African Centre for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (ACTV), treated and gave counseling services to 800 torture victims last year. 429 victims of torture given the services were from northern Uganda while 405 from central Uganda.

Speaking to journalists in Gulu Town, Alfred Oketayot, the managing director of the organisation said victims of torture face livelihood and stigmatization challenges, adding that most of the perpetrators of the torture are mostly police and other military agencies.

Tony Ojok, the legal officer , said one is liable on conviction to life imprisonment for 15 years or a fine of Shs7.2 million or both if he commits an any form of torture. That punishment he said, is according to the Anti-torture Act 2012.

Isaac Ogwal the clinical psychologist at the Centre said that tormentors torture their victims in a bid to get information or make confession. He said that their aim is not to kill but it can but that sometimes can lead to the death of the captive.

According to the 2017 report, torture was perpetrated by security agents. In the report, the Uganda Police Force alone had 1,016 torture complaints against it since 2012, while the Uganda People’s Defence Forces follow closely with 275 cases.

ACTV is accredited by the Ministry of Health to operate a medical referral centre that provides physical and psychological care that supports the process of rehabilitation of victims of torture by security agencies or by rebels in Uganda and neighboring countries.

The organisation is also accredited to International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)

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Several people are reported dead as the bus lost control on the road to Kapchorwa. According to eyewitnesses, the bus lost control at a sharp corner.

This is a developing story, wait for details.

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Uganda’s coffee exports for the last 12 (November 2017 to October 2018) totalled to 4.27 million bags worth US $454 million comprising Robusta 3.19 million bags worth US $322 million and Arabica 1.11 million bags worth US $140 million, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

Meanwhile, UCDA in its October report says coffee exports during the month amounted to 350,743 60-kilo bags worth US $ 35.22 million. This comprised 242,870 bags (US $23.59 million) of Robusta and 107,873 bags (US $11.62 million) of Arabica. This was a decrease of 8.09 per cent and 19.48 per cent in quantity and value respectively from the same month last year.

By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last coffee year (September 2017/18 and 2018/19), both Robusta and Arabica registered a percentage decrease in both Quantity and Value; Robusta (6.36 per cent and 17.08 per cent) respectively, Arabica (11.80 per cent and 23.93 per cent) respectively. Coffee exports for a year were 10.56 per cent and 19.61 per cent lower in both quantity and value respectively compared to the previous year.

Some of the factors that led to this were: Low global prices on account of higher crop in Brazil which affected export prices as well as lower production from the main harvest in Masaka and South-Western regions compared to the previous year, new trees coming into production notwithstanding.

Uganda’s coffee exports by destination

Coffee exports to EU countries amounted to 243,964 bags higher than 179,978 bags exported in the previous month. This represented a 69.56 per cent of total exports. EU was followed by Sudan with 29,020 bags (8.27 per cent) compared to 45,454 bags (15.50 per cent) the previous month.

USA imported 15,794 (4.50 per cent) compared to 16,627 (5.67 per cent), India 12,164 bags (4.15 percent) compared to 18,520 (5.31 per cent) and Morocco 8,100 (2.76 per cent) compared to 14,292(4.10 per cent).

Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 44,304 bags, a market share of 13 per cent compared to 60,699 (20.70 per cent) bags exported in the previous month.

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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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