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United to face PSG, Liverpool draw Bayern in Champions League round of 16

By
Our Reporter
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UCL Trophy

The 2018/19 UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw was held on Monday 17th December in Nyon, Switzerland.

Three-time European champions Manchester United will face Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain for the first time.

PSG have never progressed past the quarter-finals of the Champions League while Mourinho’s side was eliminated by Sevilla at the same stage last season.

Last year’s runners-up Liverpool will enteratin German champions Bayern Munich. This will be Klopp’s best chance to get revenge for the final in Wembley 2013.

Mats Hummels will unite with his former Dortmund coach Klopp while Xherdan Shaqiri with his former team in which he won the trophy in 2013.

Spurs, on the other hand, will face a Dortmund side who are unbeaten domestically. Manchester City are the English club with the most favourable draw after being picked out against a struggling Schalke who are in the bottom half of the Bundesliga after losing eight of their 15 matches.

Elsewhere, Holders Real Madrid will face Dutch champions Ajax, who have reached the knockout stages for the first time since 2005-06, while Serie A champions Juventus face Europa League winners Atletico Madrid.

Spanish champions Barcelona meet French side Lyon, while Italian club Roma face Portuguese champions Porto.

The first legs will take place on 12-13 and 19-20 February, with the return fixtures on 5-6 and 12-13 March.

Group winners will be away from home in the first legs.

The 2019 Champions League final will played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Atletico Madrid’s home ground on June 1st.

Full draw:

Schalke (GER) v Manchester City (ENG)

Atlético Madrid (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)

Manchester United (ENG) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)

Lyon (FRA) v Barcelona (ESP)

Roma (ITA) v Porto (POR)

Ajax (NED) v Real Madrid (ESP)

Liverpool (ENG) v Bayern München (GER)

2018/19 Champions League calendar

12/13/19/20 February: Round of 16, first leg

5/6/12/13 March: Round of 16, second leg

15 March: Quarter-final & semi-final draw

9/10 April: Quarter-finals, first leg

16/17 April: Quarter-finals, second leg

30 April/1 May: Semi-finals, first leg

7/8 May: Semi-finals, second leg

Saturday 1 June: Final – Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid

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Abdullah Kitatta has a case to answer-Gen. Gutti

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Abdullah Kitata

The chairman of Makindye General Court Martial (GCM), Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti has ruled that the embattled patron for Boda-Boda 2010 Abdullah Kitatta has a case to answer in the criminal charges leveled against him.

Kitatta was in January arrested by a joint force of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Internal Security Organization (ISO) and is currently facing five counts including failure to protect war material and being in unlawful possession of military stores contrary to the UPDF Act.

In the prima facie process, prosecution led by Lt. Ambrose Baguma and Maj. Raphael Mugisha introduced a CMI operative Private Richard Kasaijja to Court and other three witnesses in the Kitatta case.
Private Kasaijja told army court that, Abdallah Kitatta was on Jan 20, 2018 arrested from the toilet of Vine Hotel in Wakaliga in Rubaga division as security agencies looked for him over his illicit acts over humanity.

After the conclusion of prima facie session, court established that Kitatta, Sowali Ngobi, Ibrahim Sekajja, Joel Kibirige, Hassan Ssebata, Hussein Mugema, John Ssebandeke and Amon Twinomujuni have a case to answer.
Court has also acquitted three of the suspects and these include Johnson Kayondo, Hassan Ssengoba, and Sunday Ssemwogerere on grounds that they were not involved in any activities conducted by the group.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) cadre has for multiple times through his lawyers led by Siena Owomugisha and Shaban Sanywa filed bail applications but court has always dismissed them despite his contention that his health condition deteriorates in the Makindye military barracks where he is detained yet they cannot offer him specialized treatment.

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Police detains three over theft of vehicle number plates

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Number plates

Police is holding three suspects over theft of vehicle number plates and extorting money from residents of Katooke, Kibwa, Wamala, Nabweru, Lugoba, Kazo Nansana and Kawempe.

Their arrest follows numerous complaints raised by residents over the shooting cases of vehicle vandalism and number plate theft by unknown suspects who leave behind their telephone numbers demanding for mobile money before giving back the plates.

According to Kampala metropolitan police Spokesperson, Luke Owesigire, the three suspects are identified as Kuraish Lubuulwa 17 years, Ramadhan Kabooyo aka Amooti 22, and Experito Ssengoba 19 years were arrested with 29 stolen vehicle number plates.

He said after several hours of questioning, the suspects opened up and led police to various locations where they had hidden the number plates, “this kind of theft is a form of smart crime that brings in quick cash from the affected victims,” he added.

In case of any theft or loss of plates, he implored owners to report to the nearest police for them to be issued with official document for easy movement in case they stopped by traffic police officers on their journeys and obtaining replacements of their number plate.

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FUFA Uganda Cup round of 64 draws held, prize money increased

By
Our Reporter
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Uganda cup trophy

The 45th edition of the Stanbic FUFA Uganda Cup round of 64 draws have been held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Monday afternoon.

The Round of 64 ties will kick off on 18th December 2018 and will move on until the close of the year.

The prize money has been increased from Shs90 million to Shs120 million with the winning club smiling home with Shs40 million, runners up Shs20 million, semi-finalists Shs10 million, quarter finalists Shs5 million and Shs2.5 million for each of the clubs that finish at the round of 16 stage.

The host region and ground for the final will be communicated.

The winner of the competition represents Uganda in the CAF Confederation Cup as per the rules of the competition. KCCA FC are the defending champions.

The competition which was commonly known as Kakungulu Cup started in 1971. KCCA FC and Express FC are the most successful clubs in the Uganda cup winning on 10 occasions each.

Full draw:

Vipers Vs Rusekere Growers

Akadot FC Vs kitara FC

Kira Utd Vs St Mary’s/Makindye Cubs

SC Villa Vs Buganda 3

Water FC Vs Saviors FC

KCCA FC Vs Amuka Bright Stars

Admin FC Vs Doves All Stars

Bumate Utd Vs Ntinda Utd

Bul FC Vs kataka FC

U-Touch FC Vs Mvara FC

Kyetume FC Vs UPDF FC

Paidha Black Angels Vs Express FC

Buganda 2 Vs Edgars Youth // Fire Fire FC

Busia Young FC Vs Onduparaka FC

Mbarara City FC Vs Maroons FC

St Stephen/ Lungujja Galaxy Vs Budondo FC

Tepper FC Vs Buganda 4

Bukedea TC FC Vs Dove FC

Tooro Utd Vs Entebbe FC

Proline FC Vs Light SS FC

Western 1 Vs Kiboga Young FC

Calvary FC Vs Kabale Sharp FC

Wakiso Giants FC Vs Vision FC

Western 3 Vs Kirinya Jinja SS

Bright Stars FC Vs Western 2

Kachumbara FC Vs Nyamityobora FC

Kireka Utd Vs New Villa FC

Buganda 1 Vs koboko Rising Stars

Police FC Vs Boma FC

URA FC Vs JMC Hippos

Ndejje University FC Vs Kansai Plascon

Nebbi Central FC Vs Catida FC / Nansana Utd

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BoU officials fail to account for Shs478b-Cosase

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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The ground can no longer hold for BoU officials.

The Bank of Uganda has failed to account for Shs478.8 billion, the officials say they sank in Crane Bank Limited as liquidity support among other costs before finally transferring it to Dfcu Bank at Shs200 billion, Anita Among, the Vice Chairperson of parliament’s committee on Commission Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase), said on Monday.

MP Among while speaking to the press said BoU officials were sent back to bring valid documents related to the closure and sale of Crane Bank Limited to Dfcu Bank which also ironically bought off assets of Global Trust Bank.

She said BoU officials on Monday tendered in documents that could not convince the committee members on how Shs478.8 billion was spent. She said some of the documented were duplicated by BoU officials.

She said the loan book of Crane Bank was an irony as there are instances where two clients are attached to the same loans. At the time of takeover by BoU, CBL loans amounting to Shs768 billion constituted 65 percent of the total assets. Shs529 billion worth of net loans were transferred to Dfcu Bank except the insider loans.

She said what BoU officials presented on Monday as documents ‘were mere stationery’ which is not helpful to the committee, the reason she said the committee had to send officials back to bring proper documents on Crane Bank sale.

BoU took over management of Crane Bank Limited (CBL) in October 2016 and sold it off to Dfcu Bank in January 2017 even as owners wanted the transaction dropped. The bank at the time needed Shs157 billion to stay afloat but instead BoU closed it on account of being grossly insolvent. BoU officials would later sink in the bank Shs478.8 billion as they managed it before selling it to Dfcu Bank at Shs200 billion.

According to the Auditor John Muwanga’s special report of BoU on seven defunct banks, BoU did not show accountability of the Shs478.8 billion. “I observed that BoU did not have a documented process of injection of funds to support CBL operations during the statutory management,” he said in August this year while releasing the report.

Cosase has been probing BoU top officials over irregular closure of seven commercial banks including Teefe Trust Bank, Crane Bank Limited, Global Trust Bank, International Credit Bank, Cooperative Bank, Greenland Bank and National Bank of Commerce.

Tomorrow the committee resumes in a closed session where BoU Governor Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile are expected to bring valid documents if any.

Meanwhile the deputy governor Bank of Uganda, Louis Kasekende has written to the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on Commission of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) Abdu Katuntu to provide with documents relating to his wealth.

Katuntu said on Friday he had received a letter from Kasekende dated December 14 requesting for information allegedly related to his wealth presented to the committee Aruu South MP Odonga Otto.

Katuntu said he directed the clerk attached to Cosase to avail the information to Kasekende by Monday this week. Katuntu did not say out the reasons given by Kasekende in his letter as to why he requires the documents.

Thursday last week, a sub-committee of Cosase MPs was set up to look into documents of assets allegedly owned by Kasekende and report back to the entire committee tomorrow Tuesday.

The committee comprise Bukedea Woman MPs Among, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) representative Brig. Francis Takirwa and Kiruhura Woman MP Sheila Mwine.

The copies of 70 pieces of land and property allegedly owned by Kasekende and his proxies including driver and wife were tabled by Otto as the committee proceeded with investigations into the closure of seven commercial banks between 1993 and 2016 as highlighted in the 2017 forensic audit report by the auditor general.

MP Otto accused Kasekende of engaging in profiteering, presented a list of 17 properties and land linked to Kasekende. He also accused the deputy governor of transferring 18 properties into the control of his driver Moses Musitwa and 35 others into the names of his wife Edith Kasekende.

Otto also laid before the committee, bank statements of Edith, showing transfer of US$1.6 million (about Shs6 billion) from China Railway Corporation and another transfer into her account of Shs1.9 billion from MMAKS advocates. MMAKS advocates were the lawyers retained by BoU to provide transactional advice on the resolutions of Crane bank.

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Comesa: Uganda, six others harmonise seed regulations

By
Our Reporter
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FAO seeds increase the availability of fresh vegetables in conflict-hit Akobo, South Sudan. Photo: FAO

Uganda is among the seven Comesa countries out the 21 States that have so far harmonized their national seed regulations with the regional seed trade harmonization regulations. Others that have harmonised their seed regulations are; Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The harmonization of seed laws under the COMESA Seed Harmonization Implementation Plan (COMSHIP) was adopted by the COMESA Council of Ministers in 2014, as a strategy to trigger seed trade, which is currently low across the region and a cause for food insecurity.

Presenting the status report during a two-day High Level Consultative Workshop on The Implementation of Harmonized Seed Regulations in Eastern and Southern Africa, 13 – 14 December 2018, in Nairobi, Kenya, COMESA Seed Expert Dr John Mukuka said the framework was intended to address the lack of quality seed in the region which has led to food insecurity.

“Within the agricultural sector, access to improved or quality seed by our 80 million small-holder farmers in the COMESA region is low at 23 percent,” he said. “This has resulted in low productivity especially on cereals like maize, sorghum and pearl millet.”

He noted that despite the COMESA countries having most of the global arable land the region, food production was not rising in tandem with population growth.

“The population in the COMESA countries is increasing at 2.3% while food production was at 2%, a situation that has brought about food insecurity to 130 million out of 600 million people in the region,” Dr Mukuka told the delegates who comprised of seed experts from 16 COMESA Member States.

COMSHIP is one of the component in the entire value-addition chain; from agro-inputs, to output markets and financial markets with potential to spur regional seed trade. The other components that COMESA has lined up for harmonization from 2019 are: fertilizer standards; grades and standards for staple foods (maize, beans and rice); warehouse receipt system; implementation of the Regional Food Balance Sheet including Informal Cross Border Monitoring and Livestock Feed Sector.

In addition to the seven countries that have completed the harmonization process, an additional six have launched the COMSHIP and development/ alignment of their domestic seed laws with the regional regulations and are expected to join the list of compliant States by end of 2019. They are Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mauritius, and Eswatini.

Others that have launched the seed harmonization plan and preparing to begin the alignment process are: Comoros, Eritrea, Madagascar, Seychelles and Sudan. Only three COMESA States are yet to launch the plan. They are Libya and the new member States (that joined COMESA in July 2018) Tunisia and Somalia.

At the close of the meeting, delegates endorsed COMESA decision to embark on testing the COMSHIP in the countries that have completed harmonization of seed regulations so that seed companies, with varieties on the COMESA Seed Variety Catalogue can trade as soon as possible.

COMSHIP is implemented by the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA), a specialized agency of COMESA and provides a framework of implementation plans and modalities at national and regional level to facilitate regional trade in the seed sector.

Meanwhile, COMESA has developed Seed Labels and Certificates to facilitate regional seed trade. Dr Mukuka told the delegates that 4.5 million COMESA Seed Labels and 2,500 Certificates will be ready by the first quarter of 2019 for use by major seed companies in the region.

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Shock as over 85% fail LDC exams

By
Our Reporter
-

The Law Development Centre (LDC) released results for the academic year 2017/2018 showing over 85 percent failures. The results shocked candidates as only 135 students out of over 900 passed the exams that would have enabled them to attain certificates for legal practice in Uganda.

Some 596 students failed one, two or three core course units and must as required by the institution sit supplementary exams and pass them before they are cleared to graduate with the other 135 students.

To help students finish the course and graduate in time, LDC caries out supplementary exams where students that fail in not more than three course units are allowed to sit the exams again before graduation is held. Those who pass supplementary exams graduate with those who passed main exams.

However, another 35 students that failed in more than three core exams will be repeating the course next academic year.

The group will also not be subjected to fresh pre-entry exams and will have automatic admission into the course again as long as they still be interested.

LDC was established in 1970 by the Law Development Centre Act as a government-owned institution of higher learning responsible for research, law reform, publications, law reporting and community legal services. Due to high failure rates and persistent public outcry, the centre opened a branch in Mbarara to boost service delivery and admit more students. The centre is expected to open campuses in towns of Mbale and Arua.

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We won’t release your passports-Cosase tells Bagyenda

By
Our Reporter
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Embattled former Executive Director in charge of Supervision at Bank of Uganda Justine Bagyenda.

Parliament’s committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) Chairman Abdu Katuntu, has told former Bank of Uganda (BoU) executive director for bank supervision, Ms Justine Bagyenda that the committee will not release her passports to allow her fly abroad for the Christmas holiday.

This follows after Bagyenda requested through writing that she needed to travel abroad for Christmas. The passports were confiscated two weeks ago after she flew out of the country without letting the committee know in time.

Bagyenda and other BoU officials including Governor, Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile and Deputy Governor Dr. Louis Kasekende have been appearing before the committee over closure of seven defunct banks, which the Auditor General John Muwanga in his report says were closed without following guidelines as provided in the Financial Institutions Act (FIA) as well as the Bank of Uganda Act.

“Ms Bagyenda has written to me and she was requesting us to release her passports to enable her arrange her Christmas travel,” MP Katuntu told the committee on Friday.

Katuntu told Bagyenda that the BoU inquiry will continue even during Christmas period to complete the matter in time. Katuntu said Bagyenda is part and parcel of the probe. “You are a very critical witness and the whole bank transactions were based in your office. What takes precedence? Is it your Christmas or committee?” Katuntu said.

Katuntu told Bagyenda that probe would continue even after the Christmas break and that she needed to respect the committee program which takes precedent.

“We can’t refuse anybody to go for Christmas but then, whether she goes for Christmas, she must be here when we need her. She will tell us when she is leaving and she has to reconcile her program to travel with the Committee program where they conflict, the Committee program prevails over her travels because we aren’t going to stop this process because Bagyenda is on holiday, that we will not do. She will take advantage of only her Committee program,” Katuntu said.

On December 3, 2018, Katuntu told Bagyenda to deposit both her passports to parliament after she dodged the committee to attend to her errands abroad. Bagyenda played a critical role in the sale of Global Trust Bank and Crane Bank Limited.

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AMISOM starts process of handing over military academy to Somali army

By
Our Reporter
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A cadet training school occupied by African Union troops for the last eleven years will soon be handed over to the Somali national army

A cadet training school occupied by African Union troops for the last eleven years, will soon be handed over to the Somali National Army (SNA).

Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy in the Somali capital Mogadishu, served as a key operations base for the African Union troops at the height of the war against Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab militants and a Forward Operating Base from which the troops waged a fierce war against the militants, leading to the liberation of Mogadishu in 2011.

The handover process of the institution is being undertaken within the framework of the Somalia Transition Plan and the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, which call for a gradual and conditions-based transfer of Somalia’s security responsibilities to the Somali security forces.

The African Union’s Special Representative for Somalia, who is also the Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira did an inspection tour of the academy today, to assess rehabilitation works currently underway at the military institution.

“We thank the Somali government for allowing us to occupy this place at a time when the war against Al-Shabaab was at its peak,” Ambassador Madeira said. “At that moment, we needed to liberate Mogadishu from the occupation of the Al-Shabaab,” added the AU Special Representative, who was accompanied on the assessment tour by senior Somali National Army and AMISOM officials.

“The handing over of the (Mogadishu) Stadium and of the Academy is the second step forward,” stated Madeira, referring to the sixty-thousand capacity Mogadishu National Stadium, which was vacated by AMISOM troops and handed over to the Federal Government in August 2018.

The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) is spearheading refurbishment works at the military academy ahead of its handover to the government. At least forty-eight (48) prefabricated buildings, a hospital, water treatment and power plants will be fully restored before the formal handover in 2019.

“We value the spirit of brotherhood from AMISOM and appreciate the rare sacrifices you have made to bring peace to Somalia,” Brig. Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Madobe, the Somali National Army (SNA) Head of Operations told the delegation from AMISOM.

Burundian troops currently occupying the institution are due to relocate to a Forward Operating Base in the outskirts of Mogadishu. This will be the third key institution handed over to the Somali government by the AU Mission since 2017. In July 2017 the Mission relinquished control of the Somali National University, which it had used as a military base for ten years, and handed it back to the Government.

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Belgium appoints envoy to EAC

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Amb Van Acker presented his letter of credence to EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko

The Kingdom of Belgium has appointed, Ambassador Peter Van Acker to United Republic of Tanzania and will also serve as Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the East African Community as an observer.

Amb Van Acker presented his letter of credence to EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, during a brief ceremony held at the EAC headquarters in Arusha.

Amb. Van Acker said that his appointment was out of his government’s commitment to deepen its cooperation with the EAC, noting that the significance of regional integration is not only for East Africans, but also an important source of growth for the continent as well.

The Belgium envoy expressed delight at the accreditation commenting that Belgium has very good relations with the EAC member states.

In his remarks, the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko warmly welcomed the Belgium Envoy to the EAC and briefed him on the current achievements in the pillars of the regional integration and development process.

He noted that Belgium has an intimate knowledge of the region and added that the EAC is looking forward to scaling up cooperation with the country.

Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary-General Amb. Mfumukeko received the Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mr. Mark Meassick who paid a courtesy visit to him at the EAC Headquarters. The Kenya and East Africa USAID Director was accompanied by Program Advisor, Regional Intergovernmental Organization, Ms Mimi Steward.

In receiving the Mission Director, Amb Mfumukeko thanked USAID for its continued support and strong partnership. Reiterating on the importance of regional integration as a means to access regional markets and gain competition advantages in efficiency and productivity outputs.

“These elements can only be realised by having no restrictions on the movement of goods, services, labour and capital within the East Africa,” noted Amb. Mfumukeko

Speaking during the discussion Director Meassick acknowledged the efforts that the Community has made to access trade, adding that “this has not only promoted prosperity in those regions, but has also delivered better livelihoods to their communities, thus putting EAC in the forefront as a model for Integration“.

The United States of America through USAID has been a key Development Partner of the EAC integration process to different Project and Programmes including; Assistance Agreement for Comprehensive Regional Development (AA-CRD) to the tune of US$23,230,800 from Oct. 2011 to Sept. 2019 and Regional Development Objectives Grant Agreement (RDOAG) to the tune of US$30,000,000 from Sept. 2016 to Sept. 2021.

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