Hima Cement will launch its new grinding station in Tororo in May in what should ease cement prices in the country, which had shot up by about 20 per cent in April.
The grinding station is valued at US $40 million and it is expected to increase Hima Cement’s capacity to produce about 1.9 million tonnes per year from the current one million tonnes.
The launch of the Tororo station comes a Few months after Hima Cement got a new chief executive officer, Nicolas George, who, among his other plans, is to get the company’s Kasese plant operating at near full capacity.
For much of March and April, the main cement companies – Hima and Tororo Cement – were undertaking maintenance works, creating a shortage of cement in the country.
Kampala Cement, the other company, is said to have exploited this shortage and sold most of its cement, nearly wiping out its clinker in order to meet market demand.
Also, it is believed that the biggest cause of the price jump was down to traders hoarding the cement. That was partly why the minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde, warned that she would allow cheap imported cement in the market if the price did not reduce.
Imported cement would not only push prices further down, but it would hurt the big cement companies as their margins would narrow.
Kampala: Investigators have invaded Bank of Uganda following allegations that BoU is planning to close its doors for auditors that are scheduled to carryout investigations into the monetary body.
According to a source that spoke on anonymity, a group of 20 auditors from Auditor General’s office stormed BOU office and started asking for book records indicating how the supervising body of banks has been running its offices.
The source revealed that security persons tried to block them from accessing the premises however, lost the vigor after they informed them that they are there for a high profile duty of picking documents related to how the central bank has been running its supervisory department.
The Supervision department has been under the Justine Bagyenda as Executive Director who according to inside sources was being supervised by Deputy Governor, Dr. Louis Kasekende.
Yesterday parliament directed for an independent audit into circumstances on how Crane Bank, National Bank of Commerce, Greenland Bank among others were sold off.
In letter address to Auditor General, John Muwanga copied to Governor BoU, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked why Mr. Muwanga has not probed BoU activates.
Kadaga argued that by Ugandan laws, all government entities are subjected to accountability and therefore, BoU must surrender information showing cash in and outflows. This standoff came after Kasekende wrote to Solicitor General asking him to block the inquiry reasing that the investigations were sub judice to the ongoing court case.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour, Gender and Social Development (MLGSD) Pius Bigirimana
The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Pius Bigirimana on Thursday failed to make it to the board of Umeme as a non-executive member.
The company’s shareholders refused to support him during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was held at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel.
Mr Bigirimana was nominated by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to be a member of the Board of Directors on April 15, 2018. Bigirimana sits on the Board of the NSSF which is the largest shareholder in Umeme at 23.2 per cent with 376.32 million shares of the total 1.62 billion shares.
Meanwhile besides Bigirimana, shareholders voted new faces to the board. They include; Anthony Marsh, Andrew Buglass, Stephen Emasu and Reccardo Ridolfi. Umeme has 5,600 shareholders as at December 31, 2018.
When tasked to explain why shareholders could not support Bigirimana, the Umeme Board Chairman, Patrick Bitature said it was the shareholders’ right to vote or not to support a nominee to the board that accommodates over 10 members.
However, one of the shareholders this reporter talked to said that majority of the members rejected Bigirimana because they felt he is aloof of the energy sector as well as being a top government servant. “We did not see the value he would add to the company,” said a shareholder who preferred to remain anonymous.
The rejection of Bigirimana means no government official is on the board of the company that is listed both on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) and Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
However Bitature said Bigirimana still has a chance to join the board if he is nominated again and voted for during next year’s AGM.
That aside, shareholders, based on the company’s financial performance in 2017 approved that they receive Shs7.6 as dividend per share but that will be less than Shs7.8 they received per share in the year 2016.
The company will deposit that money on shareholders’ bank accounts or mobile money accounts in early July. The company has set aside about Shs12 billion for this purpose. But only shareholders who will be in the books of the company at close of business on June 20, 2018 will get the dividend. But the shareholders will have to pay withholding tax.
Marie Nassiwa, the Chief Financial Officer while going through the financials of the company in 2017 said management was committed to bringing down energy costs which stood at 17.2 per cent in 2017. She said the company would invest in improving the quality and reliability of supply of electricity.
She said customers increased by 18.3 per cent during the year to 1,125,291, with an additional 174,477 grid connections compared to 157,270 in 2016.
Meanwhile Bitature has said that Umeme is to invest billions of shillings in the distribution network as it readies itself to supply electricity from Karuma and Isimba hydropower dams. The company is running a 20-year concession since 2005. Part of the money will go to buying transformers.
The Budadiri East Constituency Member of Parliament Vicent Woboya is in trouble for misappropriating onion seeds that were meant to be shared amongst members of the Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus.
His counterpart of Budadiri West Constituency, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has lodged the case asking the Police and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to investigate Woboya over the matter.
“You received onion seeds on behalf of Bugisu Parliamentary Caucus and listed Members of Parliament of the region as beneficiaries. These seeds have been misappropriated by you as members have never received them,” MP Nandala Mafabi says in a letter he wrote to MP Woboya on May 10, 2018. Both MPs hail from Sironko district.
We are requesting Police and IGG to investigate the matter. By copy of this letter, we request the Police and IGG to take up the matter
Nandala has copied the letter to the Speaker of Parliament-Rebecca Kadaga, Inspector General of Government-Irene Mulyagonja, Inspector General of Police-Martins Ochola Okoth, Director CID-Grace Akulo and members of Bugisu Parliamentary Group.
The inspectorate of Government confirmed receiving Nandala’s complaint on May 10, 2018.
New research by United Nations (UN) scientists indicates that people who are genetically prone to being overweight have a higher risk of taking up smoking – and they are likely to smoke more than average
According to Dr. Paul Brennan from IARC, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, around 70 genes have been identified for the first time that could explain this behaviour.
IARC is a World Health Organization (WHO) agency, mandated to conduct research on the causes of cancer, and its prevention.
The study, which is being published on Thursday in the British Medical Journal, and funded by Cancer Research UK, found that increased body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage and even waist circumference, were associated with “a higher risk of being a smoker, and with greater smoking intensity, measured by the number of cigarettes smoked per day”.
“Based on genetic markers of obesity, the study allows us to better understand the complex relationship between obesity and important smoking habits,” said Dr. Brennan, a genetic epidemiology expert with IARC, and one of the authors of the study.
He added that the study showing the relationship between body mass and smoking, also suggested that there was possibly a “common biological basis for addictive behaviours, such as nicotine addiction and higher energy intake”.
Dr. Brennan also noted that in understanding the link better, it could also be useful as a tool in helping people to stop smoking — a habit that kills more than 7 million people each year, according to WHO.
It is well established that smokers have a lower body weight on average than non-smokers, possibly due to reduced appetite, but that many gain weight after they stop smoking.
“However, among smokers, those who smoke more intensively, tend to weigh more,” said IARC.
IARC Director, Dr. Christopher Wild, said that “prevention of smoking is key to reducing the global burden of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes”.
He added that obesity was among the most important preventable causes of those chronic illnesses. “These new results provide intriguing insights into the potential benefits of jointly addressing these risk factors.”
Uganda is to host the regional Dragon Boat Festival 2018, according to State House officials.
According to the press release, the event will be held on June 16, 2018 at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe, Wakiso district.
The event will feature dragon boat racing in the professional, armature and women categories and also local canoeing in the respective categories.
Teams from China, the East African region, Egypt, Ghana and Mauritius will also participate.
Local artists as well as Chinese will entertain participants at the event that the Chinese Embassy has supported with Shs200m. The Embassy will also avail 10 Dragon boats worth 500m to the sport in which Chinese teams from various provinces will take part.
This will be the second-time Uganda is taking on the water sport.
Meanwhile China has pledged to support Uganda’s bid to host the International Dragon boat competitions in future, its Ambassador, Zheng ZhuQiang said, commending the country’s enthusiasm, capacity and political commitment towards the promotion and development of the water sport.
Amb. Zheng ZhuQiang said Uganda has the facilities needed for the sport even though he said they need further development and preparation to reach the standard required. He has urged the Ugandan Government to invest in the sport.
The Chinese diplomat was yesterday meeting the Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kampala to brief him about his government support for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival and the collaboration that would see Uganda participate in the International Dragon Boat Olympics.
He also revealed that the Chairman of the Chinese Peoples’ Consultative Council Wang Yang who is Chinese fourth top most personality of the leadership structure, but also the Vice President of China Peoples’ Association for friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC) will be attending the event alongside other Government officials from China.
Ambassador Zheng said that, Wang Yangwho’s visit will further boost bilateral relations between the two countries. During his stay in Uganda, he will take part in opening of Kampala expressway and switch on the first engine of the 6 units at Karuma hydro dam.
Ssekandi on behalf Government appreciated China’s support especially in the development of the Dragon boat sport which he said would go a long way in promoting cultural interaction between the two peoples.
As the Chairman of China Africa Friendship Association, Ssekandi said he was happy to see the Chinese and Africa sporting together, saying that this year he has extended invitations other African countries to participate in the dragon boat activities.
Ssekandi said that although this was the second-time Uganda was having Dragon Festival, the sport has already attracted a lot of enthusiasm, adding that Uganda will be preparing dragon boat teams to compete at the various professional regional and international levels.
Ssekandi also said that Government will be working with Buganda Kingdom Government to clean up the Kabaka’s lake in preparation for next year’s dragon boat competitions.
The State Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda who attended the meeting commended the bringing of the dragon boat sport in Uganda, saying that it is one avenue of attracting tourists to the country.
Authorities in Thailand on Wednesday rescued over 40 Ugandan women from a human trafficking racket.
According to Kampala Metropolitan police, the rescued were enroute to Asian countries of Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam where they are used as slaves.
The head of the Thailand Anti Trafficking in Persons Task Force (TATIP), Lt. Gen. Jaruvat Vaisaya, said Ugandans were the majority in the rescue mission, describing it as one of the largest number of people rescued in recent years.
Lt. Gen. Vaisaya told AEC News, a Thailand news site that so far, seven Ugandan human trafficking victims have returned home, while others are currently at the immigration department International Detention Centre in Bangkok to assist police in investigations.
“I’ve been ordered to shutdown human trafficking into and through Thailand. The Prime Minister has made this a national agenda item and we intend to make sure the goal is achieved. There will be no more using Thailand for the terrible crime of trafficking people”, he said.
He explained that the women are promised good paying jobs to work in supermarkets and other segments of the Thailand service sector and given money before they are convinced to leave Uganda.
“Once they get to Thailand they are told there is no job, the money they were given at home and any other money they have is taken awwy from them,” he said.
He added, “They are also told they have a debt to pay; sometimes this is up to $40,000 even before they do any work. How can they ever pay that?”
It is suspected that they use ‘black magic’ to have victims comply to their demands.
He also said different methods are used to have women speak. “If they cooperate we can finish our investigation and prosecutions faster, meaning they can go home sooner,” he is quoted as saying.
Lt. Gen. Vaisaya said they are investigating to see if foreigners caught in raids conducted searching for those illegally in the country are involved in human trafficking as either a victim or a trafficker.
The news comes in after the Ugandan government recalled its Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE) Nimisha Madhvani after she claimed Ugandan girls were being sold in slave markets.
The desperate search for casual jobs abroad has continued to haunt jobless Ugandans particularly women who are trafficked to the Middle East Arab countries by unscrupulous agents to work as domestic servants.
The women, it is alleged are later subjected to inhuman treatment, including sexual abuse.
The Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development has tried to streamline procedures for employment abroad by liaising with labour exporting companies to ensure the job seekers’ rights not violated at their work stations away from home.
A musician strumming his guitar at the Doadoa music festival
Kampala: For the seventh time, Doadoa came with a bang and succeeded with an attendance of high placed people in the arts industry from Uganda as well as all over Africa and beyond.
Doadoa is an East African Performing Arts Market that brings together creatives of all spheres, to share ideas and concepts on how to develop their professions and crafts and their arts platform. This year’s event showcased fifteen pieces in total which were held at the Uganda National Museum.
The number of activities that were available to the guests included: conferences, workshops, live recording studio sessions, exhibitions, networking sessions, a symposium as well as music performances by various musicians from different parts of Africa.
Revelers at the just concluded Doadoa festival
According to Herman Kabubi a.k.a Slim Emcee, the Programs Director Bayimba Cultural Foundation, this year’s Doadoa event had a South African act showcasing their work, a new development that hadn’t been witnessed before in previous years.
Music was at the centre of this year’s Doadoa. The first evening of the three day event was officially opened by the Director of the Bayimba Cultural Foundation, Mr Faisal Kiwewa, as he welcomed the revelers to the musical celebrations that would follow thereafter.
A musician serenading at the Doadoa festival
Corporates, Slay queens, idlers and other people near and around the museum, were all taken away from their various activities at hand and pulled towards the museum’s gates by the beautiful sounds of Berita, a multi-award winning, gold selling and afro-soul singer/songwriter from South Africa.
Among the many performances was also Siti & The Band, an act from Tanzania that played music carried with a mixture of Arab, Turkish, Indian and of course African influences. The night was closed with a thrilling performance from House of Talent a Ugandan act that specialized in great indigenous African expressive art forms.
The other days came with new freshness and never was there an opening performance like the one we received from Spot Lite Crew & Nilotika Cultural Ensemble.
The crowd at the just concluded Doadoa festival
These two groups well known for their intense performances sent the crowd into a frenzy with their experimental dance, crafted from the fusion of its group members and their influence from the different parts of Uganda.
Perhaps, theirs was a signal from mama about the next performer Shifah Musisi who got everyone on their feet as they swayed and staggered in rhythm with her music off her first studio album “Olugendo”.
The night also saw the mighty Shamsi Music-a jazz & afrojazz band from Kenya work the crowds followed by a number of other great musicians entertained the people in attendance.
A dancer doing her thing on stage at the just concluded Doadoa festival
The Headliner and most anticipated show of all the performances came on Saturday evening when the legendary Afrigo band stepped on stage and played their timeless hits like they never did before transporting many back in time, before auto-tune and hip-hop were considered music as well.
Jackie Akello, another gem from Uganda, still managed to hold up a fantastic performance even after the legendary Afrigoband.
A section of the Afrigo Band serenading the crowd at the Doadoa festival
An after party with electronic music from Pseudopolis (U.K.), Lewis Lowe (U.K. ), Fya Leboof (UG) among many others marked the end of the festival as many danced in the historical setting of parked vehicles long driven by the former presidents of Uganda, with beer & cocktails.
At the close of Doadoa everyone in attendance was invited to the upcoming Bayimba 2018 Festival of the Arts at their newly bought island Lunkulu on L. Victoria from the 2-5 August.
Kampala: Makerere University student, Kyeyune Francis, has been arrested after he allegedly snatched a phone from one Bulyaba Grace a resident of Bwaise.
The incident happened at a junction adjacent to JJ hostel along Nafumbabi road as the complainant was heading her home in Bwaise.
According to complainant, the suspect trailed her from JJ hostel as she was speaking to some on phone, “When I reached the junction he rushed and snatched it from my ear and he immediately sloped down road that goes to Sheron,” she said at Kikoni police post.
“I subsequently screamed out a loud voice ‘a thief, a thief’ as I chased him. But because either sides of the road is fenced, he had no escape route, so the boda-boda man who was coming from the opposite direction responded, sprayed him with pepper and arrested him,” she explained.
In the hands of a mob that almost lynched him, the suspect acknowledged that he picked it however he threw it in a drainage channel to survive angry proprietor of the communication device. The unknown type of a smart phone was however searched in the said area and it was nowhere to be seen.
When asked why he resorted to stealing than studying, he said he ‘ndi mukawu’ meaning that he was bankrupt and he had nothing to eat.
Francis who at first called himself Kalungi Kenneth, said is of Makerere University pursuing bachelor’s degree in commerce said he is scheduled to sit his last paper of Ugandan economics on Sunday before leaving for his residence in Bulenga the outskirt of Kampala.
However Afande George Aaron attached to Kikoni police post said the area has become a black spot, because thieves pretends to be walking up and down and when they get u unprepared you end up being a victim of theft.
“We shall contact his parents and the university, upon clarification, the suspect will be produced in court for prosecution,” he said.
Kampala: Democratic Party (DP) has revealed that UK MP Dr. Paul Williams who recently urged president Museveni to step down, Raila Odinga, and Martin Schulz are set to grace party’s reunion that is slated for May 23 at Makerere University.
Speaking at DP headquarters, Party president Norbert Mao said they contacted them both on phone and other means of communication and they are expected to witness the re-union as the controversial DP leaders return to their party.
Other dignitaries include Hassan Omar of Kenya, Nelson Chemisa who replaced Morgan Tsvangirai as the president for movement for change, Fikile Mbalula a South African politician, Martin Schulz the chief campaigner of Angela Merkel the chancellor Germany in the recent elections among other political orators.
“This isn’t a reunion to fight anyone, it’s a reunion to fight for what we need, and it’s our right. It’s not an end to itself, there’s a purpose in the reunion, this is the suitable time for us to work together, join forces and rid ourselves of selfish leadership, combining all your resources and forces to get better leadership in the this country, ” He said.
According if someone wants to build a bridge, he must work on both sides of the river, that’s the only way to build a bridge. I want to thank those who have been building from the other side because the bridge has met in the middle of the river.
He has lauded UYD leaders for the spirit of give and take that has buttressed this, DP is ready to lead Uganda, that’s the most important message we want to give, “Everyone has a direction to the struggle, DP doesn’t want to be in opposition, it was designed to govern this country,” he said.
“DP is the most credible party in terms of party building, it focuses on building people and eventually people build the party, unlike some parties that want to build themselves that’s the why DP has the most vibrant, resilient and educated leadership cadres, everybody wants to fish from DP because that’s where the best are,” he noted.
Mao who apologized to the young people for the bad examples said every Uganda young democrat (UYD) including Kasule Lumumba, NRM secretary for treasury Florence Namayanja were all invited to return home.
This re-union comes at a time when the party has lost various credible and influential leaders such as Mayor Erias Lukwago, Betty Nambooze, Samuel Lubega Mukaku, and Mike Mabikke over ideological differences which has resulted into the formation of cocoons such as Bad DP, Solidarity, and truth and justice forum among other groups.
