The Ugandan Cabinet has approved the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2018, according to the Deputy Government Spokesman Rtd Col. Shaban Bantariza.

Bantariza who was briefing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday said the long-awaited bill was approved on Monday as Cabinet sat at State House Entebbe under the Chairmanship of President Yoweri Museveni.

He said the proposed bill would enable Uganda get international cooperation in money laundering and terrorist financing investigations but also be admitted into the Egmont Group, a united body of 155 financial intelligence units.

Government has already established the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) to curb money laundering and related crimes such as terrorist financing. That approval the bill means it will now be debated in parliament before it can become law.

Finally, Bantariza said, Cabinet noted the proposed transfer of the interest in Block 1, 1A, 2 and 3A by Tullow Uganda Operations PTY Limited and Tullow Uganda Limited to Total E&P Uganda B.V and CNOOC Uganda Limited.

Tullow Oil Plc sought the approval from Ugandan government some time back for the planned partial sale of its interests to Total E&P Uganda. In January 2017, the company agreed to transfer 21.57 per cent of its 33.33 per cent interests in blocs above at a total consideration of US $900 million.

In February 2017CNOOC Uganda Limited (CNOOC) notified Tullow that it has exercised its pre-emption rights under the joint operating agreements between Tullow, Total and CNOOC to acquire 50 per cent of the interests being transferred to Total on the same terms and conditions that were agreed between Tullow and Total. CNOOC, as well agreed to the amount, structure and timing of the consideration payable to Tullow. It was expected that Tullow would get all the payment by end of 2018.

The total consideration for the transaction includes US$200 million (about Shs720 billion) in cash consisting of $100 million (about Shs360 million) on completion of the transaction and US$50 million (Shs180 billion) at both final investment decision and first oil production.

The second consideration is US$700 million (Shs2.5 trillion) in deferred consideration which will be used by Tullow to fund the company’s share of the costs of the upstream development project and the associated export pipeline project.

Once the farm-down is completed, Tullow will cease to be an operator in Uganda but will retain a non-operated presence only in the country.

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By Our Reporter

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga on Monday led d a team of 30 leaders from Busoga region to the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) Crop & Livestock Resources Research Institutes in Namulonge and Nakyesasa respectively on a learning mission of smart agricultural practices.

While at the Livestock Research Institute, Kadaga toured the vaccine evaluation platform where clinical trials for NARO produced (4) tick vaccines are being conducted in line with the World Health Organization procedures for release of a new drug.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, once on the market, this vaccine will save this country over Shs3.2 trillion which is the current expenditure on imported ticks and acaracide treatment for livestock,” said Ambrose Agona, the NARO Director General.

Agona said the model is available for interested commercial farmers to adopt and replicate on their own farms. “As a Research Organization, we pride ourselves in bringing the smartest agricultural practices closer to the people for increased production and productivity,” he said.

Kadaga said, “is possible for us to move the 68% of our Ugandans into the cash economy and I implore my colleagues the elected leaders to make use of the knowledge resources available to us through the Zonal Agricultural Research Institutes to enlighten our people.”

The NARO vaccines being produced include three tick-specific vaccines and one cocktail vaccine that has the potential to protect Ugandan cattle and beyond from the three most prevalent ticks.

NARO is applying biotechnology tools in the development of potato varieties tolerant to potato blight disease, maize varieties tolerant to drought, maize stock borer and the fall army worm, banana varieties enhanced vitamin A content.

NARO has embarked on a campaign to promote research partnership and collaboration; improve research quality and increase total research funding for research by mobilising funds from farmers, industry and other sources.

Dr. Godfrey Asea, the Director of Research at the Crop Research Institute said that annually, Ugandan farmers lose an estimated Shs100 billion to major cassava virus diseases.

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