The African Management Services Company (AMSCO) hosted a senior executive’s breakfast forum at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda on Wednesday 28th September, 2016.
Held under the theme ‘Focus on the Future: Developing Local Human Capital to Drive Organisational Strategy and Growth’, the event sought to increase dialogue around skills development in Uganda, and in particular, building local human capital for sustainable growth.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr Peter Kimbowa, Managing Partner for IFE Consultants who urged the CEOs to encourage their employees to take up leadership training so as to build exemplary and committed leaders.
“There are very many things that define who a great leader is and an education qualification alone is not enough. We ought to look at the emotional conscience, social intelligence and capacity to manage social relations with other people. Such skills can be imparted in someone by the organisation,” Kimbowa said.
During her welcoming remarks, Training and Development Manager, Ms Stella Masinde spoke on the need to invest resources to ensure that employees have the knowledge, skills, and competencies they need to work effectively in a rapidly changing environment. “Organisations are in urgent need of new strategies and approaches that focus more explicitly on the links between investments in skills development and productivity. Unfortunately, in many companies, training, which is one of the most effective forms of human capital development, is viewed more as a cost, rather than an investment.”
According to the AMSCO Director of Operations Mr Kofi Andah, “An organisation’s workforce is the most valuable asset in order to pave ways for greater achievements through innovation and creativity. While Uganda has experienced significant growth during the 2012-2015 period, national progress on human development has been slow and mixed.”
Ms Maris Wanyera, Commissioner – Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development was in agreement, emphasising the need for strengthened partnerships between public and private sector in order to accelerate development. “As government, we are prepared to ensure that we expand the capabilities for people and enhance their functioning in sectors that are critical to Uganda’s growth and development. Some progress is being made but the road is long. We need to partner for change.”
KILLED: Slain Ugandan Alfred Olango, killed by police in the US.
The US government has sent condolence messages to the family of a Ugandan refugee, Alfred Olango, who was shot dead by police officers in the US on Wednesday.
Through the social media platform, Facebook, the US Embassy in Kampala sent its condolence messages to Olango’s family and friends.
“We are aware of reports that on September 29, Alfred Olango was shot and killed during an incident with law enforcement officers in El Cajon, California. We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Olango’s family and friends,” reads their statement posted Thursday.
Olango was killed on Tuesday after the officers responded to a call from his sister who said that he needed help. She said he was mentally unwell.
El Cajon police Chief Jeff Davis said Mr Olango died after one officer fired an electronic stun gun and another officer simultaneously fired his firearm several times.
Police, who had already acknowledged that the object was not a weapon, confirmed on Wednesday that the object was a three inches (7.6cm) long silver vaping cigarette.
Another woman, who identified herself as the victim’s sister, shrieked and cried,telling officers that she had called them to help her brother.
“I just called for help and you came and killed him,” she said. However, claims that Olango had his hands in the air when he was shot have been disputed by the police.
PROTESTS: People protest Alfred Olango’s killing
This latest fatal shooting of a black man by police comes during a year when police violence against African Americans has divided the country and sparked numerous protests, some of which have turned violent, most recently in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Chief Davis has appealed for calm and is promising a thorough investigation into the shooting.
“This will be transparent,” he insisted.”This will be looked at by multiple sets of eyes, and not just ours.”
AGGRIEVED: A man claiming to be Alfred Olango’s cousin shouts at police during the protests
As candles and flowers were laid at the scene of the shooting on Wednesday, Olango’s cousin Anthony Williams paid tribute.
“He was a cool dude, for real. He was no mean person, the whole picture how they got showing him pointing a gun; I don’t believe none of that. That ain’t him, I know for sure.”
Self-styled moneybag, Jack Pemba was initially listed among the sponsors for this year’s Miss Uganda.
However, his banner was out of sight on the day of the unveiling of this year’s Miss Uganda contestants. We later learnt he had pulled out of the project. Word reaching us is his pulling out wasn’t because of his own liking but rather he is currently going through financial difficulties just like many Ugandans.
Apparently he has accumulated several debts that are even threatening some of his properties.
Reports indicate he has already put up one of his cars for sale to pay off a city money lender who is on his neck over taking a loan of US$10, 000 (approximately Shs35m) that he failed to clear.
This prompted the money lender to confiscate his car that he had put as security while taking the loan.
Consequently the car, a blue Hummer registered in the UAY series has been put on sale for a whopping US$25 000 by the moneylender.
Energy Permanent Secretary Dr. Kabagambe Kaliisa (L) being briefed at Karuma HPP
Energy, Mineral and Natural Resources Minister, Eng. Irene Muloni has said that her ministry is on course and will deliver the Karuma and Isimba power stations on time.
The Minister’s clarification comes in the wake of refreshed allegations that there are cracks that would delay the two multi-billion projects, and Members of Parliament on Tuesday resolved to form a nine-member committee to investigate the energy ministry over the perceived controversies surrounding the construction of Isimba and Karuma hydro-electricity dams.
The MPs’ decision arose from a motion moved by Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, contending that the alleged defective works on the two power dams is a result of chronic breach of contractual obligations and reckless implementation of the Community Development Action Plan. The select committee will be named on Tuesday next week and will be expected to deliver its findings within 45 days.
CRACKS: Eng. V. Vasu, Chief Executive Officer of Energy Infratech PVT Limited, in engineering cracks occur but they do so for a reason.
But Eng. Muloni, who is currently out of the country, and spoke to EagleOnline through an aide, said the allegations that have been brought before Parliament are like ‘old wine in a new bottle’.
“Steps have been taken over those allegations and these very accusations are the old ones that came up early this year. We investigated and collective measures at both dams are undergoing,” Muloni said.
She added: “Definitely, as government we are concerned and we are much aware. However, those bringing up these same allegations should focus on the substance rather than form. Why personalize national issues as Kabagambe Kalisa or Irene Muloni?”
In April, this year, a team of three dam construction engineers from Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Ltd rushed to the country to assess magnitude of cracks in the spillway section of Karuma dam and to recommend the next course of action.
The cracks forced Sinohydro Corporation to halt work in that section of the dam, pending further investigation following a meeting with Energy Minister Irene Muloni and officials from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) during a site tour.
Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Irene Muloni address journalists as Mr Harrison Mutikanga, the Chief Executive Officer UEGCL looks on.File Photo.
Now, a July report by an ad hoc committee investigating ‘shoddy works and negligence’ by contractors and officials manning Karuma and Isimba hydropower projects has revealed that the material used are of questionable quality.
However, following a tour of both dams by energy ministry officials, UEGCL plus both constructors Sinohydro for Karuma and China International Water and Electric Corporation for Isimba, lead supervisors for the ministry Energy Infratech, SMEC and AF Consults who supervise on behalf of UEGCL as well as the media, it is was established that there were minor cracks but by the time the teams visited, some had been fixed.
At the time, Eng. V. Vasu, the Chief Executive Officer of Energy Infratech PVT Limited, said in engineering cracks occur but they do so for a reason.
“We are very particular with our work and it is true that minor cracks were observed but we have since fixed them. However, that aside, we are also doing investigations on that very particular area as we observe,” Eng. Vasu said.
Concerns over the two dams was first raised by President Yoweri Museveni, after which officials from the Ministry of Energy and the other respective agencies took a tour of both dams to establish the status.
And it was from the site tours that Energy minister Muloni and Permanent Secretary Kalisa directed that work on the cracked areas be suspended as investigations are carried out to establish the cause.
UNDERGROUND TUNNEL: Due to the wildlife concerns, it was decided that the dam is constructed underground.
A unique infrastructure component, the Karuma dam which has both the power house and turbines underground, will on completion produce 600 megawatts.
Due to the wildlife concerns, it was decided that the dam is constructed underground so that wildlife along the River Nile is not endangered, so part of the river will be diverted underground into a tunnel where power will be produced and thereafter the water will be released to the 8.5 kilometer distance downstream to join the river exactly 8.5 kilometers south of the bridge.
KYAMBOGO: The university main administrative block.
Kyambogo University has today unveiled its new Council chaired by Professor John Okedi and deputized by Dr Mary Goretti Nakabugo.
The 23-member team took the formal oath of allegiance and secrecy before the Nakawa Grade magistrate on September 6. However, due to the approval of the Kyambogo University Council Charter, the Council is to be inducted at a retreat scheduled for October 5 and 6, aimed at providing guidance on how best to conduct business.
Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka Rwakishaya.
“Although this is the pioneer induction, the four year council time will be well projected,’’ the KYU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya, said.
Previously, Kyambogo University, which has not had a Council for some time, has been dogged by challenges including the search for a new Vice Chancellor.
UN AND EAC PLEDGE ON REGIONAL PEACE INITIATIVES: EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko in talks with H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, the Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi, who paid him a courtesy call at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania today.
The United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) will work closely with the East African Community to promote peace and security within the East African region.
According to Sahle-Work Zewde, the Director General of the UNON, the UN was keen on collaborating with the EAC and other Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in conflict prevention and conflict management.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko with H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, the Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi outside the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Ms. Zewde said the UN’s priority was preventive diplomacy in preventing conflicts, adding that it would cooperate with the EAC addressing the conflict in South Sudan, radical extremism in East Africa and supporting Burundi peace process.
Ms. Zewde said the UN mission in Burundi had been through several stages including peacekeeping and a political mission. The UN official emphasized the importance of homegrown solutions and mediation in addressing national conflicts, adding that electoral disputes were the cause of political instability in Africa.
Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, with EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko outside the EAC Headquarters. On the left is Ms. Ruphina Mbua Manono, the Political Adviser to the Director General.
Ms. Zewde was speaking when she paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
In his remarks, Amb. Mfumukeko briefed the Director General on the progress of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue and the efforts being made by the EAC Secretariat to facilitate the peace talks.
On the entry of the Republic of South Sudan into the Community, the SG said that the EAC Secretariat was working on a roadmap to integrate the world’s youngest country into the EAC.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko with H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde, the Director General of the UN Office in Nairobi outside the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania today.
The two leaders agreed on the development on a joint EAC-UN Framework on Collaboration in various sectors under which the EAC would identify priorities it would like to be addressed in cooperation with the UN.
Rapper Future, the ex husband to Ciara the ‘Queen of Crank’ is coming to perform in Africa thanks to MTV Africa.
The award-winning Hip Hop superstar, visionary mixtape supremo, MAMA 2016 nominee (Best International Act) and mesmerising live performer Future is set to perform at MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22 October.
Following his performance at the MAMA awards show, as a bonus for fans, Future will stage an extra live performance, reprising fan favourites throughout his recording career from ‘Turn on the Lights’, ‘Same Damn Time’ and ‘Stick Talk’.
Born Navyvadius Cash, in Atlanta, Georgia, Future is known for his signature melodic flow and authentic ‘street’ sound. The rapper first gained fame thanks to a series of classic mixtapes that gave light to his first single ‘Tony Montana’, before notching up three number one album debuts on the Billboard 200 chart in just 7 months, thanks to DS2 (2015), ‘What a Time to be Alive’ (his 2015 collaboration with Drake), and EVOL (2016).
An amazing 2016 has seen Future’s star rise higher than ever before thanks to the release of his critically acclaimed mixtape ‘Purple Reign’, swiftly followed by the launch of his fourth solo album EVOL.
In March 2016, he completed his first, 22-date nationwide tour, then went on to win ‘Best Group’ with Drake at the BET Awards 2016 for their collaboration ‘Jumpman’, before scoring 10 nominations at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2016, and performing a riveting live rendition of “Commas’ at the MTV VMAs in New York. He is currently nominated in the “Best Hip Hop” category at the 2016 MTV EMAs, which will take place on 6 November.
Future joins previously announced African performers Diamond, Emtee, Kwesta, Patoranking Alikiba, Babes Wodumo, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Ycee and Yemi Alade. The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 is brought to you by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut Vodka and Google and in association with MTN and DStv.
Highlighting the ‘gold standard’ in contemporary music, creativity and achievement, The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 promises to be the biggest and best ever, with more than 15,000 music lovers expected to party up a storm at the Ticketpro Dome for this spectacular showcase.
The definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2016 recognises and rewards musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artists along with the show’s signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
WINNING PHOTO: Kenyan photographer Stephen Simiyu's winning photo of a man using a laptop while on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Photos/APO
Kenyan photographer Stephen Simiyu has won the grand prize of US$2000, with his winning photo of a fisherman using a laptop while on Lake Victoria in Uganda.
Simiyu is one of the three photographers announced today by Agility, a leading global logistics provider, as winners of its Africa 2016 Photo Competition, a series of photographs that show how quickly Africa is modernizing, growing and even leading the way in new technology.
The annual contest, now in its second year, is a pan-Africa photography competition focusing on Africa’s rapid modernization. This year’s competition drew more than 2,500 photographs from professional and amateur photographers in 30 countries.
Other winning images that also attracted a prize of US$2,000 for each category depicted a solar farm in Rwanda powering 15,000 homes and the skyline of Harare, Zimbabwe, by Esdore Hakizimana, a machine operator from Kigali, Rwanda (Industry) and Henry Oliver Hakulandaba, an environmental consultant and photographer from Harare (Cities), respectively.
The winning photographs and the runners-ups were featured at a session at the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this month and will be shown at the Thomson Reuters Africa Summit 2016 in Cape Town in October. They will also be showcased in Forbes Africa, on CNBC Africa, and in Agility’s corporate magazine, Tradelanes.
“I know Africa is developing, and to show this, I needed an image that could tell that story in one picture. The competition really made me think about Africa – there’s nowhere like it,” Simiyu, the Grand Prize winner, said.
CITIES: Olivier Hakulandaba’s photo that won a prize in the Cities category.
Hakulandaba, winner in the Cities category, said non-Africans are continually surprised by the pace of change in Africa.
“Whenever I exhibit images of Harare or any other African city, there is always someone who says they never thought Africa has such development,” Hakulandaba said adding: “This competition is a platform to reach a wider audience about African development. It will help change perspectives of the continent’s potential.”
Geoffrey White, CEO of Agility Africa said the winning images speak eloquently about the historic change underway in Africa and the opportunities for Africans, African businesses and the world.
“As a company investing in the logistics infrastructure of the continent, we are proud to show the world powerful images that capture a more positive view of Africa and demonstrate the progress that has already been made, hopefully changing the perceptions of Africa in 2016,” he added.
The competition was judged by an independent panel that consisted of Sneha Shah, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Africa; Bronwyn Nielsen, Editor-in-Chief, CNBC Africa; and Salim Amin, Chairman of CameraPix and co-founder of Africa24 Media.
As promised last month, Luga Flow rapper Emmanuel Matovu Mungi aka Mun G has finally completed his mansion located in Namugongo.
Initial reports had suggested the rapper had put up his house for sale at a price of Shs100 million to fund his then upcoming concert, a claim he denied, vowing to instead finish the house, which was yet to be roofed by mid this month. And, as promised, the house was completed last week thanks to his ‘Sala Pulesa’ deal with Pepsi.
The side view of Mun G’s house. In the foreground is his Mercedes Benz ML
“Thank you my fans all worldwide, with your love and support now am living in my own home sweet home. Mwebalenyo Bambi. Land-load (sic) Nsudeyo Bwe Chwiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!” he revealed the good news to his fans through social media.
To Mun G, achieving such a milestone has been because of his wife, Clara, with whom he has a child.
“My fellow men, do not place your priority on good looks: no woman is ugly: she only needs ‘rebranding’,” he adds in praise of his wife.
CONTROVERSIAL INNOVATOR: samuel Mugarura aka Falcao, the innovator of 'Sugar Spray'.
A Makerere University student, one Samuel Mugarura aka Falcao, last week unleashed onto the Ugandan scene an ‘explosive’ concoction hitherto known as ‘sugar spray’ that he says is made from ‘domestic ingredients’ that include sugar, salt and food colour.
Mugarura even went ahead and displayed how his spray, probably inappropriately called ‘IED’, works, and also said he is planning to make a ‘smoke bomb’ and further, even make Uganda a ‘nuclear country’!
“My dream is to make Uganda a nuclear country just like other countries e.g. South Korea, Russia, among others. So, its high time government took a lead in Africa as a nuclear country by supporting my nuclear project,” Mugarura was quoted as saying by the media.
WHICH WAY SCIENCE INNOVATION? Police Spokesperson AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
However, since he went public about his innovations, Mugarura, a 23-year old third year Bachelor of Sciences student majoring in Chemistry has been threatened with arrest by the police, with spokesperson Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi seeming to suggest that the student’s innovations attract criminal sanction.
Unfortunately, despite admitting that making ‘tear gas’ is simple, Mugarura’s lecturers and other resource persons at the university have also denied any relationship with the youthful innovator’s ideas, with Prof Muhammad Ntale, a former head of the Chemistry Department at Makerere University quoted by the media as saying that ‘Mugarura could be out for cheap popularity’ or ‘doing such things on his own’.
Of course, it is not uncommon for ‘heroes to be denied their rightful positions in their own societies’ and the Bible ably links us to the circumstances which Ugandans can make reference to in order to understand the stance taken by our police force and the academia in respect to Mugarura’s innovations, which have since become a source of controversy. ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house’, the Holy Book quotes Jesus saying in Mark 6:4.
SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION: President Museveni expresses his satisfaction to Kiira Motors CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi and former Higher Education and Science Minister Prof Tickodri
Now, if my memory serves me well, President Yoweri Museveni has been at the forefront of advocating for scientific innovation in Uganda. And some of his efforts in that direction have seen billions being splashed on innovations by students working in conjunction with their lecturers, including the ‘innovation of the Kiira EV car and the ‘Kayoola 1’ bus. Indeed, against such a background President Museveni’s enthusiasm for scientific innovation as a pedestal for development and the attainment of a middle-income status in Uganda by 2021 should not be lost on the security forces.
And, lest I forget, since campaigns for presidency begun in earnest last year, the Uganda Police Force used loads of tear gas to disperse opposition supporters attending rallies, mostly those addressed by Dr Kizza Besigye across the country. Obviously, that tear gas was not manufactured in Uganda, something that presupposes that millions of dollars were spent on getting it into the country. And this is where Mugarura’s innovation of ‘sugar spray’ should be recognized as a handy tool that can, as an alternative, constructively help police shift from using imported tear gas that is laced with pepper, a concoction which when used, inadvertently affects both the protestors and those caught up going about their business!
That said, while it is a generally accepted principle that the use of explosives is a preserve of the security forces in many countries, it does not follow that the thought process that leads to their manufacture is the preserve of the security forces. Indeed, other people with the requisite competences can pioneer and the security forces can then step in to offer guidance including the handling and patent processing and possibly, even take on the innovators as resource persons.
‘I am doing this project for my country and my institution Makerere University which I still think is the best in region. Makerere made me who I am, made me much more bigger and mature …I picked this explosive project because that’s what my heart has always told me to do…i thank God that the results are positive and I believe the government will give us a hand and Uganda will never be the same again as we BUILD FOR THE FUTURE ….for God and my country,” Mugarura posted on his Facebook page, urging the powers that be to refrain from misconstruing his intentions. Clearly, this post seems to suggest that Mugarura is not a purveyor of dubious enterprise.
EUREKA! I FOUND IT! Domenico Fetti Archimedes, an image of the man who coined the famous phrase. Photo credit/wikipedia.com
Anyhow, for purposes of innovations in science, since time immemorial most innovators arrive at their ‘intended innovations’ after lengthy periods of research that include several ‘trial and error voyages’. Thus we today have the word ‘Eureka’ (I found it!), coined by ancient Greek scholar and mathematician Domenico Fetti Archimedes, after he established that ‘the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged’. Archimedes arrived at this discovery after a cumbersome effort.
And, though laced with mythical intonation, it is also noteworthy to know that Archimedes’ discovery was to help solve the mystery equation of the purity of the Golden Crown that had dogged the mind of the 1st Century aristocrat Hiero II of Syracuse, for long.
But back to our local scene, as the forces mull over Mugarura’s ‘bizarre’ innovations, it is also important for them to reflect on the possible gains that Uganda as a country can recognize from the young man’s ingenious mind in the field of science.
INNOVATION: The Kiira EV, a product of innovative minds at Makerere University.
Indeed, the young man should, just like the innovators of the Kiira EV and Kayoola 1, also be given chance to benefit from his years of schooling and thinking, otherwise we might as well be providing the US or any other power that recognizes innovative ingeniousness to offer an opportunity for Mugarura to exploit his potential to the fullest, with the attendant monetary benefits that will then accord him the opportunity to send ‘crumbs’ to Uganda as dollar remittances to help his relatives cope with life in a third world economy that will have denied one of its own to make his modest contribution to both national and global development.
