Ugandan Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Swaibu Mbowa of the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) has been recognised by the World Bank Group for his role in developing the Risk Impact Assessment (RIA) for Uganda National Fertilizer Policy.

Mbowa got a ‘honorable mention’ in the influential RIAs category and the World Bank says his work is instrumental when carried out through well-conducted analyses, new data and innovative regulatory alternatives.

“This category entails cases where RIA has been able to influence the way policymakers think of a policy problem and has had impact on the regulatory outcome,” says the World Bank.

“Uganda’s RIA had large impact since the country has the lowest uptake of organic and inorganic fertilizer in the world,” it added.

While justifying the honorable mention, World Bank stated: “As the third RIA document produced in the country it will also have immense future impact on the way RIAs is carried out in the country, as it brought lessons on how to deal with diverging stakeholder interests, new ways for policies to set targets, and coordination in policymaking.”

The 2017 Global Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) Awards were organized by the World Bank in conjunction with the Centre for European Governance, University of Exeter, UK.

According to World Bank, the 2017 Global RIA Awards were introduced to encourage teams and public officials who have managed to think outside the box or walked the extra mile to ensure available tools and resources have been used the best way possible in the development of new policies.

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Wits College Namulanda has increased the exam registration fees from the officially announced charges set by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), for this year’s Senior Four and Senior Six candidates.

This year, while releasing the S4 exams, the UNEB Executive Secretary Dan Odongo disclosed that the examination body charges 34,000 shillings, 164,000 shillings and 186,000 for Primary Leaving Examinations, UCE and UACE, respectively.

The same information is contained in a circular released by UNEB and copied to Head teachers of all primary and secondary schools; District Education Officers; District Inspectors of Schools and the Examination Centre Supervisors.

But according to a visitation day circular that was released by the Wits College administration on Sunday, March 11, S4 candidates will now be required to pay exam fees of Shs 200, 000 and 220,000 for S6, respectively.

‘UNEB REGISTRATION FEES: All students in S4 will pay 200,000/= while S6 will pay 220,000/= to facilitate the process of registration. The deadline for paying the money is 28th March, 2018. This money should be paid…’ the circular indicates in part.

Sources that talked to this website on a condition of anonymity, said Wits College Namulanda has over 200 S4 candidates, adding however, that the centre will only accommodate 91 of them, all paying Shs200, 000, in effect, earning the school administration over Shs3 million more than what is officially provided for.

The sources further said the remaining S4 candidates, whose number is about 100 will then be taken to other centers and charged Shs 280,000, bringing in Shs11 million more. By press time the EagleOnline was unable to establish the number of S6 candidates the school is set to register.

Efforts to contact Wits College administration were futile by press time, but the sources said the issue of charging higher examination fees is rampant, carried out mostly by Head teachers of private primary and secondary schools.

Early this year, the Minister for Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni warned and vowed to take action against schools that hike examination dues among other fees.

Similarly, in his submission, Odongo implored schools to always clearly why they are charging more money instead of lumping the charges as ‘UNEB fees’.

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Controversial Major General Kasirye Gwanga has today failed to turn up for a decoration function at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Mbuya.

The outspoken Special Presidential Advisor on Buganda, who is set to retire this year, was last week promoted by President Yoweri Museveni from the rank of Brigadier to Major General.

However, at today’s function officiated at by the Chief of Defense Forces Gen David Muhoozi, Kasirye Gwanga’s name was read but he was nowhere to be seen.

Maj Gen Gwanga, who is said to have retired in 2005 and later recalled by the Commander in- Chief Gen Yoweri Museveni, is serving as a Presidential Advisor on a renewable contract.

Meanwhile, other senior officers promoted and decorated today include Brig Stephen Rwabantu to Maj Gen (Deputy General officer Commanding Reserves); Col Charles Wacha to Brigadier and Director Human Rights and Col Charles Byanyima to Brigadier and Commander Motorized Infantry Brigade.

A total of 1384 officers and men of the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces were promoted and expected to be decorated.

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