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I am not a killer Jamil Mukulu insists during pre-hearing

Captured ADF leader Jamil Mukulu being led from the special police detention facility at Nalufenya in Jinja to court .

Kampala: Ex Allied Democratic Forces leader Jamil Mukulu has said today told media that he is murderer.

Mukulu instead said criminals against humanity are still at large.

At the arrival for pre-trial session at High Court, Mukulu appeared along with 34 other suspects over charges of terrorism, murder, aggravated robbery, crimes against humanity and belonging to ADF a terrorism group.

Handcuffed both on hands and legs, Mukulu revealed that he is not a criminal, “criminals are out there, you know them,” Mukulu roared up his voice.

Appearing before Justice Eva Luswata, suspect’s layers led by Caleb Alaka, Ladislous Rwakafuuzi, Wandera Ogalo, Asuman Basalirwa pleaded for removal of handcuffs and shackles off the accused inside court however, the judge declined saying due to nature of the case and security around court, suspects may escape.

During the session that Justice Luswata directed prosecution to adduce all evidences that pins suspects for trial to start. She revealed that in case prosecution fails to bring information, suspects will be acquitted of all charges that were leveled against them.

During the trial, Justice Eva Luswata is scheduled to be helped by Justice Moses Mukiibi, Susan Okalany and Michael Elubu after 30 days pre-trial session.

Mukulu who is also accused of terrorizing people of Ruwenzori and is linked to the spate of murders of Muslim Clerics in   2013 and 2015 was arrested in 2015 in Tanzania, paraded before media, tried and remanded to Nalufenya before being transferred to Luzira prison by Jinja High Court judge who is also presiding over the pre-trial.

 

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Bryan White podium crumbling, artistes exit

Brian Kirumira aka Bryan White

The latest development is that artistes have started exiting the ‘podium’ all signs show their boss, Bryan White popularly known as Brian Kirumira is almost dry.

According to sources that have been part of the ‘podium’, the self-declared moneybag has run out of money and recently ordered all his employees who are mainly artistes to remit some of their earnings from the music shows to his foundation.

The source revealed that Bryan White fired all of his employees and ordered them to reapply.

Among the requirements for reapplying include applicants submitting their academic qualifications in addition to committing part of their earnings from show to the foundation as it appears the owner is almost broke to fund it alone.

On hearing about the new demands which include submission of one’s academic qualification, some like Madrat have already confirmed their departure from the podium though said it was more about their shows than academic documents.

“My friend, we went to school. I myself, I have a degree in Bachelors of Hotloaf and Boffulo which I obtained from Makerere.  Said one of the artist. DJ Michael, who has been Bryan White’s right hand man wasn’t spared too.

He confirmed the firing, saying they were invited on Thursday by their boss to attend training but none turned up. An infuriated White ordered all of them to return his cards and terminated their contracts.

Among artists and comedians who have been on the Podium include Jose Chameleon, who has been the latest recruitment in the foundation, Weasel Manizo, Big eye, King Micheal, Pallaso, Alex Muhangi, Chicco, Madratt, Mendo who mimics president Museveni.

Similar to school children, he had equipped them with a school.. Oops, a foundation uniform which they had to wear at all times.

They are also required to report to the foundation at exactly 8am and leave at 6pm.

 

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Dozens killed as US opens Jerusalem embassy

At least 41 Palestinians have been killed and 1,800 wounded by Israeli troops in clashes on the Gaza border, Palestinian officials say.

The violence came as the US opened its embassy in Jerusalem, a controversial move that has infuriated Palestinians.

They see it as clear US backing for Israeli rule over the whole city, whose eastern part Palestinians lay claim to.

President Donald Trump told the opening ceremony via videolink the Jerusalem move had been a “long time coming”.

He said: “Israel is a sovereign nation with the right to determine its own capital, but for many years we failed to recognise the obvious.”

He also said the US remained “committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement”.

What has happened at the border?

Palestinians hurled stones and incendiary devices while the Israeli military used snipers, as black smoke poured from burning tyres.

The Hamas-run health ministry said children were among those killed on Monday.

The mass demonstrations, led by Gaza’s Islamist rulers, Hamas, are part of a six-week protest dubbed the “Great March of Return”.

Israel’s army said 35,000 Palestinians were taking part in “violent riots” along the security fence and that its troops were operating “in accordance with standard procedures”.

Israel says the protests are aimed at breaching the border and attacking Israeli communities nearby.

The Israeli military said it had killed three people trying to plant explosives near the security fence in Rafah.

It said aircraft had also “targeted Hamas military posts near the Jabalia area after troops were fired upon”.

There have also been violent clashes between Israeli police and protesters who raised Palestinian flags outside the new embassy. Several protesters were detained.

What led to the Gaza protests?

Palestinians have held weekly protests in the run-up to their annual commemoration of what they call the Nakba or Catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of their people fled their homes or were displaced following the foundation of the Israeli state on 14 May 1948.

Scores of Palestinians have been killed since the protests began. Thousands more have been wounded.

Hamas, which is in a state of conflict with Israel, had said it would step up protests in the lead-up to Tuesday, the official Nakba commemoration.

It says it wants to draw attention to what Palestinians insist is their right to return to ancestral homes in what became Israel.

“Today is the big day when we will cross the fence and tell Israel and the world we will not accept being occupied forever,” a science teacher in Gaza, Ali, told Reuters news agency.

Why is the embassy move so controversial?

The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem is not recognised internationally and, according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East war. It effectively annexed the sector, though this was not recognised by any countries until Mr Trump’s declaration in December 2017.

Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.

Various countries once had embassies based in Jerusalem but many moved after Israel passed a law in 1980 formally making Jerusalem its capital.

President Trump’s decision last year to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital broke with decades of US neutrality on the issue and put it at odds with most of the international community.

 

 

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Janet Museveni warns teachers over absenteeism

First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.

Kampala: Minister for Education and Sports Janet Museveni has asked both Teachers and candidate top stop absenting themselves from schools for breaking of local and international performance records in education and sports.

Speaking in manifesto week that is aimed at exhibiting ministries and department’s performance in the previous financial year, Janet Museveni warned government teachers who have shunned their working to riding Boda-Boda saying it has hindered student’s performances.

“Teacher guides and student’s test books have been procured in different districts across the country, however there is another problem of feeding children in schools, government has no plan to feed school kids,” she noted at Media Centre.

Despite of low budgets for inspections but we’re getting solutions to increase supervision, she called for abolishment of bad culture practices in school and university,

She revealed that her ministry is closely working with local government officials to ensure the student’s parents give them food to take to school, “I am hoping my campaign will be worked on,” she added.

This year Mrs. Museveni launched a campaign dubbed as feed children in schools, she has been going to various radios stations in the country sensitizing parents to offer lunch meals to their children to excel.

In line to improving student’s performances, she said government has availed digital software and services, constructed teacher’s houses, for close monitoring and offering of services, construction of teaching facilities in various schools.

“Rehabilitation of public universities like that in Soroti district. Business incubators centres are being constructed In Gulu 40 per cent has been done. In MUBs 60 per cent has been done and in the rest of public universities it’s ongoing,” he said.

She implored media to join the campaign of reverting perception that technical schools are for academic failures, “Media, help us educate the public that we need skills for the country’s development, students should embark on practical course for development of this country,” Mrs. Museveni added.

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Details of Bujagali power dam debt refinancing emerge

Bujagali-hydropower-project.

New details of what price Uganda will pay in the restructuring of the debt for the 250MW Bujagali hydro power dam have emerged.

The power dam attracted a debt facility of US $702 million, whose maturity was scheduled for 2023. But with the new refinancing, the maturity date has been pushed to 2032.

Discussions between government and the key lenders to the power project – the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and the Africa Development Bank – over the last two years have finally come to some concrete conclusion, according to Deep Earth International’s monthly report, for April 2018.

The lenders were by April expected to deliver their terms and conditions to government before they can fully commit to the restructuring of the debt, whose remaining balance is US $410 million.

According to the report, the lenders were expected to ask for an interest rate of 6.75 per cent per annum, which is higher than the 2.44 per cent quoted at close of debt more than a decade ago.

In the report, the lenders are also expected to ask for a new loan tenor of 15 years – a timeline that reduces the installments that government has to pay but increases the total amount to be paid back.

At least US $19.1million will be set aside as a top-up to the liquidity facility. This amount will be released to the consumers, through the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited, after the loan repayment. This amount might ease the tariff consumers pay.

Another condition that the lenders were expected to put on the table was the creation of a new debt service reserve account, amounting to US $26.7 million credit to run its operations and make critical investments. There were hopes that Bujagali’s cool 19 per cent return on investment would be reduced to at least 15 per cent. However, the return on investment has been left intact.

“The Bujagali power dam is at the heart of Uganda’s energy industry. At 250MW, it is currently the biggest power dam in the country, accounting for 40 per cent of the total energy output. The power dam’s tariff of 10.7 US cents/kWh – one of the highest around the region – has a huge influence on the overall tariff that the public pays. Capacity payments for Bujagali account for 38.6 per cent of the end user tariff, according to official government data,” the report says.

With power tariffs still a source of concern among different sectors of the private sector, President Yoweri Museveni led the call for a restructuring of the Bujagali power dam loan. The idea was to increase the loan repayment period and reduce the installments, all of which should ultimately bring down the tariff.

There was a major breakthrough in the discussions to fully restructure the debt when government agreed to waive corporate income taxes for Bujagali Energy Limited for 15 years in mid 2017. Corporate Income Tax charges account for 14 per cent of the capacity payments.

However, Members of Parliament knocked back the tax waiver to five years in order to monitor whether the effects of the tax waiver will lead to a reduction of the power tariff. The lenders are expected to ask for the other 10 years of the waiver after 2023. The Electricity Regulatory Authority in March this year modified Bujagali Energy Limited’s license to take care of the new license terms.

However, the impact on the power tariff as a result of the Bujagali debt rescheduling could be felt in the third quarter of this year.

Another condition that the lenders were expected to put on the table was the creation of a new debt service account, amounting to US $26.7 million. The account will act as a fallback position for the lenders in case government falters on its payment schedules.

Uganda is expected to pay US $21.2 million in issuance fees, an amount that is expected to be paid upfront.

As a result of the debt rescheduling for the Bujagali dam loan, a US $13 million fee is to be slapped on Uganda in Loan Breakage Penalty costs.

For Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL), the company that built and operates the power plant, the debt rescheduling comes with some risks. Due to the rescheduling, BEL will carry the liabilities for the repayment of the loans on its balance sheet. With this huge amount of liabilities, it is feared BEL might find it hard to access cheaper credit to run its operations and make critical investments.

Indications show that the tariff will reduce in the initial period – believed to be the first five years – but shoot up after that.

Uganda’s government will have to support the private sector so that demand for the power is increased. The more the demand for electricity, the more the power tariff goes down, the report says.

 

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Reusable sanitary pads producers welcome new UNBS standard

Reusable Pads

Two local reusable sanitary pads producers-AFRIpads and So Sure have commended the Uganda Bureau of Standards for establishing a related standard which they say is helping them produce quality products for use by women in menstruation periods.

In December 2017, UNBS passed one of the first standards for reusable sanitary pads in all of Africa to help Ugandan companies produce quality sanitary pads for women who were finding it hard to afford disposal pads once used.

The two companies lauded UNBS for the partnership that saw them contribute to the development of the standard, saying further that they have deep insights on the menstrual hygiene needs of girls and women in Uganda.”

They say the new UNBS standard is a key stepping stone to mainstreaming reusable sanitary pads as a product in Uganda and Africa at large.

“The UNBS standard is meant to build consumer assurance that UNBS certified reusable sanitary pads are safe for use, an assurance that all Uganda consumers deserve. “The new standard epitomizes Uganda’s leadership in the menstrual hygiene management sector,” the two companies say in their May 14, press release.

AFRIpads Limited is the pioneer manufacturer of reusable sanitary pads in Africa and the first brand of reusable sanitary pads to be UNBS certified. Since 2010, AFRIpads and the company’s Ugandan retail brand, So Sure, have supported over two million women and girls with their life changing products.

The pads are made locally out of a production facility in Masaka, Uganda that employs more than 150 Ugandan women.

AFRIpads and So Sure say they are strong proponents of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) campaign that calls on Ugandans to purchase locally made products to create more employment.

“When we started AFRIpads in 2010, very few people in Uganda had ever heard of a reusable pad. This is momentous progress,” said Sophia Grinvalds, Director of AFRIpads Limited as she referred to the new standard.

The two companies say they offer an affordable and long lasting solution that enables girls to stay in school longer and women to participate fully in the workforce.

“With over 12 million women and girls of menstruating age in Uganda, it has never been more critical for the Government of Uganda and partners like AFRIpads to work together to ensure that no woman in Uganda is held back by something as natural and normal as her period,” the press release issued by the two companies further reads.

 

 

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Businessman Kavuya donates health centres to Rukungiri, Lyatonde districts

City business man, Ben Kavuya has donated to health three health facilities to Rukungiri and Lyatonde districts.

Kavuya established the Kavuya memorial health centre 3 in Rwankoma Kebisoni in Rukungiri in memory of his father.

Kavuya who is property developer and real estates’ dealer donated the two health facilities after establishing that the two districts lack the medical amenities. Earlier last year, the Vice President, Edward Sekandi opened Lyatondo facility. According to health officials, the facility has improved the health standards the district. Lyatonde is one of the districts without health centre five.

Kavuya commonly referred to as chairman is the founder member of Legacy Group. He is responsible for overseeing the development of Rutungu Investments from a small start-up business with a few employees to a multi-million empire as it stands today.

He is well known for his entrepreneurial and foresight, and for his ethical behaviour, generosity and integrity.

He is passionate about making a difference in society and has hence set up a number of projects under Legacy CSR’s programmes to make sure he makes a difference in society and this can be seen in regard to the two projects.  The Kavuya memorial Health Centre three will soon be opened by President Yoweri Museveni.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kadaga Ignorant, Bigirimana Muhakanizi thieves-Gen. Tumwine

Kampala: Security Minister, Gen. Elly Tumwine has described the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga as ignorant while Permanent Secretaries Pius Bigirimana and Keith Muhakanizi as thieves.

In a telephone interview with Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) radio on Friday last week, Gen. Tumwine said Ms Kadaga wasn’t well informed on the issues of Nommo Gallery and therefore, shouldn’t discuss anything ignorantly.

Gender PS Bigirimana and Secretary to the treasury Muhakanizi, are ‘thieves’ who don’t deserve to be in government services.

“None of the three, the Speaker of Parliament, neither Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Finance Keith Muhakanizi nor Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Gender Pius Bigirimana understands what he/she is saying.

“Both Pius Bigirimana and Keith Muhakanizi are thieves, I told them point blank in their faces, they are the thieves in Prime Minister’s, they are accounting officers according to section 55 of the finance act, if you lose money, you are held responsible,” Gen. Tumwine said.

He was speaking on the Nze Nga Bwendaba program hosted by Alex Nsubuga.

Gen. Tumwine insisted that Nommo Gallery is not a government property but was offered to visual artists by the former President of Uganda Milton Obote.

Last week the Speaker Kadaga directed Gen. Tumwine to pay rent as he occupies Nommo Gallery or vacate the place.
In response to Gen. Tumwine that he thief, Bigirimana said he was a busy man who wasn’t going to comment on idle talk.

“That is his view; I am not going to respond to such statements. I am not an idler. I think for this country and I have programs like youth livelihood program and others and so I don’t have time for idlers,” Bigirimana told Eagle Online in a telephone interview.

This website couldn’t get a comment from Mr. Muhakanizi as he didn’t pick his calls.

Excerpts of the radio interview

How will you go about parliament’s decision for you to leave Nomo gallery or pay rent from as early as 1998.
Rest. In 2013 the same report came from Parliament and do you know that until now Parliament has never summoned me in the matters pertaining Nomo gallery. Nomo gallery is not a government property, I repeat it is not a government property, it is for visual artists.

How did they get it?
Wait, former president Milton Obote, offered one of his houses that belonged to State House Nakasero to visual artists, it is not a government property.

Then how does Ministry of Gender come in?
Ministry of Gender doesn’t know the origin of this matter, when we returned from the bush war, I brought all artists together, cleared the bushy compound, employed a director to manage it and we started putting our property to use.
Government has never injected in Nomo gallery as they claim that I start paying rent, they don’t know what is happening there. A moment ago we received a letter demanding us to pay rent. How do we pay rent for our own house, may be government wants to grab our property.
Nomo gallery is registered in the names of visual artists not government. Government has never put any structure, how do you start asking for rent.

First, Ministry of Finance instructed you to pay rent of vacate the place and the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga told you to do the same?
None of the three, the Speaker of Parliament, neither Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Finance Keith Muhakanizi nor Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Gender Pius Bigirimana understands what he/she is saying. Both Pius Bigirimana and Keith Muhakanizi are thieves, I told them point blank in their faces, they are the thieves in Prime Minister’s, they are accounting officers according to section 55 of the finance act, if you lose money, you are held responsible.

There is no difference because you too have refused to vacate government’s property?
The problem is that you don’t understand the matter

Speaker said it is because you fought in the bush war and that is why you have refused to leave Nommo Gallery?
We fought for truth, we didn’t fight for talking like Kadaga, if it is truth, I fight till I die, I will not leave Nommo gallery because if I leave then who will occupy it? If they constructed it then they should evict me. Truth is better that everything.

Then haven’t you undermined the role of Parliament?
No they are not performing their duties, we knew they wanted to steal it however, we kept a deaf ear. For five years what has speaker done?

A Committee of Parliament carried out its investigations and Parliament resolved that you pay of leave Nommo Gallery?
That committee didn’t do anything because they didn’t consult me, as a person implicated in that matter.

The report says you were called but you declined to appear before the committee?
They are lying; they don’t want people to talk about their corruption.

Ugandans are saying as a person who fights against corruption (Gen. Elly Tumwine) why is it that you have declined Muhakanizi, Bigirimana and Speaker’s directives?
They don’t understand what they are saying; I have never stolen government funds. They just sit in their offices and issue directives.

Isn’t this issue is tainting you image?
Quote as I said, I liberated my country, and the fruit are transparency not corruption and grabbing properties.

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Jazz Safari splits into two as it finds a new home

Jazz lovers can expect a double shot of musical bliss after the Johnnie Walker Jazz and Soul Safari announced it will hold two separate events this year as it amps up the fun for its eleventh edition.

This latest change will see the hitherto annual event split into the Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari in June followed by the Johnnie Walker Soul Safari in December.

The Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari will take place on Saturday June 30, 2018, and if the thought of humming along to a Grammy Award winner`s jazz ballads over the radio is enthralling, Johnnie Walker is making it a reality by bringing you American jazz bassist Richard Bona live on stage at the Speke Resort Munyonyo.

With more than 10 albums and a world tour under his belt, Bona brings a rich heritage of jazz music that puts him up there with the best in the business. Once described by the Los Angeles Times as an artist with Jaco Pastoriouss virtuosity, George Bensons vocal fluidity, Joao Gilbertos sense of song and harmony, all mixed up with African culture, the 50-year-old has it all.

Richard Bona is a proven world class act that has consistently performed at the top for years now. He is the kind of talent you do not get to see every day so we are more than delighted to be part of his show in Uganda, said Roger Agamba, International Spirits Brand Manager at Uganda Breweries Limited.

Joining the American star on the same stage will be the cream of local jazz music, including names like Kaz Kasozi, BlackRoots UNLIMITED featuring TShaka Mayanja, Michael Kitanda, Tony Trumpet and Aloysious Migadde.

Ugandas premier jazz offering this year is about doubling the fun for jazz lovers, which is why we are doing two separate festivals, said Jazz Safari founder TShaka Mayanja.

Richard Bona

With Bona performing you can be sure it is going to be absolutely riveting.

Tickets to the Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari will go for Shs130, 000 for individuals while a table of 10 will be available for Shs3 million.

The Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari partners include Stanbic Bank, Guvnor, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, NBS TV, Pepsi, Jazz FM, FEZAH and Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Cathy Adengo, Stanbic Bank’s Head Corporate Communications said, Stanbic has been a long-term partner of the Johnnie Walker Jazz and Soul Safari and we proud to be supporting an incredible event that brings us the joy of Jazz and is true passion point that connects people.

“We take pride in being the financial partner of the Johnnie Walker Jazz Safari Concert by providing a seamless payment system for fans to access tickets. Jazz fans who use their Stanbic Visa card or any other Visa and Mastercard cards to pay for their Gold tickets will automatically get discounted tickets from Shs130,000 to Shs100,000 using the Stanbic POS.”

Tickets can be accessed at Game Lugogo, Shoprite Acacia Mall or Sheraton House of Walker.

The Jazz Safari has since 2011 supported the Rotary Clubs of Uganda for causes in farming, breast cancer and starting last year, a project at Kampala School for the Physically Handicapped.

This term, through friends and partners in England, Disc Manufacturing Services, a new specialist ICT center, complete with specialised equipment for disabled children, and valued at £50,000 (about Shs250m) is being set up at the school.

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Jumia registers growth in 2017 as products hit 5 million

Jumia registers growth in 2017 as products hit 5 million

Leading online eCommerce ecosystem in Africa has registered growth of over 90 per cent in 2017.

According to a report released Jumia, the organisation grew to 197, 9 in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 120, 2 in fourth quarter 2016.

Its marketplace platforms significantly scaled the number of orders with a growth of +94 per cent in Quarter four 2017.

The report further indicates that Jumia reached the threshold of 550 million visits across Africa in 2017.

Other groundbreaking figures for 2017 include the number of products available on the platform which skyrocketed from 50,000 in 2012 to over five million in 2017.

It also saw a huge success of Black Friday with more than 100 million visits, breaking all previous sales records across all topline drivers (new customers, orders, items sold, visits).

In 2017, the company launched its own payment platform, JumiaPay, to further facilitate transactions between merchants and consumers and tailor its solutions to specific local needs and requirements in addition to launching a consumer-facing payment mobile application, enabling customers to easily access digital services such as Airtime/Data, TV, and utilities.

Jumia One is gradually integrating more online and financial solutions to help consumers save time and money and access a large set of different services from a one stop shop App.

Over eight million packages were handled through the Jumia logistic platform, a unique achievement.

The company maintains close control over its logistics through a fully integrated network of local providers, using Jumia technology and data.

Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara, Jumia co-CEOs attributed the growth to what they called improved macro-economic conditions, as well as a stronger relevance of the marketplace, notably with a significant increase in the number of active merchants as well as products and services available.

“Jumia is increasingly addressing daily needs of consumers across its markets, resulting in a strong increase in the number of orders and growth of customer base.

“We made great progress in 2017 with significant growth of the business, driven by technological innovations and improved relevance of the offering of goods and services. This growth is demonstrating the robust momentum in our core businesses and markets, and the increased adoption of online services by African consumers. We are also seeing good results from our strategy to further develop our logistics platform and our payment platform. Our customers continue to benefit from increasing access to great services, quality products, improved customer experience and the tremendous convenience of being able to shop online.”

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