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MP Anywar takes on UNHCR official over sexual molestation of girl refugees

By
Geoffery Serugo
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NAME AND SHAME! Betty Anwar, the Kitgum Woman MP

Kitgum Woman Member of Parliament Beatrice Atim Anywar has asked Khamis Ali, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officer who is reportedly arrested for sexual molesting girls to compensate all victims including one who requires anal surgery.

Last week, Anwar reported cases of sexual harassment against five girls from Lamwo refugee camp to police in Kitgum but the force first declined to arrest Ali saying he is a diplomat.

In a press briefing held at Parliament, Anywar said UNHCR officer doesn’t only harass girls in camps but in hotels where he stays. His file had been missing however it was recalled to Kampala on orders of Doris Akullo and is currently detained at Jinja road police station.

“With Investigators from Geneva for a fact finding mission in Lamwo district to investigate allegations of sexual harassment in camps the team recommended that any UN officer caught in such act doesn’t have diplomatic immunity and should face the law,” she said at Parliament.

She lauded FIDA Uganda and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for acting fast to bring to record Mr. Khamis Ali.

Contacted for comment, both police spokes persons Emilian Kayima and Patrick Onyango did not pick our calls.

The refugee docket has recently come to the spotlight and last month the Office of the Prime Minister interdicted the Commissioner for Refugees Apollo Kazungu and three other officers over misappropriation of refugee funds, aid relief and falsification of refugee numbers.

Following their suspension, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations George Okoth Oboth, said that the agency’s Inspector General’s Office is in Uganda carrying out investigations in respect to several serious allegations received in 2017 about fuel embezzlement, sexual exploitation and abuse, irregular tendering and fraud in procurement and food distribution.

 

 

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M-Net Movies creates magic with a 10-day Marvel Studios Pop-Up Channel

By
Our Reporter
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The dstv logo

The heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are assembling on a small screen near you, with fifteen epic blockbusters

 

From Friday, 13 April to Sunday, April 22 DStv Premium customers will experience an unprecedented cinematic journey with the M-Net Movies Marvel Studios Pop-Up Channel.

This super-powered channel, which will be added to the already existing six M-Net Movies channels on DStv, will be available for ten days only on channel 109 and will feature 15 of the most pulsating films from the massively popular Marvel Studios franchise.

During these ten days, the M-Net Movies Marvel Studios Pop-Up Channel will run from 06:00 CAT to 00:00 CAT daily. Each day of the week a film from the franchise, which has overlapping storylines, will be screened in chronological order, i.e. according to how the films were released in cinema. Starting with 2008’s Iron Man, viewers can revisit the stories of their beloved heroes all the way through to Spiderman: Homecoming, which will close the channel on Sunday 22, April.

“This channel is a special treat for the legions of Marvel fans—both old and new—who have enjoyed the live-action exploits of favourite Marvel Superheroes in films that express the unique vision and creativity of their filmmakers, and deliver thrilling action and visual spectacles with relatable characters,” says Tina Wamala, the Public Relations and Communications Manager MultiChoice Uganda.

“The timing of our M-Net Movies Marvels Studios Pop-Up Channel is also absolutely perfect with the franchise currently creating an incredible buzz worldwide.”

The release of the recent Black Panther became the biggest film of all time in East, West and South Africa, showing that Marvel Studios is at the forefront of the comic-book-turned-action-pop-culture phenomenon. While the M-Net Movies Marvel Pop-Up channel will give DStv viewers the opportunity to enjoy more gems of the franchise, which has been ten years in the making, it also serves as a lead-up to the new Avengers: Infinity War which hits South African cinemas on Friday, 27 April 2018.

On top of the 15 feature films (see list below) there will also be programming linked to the behind the scenes of the movies, such as: United We Stand, Divided We Fall; The Making of Captain America: Civil War; Guide to The Galaxy with James Gunn and more.

Additionally, avid fans of the blockbuster franchise will be treated to a range of documentaries offering incredible insight into the history of Marvel.

These include: Marvel 75 Years from Pulp to Pop; From Asgard to Earth (Thor); Marvel’s Captain America: 75 Heroic Years; Ultimate Iron Man: The Making of Iron Man 2 Rebuilding the Suit; Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe just to mention a few!

The fifteen Marvel Studios blockbusters on the channel are:

 

Iron Man (2008)

 

Iron Man 2 (2010)

 

Thor (2011)

 

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

 

Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)

 

Iron Man 3 (2013)

 

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

 

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

 

Avenges: Age of Ultron (2015)

 

Ant-Man (2015)

 

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

 

Doctor Strange (2016)

 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

 

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

 

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Miguna Miguna ‘denied entry’ into Kenya

By
Agencies
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DENIED ENTRY: Controversial lawyer Miguna Migna at the Airport after being denied entry into kenya. Photo Credit/ BusinessToday

Self-proclaimed National Resistance Movement – Kenya (NRM-K) leader Miguna Miguna finally landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday afternoon.

The controversial lawyer was received by his lawyers after his Emirates flight EK19 touched down at the airport at 2:30 pm but was denied entry into the county after he declined to apply for a visa.

According to lawyer Cliff Ombeta, the political activist was asked to surrender his Canadian passport, to which they declined.

The NRM leader has returned after Justice Chacha Mwita ordered his return to Kenya and further suspended the State’s declaration that he was a prohibited immigrant on February 26, 2018.

Miguna was deported to Canada after he was involved in the swearing-in of National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga.

His return also comes after the Opposition leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta shook hands and reconciled.

However, Miguna maintains Kenyan authorities are yet to assure him of his security and safety while in the country.

Miguna was arrested by a contingent of crack police officers who forcefully broke into his Muthaiga home in the wee hours of the morning.

He was then held at various police stations before being arraigned in a Kajiado court where he was charged with aiding Raila commit treason by presiding over his mock swearing in ceremony at Uhuru Park on January 30.

Despite orders by High Court Judge Luka Kimaru to have him produced before court, the government remained adamant and instead whisked him to the airport before deporting him on account he never renewed his Kenyan citizenship upon the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution that allowed dual citizenship.

It is still not clear whether he would eventually be allowed to leave the airport. His return was one of the conditions Raila says he gave President Uhuru before agreeing to the unity pact. 

However, Miguna continues to hold that Raila betrayed Kenyans and has vowed to launch a resistance against the Jubilee administration.

“I anticipate a warm reception at JKIA by over 500,000 NRM-Ke followers. I am coming to offer leadership to a movement of millions of Kenyans that were betrayed by Raila, ” he tweeted hours before his arrival in the country.

“Raila’s unilateral, irrational and erratic decision to betray the fight for electoral justice, the culture of impunity and the abuse of human right cannot be justified,” he added.

 

 

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Agriculture ministry: We need lessons in water harvesting

By
Guest Writer
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David Serumaga

Dear Editor,

Last year, many districts in the country experienced a severe drought that affected the lives of the citizens, crops and livestock. In districts like Nakasongola, Karamoja and some others, there was no pasture and water for animals, resulting in deaths. The country also witnessed animal and crop price depreciation due to excessive high temperatures that left all the grassland or pastures and water sources for irrigation, animal and home use, dried out.

In some districts in western, Eastern and Central Uganda, the prolonged drought experienced last year resulted into shortage of food for animals and human beings which affected their lives and lowered incomes.

Now that God is abundantly giving us rain, farming is taking place and we expect to have food surplus on the market which is of high quality due to enough water in the soils.

Although farmers are smiling at this time, those who are building, mining in wetlands and forest encroachers are still active and this means that there is a lot needed to be done to prepare for the next drought when the rains stop.

Indeed, this is the time the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry has to seriously think about measures that will help avert a possible water crisis in future.

This can only be done when the agriculture ministry works together with the media houses to educate and inform all our citizens about how to harvest water in this rainy season, for the benefit of all in need.

It is important to know that if our people venture into water harvesting, individual or home irrigation projects will emerge, enabling farmers to grow crops for food and the surplus to be sold. It will boost the quantity and quality of crops harvested which will increase the demand and competiveness of our agricultural products on the international market.

Research conducted by the Buganda Youth Wing members shows that crops or livestock with enough water can even resist, survive, fight diseases or any kind of pests which attack animals and crops compared to those which are facing excessive heat.

This is the right time for the Ministry of Agriculture with the help of the media or any other farming company to inform and educate the farmers how to harvest water, keep it and use it during drought.

Indeed, we shouldn’t leave this gift of water from God to waste: teach the public on cheaper means of collecting it because even when water is too much in the soil, it becomes useless.

 

By David Serumaga

serumagadavid916@gmail.com

President, Buganda Youth Wing

 

 

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Hippos begin training ahead of 2019 AFCON qualifiers

By
Our Reporter
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The Hippos in training

The Uganda Hippos head coach, Mathias Lule, who doubles as an assistant coach to Sebastian Desabre for the senior team, has named the players that entered the residential camp in Lubowa at African Bible University.

The training started today with 27 players and the squad will be further trimmed during the course of the week.

The U-20 national team side will face CECAFA rivals South Sudan this Saturday in the first of the two legs at StarTimes stadium, Lugogo during the 2019 U-20 African Nations Championship qualifiers.

The second leg is due in South Sudan on the weekend of April 20-22.

The winner between Uganda and South Sudan over the two legs will play Cameroon in the second round. Second round qualifiers are scheduled for May.

Niger will host the final tournament in 2019. The four semi-finalists qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be hosted in Poland.

Zambia are defending champions after winning the 2017 edition held in Lusaka, with a 2-0 win against Senegal in the final.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Cranes senior team remains in camp at Ivy’s Hotel Wakaliga for the second build up match against Malawi on Tuesday after Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Sao Tome.

 

The players in camp:

Goalkeepers: Saidi Keni, Tonny Kyamera

Defenders: Fred Okot, Kyobe Salim, Mustafa Kizza, Hebert Ochayo, Musitafa Mujuzi, Geofrey Wasswa, Paul Willa, Bashir Asiku.

Midfielders: Allan Okello, Frank Tumwesigye, Solomon Ovoyo, Ivan Eyamu, Abubaker Kasule, Julius Poloto, Ezra Bida, Faisal Sekyanzi, Joshua Okiror Ocen,

Strikers: Sadam Masereka,  Steven Desi Mukwala, Hamisi Tibita, Ibrahim Thembo, Denis Otim, Joel Jangeyambe, Josua Wandera, Sadat Anaku.

Saturday March 31, 2018

U-20 Afcon qualifiers

Uganda Vs South Sudan

StarTimes stadium, Lugogo (4pm)

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PM Rugunda calls for increased Intra African trade

By
Our Reporter
-
Called for peace: Uganda PM Ruhakana Rugunda

Intra-African trade is extremely low and currently accounts for only 10% of all commerce on the continent, Uganda’s Prime Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, has said, calling for increased trade through regionl blocs.

Speaking during the official opening session of the East African Business Council (EABC) 20th anniversary celebrations in Nairobi, Kenya where the Prime Minister represented President Yoweri Museveni,  Dr. Rugunda called for concerted efforts between African governments and the private sector to enable the continent attain its development objectives, which he said, could drive the masses out of poverty.

“Since the inception of the EABC, there has been progress towards achieving the integration process through trade and policy reviews, tax harmonization, discussions on the Northern Corridor, stakeholder engagements to improve the free movement of goods and services within the region,” he said.

Rugunda said that the region still faces many challenges along the route to full integration including the need for full harmonization of policies and laws.

“This is a process that is taking time for all Partner States but a lot of progress has been made in this direction. We have to keep the momentum,” he said.

The Prime Minister further noted that doing business as blocs was increasingly becoming the norm as evidenced by the signing earlier this week in Kigali of the Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) by the leaders of over 40 African countries.

He said that the AfCFTA, which will come into force within six months, would increase prosperity for 1.2b Africans, adding that it was a true learning experience for businesses across the globe.

Rugunda hailed EABC for striving to see to it that regional integration process is achieved with meaning and tangible results for the citizens of the East African Community (EAC).

In his remarks, Kenya’s Minister for Cooperatives, Trade and Industry Adan Mohammed said that the private sector in East Africa had also contributed to the challenges to intra-regional trade including non-tariff barriers to trade.

Mohammed said that the private sector had brought about NTBs by pushing their respective home governments to push for national interests as opposed to the regional integration agenda for the sake of preserving their markets.

He said the EAC as the most integrated regional economic bloc in terms of trade and infrastructure development, adding that the Community needs to stick together when negotiating trade agreements with other regional economic communities because there is strength in numbers.

Speaking at the event, Kenya’s Minister for EAC and Northern Corridor Development, Peter Munya, said the region faced a challenge in the implementation of agreed protocols.

“National laws need to be aligned to regional protocols. Partner States also need to push for law reforms back home. The other alternative is to pass overarching laws at the regional level to replace existing legislation. This has been done with success in the European Union,” Munya said.

He called for a review of the Common External Tariff and efforts to make the EAC Single Customs Territory work better, adding that the Community may need to establish a regional institution to make this possible.

EABC Chairman Jim Kabeho emphasized the importance of local content especially in huge infrastructure projects being undertaken by governments in the region.

“The local business sector should be allowed to participate in major projects including at the inception. All materials for these projects like cement and steel should be sourced locally rather than abroad. China currently dominates the supply of construction materials. Sourcing materials locally will lead to expanded sales as well as capacity building for local businesses,” said Kabeho.

On agriculture, Mr. Kabeho said that though EAC Partner States’ economies were agriculture-based this was not reflected in their budgets with minimal allocations going to the sector.

EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko disclosed that EAC and EABC had worked closely over the years with both institutions benefitting from the synergies of working together.

Amb. Mfumukeko said that through this partnership, EAC and EABC had contributed towards the conclusion of several regional legal instruments such as the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union Protocols, One Stop Border Posts Act, the Framework on the elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade, and development of trade standards.

Also present at the event was the Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Kirunda Kivejinja, who is also Uganda’s 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC Affairs.

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How to maintain that one percent edge

By
Guest Writer
-

By Martin Zwilling

No company or entrepreneur gets it right every time. As an angel investor, I have found that people claiming a perfect record are either lying to themselves, or they are not taking enough risk to enable a big payback. In the long run, your ability to thrive in business today is more about how you prepare for and handle the inevitable exceptions and failures, than shooting for perfection.

In trying to put a practical edge on this message, I found some help in a new book, ‘The One Percent Edge’, by Susan Solovic. She has been there, as a serial entrepreneur, internet pioneer, attorney, and media personality. She offers some good lessons for every modern business and entrepreneur that I can paraphrase here, with insights from my own experience:

Not every customer is predictable, so expect exceptions. Of course, it’s important to put standard processes in place for all transactions, returns, and service requests, but a policy of “no exceptions” is not competitive today. A special case handled individually can be your best advertising, through social media and this world of instant communication.

For example, when a grieving customer informed a T-mobile customer representative that her husband had just passed away with a $2000 overdue bill, with all funds frozen, the customer’s account balance was forgiven. She was even offered unlimited minutes for the following two months. She shared her joy online, with over 29K views and likes.

Train customer support personnel for complex situations. By the time a customer decides to reach beyond a front-line employee, the situation is already complex. The age-old approach of putting marginal or new employees in support is a recipe for disaster. Put your best employees in support, and continually enhance customer support satisfaction.

Give employees the authority and incentives they need. Above all, employees must have your trust and empowerment to make exceptions where appropriate, and solve problems on the spot. One of the best approaches I have seen is managers providing rewards for problem solving, including visible public recognition for their peers to see.

For example, the transport staff at the Staten Island University Hospital Radiology Lab has the tough and tiring job of wheeling patients around for testing. When an employee witnessed another solving a problem or going the extra mile, they would nominate them for a Go the Extra Mile (GEM) certificate. These make everyone more empowered.

Respond to customer special requests in real time. For better or for worse, the Internet and social-media-based customer access have made consumers expect virtually immediate responses to their issues. I still regularly hear from customers that wait for days or weeks after submitting a web form, or get stuck in telephone queues for an hour.

Offer a great customer experience, not just a product. Today lasting customer loyalty requires an experience that goes far beyond the initial product or service. This includes marketing, social media, the buying experience, as well as service. If that experience falls short of the mark, your business will suffer, no matter how great your service is.

Many negative customer experiences can actually be turned into positives, if you quickly acknowledge the problem, resolve it, and spread the positive message before the negative one gets amplified. Don’t repeat the ‘United Breaks Guitars’ experience, which now has been published as a book on what not to do.

Be accountable, and admit and correct mistakes quickly. Successful leaders and businesses are humble and transparent enough with themselves and others to admit mistakes and correct them quickly. In this way, those around them, including customers, can benefit from their learning, and feel a positive relationship and trust.

Learn from the companies that get it right. Etsy is an example of a company that has a tremendous reputation with customers. Every user gets a unique experience, and this gives them a feeling of being special and well-cared for. The team works hard to personalize the customer journey so that users feel more connected with the experience.

Remember, you don’t have to be perfect to outperform the competition. Only one percent above the rest is still the top. No quantum leap is required to get there – just make small incremental improvements in all areas of your business, and you too can avoid the pain of a radical overhaul (when it may be too late anyway), while increasing your agility and resilience.

 

 

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Miguna Miguna returns to Kenya today

By
Agencies
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Controversial Kenyan politician Miguna Miguna

Deported Kenyan opposition lawyer, Miguna Miguna, will be returning to the country today, following court orders that reversed his controversial deportation to Canada last month.

Miguna was deported to Canada on February 6, 2018 after being dramatically arrested for his role in the mock swearing-in of Raila Odinga as the People’s president.

The High Court however ordered the government to facilitate his return after having ruled that his deportation was illegal.

His lawyers led by James Orengo said they were satisfied with efforts made by the government to facilitate his return as ordered by the courts.

“We are happy and satisfied with work that has been done so far in compliance with the court order and we will keep on consulting until Miguna arrives and safely enters in the territory of Kenya,” said Orengo.

Orengo confirmed that the Ministry of Interior will allow Miguna safe entry into the country, and added that they have requested government to allow Miguna’s lawyers, family and friends to receive him at the airport.

As part of the reconciliation deal reached between opposition leader Raila Odinga and Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, government agreed to withdraw charges against all those involved in Odinga’s illegal inauguration including Miguna.

Miguna’s lawyers consequently also confirmed that they will no longer pursue the court case once Miguna is back, stating his return to the country is the important subject.

Miguna who has since criticised the reconciliation between Odinga and the government, has staged several talks in Canada, US and UK ahead of his return.

“I am scheduled to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 2:30pm aboard Emirates EK19 via Dubai,” he said in a statement.

The vocal opposition politician has been meeting Kenyans in the diaspora, discussing various issues with them including dual citizenship, while also promising to pursue the struggle to fight electoral injustices in the country.

 

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South Africa police say may issue Zuma summons this week

By
Agencies
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WHAT NEXT: former South African President Jacob Zuma.

South African police could this week issue former president Jacob Zuma with a court summons relating to corruption charges over a years-old $2.5 billion arms deal, a spokesman for the Hawks investigative crime unit said on Sunday.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) last week said it would seek to prosecute Zuma on 16 charges, including fraud, racketeering, corruption and money laundering.
Zuma could not be reached for comment on Sunday. He has repeatedly denied the allegations. A court appearance would be a dramatic development on a continent where former presidents rarely face their accusers in court.
“We are of the view everything will be finalised soon. Hopefully this week,” Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi told Reuters.
News24, citing sources close to the case, reported that Zuma would be summoned to appear in the Durban High Court on April 6. Mulaudzi declined to comment.
Zuma, who was forced to resign by his ruling African National Congress last month, was at the center of a 1990s deal to buy European military kit that has cast a shadow over politics in South Africa for years.
Zuma was deputy president at the time of the arms deal. Schabir Shaikh, his former financial adviser, was found guilty and jailed in 2005 for trying to solicit bribes for Zuma from a French arms company.
The 16 counts were filed against Zuma but then dropped by the NPA shortly before he successfully ran for president in 2009.
Since his election nine years ago, his opponents have fought a lengthy legal battle to have the charges reinstated. Zuma countered with his own legal challenges.

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President Museveni asks for answers on Umeme contract

By
George Mangula
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President Museveni

Just as you thought the Umeme issue is long dead and one of those very many governance storms that raise only to die with the wind, President Museveni has written a missive asking the IGG to look into the Umeme contract and the controversies therein.
He has ordered the minister if energy not to renew Umeme’s contract unless the ministry avails him with a satisfactory explanations on the controversies surrounding the concession.
In a March 12 letter to Ministry of Energy, Irene Muloni, President Museveni paints an image of someone who is at last fed up of the controversies surrounding the Umeme concession and the fact that a poor job by the government negotiators led Ugandans to paying through the nose for power tariffs and what’s the matter sorted fast.



“This concession was, apparently, messed up by certain elements in your ministry. It is that messing up that is responsible for the high tariffs that Ugandans are still paying for electricity,” the letter reads in part and goes on to narrate the investigations government has been doing into the concession since 2005 when the Auditor General looked into the inflated technical and commercial loses which he put at 28 per cent only for government officials to connive with the investors and hiked it to 38 per cent.
In the letter, the President asks why the electricity consumer continues to suffer the blunt of paying too much for electricity.
“Why do consumers have to pay for both the mysterious investments and the mysterious loses that should have disappeared long ago?” the president asks.
He further orders, “I am now directing you to furnish me with the explanations on all these matters. IN the meantime, there should be no question of renewing Umeme’s concession. Let us look for a cheaper way of modernizing and expanding the transmission and the distribution lines.
“By copy of this letter, I am also requesting the IFF to look into these issues.”

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