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Jumia Travel partners with Nyege Nyege Music Festival 2017

By
George Mangula
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One of the participantsat the Jumia Travel 'Meet and Greet' for the media

Jumia Travel Uganda officially announced its partnership with the organisers of the third edition of Nyege Nyege Music Festival 2017 to be held in Jinja from September 1-3.

Members of the Press at the Jumia Travel ‘Meet and Greet’

The partnership was announced as Jumia Travel hosted the Ugandan media fraternity to a cocktail party, aimed at appreciating the press for the continued support they have rendered to Jumia Travel, a company that provides a wide range of products like online hotel booking and sale of goods, among others.

Timothy Mugume, Country Manager Jumia Travel Uganda

“Strengthening our partnerships with key players such as the media is very important to us at Jumia Travel and we are very happy to finally put faces to the publishers, photographers and broadcasters that came,” said Timothy Mugume, Country Manager Jumia Travel Uganda.

Addressing journalists, guest of honour, Busoga kingdom minister of tourism Hellen Namutamba, lauded the organisers for deciding to hold the festival in Busoga, adding that it will boost tourism in the kingdom at the country at large.

Ms Namutamba said the event provides entertainment as well as jobs to the local people who are hired for different activities. “I appreciate you for holding this event in Busoga,” she commended the organisers.

Nyege Nyege Chief organiser Derek Debru

Nyege Nyege Chief organiser Derek Debru said the latest edition has a lot of entertainment to offer “With 4 stages and over 200 Artists, the Nyege Nyege Festival is anticipated to be the party of the year.” Other Partners including Talent Africa represented by CEO Ali Alibhai, and Modern Coast were also present at the Jumia Travel event.

The Nyege Nyege Festival is one of the most highly ranked festivals around the world. The official Nyege Nyege Music Anthem video composed by Ugandan rapper Nemesis was also unveiled.

 Other highlight artistes from Uganda include Latinum, Jackie Akello, Apio Moro, Byg Ben Sukuya and Truth among others.

The   72-hour celebration of music and arts has gathered maximum hype all over the world for its forward-looking line-up and its idyllic location: a luscious forest right at the Source of the Nile in Jinja.

A unique continental event, Nyege Nyege has the quality and spirit of any top international festival, while conserving the charm and authenticity of a real African celebration.

And in this third edition, Nyege Nyege will bring two additional stages, including the Umoja Sound System from Kenya and a Funktion One Sound, ready for the over 200 artistes that will be performing this year.

Jumia Travel is offering a special package that includes a ticket to the show, transport and a tent, with the booking done online at the company’s website.

 

 

 

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Moyo Parish marks 100 years

By
George Mangula
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Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi being received by State Minister of Health for General Duties Joyce Moriku (gesturing) on arrival at Laropi Air Field in Moyo

The West Nile Catholic Parish of Moyo in Arua Diocese has marked 100 years existence since it was established by the Comboni missionaries in 1917.

The colourful centenary celebration held at the parish on Saturday were presided over by the Papal Nuncio Augustine Blume and attracted hundreds of Catholic faithful from Arua and Nebbi Dioceses.

Madi Paramount Chief Denis Toloko greeting Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi during the Moyo Catholic Parish Centenary celebrations in Moyo Town Council

President Yoweri Museveni, in a speech read for him by the Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, lauded the Catholic Church and the Moyo Catholic Parish, saying they have acted as an important conduit for attitude change towards development.

The President, who made a contribution of Shs20 million, noted that the current time entails hard work coupled with justice and integrity that must be taught to the next generation ‘as the only way to preserve the nation from infiltration by the current global moral decadence’.

The President also acknowledged the work of the Comboni missionaries who arrived in Uganda in 1917, saying their humanitarianism laid a strong foundation for the Catholic Church to participate in the social-economic changes in education, health and economic development opportunities.

Further, the President implored the people of West Nile to maintain peace and security.

In his speech the Bishop of Arua Diocese Sabino Ocan Odoki also paid tribute to the Comboni missionaries and appreciated the support and unity of the faithful in the Diocese ‘despite the challenges they have been facing’.

 

 

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SA Minister call for disciplinary action against President Zuma

By
Agencies
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CALLED FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST ZUMA: South Africa's human settlements minister Lindiwe Sisulu

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress should initiate disciplinary action over allegations that President Jacob Zuma and members of a family in business with his son have looted state coffers, according to a member of his cabinet who is running to replace him as party leader.

“The ANC should act decisively on anybody in authority who is suspected or alleged to be doing wrong,” Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said in the northeastern town of Polokwane. “The fact that the president is involved” shouldn’t make a difference, she said.

Separate reports by the nation’s graft ombudsman in November, and the country’s main church organization and a team of top academics in May allege members of the Gupta family used their links to Zuma to secure sweetheart contracts and deals from state companies. While thousands of emails between the Guptas, their staff and business associates that were later leaked to the local media show how the family allegedly benefited from undue influence over the government, Zuma and the Guptas have disputed their authenticity and denied wrongdoing.

Zuma’s leadership and implication in a succession of scandals has eroded support for the 105-year-old ANC, which has ruled Africa’s most-industrialized economy since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. It lost control of Pretoria, the capital, and Johannesburg, the economic hub, in municipal elections in August last year.

The president has clung to office because of the support of most of the party’s top leaders, who rely on him for their posts in the cabinet and government.

Divisions within the party were laid bare on Aug. 8, when more than two dozen ANC lawmakers backed an opposition motion of no confidence in Zuma. ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe announced on Aug. 15 that three of the party’s lawmakers who openly backed the unsuccessful bid to oust Zuma would face disciplinary action.

Sisulu, 63, criticized the party’s actions, saying it had exercised selective judgment by targeting some of its members who failed to toe the party line, while failing to take action against the president. ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa did not immediately answer calls seeking comment.

Sisulu is among several candidates bidding to replace Zuma when he steps down as party leader in December. The front-runners for the post are Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, 64, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68, the former chairwoman of the African Union Commission and a former wife of the president. Other contenders include parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete, 67, and Mathews Phosa, 64, a former ANC treasurer-general.

Sisulu trained as a teacher and has previously served as minister of defense and military veterans, intelligence and public service and administration. She is the daughter of the late ANC luminaries Walter and Albertina Sisulu, who fought alongside Nelson Mandela to bring an end to white-minority rule.

Whoever wins will have a tough task stabilizing the ANC, restoring its integrity and rebuilding business confidence that was badly damaged by Zuma’s March decision to fire Pravin Gordhan as finance minister, according to Sisulu. The implication of the president in controversy has weighed on investor confidence and helped send the economy into recession.

“Whoever we put out there as a candidate for the ANC must be the kind of person who will make us win the elections,” Sisulu said. “If the party wins in 2019, it will probably be with a very reduced margin. If we don’t, we would have lost everything we ever worked for,” she said.

Support for the ANC fell to about 54 percent in the municipal vote in August from 62 percent in national elections two year earlier.

Several local politicians voiced support for Sisulu’s candidacy on Sunday at a meeting of ANC supporters at a 5,000-seat stadium in Mopani outside Polokwane.

 

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New MOU to enhance trade links between EAC States and DRC

By
George Mangula
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SIGNED: New-MOU-to-enhance-trade-links-between-East-Africa-Community-States-and-Democratic-Republic-of-Congo-

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to facilitate projects that will improve cross border trade and enhance trade links between the country and East Africa Community (EAC) member states.

With the MOU in force, TMEA, a leading trade facilitation institution, will replicate and consolidate its success in contributing to the ease of trading across borders by investing in resources like water transport, simplifying trade processes through training and facilitating adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) around Eastern DRC.

The government of the Netherlands made a commitment of US$6.7 million to kick-start the projects.

The projects will comprise dredging and rehabilitation of Kalundu port on Lake Tanganyika, support to cross border trade which will include capacity building and implementation of Integrated Border Management systems on the border crossings in Rusizi between Rwanda and Bukavu. TMEA will also rehabilitate of the ports of Kasenyi (DRC) and Ntoroko (Uganda) and finally improve infrastructure at the border crossing at Goli (Uganda) and Mahagi (DRC).

TMEA involvement with DRC consolidate the benefits accrued from similar intervention it has facilitated in East Africa and especially along the regions’ main transport routes including the Northern Corridor from Mombasa linking Uganda, Rwanda, DRC and South Sudan. And  Central Corridor, connecting Dar es salaam port to Rwanda, Burundi, and  Eastern DRC by road and lake transport.

During a visit to State House after the signing ceremony, the DRC Director of Cabinet at State House Prof. Nehemie Wilondja, stated that “Trade is a way to reduce conflict and unemployment. The agreement will contribute to the training of cross border traders in trade issues, exporting and tapping into regional markets. This will especially benefit our youth.”

TMEA Director General David Stanton expressed optimism that the DRC will benefit from ease of trading across borders because of TMEA’s facilitation. He said, “TMEA successfully partnered with governments and businesses in the EAC partner states to drive down the costs of trade along the key transport corridors.”

“We now want to take this further, by replicating successful initiatives here in DRC with the aim of ensuring that Congolese business are competitive and that the benefits of trade along these corridors spill over to DRC,” Stanton added.

Evidence from training of border officials and cross border traders especially women has promoted cordial relationships and built trust among the two core players of cross border trade.  “It has enabled traders to not only identify and tap into local markets efficiently, but their knowledge about regional markets means they submit requirements at the border points without much hassle,” the statement reads.

Combined, the efforts reduce time taken to transit across the main transport routes, enable businesses to not only diversify their products but also supply market needs thus creating employment opportunities.

The new agreement will enhance trade links between the EAC and the DRC.

TMEA is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TMEA works closely with the EAC institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.

 

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Kamoga, six others convicted on terrorism

By
Badru Kasadah
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Sheikh Yunus Kamoga

The leader of the Tabliq sect in Uganda, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga and five others have been convicted of terrorism over murder threats issued to members of opposition Muslim faction.

According to a ruling delivered today at the High Court in Kampala by a panel of judges including; Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Percy Tuhaise and Jane Kiggundu, Kamoga and his co-accused were found guilty of threatening members from opposition Muslim faction through direct messages, preaching and meetings.

However, he together with 13 others were acquitted on murdered charges that had been brought against him.

Judges acquitted Kamoga and his colleagues on grounds that there was no incriminating evidence at all against any of the accused persons to show that any of them before court participated in the actual murder.

Together with his co-accused, Kamoga has been battling charges of terrorism and complicity in the murder of prominent Muslim clerics in the country.Majority of Kamoga’s coaccused were arrested in January 2015 and indicted for murder of a number of prominent sheikhs including Mustafa Bahiga and Hassan Kirya.

Bahiga was shot dead by unknown assailants riding on boda boda on December, 24, 2014 at Bwebajja along Entebbe road while Kirya was gunned down on June 30, 2016 in the city suburbs of Bweyogerere in similar way.

Kamoga’s co-accused included; Sheikh Siraje Kawooya, Murta Mudde Bukenya, Fahad Kalungi, Amir Kinene, Hakim Kinene, Muswaswa, Yusuf Kakande, Abdulsalam Sekayanja, Abdulhamid Mubiru Sematimba, Hamza Kasirye, Twaha Ssekitto, Rashid Jjingo, Musa Issa Mubiru, and George William Iga.

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UNRA, other agencies set to be dissolved

By
Francisco Adongo
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Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija who is worried of the sinking economy.

President Yoweri Museveni has directed the finance ministry to dissolve non-money generating government Departments and Agencies (DAs), in a bid to reduce on expenditure and also to streamline their operations.

According to highly-placed sources, the President also directed that the dissolved agencies and departments revert to the parent ministries.

The sources said that in a 3-page letter to Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and also copied to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Irene Muloni, the Minister of Agriculture Vincent Ssempijja and that of Works Monica Ntege Azuba, the President says it is waste of money to keep funding departments/agencies that don’t make money. UNRA, which falls under the Ministry of Works, is the biggest beneficiary of state funding, and in the financial year 2017/18 received Shs3.89 trillion.

Among the other agencies earmarked for dissolution, the sources said, is the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the National Information and Technology Authority (NITA) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

Other non-money making government DAs include among others the National Infornation and Technology Authority (NITA), the National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).

Two senior cabinet ministers confirmed the development to the EagleOnline, and said the changes, once effected, would help streamline operations ‘since the heads of some agencies at times undermine the line ministers’. They added that the President had given them up to December to to come up with measures to back his directive.

“It is true the President has given that directive and it is important because like he guided us, some of these agencies take a share of the budget but one wonders what percentage they contribute to the budget and therefore, it is important that there is harmonization and value for money in government departments,” one of the ministers, who preferred anonymity, said.

Further, the sources said, most of the agencies have continuously hiked salaries and other emoluments for their top executives and board members, while there is less input on ground.

“The President is also concerned that some of the agencies run their work without the involvement of parent ministries since they derive powers from Ministry of Finance and it is one of the reasons he wants them back to their parent ministry for those that will not be dissolved,” the other Minister, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

It should be recalled that some of the top bosses of the government departments and agencies have been embroiled in spats, that at times spill over to involve the executive.

For instance, last year the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija and his state minister for investment Evelyn Anite issued contradicting statements regarding the appointment of the board chairman of the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), which at the time pitted Engineer Proscovia Njuki and Frank Katusiime. In the end Anite, who was on maternity leave when she opposed her boss’ decision took the day and Eng. Njuki was named the UEGCL board chairperson.

It is also said that some of the heads of the government DAs have been at loggerheads with the Secretary to the Treasury Keith Muhakanizi, for failing to absorb the funds allocated to their departments and agencies.

 

 

 

 

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Stella Nyanzi’s case adjourned for a month

By
Badru Kasadah
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FLASHBACK: Controversial Makerere Researcher Dr. Stella Nyanzi

The case in which Makerere University Researcher, Dr. Stella Nyanzi is accused of calling President Yoweri Museveni ‘a pair of buttocks’ has once again been adjourned to September 21.

This followed a request by the Resident State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, asking for more time to receive communication from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on when trial should start.

Subsequently, Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate James Eremye Mawanda adjourned the offensive communication and cyber harassment case ‘against the person of the President’ until September 21.

Previously, the case had come up on July 21 for mention but the state prosecutor asked for more time on grounds that he hadn’t ‘received communication from DPP on when the case was to begin’.

At the time Magistrate Eremye granted the State a period of one month that ended today.

However, under the same pretext, the state has once again had its request for extension granted.

 

 

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Kampala NRM agent launches age limit removal campaign

By
Geoffery Serugo
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90 per cent of Ugandans want to criticize President Yoweri Museveni.

National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobiliser in Kampala Faridah Mayanja has today launched the ‘Tutereze Article 102b’ campaign aimed at lifting the presidential age limit that is set at 75 years in the constitution of Uganda.

Addressing NRM youth and supporters at Nakivubo blue primary school, Muyanja said the NRM need to maintain President Yoweri Museveni in the top seat by seeking to amend Article 102 b of the Constitution to allow him to stand in 2021.

“We appreciate the great work done by President Museveni, we still want him to do more great things,” Ms. Mayanja said at the launch of the Tutereze Article 102b campaign.

The Rubaga Division NRM Woman Councilor Grace Ssozi Nambaale, also said they will traverse the country selling their idea to Ugandans.

The move by Ms. Mayanja and Ms. Nambaale follows that of the MP for Kassanda South Simeo Nsubuga and his Arua municipality counterpart Col. Ibrahim Abiriga, who have already initiated campaigns for the removal of age limit cap.

It is not clear if Mr. Museveni and his party are in support of the initiatives but sometime in July the President dismissed those debating the age limit removal as ‘idlers’. At the time his Advisor on Political Affairs David mafabi was leading a group of NRM supporters at kati kati restaurant, to among other issues, expunge the age limit from the Constitution.

The removal of age limit has generated heated debate and opposition, and in July Democratic Party members led by the President General Norbert Mao launched a counter-campaign dubbed ‘Togikwatako’ aimed at blocking any attempts to amend Article 102b of the Constitution.

At the time the DP leadership said Uganda needs another leader come 2021 because Museveni ‘has been an agent of poverty, unemployment and corruption’.

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Uganda set for first-ever coffee auction

By
George Mangula
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AFCA's Ishak Lukenge addressing journalists today in Kampala

The Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in partnership with the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) will provide specialty coffee training in preparation for the annual Taste of Harvest competition and the country’s first ever coffee auction, a top UCDA official has said.

Edmund Kananura, the UCDA Regulatory and Quality Manager, said the three-day training, which begins August 22, targets coffee producers, exporters, processors and roasters and will be conducted by UCDA’s highly skilled quality and promotions staff.

“The training will provide participants with the skills to prepare and process high quality specialty coffee beans and enable them to prepare to participate in the Taste of Harvest (TOH) competition,” Kananura said as he addressed journalists Monday at the government-owned Uganda Media Centre.

According to Kanunura, the Taste of Harvest competition is a national annual competition held at the Uganda Coffee Development Quality Laboratory in Lugogo.

The competition to be held from 22 to 26 January 2018 requires interested farmers to submit their best coffee samples for grading. The grading of coffee is determined by specialists known as Q and R graders. Coffee that scores above 80 is considered to be a specialty coffee and will automatically attract good market and even better prices,” Kananura said.

“The competition therefore serves to show that good practices can benefit farmers. As part of its mandate, UCDA regularly trains farmers across the country to produce quality coffee through good handling practices,” Kananura said, adding that as a result areas like Kanungu, Sipi, Iganga and Luwero produce high quality coffees.

Kananura urged farmers to work hard to get more and better quality coffee across the board, saying that UCDA was  excited about the opportunities that the auction and competition will bring to Uganda’s coffee industry.

“Through these two events, producers of high quality coffees, including smallholder coffee farmers, will access new markets and create an international brand for their coffees. UCDA is pleased to be working with AFCA to achieve this reality for Ugandan farmers,” he said.

“In our first pilot auction a Malawi coffee got Shs24,208 per kilo whereas the world market traded at Sh11,500 per kilo,” said Ishak Lugenge, the AFCA Chairman said of the advantage of good management of coffee.

UCDA is mandated to promote and oversee the coffee industry through supporting research, promoting production, controlling coffee quality and improving the marketing of coffee in order to optimize foreign exchange earnings for the country and payments to the farmers.

 

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Uganda, DR Congo sign deal to trade electricity

By
Our Reporter
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Power line construction

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a preliminary agreement to erect a power transmission line that that the former will use to sell electricity to the eastern border towns of the DRC.

Energy Minister Irene Muloni, said the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding this August to jointly construct a high-voltage power line that will help light towns of Beni, Bunia and Butembo.

The line measuring 350 kilometres, will begin at a substation in the western border town of Fort Portal in Kabarole district.

Minister Muloni said Uganda would fund about 70 kilometres of the line while DRC would meet the cost of the remaining kilometres.

The minister added that the feasibility study funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) had already been completed.

“ADB was interested in funding the project’s development, estimated to cost US$150 million, she said, adding that talks were ongoing on a possible financing agreement.

“Once ADB accepts the funding, the project will be ready by end of 2019,” she said.

Uganda’s current peak power demand stands at about 600 megawatts and Muloni said the country would have a lot of excess power when the construction of Karuma and other power plants ends.

 

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