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African Sounds Art Exhibition on tomorrow

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
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Members who participated in the Art in Me Festival last time.

The Third Edition of the African Sounds Art Exhibition is slated to take place tomorrow at Speak Hotel, Kampala Julius Ssekajja, the Director of Life and Hope Uganda, a community-based non-governmental organization which supports the vulnerable of the Ugandan society through charity.
The organization, according to Ssekajja supports groups like streets kids, orphans and albinos, among others by donating items such as used clothes among others.
Hundreds of young artists are expected to exhibit their artistic skills and items to the public, says Ssekajja, a professional artist himself. Funds raised from products sold go towards running Life and Hope Uganda charitable activities.
Life and Hope Uganda runs The Art in Me Program which enrolls young people into a holistic learning approach that embraces academic excellence without ignoring talent and skill development with emphasis on talent-based hands-on skills, innovation and creativity. “The program showcases the different roles art plays in society as well as facilitating skill development in the field of art,” says Ssekajja.
According to Ssekajja, different age groups compete and learn together in related artistic fields which include drawing, painting, molding, pottery, craftworks, sculpture as well as creative music and dance performances.
The Art Exhibition is platform that gives youth to showcase their works, as an aftermath of mentorship
Funds raised from products sold proceed towards the Art In Me Festival and other Life and Hope Uganda Activities.

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Uganda has enough ARVS-Health Ministry

By
George Mangula
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The Ministry of Health has come out to allay fears in the public, saying the country has enough antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to treat all HIV/AIDS patients in Uganda.

“The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that contrary to the information that has been making rounds in the press and some public fora, the Country has adequate stocks of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to manage all the patients on treatment in Uganda,” Dr Henry G. Mwebesa, the Acting Director General of Health Services says in the latest statement.

“Stakeholders and patients countrywide should be reassured that there are the right quantities of ARV drug formulations for patients to continue their treatment without any interruptions,” he says.

He says the Ministry of Health operates a dual track supply chain for ARVs involving public health facilities and the private sector, which all receive adequate ARVs supplied through the National Medical Stores and the Joint Medical Store (JMS) and Medical Access Uganda Limited (MAUL) respectively.

Dr Mwebesa says over two-thirds of patients in Uganda are supplied through the National Medical Stores. The public sector drugs, he adds, are mainly funded by the Government of Uganda and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. “The Private Sector commodities (drugs) on the other hand, are funded by the US Government through the PEPFAR program. However, In the last two years, the United States Government through PEPFAR have provided some resources to bridge gaps in the public sector ARV supplies,” he says.

He says that during the month of September, the quantity of second line and some pediatric ARV formulations for the public sector, fell below the acceptable buffer stock of 4months. He attributes the shortfall to some delays in the delivery of some of the ARV orders.

“As a result of this, we had to rationalize drug usage in the health facilities. This meant that instead of prescribing the normal two months of drug refills, health workers reduced the refill period to one month,” he says. The Ministry of Health also worked with District Health Teams and Implementing Partners to redistribute stock among facilities in consideration of their stock levels, he says.

He says the pending deliveries of the affected second line and pediatric ARV formulations for the public sector have now arrived in the Country and that NMS is in the process of distributing the drugs with prioritization of the districts and health facilities that were most affected by the rationalization. “For the first line formulations, the stock levels in the public sector have been and remain normal and stable. The situation for all commodities (First line and second line) for commodities in the private sector supply chain are normal and stable,” he says.
He says no funds meant for the procurement of ARVs were diverted to pay for other commodities that are not ARVs as alleged recently by some individuals in the media. “In fact, any additional funds such as from the programming of other activities are allocated to procurement of ARVs. For instance, in the current Global Fund grant, United States Dollars 19million was reprogrammed to procure ARVs to bridge the public sector gap,” he says.

He says the Ministry of Health appreciates the partners who provide resources for the procurement and delivery of these important lifesaving drugs. “We appreciate the contribution of the United States Government through PEPFAR, the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria and the Government of Uganda for these efforts,” he says.

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Gov’t makes revenue shortfall of Shs102.3bn in October

By
George Mangula
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Finance Minister: Matia Kasaija.

Government tax revenue collections in October 2017 only hit Shs1045.7 billion, posting a shortfall of Shs102.3 billion from the monthly projection of Shs1, 148.0 billion, the latest monthly performance of the economy report says.
But the report released by the Ministry of Finance shows a growth of 18 percent in tax collections when compared to the same month a year ago. The report attributes the increase mainly to the newly introduced policy measures in the current financial year such as making the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) as the sole recipient of taxes.
According to the report, direct domestic tax collections amounted to Shs281.6 billion, showing a performance rate of 85 per cent against the target. “This performance is explained by shortfalls in collections on withholding tax (19.3 per cent), tax on bank interest (17.6 per cent) and corporate tax (6.2 per cent),” says the report published this week.
Indirect tax collections amounted to Shs242.4 billion, recording a performance rate of 81 per cent against the target. The report attributes the 81 per cent performance to shortfalls on VAT collections in the manufacturing sector as there were lower sales of soft drinks and cement. “There were also lower VAT collections in the services sector … due to increased use of internet services over phone calls,” adds the report.
Meanwhile Tax collections from international trade amounted to Shs521.1 billion, recording a performance rate of 102 percent against the target. “This performance is on account of higher collections of VAT on imports (17.3 per cent), import duty (8.9 per cent) and surcharge on imports (3.4 per cent),” says the report.
The total non-tax revenue in the month amounted to Shs35.0 billion against the target of Shs28.5 billion, representing a surplus of Shs6.5 billion. The report attributes the higher performance to efficiency in collections as a result of the transfer of the collection responsibility of most the tax revenues to Uganda Revenue Authority.
During the month, total revenues and grants amounted to Shs1, 219.3 billion against the target of Shs1, 373.2 billion resulting in a shortfall of Shs153.9 billion. The report says the shortfall was on account of lower tax revenue collections and less than projected disbursement of grants.
Of the total outturn in October 2017, domestic revenues (tax and non -tax) constituted Shs1, 080.7 billion while grants represented Shs138.6billion. However, in comparison with October 2016, revenue and grants collections grew by 26 per cent.

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Ways for entrepreneurs to hone leadership skills

By
Guest Writer
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Martin Zwilling

Almost every entrepreneur starts their journey by developing a solution, based on their knowledge of a new technology or required service. Developer skills are necessary, but not sufficient, to build a business. A real business requires leadership – thought leadership to attract customers and mind share, as well as people leadership around a team, partners, and investors.
One answer is for the developer to find a partner who is a leader to build and run the business, and two heads in a startup are almost always better than one. But in my experience as a startup mentor, I find that the happiest and most successful entrepreneurs in the long-term are those that continually stretch themselves to get comfortable in the leadership role.
In fact, being a leader is often outside the experience and training domains of both experienced developers and experienced business professionals. As pointed out in a recent book by leadership expert Herminia Ibarra, very few people are born knowing how to “Act Like A Leader, Think Like A Leader.” But we can all learn and step up if we get the right guidance.
I really related to Ibarra’s direction on how to build your leadership skills by learning to complement your insights with outsights, defined as the valuable perspectives you gain from external experiences and experimentation. Every entrepreneur already knows that building a startup is all about experimentation, new experiences, and problem solving.
To get you started, here is my summary of a half dozen of her key tips, re-focused to the leadership success elements for entrepreneurs, even though the same principles apply to large business professionals and even non-business domains:
Don’t be afraid to challenge your own identity. Because doing things that don’t come naturally can make you feel like an imposter, authenticity becomes an excuse for staying in your comfort zone. The trick is to work toward a future version of your authentic self by doing just the opposite, stretching way outside the boundaries of who you are today. Emulate the leadership attributes of entrepreneurs you admire, such as Richard Branson.
Let go of performance goals that limit new learning. We all like to do what we already do well, so it’s easy to focus on achieving higher performance in that domain. Take the risk of setting goals in the leadership domain that will force non-linear learning. This is called avoiding the competency trap, and lets you bridge to new competencies.
Manage the stepping up process. Let the gap between where you are and what you want to achieve be the spark that motivates you to action. Stepping up to play a bigger leadership role is not an event; it’s a process that takes time before it pays off. It is a transition built from small changes. Map out the steps, and celebrate each success.
Practice your new learning in extracurricular activities. Professional roles outside your startup can be invaluable and less risky for learning, practicing new ways of operating, raising your profile, revising your limited view of yourself, and improving your leadership capabilities. It can then be exhilarating to bring these outsights back home.
Create and use new networks to tap new ideas. When you connect to people in different worlds, you will access different perspectives to broaden your own. Avoid the network trap of sticking to the same old players for insight, motivation, and advice. Leaders need at least three different networks – operational, strategic, and personal.
Start acting and thinking like a leader now. Stretch yourself to take action now, and recognize that you may not see at first how all the dots connect as you start branching out beyond your comfort work zone, habitual networks, and historical ways of defining yourself. Slowly but surely a more central and enduring leader identity will take root.
Thus if you have mastered the art of developing solutions, but struggle with building a business, it’s time to focus on your critically important leadership skills. Stop hiding in your comfort zone, and branch out for some new outsights. You too can find an entrepreneur identity in yourself that you never thought possible, and business success that you once only dreamed about.

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Musisi urges Makerere students to protect infrastructure

By
George Mangula
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Jennifer Musisi

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi has called upon the students of Makerere University to protect and properly utilize the new infrastructure KCCA has set up at the university, saying it is for their own good.
Ms Musisi made the remarks recently as she hosted a delegation from the university led by Faisal Lwanga, the Chairman of Makerere Soccer Fans. The group was at KCCA to thank Musisi and her team for installing security lights among others within the university parameters.
Lwanga said: “Madam, we thank you for all the roads and security lights within Makerere University. This has improved security and eased movement within the university. We are committed to rally behind every developmental and sport activity of KCCA.” He said Makerere graduates face the persistent challenge of unemployment.
Responding to the appreciation, Musisi said: “I am pleased to learn that our work in improving city infrastructure is well received and is making life better for university students as they go about their studies.” She said, “I am especially, delighted to hear that incidents of theft have significantly reduced due to enhanced street lighting and students are safer.”
The reconstruction of roads, walkways and installation of lights has uplifted the face of the university, more so as a result of the partnership between KCCA and the university.
Musisi told students of KCCA’s programs in supporting the youth generate income such as the Youth Empowerment Program which equips the youth with skills and provides plus startup capital for small investment groups. She too urged graduates to enroll in KCCA’s Employment Service Bureau, saying it offers opportunities such as tips on how to compete favourably for employment.
KCCA is constructing a perimeter wall along Makerere Hill road to further secure the University. However, students pleaded with KCCA to work with the management of Makerere University to construct a perimeter wall around the entire university to eliminate trespassers.
The construction of well-lit University roads, perimeter wall and the remodeling of the University Main Gate are a result of a negotiated in-kind compensation between KCCA and Makerere University Management.
The University consented to offer some of its land for the upgrade and expansion of Makerere Hill Road, which runs from Wandegeya to Nankulabye. The works were implemented under KCCA’s Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project with funding from the Government of Uganda and the World Bank.

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Capital FM’s Marcus quits after 18 years on radio

By
Badru Kasadah
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QUITTING CAPITAL FM: Marcus Kwikiriza

After nearly two decades on radio, veteran radio presenter, Marcus Kwikiriza has finally called it quits.

“What started as a vocational job in S6 vac back in ‘98 (Sanyu Radio) has ended up giving me a very fulfilling career and opening more opportunities than I can care to admit.  It’s been 18 years of active radio work taking to me to 3 countries and 7 different radio stations. The time has come to hung up the M.I.C….,” he states in his Tuesday message.

Currently a presenter on Capital FM’s Big Breakfast show, the biggest breakfast show in the country which he co-hosts with Jackie Lumbasi and comedian Oulanya Columbus, Marcus has confirmed that December 15 will be his last day on radio.

“To everyone that I have worked with in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, I thank you all for helping me improve my craft. Besides my home town Kla, I feel welcome in all 3 countries thanks to all of you,” he wrote.

Marcus’ career began at Sanyu FM (Friday night and Saturday night show) and then Radio One (Mid-morning show).

Form here,  he moved to Rwanda- Radio 10, Flash FM (Programme director) before he moved to Kenya where he spent over 8 years (2004-2012), working at Capital Radio (Drive Show), Classic FM (Drive show), Nation FM/Easy FM (Breakfast show).

He then returned to Uganda to fill the gap at Capital FM that had been left by Allan Kasujja, who had joined BBC.

Meanwhile, this is not the last time that Marcus’ fans will be hearing from him, as he currently co-hosts with Gaetano Kaggwa.

He is also an MC for corporate events in addition to being a brand ambassador at Uganda Breweries Ltd.

 

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Red Pepper bosses denied bail, sent back to Luzira

By
Geoffery Serugo
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PARDONED: Red Pepper Directors and Editors in the dock. Their case was adjourned to February 14.

Five directors and three editors of the Red Pepper have today been denied bail by Buganda Road magistrate James Mawanda Eremye and sent back to Luzira Prison till December 19.

The eight were arrested in November after publication of a story which indicated that President Museveni wants to cause the overthrow of the Rwandan government led by President Paul Kagame.

The accused are Richard Tusiime, James Mujuni, Johnson Musinguzi, Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Francis Tumusiime, Ben Byarabaha, Richard Kintu and Patrick Mugumya, all of who were charged with offensive communication, defamation and disturbing the peace of President Yoweri Museveni, his brother General Caleb Akandwanaho and the Minister for Security Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde.

They were also charged with the November 20 publication of information that is reportedly prejudicial to national security.

Appearing before court earlier in the day, prosecution led by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) lawyer Abdulsalaam Waiswa asked for more time to comprehensively study the documents submitted by defence lawyer, Max Mutabingwa.

According to Mr. Waiswa, the accused persons, if released, would interfere with investigations and continue to publish stories that would cause a threat to national security.

Speaking to journalists after court session, counsel Mutabingwa said he would consult his clients to know if they want to appeal to the High Court in case they are not released on bail.

 

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Hippos arrive in Zambia for U20 tourney

By
Our Reporter
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The Cranes junior team, the Hippos, arrived in Zambia for the 2017 Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) U20 tournament for which they were invited as guest team.

The team arrived at Mwanawasa International Airport, Ndola in Zambia on Monday and held a light training session at the Chipolopolo training facility. They are accommodated at Nobutula Lodge in Kitwe.

KCCA striker Muhammad Shaban will captain the team throughout the regional tournament that runs from from December 6 to 16.

The Hippos are in Group B alongside the hosts Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland.

Uganda open their campaign against the hosts and defending champions Zambia tomorrow December 6, at the Arthur Davies Stadium.

Players:

Goalkeepers: Eric Kibowa, Keni Saidi, Ali Mwerusi.

Outfield players: Fred Okot, Andrew Okiringi, Mustapha Kizza, Victor Matovu, Mustapha Mujjuzi, Geofrey Wasswa, Abubaker Muhammed Kasule, Julius Poloto, David Owori, Pius Obuya, Frank Tumwesigye, Shafiq Kagimu, Allan Okello, Muhammed Shaban, Mujahid Baden, Steven Mukwala, Hamis Tibita.

Officials:

Head of Delegation: Hajji Abdul Ssekabira Lukooya

Head coach: Mathias Lule

Assistant Coach: James Odoch

Goalkeeping Coach: Samuel Kawalya

Team Manager: Suliat Makumbi

Team Doctor: Ivan Ssewanyana

Official: Lawrence Kizito

Media Officer: Farid Mpagi

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Age Limit: MPs protest Museveni meeting legal committee members

By
Priscilla Alma
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L-R Medard Sseggona, (Busiro East), Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality), and Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) address a press conference this morning

Legislators opposed to the lifting of Presidential Age Limit have protested the meeting between President Yoweri Museveni and MPs on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.

The trio; Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality), Medard Sseggona (Busiro East) and Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga County) addressed a press conference this morning, protesting the manner in which the business of amending the Constitution is being handled.

Mpuuga, a Democratic Party MP, said that the public is aware of the fact that the Age Limit Bill is essentially a ‘Museveni Bill’ and that the sponsor, Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, is just a ‘conduit’.

“The rush to meet him is what we don’t understand. Whoever is advising them should tell them to slow down because they’ll hit hard, they should reflect on the manner the committee is being governed. We would like to advise Oboth Oboth and those who believe like him that this country is not an iceberg that is going to melt with rising temperatures,” the MPs warned.

This followed a heated meeting held yesterday where Parliament informed the Committee members that the institution was cash-strapped and that there was no money to facilitate the countrywide consultations.

However, Mpuuga explained that Parliament told the Committee to retreat to work on the report that has to be ready in the next five days.

In the draft budget documents that leaked in October 2017, the Committee indicated that it planned to spend Shs715, 300,000 for processing of the Bill.

Of this, Shs227, 250,000m was to be spent on internal field trips where the Committee had planned to travel to five regions across the country, with the MPs visiting seven districts from each of the five regions.

Additionally, Shs400, 080,000 m was budgeted for the international trips with the Committee set to travel to three countries.

While on the other hand, the Committee would retreat to write its report after the consultations, an exercise that would cost tax payers Shs88,300,000.

But the Committee members have rejected the claim by Parliament, with Mpuuga demanding answers as to why the Committee has chosen to deviate from the agreed programme, to go to the countryside and consult the electorate.

“We take exception that there is no money to facilitate the countryside consultations but the same Parliament has money to roll out to MPs to consult voters and facilitate the football team of MPs,” Mpuuga said.

Another reason for protesting the meeting at State House was the ‘fraudulent’ way six MPs were added to the Committee, with the ‘rebellious’ MPs wondering which kind of submission the new MPs were to add on the report even before they make a maiden speech on the floor of Parliament.

Now, the MPs are demanding for Parliament to find the resources to consult across the country, saying failure to hold countrywide consultations would send the respect accorded to the Committee ‘down the trenches’.

Ssekikubo wondered why Museveni is ‘mutilating the same Constitution’ he once praised to be the best in the world by interfering with the Committee’s due process.

He even made allegations that the Committee report has already been finalized with Government simply waiting to fill in the blank spaces.

“We are being provoked beyond human endurance. The new MPs haven’t interfaced with the Committee witnesses and were brought at the tail end of the process. That will be a default and forged report,” Ssekikubo argued.

Sseggona described the decision by Museveni to summon MPs yet seven members of the Committee were out of the country on official duties as ‘brutal’.

“Museveni is brutal in character and he believes that he will achieve everything in brutality,” Sseggona said.

The MPs also accused their colleagues of bribery reporting that the President intends to dish out Shs300m to each MP that shows support for the Bill at State House.

 

 

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Ending child marriages could generate US$3b for Uganda-WB report

By
George Mangula
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Christina Malmberg Calvo, the World Bank Country Manager in Uganda

Ending child marriages today could generate US$3 billion per year for Uganda by 2030, says a new report launched by the World Bank.

The new Uganda Economic Update released Tuesday at Kitante Hill School in Kampala and titled ‘Accelerating Uganda’s Development: Educating Girls and Ending Child Marriage and Early Childbearing’, indicates that the largest economic benefits from ending child marriage would result from a reduction in population growth and thereby higher standards of living and lower poverty.

Such a boost for Uganda’s economy would be beneficial given that the economy has been slowing down; at 4.5 percent per annum, the average rate of growth for the past five years is far lower than the rate of 7.0 percent or more achieved in the 1990s and early 2000s.

However, that notwithstanding and despite a declining trend, the World Bank says one in three girls still marry before the age of 18, through formal or informal unions, a situation that leads to lower educational attainment for girls and their children, higher population growth, substantial health risks, higher intimate partner violence, and lower earnings for women as well as higher poverty.

Further, the WB notes that the second largest economic cost of child marriage is related to low educational attainment for girls, which in turn leads to lack of good jobs and low expected earnings in adulthood for women. Today, if women who had married as girls had been able to delay their marriage, their annual earnings could have been higher by an estimated at US$500 million. This would reduce the pressure that providing basic services puts on the national budget, and the savings could be invested to improve the quality of public services.

“Almost three in ten girls have their first child before the age of 18. As a result, the completion rate for both lower and upper secondary school for Ugandan girls remains low,” the report says.

“The cost of child marriages does not fall solely to the girls and their babies but constitute an enormous lost opportunity for Ugandan society and the Ugandan economy. Educating girls and ending child marriages must be a top priority for any aspiring middle income country. Inaction is really not an option,” adds Christina Malmberg Calvo, the World Bank Country Manager in Uganda.

The 10th Uganda Economic Update benefited from support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Global Partnership for Education. The report is one of several country studies prepared by the World Bank following up on a global study on the economic impacts of child marriage conducted in partnership with the International Center for Research on Women with additional funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Among key recommendations, the economic update calls for greater investment in girls’ education, providing economic opportunities for girls who are out of school and cannot go back to school, and imparting adolescent girls with life skills and reproductive health knowledge.

 

 

 

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