Minister for Kampala, Betty Olive Namisango Kamya has appointed Eng. Andrew Kitaka Mubiru as the Acting Executive Director for Kampala capital city authority (KCCA).

The appointment proceeds the resignation of Jennifer Musisi Semakula after serving for seven years since her appointment in 2011. Musisi has always worked towards reorganization of the city, construction of roads and improving traffic flow through installation of traffic rights and cameras.

“This is to submit my resignation from the position of Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority with effect from December 15, 2018. Your Excellency, over the last seven and half years, we have made progress towards transforming Kampala and below are some of our performance highlights” reads in part of the resignation letter.

In the appointment letter, Kamya said to ensure continuity and smooth running of the city, “I have assigned the duties of the Executive Director to Eng. Andrew Kitaka Mubiru who is substantially the director engineering and technical services at KCCA,” read in part of that letter.

She confirmed powers to the Sam Serunkuuma to continue carrying out the duties of Deputy Executive Director until when the substantive one is appointed.

Kamya appealed to all KCCA workers to remain focused, objective and ensure performance to the expectation to the public and the nation at large and implored the general public to accord them maximum cooperation.

She lauded the former ED Jennifer Musisi for good work done and commitment in managing the city.
Kamya is reported to have submitted two names to the president for consideration of ED for KCCA and the two are Kitaka and Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to China, Henry Mayega.

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Cabinet has approved the Traffic and Road safety Amendment bill, 2018 that seeks to strengthen the management of road transport and road safety in Uganda.

The Bills entail matters of road designs, definition of highways and strengthening road safety management so as to thwart the shooting numbers of accidents on the country’s major and minor roads.

Recently the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga tasked the Minister of Works and Transport Monica Azuba to draft and table the bill after Lugazi Municipality MP, Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi raised the issue of concern on the increasing road carnage at various black spots between Mabira forest and Kitega in Buikwe district.

However, in a cabinet meeting held at State House Entebbe, ministers gave green light for the bill saying it will enhance and strengthen the traffic and road safety regulatory and enforcement regimes and improve the provision and management of road transport services.

Speaking at media Centre Deputy government Spokesperson rtd Col. Shaban Bantaliza said if passed into law, the act will harmonize the Traffic and Road safety law with the international, regional, national laws and protocols.

“The bill provide for continuous technology innovations including ICT innovation in the transport services sector in the country,” he said at media centre.

According to Global status report on road safety 2018, over 1.35 million have perished in road accidents implying that nearly 3 700 people die on the world’s roads every day with Africa having the highest proportion of pedestrian and cyclist mortalities with 44 per cent of deaths.

The report recommended for safer infrastructure like dedicated lanes for cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and improve vehicle standards for scaling down on the number of accidents.

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Bridge Schools – which educates thousands of pupils in Uganda and Kenya – has achieved impressive results in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams; for the fourth consecutive year.

Thousands of Bridge pupils sat the exam and excelled, despite coming from communities like Lamu and Garissa traditionally trapped in the poverty cycle; communities similar to Kasokoso and Namakwekwe where Bridge runs schools in Uganda. 59 per cent of Bridge pupils scored at least 250 marks – with an average of 262 marks. – and were 18 per cent more likely to do so than their peers.

Once again, multiple Bridge pupils have been placed in the country’s top 1 per cent of performers, giving them a highly competitive edge for elite national secondary schools admission. Bridge pupils scored an average of 12 points higher than other pupils nationally, a difference equivalent to almost one full additional year of schooling.

In Kenya, over a million children took the KCPE exam and for the first time there was no passing or failing. Following sweeping policy changes, all children are now eligible to attend secondary school. The KCPE score simply determines which type of secondary school. The results mean that many Bridge pupils will attend secondary education in some of Kenya’s top secondary schools as it was been the case in the recent past with bright pupils.

The performance of girls in Bridge schools is especially impressive. The individual performances of top scorers Stacy Linda Achieng from Bridge Getembe (409 marks) and Victoria Juarez from Bridge Lamu (403 marks) have paved the way for local and national celebration. For the fourth consecutive year, girls attending Bridge for five or more years were the highest performing cohort, averaging 281 marks. In four years, the number of girls attending Bridge schools achieving at least 250 marks has increased by 30 per cent. In communities where girls education often faces cultural challenges these outcomes show significant impact. It shows that strong community engagement, parental support and initiatives like the parent teacher associations can overcome barriers which have prevented girls attending and excelling in school.

The Bridge results have proved, once again, that poverty isn’t destiny. It has demonstrated that children from impoverished communities can successfully compete with the wealthiest sections of Kenyan society; all they need is opportunity. This is not only true in Kenya but, also in Uganda. Last year’s PLE results were another evidence to this. 100 per cent of all pupils that sat exams passed with flying colours and were admitted in good secondary schools. There is a great expectation for this year’s PLE results – due to be announced in January – and a lot of optimism that pupils will do as well as last year

With such evidence of learning gains and great results, is it time for government to consider a public private partnership with Bridge as one of the options to improve on the quality of learning in public schools?

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Kenyan girls are being pushed into Uganda and other countries like Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia for female genital mutilation (FGM) to avoid the on-going a crackdown on the injurious tradition at home, campaigners have said.

The government of Kenya criminalised FGM in 2011 with a minimum punishment of three years imprisonment and a U.S$2,000 fine, boosting efforts to curb the internationally condemned custom with the most comprehensive anti-FGM legislation in East Africa.

Campaigners say that while sensitisation on the effects of the practice has brought down the prevalence rates, it still persists as people discover new ways to evade prosecution in the country.

“Cross-border FGM is becoming an increasing trend in the areas we work along Kenya’s border with Uganda and Tanzania, especially in December during the school holidays,” said Agnes Kola, women’s’ rights coordinator for ActionAid Kenya.

Kola said there was no available data available on the numbers of girls in Kenya travelling to neighbouring countries for FGM as much of it was underground and that it was a new trend.

About 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, which usually involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia, according to the United Nations.

Seen as necessary for social acceptance and increasing a girl’s marriage prospects, FGM is prevalent across parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

In Kenya, one in five women and girls aged between 15 and 49 in Kenya have undergone FGM, says the U.N.

“While some cases have been brought to court under Kenya’s anti-FGM law, implementation remains a challenge, largely due to a lack of resources and capacity of law enforcement agencies and difficulties reaching remote areas,” campaigners say.

U.N. data shows 75 cases of FGM were brought before Kenyan courts in 2016 but only 10 cases resulted in a conviction.

Campaigners said cross-border FGM is being seen among communities such as the Maasai, Pokot and Kuria who live along Kenya’s west and southwestern borders with Uganda and Tanzania.

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