has published more than 65 research papers in world-class research journals.

Now elevated to Professor of Public Health at Victoria University which he joined in 2017, Prof. Lawoko has been monumental in transforming the research culture at the university.

Students’ theses are now being internationally recognized through publication in peer-review international journals, and there has been an exponential growth in the outflow of research publications from members of staff and students as well.

Also on the list is Prof. Omotayo Adegbuyi, the dean at the Faculty of Business and Management.

Prof. Omotayo hails from Nigeria with a firm background in marketing. The established professor started his educational career at Enugu State University of Technology in Nigeria where he studied and attained his first degree in marketing.

After years in formal business employment, he got an appointment to Covenant University, also a private university as an Assistant Lecturer. He attained his Ph.D. in 2011, and eight years later, he is now a professor in his field.

Victoria University, a high rising learning institution in Uganda, is committed to making a major contribution to higher education, not just in Uganda, but in all of East Africa, by establishing high-quality programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The university is research-driven and motivated by the needs of society and the need to create scholars empowered to provide cutting edge solutions.

Its state of the art facilities, outstanding staff, conducive learning environment, and accessible campus have made it an attractive learning centre.

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The exodus of top officials from Dfcu Bank continues, the latest being the exit of Agnes Tibayeyita Isharaza who is now head of legal services at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Ms Isharaza was days ago appointed to that position by the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija who supervises NSSF.

However, sources say Ms Isharaza joined NSSF, having disagreed with the board of Dfcu Bank, Jimmy Mugerwa over certain business decisions but particularly her refusal to be used to drag journalists to police over what he termed as bad publicity.

Her departure from Dfcu Bank is just one of several others that are happening as top employees look for green pastures elsewhere. A source said.

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The construction of Shs32 billion National Drug Authority (NDA) Laboratory Tower has begun, with the ground breaking ceremony on Lumumba Avenue being officiated on Thursday by the Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Acheng.

Speaking at the function, Minister Acheng said the plan to construct the facility demonstrates government’s dedication to save human lives, especially those of Ugandans.

“Congratulations NDA on this milestone of embarking on the construction of the Quality Control Laboratory tower. We are excited that National Drug Authority (NDA) can finally have a quality control laboratory to check the efficacy of the drugs we use in the country,” she said.

The minister said the facility would be the best in East, Central and Southern Africa, with the construction funds generated internally by NDA.

The Chairperson of NDA, Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, lauded President Museveni and minister Achieng for the continuous support. “I would like to name one tower ‘Museveni Tower’ and another tower ‘Jane tower’ to show appreciation for their support,” he said.

Dr. Bitekyerezo said, the construction of the building would be completed in 24 months.

Ag. Secretary, David Nahamya said that all foods for export will be tested at the facility when completed, adding that locally manufactured and imported cosmetics will also be tested in the facility.

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Rwanda has insisted Uganda supports rebel groups that want to bring the Kigali regime down even though a week ago the government of Uganda said it was a mere allegation.

A statement by Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said of the presence of armed groups and terrorist organisations in Uganda hostile to Rwanda, including RNC, FDLR and others. It said the groups are supported by Uganda in their activities, including recruitment, by institutions and officials of the Government of Uganda. “The details of these concerns have been repeatedly communicated to the Government of Uganda,” the statement said.
The statement alleges Uganda has killed, arrested, incarcerated without consular access and tortured its nationals. The statement alleges that close to 1000 Rwandans were illegally deported by Ugandan authorities to Rwanda in inhumane conditions.

“The targeting of ordinary Rwandan citizens involved in regular business and trade activities, within the framework of the East African Community and the hampering of the free movement of goods, including perishables, to and through Uganda,” it says.
It alleged that the recent statements issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda including the one dated March 13, 2019were diversionary and do not address fundamental issues raised by Rwanda.

“It is not possible to have free trade including free movement of goods if traders are killed, tortured, extorted and their property are illegally seized. These are the fundamental issues that need to be addressed. Claims that Rwanda has instituted trade embargo on Uganda are as untrue as they are diversionary,” it further says.

“The Government of Rwanda calls upon the Government of Uganda to address the key issues stated above and as already repeatedly communicated in bilateral settings,” it says.

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Uganda’s zeal to become the “meetings capital of Africa” has gone a notch higher with the latest approval from a Zimbabwean London-based and Africa’s eighth billionaire- Strive Masiyiwa that the facility becomes ‘Official African Conference Centre’ in Africa.

The tycoon who is the Founder and Chairman of global telecommunications group Econet Wireless and valued at US$2.3 billion by Forbes, talked good of Speke Resort Munyonyo and the Commonwealth Resort, saying the expansive structures are the best he has seen anywhere in Africa.

“Why don’t we declare this venue; this site, the official African Conference Centre?” Said Masiyiwa who was applauded by guests at the just ended Africa Now Conference 2019 which was opened and closed by President Museveni.

The conference that run from March 12-13, was jointly hosted by Speke Resort Munyonyo and the adjoining Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo under the theme, “Towards a secure, integrated and growing Africa”. It attracted over 1,000 delegates that included among others, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia; William Samoei Ruto, the Vice President of Kenya and Samia Hassan Suluhu, the Vice President of Tanzania.

Other high profile guests and speakers included Mr Rob Shuter, CEO MTN Group, and Mr Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian economist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

“I go all over Africa to conferences and in big hotels and we go to the basements and we come to this amazing venue…thank you very much for organizing it. I will come every year if you want,” said Masiyiwa.

Built on an expansive 100 acres by the breezy shores of Lake Victoria, both Speke Resort Munyonyo and Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo have 450 tastefully finished rooms and 25 international standard conference rooms.

“I go all over Africa to conferences and in big hotels and we go to the basements and we come to this amazing venue…thank you very much for organizing it. I will come every year if you want,” he said.

Recently, Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo and Speke Resort Munyonyo won the coveted 2018 World Luxury Hotel Awards regional and country categories respectively.

The Ruparelia Group recently announced plans to construct a 5-star Speke Resort and Convention Centre, in Entebbe.

When it is completed, the facility will be a exquisite addition to the group’s portfolio of other luxury and hospitality facilities that include: Speke Resort and Conference Centre, Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kabira Country Club, Speke Hotel, Dolphin Suites, Tourist Hotel, Forest Cottages, Speke Resort Bujagali Falls and the recently expanded Speke Apartments.

In the past years, Uganda has seen a sharp rise in tourist arrivals from 945,899 in 2010 to 1,322,522 in 2016 translating into a 107 percent increment in earnings, from US$662 million to US$1,371 million targets to earn US$2.7 billion by next year.

Among other tourism sub-sectors, Uganda is looking to become the “meetings capital of Africa” earning a chunk from the lucrative meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions (MICE) market, but is facing considerable competition from Kenya and most recently Rwanda.

Uganda’s hotel sector has recently had a rise of new high end and mid-level facilities and according to Jean Byamugisha, the Executive Director at Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) by end of 2018, there was an estimated over 6,000 accommodation facilities in the country offering about 410,000 rooms and 487,000 beds.

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