State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo
The Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs Peace Regis Mutuuzo, has urged public officials to perform their duties diligently, exercising their discretionary powers in way that promotes the public interest.
Speaking ahead of the Labour Day on May 1, Minister Mutuuzo said President Yoweri Museveni will lead the national celebrations at Ssembabule Town Council Play Grounds in Ssembabule District.
Labour Day will be celebrated under the theme: ‘Promoting Public Spirit in Public Sector’ and, according to the minister, the theme is drawn from the fact that ‘public servants like all workers seek employment as means to a livelihood; they also have an over-arching obligation to act in the public interest’.
She also said that leaders must move to end child labour and the exploitation of workers.
The Minister’s message comes at a time when the country is involved in a campaign to stop trafficking, exploitation, torture and killing of Ugandans in Arab countries.
“We have embarked on registering companies that take Ugandans for labour; always visit the gender ministry to check for appropriate companies legalized to export labour,” Minister Mutuuzo said.
The Public Service and Local Government Committee of Parliament has rejected the local government (amendment) bill tabled by Bubulo County West legislator Rose Mutonyi Masaba, seeking to among others, exempt elected political leaders from being subjected to elections in the ‘carved out districts’.
Committee members led by Aringa North County MP Godfrey Onzima, noted that the Bill does not ‘introduce anything new except the need to give the chairperson of the original local government an opportunity to choose whether to move to a newly created local government or to remain in the old one’.
The MPs were citing Article 1(4) of the Constitution and the principles contained in the Local Governments Act which give the people the right to choose who shall govern them through regular, free and fair election.
They further noted that in case political leaders exonerated from new election processes, chairpersons will influence the District Council to pass resolutions for creation of districts which are in their favour ‘and this will lead to rampant emergence of new districts’.
‘An existing Council cannot be termed as an ‘interim council’ on the basis that its chairperson has opted to join a newly-created local government yet the other persons that form the Council are still in office,” reads in part the Committee report.
They also rejected the notion that the proposed amendment would limit the financial burden on government.
‘It is misconceived because even if the Chairperson is given the opportunity to move to the newly created local government, there would still be a vacancy created in the old one which would have to be filled through an election,’ they argued.
This year government is set to create six new districts: Nabilatuk out of Nakapiripirit; Bugweri out of Iganga; Kassanda out of Mubende; Kwania out of Apac; Kapelebyong out of Amuria and Kibuube out of Hoima. They will all become operationalized from July 1, 2018.
Then in 2019 government will create another six new districts: Obongi out of Moyo; Kazo out of Kiruhura; Rwampara out of Mbarara; Kitagwenda/Kamwenge and Madi-Okollo/Arua.
Some Nigerian senators led by Matthew Uroghide have today called for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari for not seeking National Assembly approval before the withdrawal of the $496 million used for the purchase of aircraft from the United States.
According to reports, Senator Uroghide representing Edo state, moved the motion, claiming that President Buhari’s move was a violation of the Constitution and that he should face the consequences.
Sen. Uroghide urged the Senate to invoke Section 143 to start the impeachment process against the President.
Seconding the motion, Chukwuka Utazi spoke in support of the move.
“This is an impeachable offence,” an obviously angry Mr Utazi, said.
On-form KCCA striker Muhammad Shaban will be the man to watch
The title race in the Azam Uganda Premier League is going down to the wire with Vipers SC, KCCA and SC Villa Jogoo all having a chance to win this season’s title with only five games left to play.
All eyes will be in Kitende tomorrow afternoon when SC Vipers host defending champions KCCA in a highly-billed Uganda Premier League encounter.
Vipers will place their trust in Dan Sserunkuma and Milton Karisa to carry their scoring boots as they host a well-organised and on-form KCCA who will look up to the league’s top scorer Muhammad Shaban (10 goals).
Currently KCCA are 3rd, one point behind leaders Vipers, who are level with second placed SC Villa Jogoo but lead on goal difference.
A win could see the ‘Kasasiro Boys’ open a two point lead at the top of the table while Vipers will be looking to extend their lead to three and four points ahead of SC Villa and KCCA, respectively.
KCCA come into this game with brilliant form after defeating URA 7-2 in Lugogo on Tuesday while the Venoms defeated relegation candidates Masavu 3-1.
The first leg in Lugogo ended in a 3-1 victory for Mike Mutebi’s side. Muhammad Shaban scored a brace for KCCA while Derrick Nsibambi scored the other. Yayo Lutimba scored the Venoms’ consolation goal of the day.
KCCA have won just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Vipers (W1 D3 L3). There has only been one goalless draw between the two sides in the previous 14 league meetings.
Other title contenders SC Villa will be in action on Saturday, away to Mbarara as they seek to end their 14-year title drought.
The Jogoos could be leaders but were docked two points earlier in the season for the fans violence against Vipers at St. Mary’s Stadium.
William Echwenyu, a former Intelligence Officer at Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), has today been sentenced to two years in prison for forgery and uttering false documents.
Appearing before Buganda Road Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu, Echenyu was convicted on three charges.
Prosecution alleges that during investigations that were carried by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Echenyu forged a letter claiming it was written by the IGG, ordering UWA to reinstate and promote him, pay school fees (for his children) and clear all his withheld salary arrears.
On suspecting fraudulent conduct, the then UWA Executive Director reportedly contacted the IGG who denied having issued any directives to that effect.
Following IGG’s submission on the matter, Echwenyu was arrested, tried and remand to Luzira prison, where he has been since October 5, 2017.
World Bank, IMF to hold 2021 Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 2021 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, in October 2021, following a vote by the Boards of Governors of the two institutions, Monday’s press release by the two agencies shows.
The Annual Meetings bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and job creation, climate change, and others.
The last time the Annual Meetings were held in Africa was in 1973, in Nairobi, Kenya. Wednesday’s announcement of Morocco as the next location of the Meetings coincides with the 60th anniversary of the country’s membership of the WBG and the IMF.
The Annual Meetings are usually held for two consecutive years at the WBG and IMF headquarters in Washington, D.C. and every third year in another member country.
The 2018 Annual Meetings will take place in Indonesia in October of this year, at which time there will be an official signing ceremony for the 2021 Meetings in Morocco. A complete list of previous meeting sites is available on the Annual Meetings website.
The World Bank Group plays a key role in the global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. It consists of five institutions: The World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Working together in more than 100 countries, these institutions provide financing, advice, and other solutions that enable countries to address the most urgent challenges of development.
IMF is an organization of 189 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the International Monetary Fund Washington, D.C. 20431 USA 2 world.
Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 189 countries that make up its near-global membership.
The Parliamentary committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development has recommended the passing of Investment code bill of 2017 to streamline the functioning of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
If the Bill is passed into an Act, it will modernize and replace the Investment Code Act Chapter 92 of the Laws of Uganda and inter alia to make it conform to the Constitution.
The bill vests much power to the Mister of Finance who oversees all activities that are carried out by the authority.
The Bill gives the minister power to among others expel any board member who will miss three consecutive meetings without notice.
The members of the committee led by Rubanda East legislator Henry Musasizi, noted that the Bill will redefine the functions of the Authority, modifying the composition of the Board, providing for the registration of investors and issuing of the investment certificates investors.
“The Bill will incorporate provisions relating to finance, accounting and auditing, to providing for the submission of annual reports by the Authority and other related matters.” the report reads in part.
According to legislators, the Bill defines a domestic investor as a citizen of the East African community Partner State and they will be able to benefit from government incentives there are availed to local investors.
Due to mass rooming fake investor in the country, the Bill prescribes US$ 50,000 (Shs180 million) as the minimum capital requirements for investors to be granted an investment licensee and this will require the minister to come to Parliament every time this amount has to be revised depending on the circumstances.
Currently Uganda investment authority is supervised by the State Minister for Investment Evelyn Anite.
Jinja – Uganda: Former Kigulu South MP, Edward Kafufu Balidawa and former BUgabula South MP Asuman Kiyingi want Makerere Univeristy Business School principal’s contract to be renewed.
Prof. Wasswa Balunywa, the two legislators argue, should only leave the post if he is being appointed to a much higher position.
Sharing their views in a WhatsApp group Busoga Beyond politics, formed with a membership of mainly Busoga political and private sector elite, the legislators threatened that should the Good Ol’ Prof get anything less, they will actively lead an anti NRM campaign in Busoga.
Former Works Minister Asuman Kiyingi threw a barb at President Museveni arguing that government owes an explanation to Busoga as to why Balunywa’s contract cannot be renewed.
“If a politician can do a good job beyond 75 but a professor full of energy and ideas is ‘expired’ on clocking 60 then Trump is [sometimes] right about African countries,” he said.
Eng Patrick Batumbya’s earlier suggestion of sending a delegation of Basoga stakeholders to meet the president over matter hit a snug when all members on the forum agreed a negative political mobilization response is the language the ministry would hear.
“We should mobilize the populace to boycott voting in the forthcoming referendum. Period,” said another member before the former Kigulu MP, Edward Balidawa added that, “and for such an action to have effect and results we must not rely on the usual leaders. We know the modus operandi.”
“I think we are over allowing this man to control us, we need to start thinking outside the box and practice what we say,” said Tucker Mugogo a popular events’ organizer in Busoga.
The discussion on Balunywa’s status at the business school started after the April 11th letter to the Education Services Commission in which the First Lady and minister for Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni ordered for Balunywa’s exit.
Mr Balunywa has been at the helm of the university for 15 years.
Quoting Section 83 of the University and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001, Mrs. Museveni asked the Education Service Commission to advertise for the post of MUBS principal before May 28, 2018 when Balunywa’s term ends.
“The purpose of this letter is therefore to inform you that the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports will make a formal submission on the job specifications, duties and age requirement for the post of MUBS Principal,” Ms Museveni wrote. It’s the paragraph the Busoga enthusiasts interpreted as a cul de sac for Prof Balunywa’s tour of duty at the institution.
She asked the Permanent Secretary to come with the nomination of a suitable candidate to be screened by the Education Services Commission. Janet Museveni said that Balunywa must be replaced before May 28 2018 to avoid a power vacuum at the highly ranking institution.
“Advertise this post of Principal of MUBS as soon as you receive a formal submission from the Permanent Secretary. I request you to ensure that the education service Commission finalizes the process of appointment of the next Principal of MUBS before the contract of the current Principle expires, to avoid a leadership vacuum at MUBS.”
Deputy Governor Louis Kasekenda, Minister of Financial, Planning and Economic Development Matia Kasaijja and Barclay Agent demonstrate the new shared Agent Banking system.
Uganda’s Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija has Wednesday in Kampala officially launched the shared agent Banking System which is an initiative of member banks of the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) in partnership with other agencies to bolster financial inclusion in the country.
Addressing guests at the launch which took place at UBA headquarters in Muyenga Kampala, Kasaija said the Agent Banking is in line with government’s efforts to bring majority of Ugandans into the financial system, adding that many remained unbanked or under banked.
The electronic system is an extension of banking services outside the conventional banking branches, where a licenced and supervised financial institution contracts a third party or agent, who is approved by the Bank of Uganda (BOU) in December, 2017, to provide permitted financial services on its behalf.
The minister said the current situation where majority of Ugandan adults are unbanked is not good for the country’s development in terms of revenue collections as well as extending credit to the private sector.
The Agent Banking platform will enable 25 commercial banks in Uganda to extend their services to remote areas where they expect also to increase access, address cash challenges and provide a range of products and services that are expected to bring some of the rural people into the country’s financial system.
Seven banks are already connected on to the system. They are; Stanbic Bank, Barclays Bank, Bank of Africa, Diamond Trust Bank, DFCU Bank, Housing Finance Bank and GT Bank. 14 more banks in the country are at different stages of the integration process and securing the necessary regulatory approvals, officials say.
UBA and Eclectics International early last year signed an agreement where the latter was to design, develop, deploy and operate the inter-operable shared platform that connects all member banks to the agent network spread across the Country.
Supported with agents, the Agent Banking Platform is now expected bring the big percentage of the country’s informal sector into the financial system where monetary policy and targeted interventions can be directed.
The platform will enable all agents provide agent banking services to existing customers of all the UBA member banks as well as bring on board the unbanked, unserved and underserved segments of the population for financial services. Also under the arrangement, banks will continue to drive the recruitment of customers and marketing of their other products and services.
The benefits that accrue from the establishment of the shared Agent Banking Platform include increased points of presence at a reduced cost of expansion with opportunity to upgrade technology at minimal cost as well as job creation.
Speaking at the official launch, UBA Executive Director, Wilbrod Owor said the Agent Banking platform was a major achievement for the banking sector in the country. “This is a major milestone for the banking sector in Uganda. Extension of banking services and bringing on board the bigger proportion of our population to the formal banking system is the ultimate objective of this initiative.”
UBA ED Wilbrod Owor speaking to journalists about Shared Banking Platform.
He added The Shared Banking System is part of the efforts to support the National Financial Inclusion Strategy that aims to bring more Ugandans into formal financial system.
The Acting CEO of new company-Agent Banking Company, Richard Yego said the agents being targeted are petrol stations, supermarkets, permanent mobile money agents, pharmacies, retail shops or hardware stores that are fully licenced and have been in existence for one year.
The Group Managing Director, Electics International, Paul Mbugua, said the system is a secure and “interoperable platform that will facilitate access to real time transactions. Explaining how the system works, he said it can be used for cash deposits, withdraws, bill payments among others.
The CEO and Country Manager of Diamond Trust Bank Varghese Thambi, said that the platform will help commercial banks in the country to complement each other in serving more customers. He said that 80 percent of commercial bank branches are within Kampala and surrounding areas, while 20 percent are outside Kampala.
The Managing Director of Bank of Africa, Arthur Isiko, said Shared Agent Banking is one of avenues of delivering cost-effective financial services and products to the public, adding that the new system will provide employment to Ugandans.
Deputy BOU Governor, Dr. Louis Kasekende said platform would lead to faster transactions, stating that Agent Banking is critical in addressing challenges of finance access.
He said the system would reduce operational costs of banks, which in turn makes the bank provide affordable services and products. Finance Minister said the system should bring down interest rates in the years ahead.
The Executive Director of Financial Sector Deepening Uganda (FSD), Jacqueline Musiitwa, while speaking at the launch of the platform lauded UBA for putting the system in place, saying it will helped deepen financial services in the rural areas of Uganda. She said PSD provided USD 1m in support of the project, pledging further cooperation to boost financial inclusion.
But Kasaija said that the launch of the platform requires sensitization of the public especially in the rural areas as well as ensuring that agents work closely with police to safeguard money.
That aside, minister Kasaija has lashed out at Ugandan who borrow money from backs and then fail to pay back, saying they are the reason why commercial interest rates in the country are high.
The chairman of Jinja central division, Kirunda Mubarak is out on court bail following allegations of involvement in the irregularities that marred the March 15, 2018 Jinja East by-election that pitted Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Paul Mwiru against National Resistance Movement (NRM) Nathan Nabeta Igeme.
Yesterday FDC’s Mubarak appeared before the Jinja Chief Magistrate Helen Agio and was charged with procuring the registration of ineligible voters contrary to section 29(F) of the Electoral Commission Act.
With other opposition politicians still at large, Kirunda, allegedly coerced or persuaded the Electoral Commission officials who updated the voters register for Jinja East constituency to register non-citizens citizens.
It is further alleged that the accused ferried peopled from outside the constituency and added their names in the register with an aim of ensuring that the candidate of their choice – Paul Mwiru wins. Eventually, Mwiru was declared winner of the hotly contested by-election with 6,654 votes against NRM’s Nathan Igeme Nabeta, who got 5,034 votes.
Kirunda pleaded not guilty. He told court that the allegations were politically motivated. “I did not commit those offenses my Lord. I am a leader in this town, so I only mobilized the people to go and get registered. That is in my mandate according to the law,” said Kirunda, who was representing himself.
The chief magistrate then adjourned the case to May 4, 2018 when the prosecution will bring evidence to pin the accused.
Kirunda was released on a noncash bail of shillings 1m and presented two sureties; Robert Isoba and Jimmy Obalim, both businessmen in Jinja town.
Section 29 of the Election Commission Act states that any person who by himself or herself or any other person procures the registration of himself or herself or any other person on a voters roll for a constituency, knowing that he or she or that other person is not entitled to be registered on that voters roll or is already registered on it or on another voters roll or by himself or herself or any other person procures the registration of a fictitious person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding thirty currency points or to imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both.
“These people (NRM) have made serious allegations against us. In fact the charges preferred against me are criminal in nature and I am now looking for a competent lawyer to defend me otherwise, I have been told that I am not safe,” Kirunda told this writer today.
In the aftermath of the by-election whose results were rejected by the National Resistance Movement, Kirunda went into hiding after learning that the police was arresting the persons suspected to have involved themselves in the irregularities.
Asked why he went into hiding yet he was innocent, Kirunda said it was better to hide and get court summons rather than being arrested and detained at police without trial.
“I am aware the regime wants to arrest me on fabricated cases related to the recent Jinja East by-election which we won as FDC,” Kirunda posted on various WhatsApp groups on Monday April 9, 2018 a few minutes after police arrested Jinja Municipal Council Speaker Morrison Bizitu.
“I am on my way to America where I will hide until I am sure that these guys (police) are no longer looking for me,” added the outspoken FDC man – Kirunda. But it has today been established by this writer that indeed Kirunda is hiding.
“He could be within town (Jinja) but hiding because he is wanted,” A staff at Kirunda’s office who never wanted to be named has told us that the chairman was last seen at office on Monday afternoon.
But Kirunda today said that “in fact I was not in America”. I was within my town but couldn’t avail myself just like that for an arrest.
The comical Chairman – Kirunda is a close friend to Jinja Municipal Council Speaker, Morrison Bizitu, former Walukuba Masese Division chairman, Muhammed Musisi Kibugudhu who were all arrested and detained for some days on similar charges.
Last week NRM lawyers presented a petition in which they want the High Court in Jinja to nullify Mwiru’s victory and declare their client, Nathan Igeme Nabeta as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Jinja East.
NRM insists that the election was riddled with electoral malpractices including multiple voting by known members of the opposition, voter bribery, intimidation and violence against Nabeta’s supporters.
This was the fourth time the two were facing off. And if NRM, which has decided to challenge the result in court, wins, there might be a fifth face-off ahead.
The Evidence
Butalejja Resident District Commissioner, Richard Gulume Balyaino told this writer that: “our camp has been receiving evidence to confirm that Mwiru rigged.” Gulume Balyaino, a resident of Jinja and who was in the Igeme campaign team said the party had obtained video footages, audios, still photos and confessions from some of the FDC stalwarts who executed the rigging, voter bribery, intimidation of voters and threatened violence.
A journalist who covered the election and spoke on condition of anonymity said the NRM claims hold water. The journalist said he had witnessed incidents at Main Street Primary School polling station, where opposition youths prevented those perceived to be NRM supporters from proceeding to vote.
“I have the footage my brother. And remember at one press conference Mwiru himself incited his supporters when he told them to kill anyone who would stand in their way,” says the reporter.
In fact several election observers claimed that the election was marred by violence, intimidation, voter bribery and other electoral malpractices. The Igeme camp also accused the heavily deployed police of connivance with Mwiru for reportedly just looking on as he broke the electoral laws.
In the aftermath, the Kiira Regional Police Commander, Gerald Twishime and the Jinja Central Divisional Police Commander, Martin Mbabazi were suspended and put under investigations.
But Mubarak says NRM is simply, again wasting their resources. “They should accept defeat and we work for our people,” he posted on Tufumintirize, a whatsapp platform.
