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Inflation for manufactured goods rise by 0.9 percent in June

By
George Mangula
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Manufactured goods in factory

The monthly producer prices of manufactured goods produced for domestic consumption increased by 0.9 percent in June 2018 compared to 0.2 percent registered in May 2018, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) says in the latest report for June 2018.

Ubos attributes the 0.9 percent increase to a rise in the prices of processed food, non-metallic mineral products, beverages, pharmaceutical products and printing.

“The rise in monthly prices of domestic manufactured goods was mainly attributed to a rise in prices of Processed Food by 1.3 percent, Non-metallic Mineral Products by 0.2 percent, Beverages by 0.1 percent, Pharmaceutical Products by 1.5 percent and Printing by 1.1 percent in June 2018,” Ubos says in its report.

Meanwhile, producer prices of manufactured products for exports increased by 1.9 percent in June 2018 from decline of minus 1.7 percent recorded in May 2018. The rise in prices of exported goods was attributed to a rise in prices of food products which rose by 2.1 percent, Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products which rose by 3.0 percent and paper & Paper products which rose by 5.8 percent in June 2018.

The Annual producer prices for manufactured goods increased by 1.1 percent during the year ending June 2018 compared to the drop of minus 1.2 percent registered for the year ended May 2018.

On the other hand, the producer prices for utilities increased by 1.8 percent in June 2018 compared to 0.3 percent recorded in May 2018. “The rise in utility prices was mainly due to the increase in prices of Electricity Power Generation by 2.2 percent in June 2018 compared to a rise of 0.4 percent recorded in May 2018,” the report says.

Year-on-year, Ubos reports that the producer prices for utilities increased by 5.5 percent for the year ending June 2018 compared to 3.1% recorded for the year ended May 2018.

The main contributor to the 5.5 percent, according to Ubos, was the rise in prices of electricity power generation which rose by 7.7 percent during the year ending June 2018 compared to 4.8 percent recorded for the year ended May 2018.

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Minister booed and denied mic at Kamuli funeral over age limit

By
Our Reporter
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Minister Isaac Musumba

By Maria Nassiwa

Buzaaya: State minister, Isaac Musumba was yesterday booed and blocked from giving his speech at the burial of Scovia, wife to Mbulamuti sub county chairman, Gwaivu.

Mbulamuti is in Buzaaya where Busumba is the area MP.

The charged mourners accused Musumba of ‘selling’ them and representing only himself when he supported the ammendment of Article 102b yet they had in a consultative meeting told him that they are against it.

The angry mourners who forced the minister to end his speech just after introducing himself, ordered him to hand the microphone to Bugabula South MP, Morris Kibalya who said no to the amendment.

“We heard the minister say that Buzaaya has supported the amendment. Let him go and talk from that Buzaaya which supported it but not here because we never supported such,” one furious mourner shouted.

During the consultation process, for which Mr Musumba took shs29 million, residents of Buzaaya are said to have been opposed to the amendment.

To be clear on what they wanted their MPs to say in Parliament, they voted on teh matter by secret ballot and the Nos had it.

After the secret ballot, which was presided over by Kamuli district party chairman, Samuel Bamwole, the constituents asked Musumba to take to Parliament their message without any alteration.

Mr Musumba was not happy with the vote result and made it clear.

“The people have spoken; although personally I am disappointed, I am taking back (to parliament) the message,” he told the meeting.

However, between Kamuli and Parliament, Mr Musumba threw the constituents instructions through the window and went with his own line of conviction.He stood on the floor and shouted how his constituents had told him to vote yes.

Efforts to reach Mr. Musumba for a comment were futile as his known phone number went unanswered and he did not respond to text messages.

Museveni who has been in power since 1986 will be aged 77 in 2021 when Uganda is supposed to have the next round of presidential elections.

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Alamanzani is wrong on NRM loss in Bugiri

By
Trevor S Baleke
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PLEASE RETIRE: NRM party National chairman, Yoweri Kaguta. Museveni.

My attention has been drawn to a misleading analysis, in several WhatsApp groups, of the role of some NRM leaders in the recent bye elections in Bugiri.

Mr Swahad Alamanzani signed off his 777 word article titled ‘Bugiri Was a Nest of Intrigue’ as a Political Scientist.

In what I see as a calculated move to feed into the misleading street talk of intrigue among party leaders in Busoga, Mr Alamanzani’s article feeds into the claim that NRM lost Bugiri because of intrigue between Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, Minister Namuganza and MP Moses Balyeku. It accuses Madame Milly Babalanda, a strong party stalwart in Busoga of refusing to support the NRM candidate in Bugiri.

As someone who was deeply involved in the intricate organization and execution of the NRM’s strategy in Bugiri I respond as follows.

First, Mr Alamanzani’s article is itself full of intrigue against the NRM party and a section of its leadership in Busoga.

Second, it is an ignorant piece from a political scientist, devoid of truthful facts.
But that is beside the point.

To the best of my knowledge, Mrs Babalanda stood by and with the NRM party candidate, Oketcho. She spent at least three nights in the filthy hotels of Bugiri because she wanted NRM to win.

Of course she is a Presidential assistant and head of the office of the National chair of NRM.

Hon Moses Grace Balyeku, whom Political Scientist accuses of fighting the NRM candidate, was among the first leaders from Busoga to support Oketcho. My sources indicate that he even supported him financially at the last hour when the candidate ran out of resources.

It is very misleading and not good for Uganda’s nascent multi party politics to involve the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga, in the politics of Bugiri. She is one very reserved person. Her schedule is even too tight and it is not her duty to campaign for other candidates. Therefore he who puts her in cheap politicking is not only a political misleaders but an uninformed person.

The writer is a journalist and the NRM Administrative Secretary for Kamuli District

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Busoga King graces Jubireewo dinner

By
Our Reporter
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The Kyabazinga of Busoga being welcomed at the Jubireewo dinner by the Katukiro of Buganda, Peter Mayiga

ON Tuesday, the Kingdom of Buganda celebrated the silver jubilee of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s coronation at the Mengo Palace rounds.

After the celebration, the Kabaka’s guests were hosted to dinner at the Twekobe compound.

Among the notable guests who graced Kabaka’s coronation anniversary dinner included; the King of Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, the Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV, The Kwar Adola Moses Stephen Owor of the Tieng Adhola cultural institution (Japadhola) and Vice President of Uganda Edward Ssekandi who represented President Yoweri Museveni.

The Kyabazinga of Busoga(Right) with the Kabaka of Buganda (Centre) singing the Anthems at the Jubireewo dinner

Busoga Kingdom Ministers who included Owek. Richard Mafumo, Owek. Alex Luganda, Owek. Babirye Yudaya and Owek Sheila Birungi Gandi among others were also present.

The Kyabazinga who arrived at Twekobe in smart attire, was welcomed at the 25th coronation anniversary dinner by Buganda Kingdom Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga who was with his Busoga Kingdom counterpart Dr. Joseph Muvawala.

The Kyabazinga of Busoga waving as he arrives at the Jubireewo dinner with the Katwikiro of Busoga Mr Muvawala(Right)

The Kabaka served his guests to a sumptuous meal and drinks. He later cut a cake that he served his invited guests and subjects at the dinner.

The Kyabazinga of Busoga having a chat with the Nabagereka of Buganda at the Jubireewo dinner.

After the dinner, guests interacted and many were seen leaving at their own leisure

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Zimbabwe election: MDC Alliance and troops in Harare clashes

By
Agencies
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Nelson Chamisa

Troops have opened fire in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare after opposition supporters went on the rampage.

At least one man has reportedly been shot dead.

The opposition MDC Alliance alleges that the ruling Zanu-PF party has rigged Monday’s presidential and parliamentary vote.

Parliamentary results show Zanu-PF heading for a big majority, while the presidential result has yet to be declared.

European Union poll monitors have expressed concern over the length of time it is taking to declare the presidential result.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged patience and calm following the first elections since long-serving ruler Robert Mugabe was ousted from power

The MDC Alliance says its presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa, won Monday’s election.

Correspondents stress that Wednesday’s violence is confined to the centre of Harare – an opposition stronghold – while other parts of the country remain calm.

Chaotic scene

Protests by MDC Alliance supporters in the city centre took an ugly turn by the afternoon.

The crowds had been there since the morning but when news came that Zanu-PF had won the majority of seats in parliament and that the presidential results were not ready, the mood turned.

They went on the rampage down Harare’s busy streets towards an old Zanu-PF office with large stones, sticks and anything they could grab along the way.

The crowds chanted: “We want Chamisa.” They believe the election has been stolen, and are demanding the MDC be announced as winner.

Riot police using water cannon and tear gas arrived to a chaotic scene of burning tyres and an unrelenting crowd. Hundreds jeered and pelted the police vans with stones.

This group has lost all faith in the electoral system and says they will not stop until their man is in the top job – except that’s not quite how elections work.

 

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DR Congo ex-warlord Jean-Pierre Bemba welcomed home

By
Agencies
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Bemba

Former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba has arrived home in the capital, Kinshasa, after 11 years in exile and prison.

The ex-rebel leader had a war crimes conviction by the International Criminal Court overturned in June.

Crowds of his supporters in T-shirts, hats and scarves bearing his face met him at the airport.

He has declared his intention to contest the long-delayed presidential election in December.

But President Joseph Kabila’s government says he is not eligible because of a corruption conviction.

Mr Bemba is currently appealing against that conviction, which relates to witness tampering during his trial at The Hague. No date has been fixed for the verdict.

He told the BBC that the government did “not have the right” to decide who could be a candidate in the election.

Mr Bemba landed at Kinshasa airport on a private jet from Belgium after a decade trying to clear his name.

Police fired tear gas at his supporters to clear the streets for the presidential hopeful’s vehicle.

Correspondents say he has a loyal base in DR Congo and an invalidation of his candidacy could anger supporters in the unstable African country.

 

 

He lost presidential elections to Mr Kabila in 2006 and was accused of unleashing violence in the capital after the vote – charges he has always denied.

He was then accused of treason after his bodyguards and the army clashed in Kinshasa in March 2007, prompting him to flee the country.

His case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to crimes committed by his fighters, when he was leader of a rebel group, committed in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) from 2002 to 2003.

 

This year’s election is meant to choose a successor to Mr Kabila, whose second and final term in office ended two years ago.

The constitution bars him from running again, but his intentions are unclear. The deadline for people to register their candidacy is 8 August.

Who is Jean-Pierre Bemba?

  • A well-connected businessman and the son of prominent Congolese businessman Bemba Saolona
  • 1998: Helped by Uganda to form MLC rebel group in Democratic Republic of Congo
  • 2003: Becomes vice-president under peace deal
  • 2006: Loses run-off election to President Joseph Kabila but gets most votes in western DR Congo, including Kinshasa
  • 2007: Flees to Belgium after clashes in Kinshasa
  • 2008: Arrested in Brussels and handed over to ICC
  • 2010: Trial begins
  • 2016: Found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity
  • 2018: Conviction overturned on appeal.

Mr Bemba was arrested in Belgium in 2008. He was accused of failing to stop his rebel forces from killing and raping people in CAR when he led the MLC rebel group.

He was convicted in 2016, and sentenced to 18 years in prison after the first ICC trial to focus on sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Human rights group Amnesty International said his acquittal in June was a “huge blow” for the victims of a “horrifying campaign of rape and sexual violence”.

 

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KCCA receives Shs4.3b grant towards the renovation of Old Taxi Park

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Old Tax park

Kampala Capital City Authority has received Shs3 billion grant from the government of Netherlands for redeveloping of Old Taxi Park.

The proposed redevelopment of the Old Taxi Park is linked to the just completed Urban Transport Master Plan where KCCA plans to provide residents of Kampala with fast and reliable public transport services by 2040.

Over 200,000 people commute daily through the Old Taxi Park to connect to different destinations within the greater Kampala metropolitan area and beyond.

According to Executive Director of KCCA, Jennifer Musisi, the remodeling of the taxi park is one of KCCA’s interventions aimed at improving the operations and passenger experience at bus and taxi parks.

“The renovated Taxi Park will increase the economic potential of more than 25,000 people who work in this area. This will benefit passengers, taxi drivers, conductors, food vendors and small business owners.” She said.

She said the benefits of a remodeled taxi park are that, residents of Kampala will enjoy a better travel experience. According to the plan, the park will have amenities such as clean public toilets, shopping areas and green space rest areas.

The infrastructure within the park will be improved land use with transit terminals; a mixture of commercial spaces, multi-level car parking facilities, vehicles leaving to a given destination will be found in the same place within the taxi park, passenger information will be clearly displayed to guide users, passenger safety will be enhanced with raised walkways for pedestrians and well-lit spaces.

 

 

 

 

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FUFA slash ticket prices for Afcon qualifier against Tanzania

By
Our Reporter
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Uganda Cranes fans

Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has released the ticket prices for the Uganda Cranes match against Tanzania Taifa Stars in the second game of AFCON 2019 group L qualifiers.

The ordinary tickets will now go for Shs15, 000 from Shs 25,000 while the VIP will go for Shs 40,000 from Shs 50,000 and the VVIP ticket remains at Shs50, 000.

In the weekly press conference at Mengo, Decolas Kiiza, the FUFA Finance director thanked the government of Uganda and the president for considering the budgetary allocation of the national team, in particular to run the 2019 AFCON qualification process.

“As the federation, we would like to extend our gratitude to the government of Uganda led by the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. We also thank the Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni, the State Minister of sports Hon Charles Bakabulindi, the department of physical education under Commissioner Omara Apitta, officials from the National Council of Sports and some Members of Parliament who worked tooth and nail to have this budgetary allocation.” He said

Uganda Cranes lead group L with three points following the 1-0 away win registered over Cape Verde Islands. Geoffrey Sserunkuuma scored the goal.

Tanzania and Lesotho both share a point having played to a one all draw in their opening group game.

Cranes will continue its regional tours this weekend with a match against the Eastern region select team in Bugiri.

The team commenced training at Star Times Stadium, Lugogo on Monday and will train until Thursday before departing on Friday for Bugiri.

Two weeks ago, the Uganda Cranes team played a tour match with Kitara region select in Kasese. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Uganda Cranes will host neighbours Tanzania on Saturday, September 8,2018, at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Lesotho hosts Cape Verde in the other group game on September 6.

The 2019 AFCON tournament will be hosted in Cameroon. The competition will be held in June and July 2019 to move it from January/February for the first time. It will also be the first Africa Cup of Nations expanded from 16 to 24 teams.

 

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KCCA bans smoking in Kampala

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Kampala Capital City Authority has prohibited smoking in public, work places and near any means of public transport saying the initiative is aimed at reducing on the number of premature deaths, infertility rates, lung cancer and others.

Speaking at the launch, Kampala Central Municipality Mayor Charles Sserunjogi revealed that KCCA is implementing Tobacco Act of 2015 that bans smoking in public places and advocating for every person’s right to a Tobacco Free environment.

With the majority of the country’s population living in urban settings, he said, cities are uniquely positioned to transform the fight against diseases and injuries by implementing policies to significantly reduce exposure to risk factors.

Alluding to Tobacco Act, Sserunjogi said Uganda has about two million active smokers.

“Smoking is strictly forbidden in, or within 50 meters of any public place, workplace, or near any means of public transport, there will be no more designated Smoking Areas or zones in Kampala,”

He said KCCA is committed to sensitizing the public about the dangers of smoking and its impact on people’s health and create more awareness about the Tobacco Act 2015. “We call upon the general public to report all cases of tobacco use in public places on our toll free number 0800990000,”

“Health is at the forefront of what KCCA does and carrying out such initiatives highlights some of the strategies that the Authority works on in order to transform Kampala into a better city,” Sserunjogi said.

 

 

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Defunct Crane Bank beats DFCU Bank on list of top taxpayers in 2017

By
George Mangula
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Crane Chambers, formerly headquarters of Crane Bank.

New figures by the Uganda Revenue Authority show that Crane Bank paid more taxes than DFCU Bank in 2017 despite the fact that the latter took over the former in January of that year as over 270 top companies paid over Shs4.2 trillion.

According to the list of the 274 top taxpayers in Uganda in 2017, Crane Bank paid taxes worth over Shs33.5 billion while DFCU Bank paid taxes over Shs26.2 billion, putting Crane Bank in position 24 while the latter was 27th as MTN Uganda came top with Shs431 billion paid in taxes to government.

The two banks however were beaten by the largest bank in the country, Stanbic Bank which was 13th, having paid just over Shs79.1 billion in taxes during that year.

It should be remembered that in January 2017, the Bank of Uganda (BOU) announced it had sold Crane Bank to DFCU Bank in a controversial deal worth Shs200 billion after taking over management of Crane Bank in October 2016.

Kampala businessman and majority shareholder in Crane Bank Sudhir Ruparelia would later sue BOU and DFCU Bank for illegally taking over his bank. Specifically, Sudhir said BoU took over his Bank, branches and properties, which it handed over to DFCU bank without proper transfers. But BOU through DFCU, has also sued Sudhir and his Meera Investments, accusing him of fraud that reportedly caused Crane Bank a loss of Shs400bn. The case is pending in court.

BOU and DFCU also claimed that a lot of the assets of Crane Bank were bad loans, worth Shs550 billion. They claimed that DFCU inherited Shs800 billion worth of good loans from Crane Bank. But DFCU had invested nothing to get the loans worth 800 billion.

Meanwhile, the central bank claimed then that Crane Bank had non-performing loans (bad loans) worth Shs550 billion and as such claimed they were written off to zero and Sudhir has been asked to pay for all of them. But most of all the so called “bad loans” had collateral, in most cases the best pieces of real estate in Uganda.

However, DFCU Bank would in mid-August 2017 raise eyebrows in the public as it announced half year net profit of Shs114 billion, up from Shs23.3bn in June 2016.Interesting management would attribute the huge jump in net profit to the acquisition of Crane.

More than a year after taking over Crane Bank, DFCU reported a huge profit of Shs127.6 billion in the year that ended on December 31, 2017 compared to Shs46 billion earned in the same period in 2016.

Click on the link to view list The list showing the top 280 tax payers as of last year 2017(1)

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