Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Eng. Irene Muloni
The 13th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Energy is underway in Arusha, Tanzania with the objective to review progress made in the energy sector and consider other issues of regional importance in the areas of new and renewable energy and energy conservation and efficiency, fossil fuels and power.
The five day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which will runs from October 15-17, 2018 t, and is to be followed by the Session of Permanent/Principal Secretaries responsible for energy that will take place from October 18, 2018. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session on October 19, 2018.
The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Mrs. Cecilia Nakiranda Menya, the Ag. Commissioner Electrical in Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. Mr. John Muhizi from Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and EAC is the Rapporteur.
Addressing the opening session, the Director of Productive Sectors Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, on behalf of the Deputy Secretary General Productive and Social Sectors, welcomed the delegates to Arusha and said that the meeting could not be convened earlier as was planned in the EAC calendar of activities due tight and clashing schedules in Partner States.
He emphasized the need for EAC Partner States and the Secretariat to go an extra-mile moving forward to implement the Council directive of having two regular meetings of the Sectoral Council per year. This would allow to follow up on matters of the Sector that require urgent policy decision and guidance.
Lydia Wanyama Nantabo - the selected Ugandan assistant referee
Thirty two referees and assistant referees have been selected by CAF to undergo a preparatory course to fine-tune their readiness for the upcoming Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2018.
The selected Elite ‘A’ match officials, made up of 16 referees and 16 assistant referees from 25 Member Associations will go through medical screening, theoretical and physical drills in their quest to make the list for the final tournament.
Ugandan FIFA assistant referee Nantabo Lydia Wanyama is among those selected for the exercise that will see the excelled referees officiate at the continental tournament in November.
Nantabo was one of the Ugandan referees who took part in the recent CAF Young referees’ course in Kampala last month. She excelled in the course together with Shamirah Nabadda, Isa Masembe, Okello Dick and Katenya Ronald.
The course is scheduled for 17-21 October 2018 in the Ghanaian coastal city of Cape Coast, one of the venues for the 11th edition of the biennial flagship women’s competition fixed for 17 November to 1 December 2018. The capital, Accra, is the other venue.
Experienced CAF Instructors Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius), Hadqa Yahya (Morocco), Lawson Hogban Latre-Kayi (Togo), Mademba Mbacke (Senegal) and Marwa Hannachi (Tunisia) will supervise the five-day training program.
Meanwhile, the draw for the final tournament will take place on Sunday, 21 October 2018 in Accra. The eight qualified team are Ghana (host), Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.
After a long time, The Cabinet chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, has approved the levying and collection of park user fees on passenger service vehicles (PSVs), which is likely to see transporters increase travel fees.
The new development arrived at on Monday by Cabinet means each taxi will pay Shs840, 000 per annum to be shared by the original/destination local government and KCCA in the ration of 60: 40 respectively.
Taxis operating between two urban authorities are to pay Shs840, 000 which shall be shared in the ration of 60:40 percent for original loading and destination local government respectively.
Commuter taxis in Kampala will pay Shs720, 000 per year while bus operators will pay Shs2.4 million which shall be shared equally among urban authorities on the route charts.
The purpose of the above levies, according to Cabinet, is to harmonise the system between KCCA and other local governments.
It is also meant to stop multiple taxation and daily levies on taxis and provide for a single annual payment as well as to stop the use of agents in the collection of the park use fees from taxi operators.
With the new changes, the public will have to wait to see if taxi and bus operators will increase transport fares. Currently commuter taxis around Kampala charge between Shs500 to Shs3000 per trip depending on the distance from the city centre. Bus operators playing upcountry routes charge between Shs 8000-Shs50, 000 per trip depending on the journey.
Initially Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) was the body responsible for the day to day operation of taxis around Kampala city but these were later kicked out as KCCA resolved to take over taxi operations and management in 2013. According to officials at KCCA, that was done to reinstate order in the business and most importantly bring back the revenue that government was losing during days of UTODA.
“KCCA owns the taxi terminals in Kampala; UTODA had claimed to have had a running contract with KCC before we came in. On further scrutiny there was no documentation to confirm these claims so subsequently, court ordered UTODA out and asked KCCA to take over. They were supposed to be remitting Shs 392 million every month but that money was not coming.
The new taxes come at the time when the price of fuel in the country is rising, with some fuel pumps selling it at over Shs4000.
Meanwhile Cabinet yesterday also directed the Ministry of Finance to release approximately Shs32.8 billion from the Contingency Fund for the emergency resettlement of persons at risk in the Bulambuli government land. The recent Bududa landslides killed over 40 people, leaving several families homeless. Government expects to resettle them in Bulambuli.
Standard Chartered Bank has handed over equipment worth US $100,000 (Shs375, 000,000) to the visually impaired persons and at the same time unveiled a grant of US $90.000 (….)that will support schools that cater for both the sighted and visually impaired children in the districts of Mityana, Kiboga, Mubende, Kasanda and Kyanwanzi districts.
The ophthalmic equipment were handed over at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Tuesday as the Bank and its partners celebrated the 15th Anniversary of ‘Seeing is Believing’ programme presided over by the Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Dr. Joyce Moriku, who called for the continued public- private sector partnerships in health service delivery.
“As government we strongly value public-private sector partnerships for effective service delivery and that is why we work tirelessly to support the Seeing is Believing Programme,” she said while addressing guests who included officials from the ministries of health and education, NGO representatives, hospitals, the media, staff and clients of the bank.
Minister Moriku said the government was committed to providing better health care services to Ugandans. “I appeal to all stakeholders to continue supporting us in strengthening the health sector to save lives and to enable us live better and more productive lives,” she said. Standard-Chartered-Bank-Uganda-CEO-Alber-Saltson
Some of the equipment will provide multilevel support including; surgical equipment for the general theatre and minor theatre at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, specialist equipment for eye clinics at Kiboga, Kyanwanzi and Mityana Hospitals; specialist low vision devices, Braille machines and paper, and White canes for the blind and vision impaired.
Speaking at the function, the Bank’s CEO Albert Saltson, said that since the inception of the Seeing is Believing programme in 2003 up to until 2012, the Bank has invested over Shs1.8 billion which enabled; over 120,000 people to undergo eye screening and treatment, with 12,000 people regaining their sight while 2,000 people were able to benefit from refractive error services.
Between 2013 and 2016, the project, he said, focused on child eye health which took a holistic view of the eye health looking at the whole child’s needs. “Fundamental components of the project included; human resource development, provision of infrastructure and equipment, strengthening of health information management systems and advocacy for policies, governance and research,” he said.
Saltson said the Bank has over the years donated an assortment of eye equipment to regional hospitals in Jinja, Soroti, Gulu, Arua, Fort Portal and Lira, with the major objective of facilitating eye screening and surgery among children aged 0-15 years, in partnership with Sightsavers Uganda and UK Aid.
He said the Bank last year in partnership with BHVI launched a new four-year comprehensive eye care project worth One Million dollars which will run to June 2020 with focus on both children and adults in Mubende district. “The major goal is to contribute to the 2014-2019 World Health Organisation Global Action Plan of reducing the prevalence of avoidable visual impairment by 25 per cent,” he said.
While speaking at the function, the Board Chairman ,of Uganda National Association of the Blind UNAB), Charles Ntege Kizito lauded Standard Chartered Bank and its partners, saying that the donation of equipment and treatment of pupils with vision impairment is one way of facilitating educational inclusion in Uganda.
Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has responded to a viral letter from the management of Namboole stadium asking him to reschedule his ‘Kyarenga’ concert that was slated to take place this weekend.
Bobi wine says they had agreed and booked October 13, and made payments to the Namboole Stadium management. In addition, the Managing Director of the stadium called requesting them to reschedule the concert over Uganda Cranes match against Lesotho to have it on October 20 and accordingly started advertising for the concert.
Narrating the ordeal, Bobi wine said they went to the Police headquarters in Naguru with a written request for the Police to clear the show as required by the law and provision of security on that day.
He says police kept on tossing his team till they were advised to meet the Director of Research in Police about the matter. “Our team went ahead with other copies of the letter to the Director of Research (Mr. Ochom) who sent us to the Inspector General of Police. The team went to the IGP’s office and he sent them to his assistant who then sent them to Afande Asuman Mugyenyi,”
On reaching his office, controversial MP said his team was asked to get written clearance from Namboole stadium first and when they approached the Namboole MD for the letter, he in turn asked them for police clearance.
“It is a day later that we saw a letter on social media addressed to us from Namboole saying that the 20th of October was also booked for a wedding. We asked for a copy of the letter if it was legitimate and it was not given to us,”
They too visited Kampala Metropolitan Police commander Moses Kafeero who referred them to his assistant and his assistant told them to go to the Military Intelligence (CMI) if they wanted any information concerning police clearance of the Kyarenga Concert.
“The team went back to Police headquarters yesterday to meet IGP Martin Okoth Ochola but they were told that he was out of town. I resorted to making phone calls to him all day today but the person who picked my calls kept telling me that the IGP was in a meeting at the Police headquarters board room since 8:00am,”
I am not sure when or whether the Kyarenga Concert will happen. But I advise those in authority to desist from these provocations. I am a Ugandan artiste with a legitimate right to stage a concert¸ he noted
Express FC Head Coach Kefa Kisala looking for first win of the season.
The StarTimes Uganda Premier League season resumes today with three matches to be played at different grounds on Matchday three.
Both Police FC and Express FC will be seeking for their first victory of this season when they renew their rivalry at the StarTimes stadium in Lugogo.
Police go into the game after losing their first two games, 2-1 to BUL and Paidha Black Angels with the same score line while Express have one point from the opening two games, a goalless draw with URA and a 3-1 loss to Mbarara City.
Abdallah Mubiru hope his forwards led by Ronald Nyanzi are in fine form while Tony Odur and Eric Kambale will be the main men for Kefa Kisala’s visitors.
While at Bul last season, Kisala won all games against the Cops and Mubiru got a double over the Red Eagles.
The previous four encounters between the two sides have proved thrilling with 18 goals scored in them.
Elsewhere, Tooro United return to their former home Kavumba Recreation Ground for a tie against Kirinya Jinja SS while BUL entertain newcomers Paidha Black Angels in Jinja.
The other fixtures of matchday three will be played on Friday and Saturday after the Cranes team return form their qualifier against Lesotho in Maseru.
Tuesday October 16 Fixtures;
Police Vs Express – StarTimes stadium, Lugogo 4pm Live on Sanyuka TV
Tooro United Vs Kirinya Jinja SS – Kavumba 4.30pm
Bul Vs Paidha Black Angels – Njeru Technical Centre 4.30pm
TURNEB AROUND CITY: KCCA former Executive Director Jennifer Musisi Semakula
The Executive Director for Kampala Capital Authority, Jennifer Musisi Ssemakula has resigned.
Musisi has given up to December 15, 2018 when she will relinquish her position
In a letter dated October 15, 2018, to the appointment authority, the president, doesn’t not state the reason for her resignation.
“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” Musis wrote.
Sources at State House told Eagle Online that Musisi has been frustrated from the time the president blamed her for his poor performace in Kampala.
“She has been unenthusiastic about meetings the president has been summoning concerning KCCA as she has been sending directors to represent her. At one time, the president asked if she wasn’t available for the next meeting, he would chase the directors” the source said.
Musis has been at loggerheads with the Lord Mayor and hasn’t had a smooth time at city hall.
Senior Presidential Press Secretary, Don Wanyama couldn’t confirm the development but told Eagle Online that the letter looked authentic.
Forum for Democratic Change party president, Patrick Amuriat has been released after he was nabbed trying to access Kasese party offices.
Amuriat was earlier in the day blocked from going to Kasese however, he circumvented police and escaped at Rwimi where they had mounted a roadblocks.
It was his first time to visit the area after sacking Kasese woman Winnifred Kiiza and replaced her with Gulu district woman Member of Parliament, Betty Aol Ochan. Kiiza is expected to join New Formation, a political faction that was created and led by former party president Gen. Mugisha Muntu.
According to a statement published by FDC party, he escaped and passed through the mountains and got on a Boda-Boda to FDC office where he was arrested. He was driven to Kampala but police vehicle that was returning him ran out of fuel in Fort Portal and was subsequently left free.
Amuriat and MP William Nzoghu were on their way to attend party meeting organised by district party chairman Saulo Maate. Leaning on the Public Order Management Act, their meeting was disrupted by police because they said it was illegal.
This is not the first time that police is blocking Amuriat from meeting party members, he was last month barred from accessing Kumi, Bukedea and Soroti districts.
The African Development Bank in a multidisciplinary team roadshows has presented financial products and investment opportunities to Nordic investors to leverage more access to financing. The roadshows brought together more than 50 private sector companies, investors and government and public institutions in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
The aim of the event was to bring the Bank closer to customers in order to increase awareness of key private sector stakeholders to understand the Bank’s financial and risk mitigation products for investment projects. The roadshows also generated significant interests of businesses to the Africa Investment Forum, the Bank’s maiden market place, scheduled for November 7-9 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The first roadshow took place in Norway on September 24-25, followed by Sweden on September 27- 28. In Finland, the Bank met key private sector companies, private funds, and pension funds from October 1-2 and the final event was in Denmark on October 4-5.
The Bank presented its strategy for the transformation of African economies and showcased investment opportunities on the continent. The highly interactive event targeted commercial banks, institutional investors including pension funds, asset managers and insurers as well as individual investors across the Nordic region.
“Nordic countries are very important for the development of Africa and we want to see more investments coming from these countries. Hence, the roadshow organized to showcase African investment opportunities and to present the Bank as a gateway for their investments,” said Olivier Eweck, Director, Syndication, Co-financing and Client Solutions Department, adding that: “Several private investors and companies have shown keen interest in the Africa Investment Forum.”
The African Development Bank team discussed key roles in accelerating Africa’s investment opportunities across the Nordic region in line with the Bank’s development priorities for Africa as enshrined in the High 5s.
The Bank sees its partnership with long-term investors from the Nordic region as important and welcomes their perspective and visions to support new investments in infrastructure, and to foster sustainable development initiatives in Africa.
The Africa Investment Forum is a novel platform for international business and social impact investors looking to transact and invest funds in Africa. It will connect investors with both public and private sector projects throughout the continent.
The Bank expects that holding the event under one roof would provide an ideal platform for interfacing with its partners, reduce intermediation costs, improve the quality of project information and documentation, and increase action-oriented engagements between African governments and the private sector.
Data, voice and IP provider, Liquid Telecom, has named Adil Youssefi as its new Regional CEO of East Africa. Adil will be directly responsible for the leadership, strategic and operational management of Liquid Telecom’s wholesale, enterprise and retail businesses in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Adil boasts of 17 years’ experience in senior management garnered from reputable organisations across Africa, Asia and Europe. He is an expert in developing markets, leadership and telecommunication.
He succeeds Ben Roberts, who will swap executive duties for the chairman position at the board.
The appointment of Adil as regional CEO means that Mr. Roberts will now concentrate on his role as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Liquid Telecom Group, a position he has held since 2006.
Adil was working with Airtel Kenya as Managing Director but before joining Airtel, he worked for Millicom Group, a mobile operator with operations in several African countries, in various capacities across its subsidiaries.
“Liquid Telecom Kenya is recognized as an innovator in the Kenyan telecom market. Under Adil’s leadership, we will be able to bring new ideas and ways of thinking to other markets in East Africa, allowing Liquid Telecom to become a major regional force,” said Liquid Telecom Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ahmad Mokhles in a press statement sent to newsrooms on October 15.
Accepting the appointment, Adil said: “I’m excited to position Liquid Telecom as a major regional player, and be able to deliver innovative service and products to more businesses and customers throughout East Africa, while at the same time provide our colleagues and communities with fantastic development opportunities.”
The Regional CEO of Eastern Africa is a new position within Liquid Telecom, and forms part of the group’s wider digital transformation strategy. The organisation is migrating to a digitally enhanced operating model that will deliver higher levels of customer experience and ensure for long-term business sustainability.
Liquid Telecom Group has also appointed Willie Fryer as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for East Africa. The position was previously held by Raj Jandu who moves to South Africa to take the role of Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at Neotel, a telecommunications operator
