Parliament has rejected the Alcohol Control Bill, 2023 that sought to regulate the purchase, sale and consumption of alcohol as the Committees argued that if passed in the current state, the Bill would impose a financial implication on the Consolidated Fund.
The private members Bill that was introduced for the first time by Tororo District Woman Representative, Sarah Opendi in November 2023 also aimed to regulate the time and premises where alcohol would be sold in Uganda.
The decision to reject the processing of the Bill followed the presentation of the report from the Committees of Trade and Health by Sylvia Nayebare during the plenary sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
“The committee therefore, recommends that this August House should not proceed on the motion for Second Reading of the Alcoholic Drinks (Control) Bill, 2023,” Nayebare said adding that, ‘this being a Private Member’s Bill, the committee is constrained to consider the proposed amendments that have an effect of imposing a financial charge on the Consolidated Fund,” Nayebare guided.
The committee also urged government to focus on the illicit trade of alcohol which accounts for 65 per cent of all the alcohol consumed in the country, saying the new bill does not indicate how it intends to eliminate the illicit trade in alcoholic drinks
“The committee notes that whereas regulation of the Alcohol industry is good, such regulation should be fair, balanced, evidence-based and sustainable taking into account the various stakeholders,” the committee report read in part.
Aruu County Member of Parliament, Christopher Komakech who presented a minority report said that the Bill is necessary and would go a long way in regulating the sector and resolve the related challenges.
“Restricting the hours of sale is a good step in creating a sense of responsibility for citizens who cannot control their consumption behaviors,” he argued.
The Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa, tasked Parliament to reject the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, saying the implementation of the Bill if passed into law would impose a charge and alter the consolidated fund, contrary to provisions in the law.
“This Bill in our view offends Article 93 (a)(2) of the Constitution which provides that you shall not proceed on a bill which has a financial implication on the consolidated fund or an alteration of the same. From the reading of the majority report, you can clearly see that the implementation of this bill if passed will have an effect on the consolidated fund. So, for that reason alone, I will be moving that the Bill be rejected by the House,” he said.
Kiwanuka added, “This Bill will contradict the Employment Act because it is looking to guide on the issue of employment of a person and minors. This is both governed by the Employment Act and Children’s Act. We have a law which provides for Industrial licensing, when you are setting up a manufactory, and this is what governs all factories big or small that manufacture. But if we now create another section that is dealing with a section of manufactories, we are likely to cause contradiction in implementation.”
While moving the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023 for second reading, Opendi argued that the Bill intends to protect consumers from alcohol abuse.
“We need revenue but we also need a healthy population that will be productive to support this economy,” she said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among has mourned the fallen former President Museveni’s Spokesperson and renowned political analyst Tamale Mirundi who died last night.
“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend, Joseph Tamale Mirundi. As a journalist, civil servant, and social-political commentator, Mirundi made significant contributions to his country, and his loss leaves a great void,”
Among sympathized with John Mirundi, the entire family, his friends, and relatives.
“May his soul rest in peace,” Among mourned.
Tamale Mirundi was announced dead on Tuesday night at 11pm after struggling with water that surrounded his lungs as revealed by the doctors at Kisubi Hospital.
He has been known for his popular controversial political messages on both televisions and radios. He has recently been the Deputy Spokesperson of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) led by CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
“It is with great sorrow and heavy heart that we announce the untimely passing of our Deputy Spokesperson for Buganda Mzee Tamale Mirundi. May his soul rest in peace,” PLU posted on X handle.
President Museveni and his cabinet ministers during the International Youth Day on August 12, 2024 in Soroti.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the youths to fight corruption through proper channels.
“Avoid and fight corruption. You don’t have to go on the streets and riot, you fight corruption by following up government money and know how it’s being spent. Know the figures and in case there’s some misappropriation, write and report to the RDC, if the RDC doesn’t act, we have got other channels,” he said.
The President made the remarks yesterday, Monday August 12, while officiating at the International Youth Day Celebrations held at Soroti Core Primary Teachers’ College, Soroti District. The celebrations ran under the theme: “Skills Development for enhancement of youth opportunities”.
The International Youth Day is commemorated every year on August 12, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youths as partners in today’s global society.
President Museveni reassured Ugandans that corruption is easy to be dealt with as long as they work together.
“We can finish these corrupt people, they are not a big problem. All we need are facts,” he said.
The President also urged the youths and activists to insist on free education in government schools. According to Museveni, Ugandans have refused to implement the program yet it would have helped the whole country.
“When we introduced it, we knew why we introduced it. In 1958, when we were in our area of Kyamate, Ntungamo area, the people who went to Mbarara High School were like four or five from the whole area. Many children were not going to school at all but even those who went, very few would proceed beyond Primary Six. That’s what we wanted to solve. In my view, we need the implementation of free education in government primary and Secondary schools. Those who are rich can send their children to private schools,” he explained.
Adding “Why have leaders kept on bringing back charges in UPE schools? According to the figures I have, the children in primary schools are 11 million but the ones in secondary schools are 1.7 million. Yet the years of primary and the years of secondary are almost the same. It’s 7 years for primary and 6 for secondary. Why do you have 11 million learners in Primary and 1.7 million in secondary, where have the 9.3 million learners gone? You people, you all come from villages, go back and check how many people dropped out of school in each area.”
On the other hand, Museveni advised the school going children to work with their parents during holidays to stabilise their homestead income.
“Many people don’t know that some of us were influenced by the way we grew up. Like in my case I was a wealth creator from the age of 4. Age of 4 my job was to look after the young cows. By the age of 8, I was looking after the big cows. The children in holidays should participate in wealth creation,” he said.
“I would advise the parents not to over exploit the children like we were exploited. My children and grandchildren now don’t have the same pressure like I had.”
The President further emphasised that when children are still in the school system, they should always participate in sports and exercises so that they are fit. He also advised that they should spend their youthful years doing useful things.
“Participate in spiritual development through religious programs so that you have discipline and fear God. We also need to audit the cultures and we see what we can recommend for our children. Some of the cultures for our people were not good, like mistreatment of women.”
Furthermore, Museveni encouraged the youths to embrace and understand the four principles of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) of Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation and Democracy for their prosperity.
“After you have gone through the school system, you should engage in wealth creation through the four sectors of the economy which include commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services and ICT. Being a political leader or administrator is also part of the services sector but the jobs there are few. So, the government jobs are not enough but the services jobs in the private sector are much more.”
The President also cautioned the youths against environmental degradation.
“The misuse of swamps must stop. The swamps are for water to feed the dry land.”
On the other hand, Museveni commended the people of Teso for fighting poverty through commercial agriculture.
“I can see most of the people in Teso are now out of the grass thatched houses and most of them are growing citrus fruits. I have put up new people to look after the factory and we shall stabilise the market.”
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi informed the Museveni that the theme of the celebrations resonates with the fact that skills are important for the realisation of opportunities of the youths, and it addresses the high numbers of the youths who are not in employment, not in school and not in the formal sector.
“The recent National Population and Housing Census of 2024 put the youths between 18 to 30 years at 10.4 million, representing 22.6 percent. Youths between 30 to 34 years are 2.8 million, constituting 6 percent. Children between 0 to 17 years are 23.1 million which constitute 50.2 percent. This makes Uganda one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world, with about 4 percent population growth and 78.8 percent of Uganda’s population are now under the age of 35,” she said.
The Minister also decried the lack of skills and competence among the youths, saying the factors deter them from effectively entering the job market.
“More than one million young people enter the job market every year. This presents both a huge opportunity but also a challenge. The 2021 Uganda National Labour Force Survey showed that employers across formal and informal sectors in Uganda identified lack of practical, digital entrepreneurship skills as well as soft skills such as managerial, communication, social, emotional as limiting most youths from entering the job market,” she noted.
“They also assert that our education system is not fully aligned with the Labour force needs leading to a mismatch of skills and competence for employability.”
The Minister of State for the Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara assured the youths that the government is working around the clock to ensure that the challenge of unemployment among them is dealt with.
“Your Excellency, investing in youth skills development is crucial. Such investment supports national peace and stability, enhances resilience and promotes social transformation,” he noted.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Ms. Susan Ngongi Namondo called for renewed efforts to ensure that the 73 percent of Ugandans under the age of 30 years are engaged in productive adulthood.
“We have to redouble efforts to ensure that there’s hope across the board,” she said.
The Ambassador of Denmark to Uganda, H.E Signe Winding Albjerg said the Youth Day commemoration was very vital because it aims at celebrating the contribution of the youth towards development especially in leading digital adoption and innovation across the globe.
“Your Excellency, this day also reminds us all to highlight the challenges that young people face in order to be able to realise their potential. On this day, we should challenge ourselves to do more and better for the youths,” she said.
The Chairperson of the National Youth Council-Uganda, Mr. Jacob Eyeru thanked the President for guiding the youth to the right path of attaining education and creating jobs.
“The NRM government also dealt with the issue of our health through immunisation. Now we are dealing with the issue of socio-economic transformation,” he said.
He also commended President Museveni for setting up the skilling hubs that impart skills to the youths across Uganda. This, he said, has helped to deal with youth unemployment in the country.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has directed all heads of Examination centers to display the lists of all students that are going to sit for exams at their centers to avoid confusion during the examination period.
“This year’s mandatory period of display will run from August 12–0ctober 11, 2024. The candidates’ registers should be displayed in a conspicuous place at the school notice boards where the candidates are registered, to enable parents confirm the registration status of the learners,” Daniel Odongo UNEB Executive Director said.
He advised parents of students studying in schools that do not have UNEB centre status should establish where these students have been registered and confirm that the learners have been duly registered.
This is important to avoid unfortunate scenarios where students are discovered unregistered at the start of the examination period.
“In the event that a student, who has proof of payment of registration fees is not duly registered, the parent should report to UNEB immediately for remedial action. Relatedly, UNEB shall provide an SMS option on the mobile telephone handsets, during the period of display.”
Odongo added that accuracy of the Candidates’ Bio data is the responsibility of candidates, heads of centers and Parents to critically analyze the register and confirm the accuracy of the candidates’ bio data.
The key areas for students, parents and center heads to focus on include Spelling and order of Names,
Date of Birth in the order prescribed by UNEB (Day, Month and Year), Gender and the right photograph of the candidate which should be visible.
In all the past years, Parents and students have been falling victims as some of the candidates have not been sitting their final exams after realizing at the last moment that some examination center heads didn’t submit their details to UNEB.
All these students in most cases pay the required money to their respective schools, but when the time for exams come they find themselves missing on the registration list which has discouraged many from continuing with their studies thus contributing to high number of dropout
The High Court has upheld the Shs1.7 billion Service Award given to the four Commissioners of Parliament on grounds that the money was lawfully approved by Parliament.
Earlier this year, Daniel Bwette dragged a Parliament Commission challenging Service Awards to the four Commissioners of Parliament. He sought court to declare the service award illegal, null, and void.
The leaked May 2022 resolutions of Parliament implicated the former Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Mathias Mpuuga, Commissioner Solomon Silwany, Prossy Akampurira, and Esther Afoyochan.
The document indicates that Mpuuga was awarded a one-off service payment of Shs500 million, while three commissioners from the National Resistance Movement each received Shs400 million.
In his ruling, Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza upheld the Service Award. “I decline to award all the reliefs as prayed. A declaration that the decision, dated May 6, 2022, to award the former Leader of Opposition in Parliament and three other Commissioners a Service Award was approved by Parliament and formed part of the budget presented by the executive,” he ruled.
He called for reforms to curtail the issuance of service awards, warning that if the practice goes unchecked, agencies would deplete national coffers through endless service awards, yet the staff benefiting from the awards are already highly paid by taxpayers.
He ordered the Secretary to Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, to institute disciplinary action against Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, over the controversial payments.
“Newspaper articles and social media posts in this country are awash with reports of allegations of government agencies and politicians awarding themselves prizes in the form of money. This is common in government agencies and entities whose staff are already highly paid. If this practice continues unchecked, there is likelihood that our nation’s coffers may be depleted,” read in part Justice Karekona’s ruling.
He ordered Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa to urgently consider a Salary and Emoluments Review Board Bill, whose object would be to review and harmonise the emoluments and allowances of government and political leaders.
He said such a board would reduce the temptation of leaders adopting rather ad hoc ways of enhancing their emoluments under the cover of prize money, these being matters which the board should in fact report directly to the President.
The Chief Executive Officer of New Vision and Uganda Media Centre Robert Kabushenga, wrote an intriguing piece on the political future of Uganda specifically parliament and ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
Below is the eight points he wrote on platform X
The end of the Luwero Consensus. As you know, it was a coalition of difference tendencies loosely called the Movement. In 2015 this balancing act ended. A few hold overs like Kahinda Otafiire &Moses Ali remain but the type of politics is gone.
One thing Rebecca Kadaga did was to construct Parliament as an autonomous political entity with resources. Anita was her most brilliant student & operative. She also figured how to intermediate different power centres. This is how she became power broker.
The decision by opposition presidential candidates not to go to parliament outsourced their political role to MPs without a clear & firm leadership. On their own, the opposition MPs developed their own minds. In this vacuum, Anita stepped in to provide leadership. She even extended an olive branch to NRM MPs who are in the party’s lower pecking order. This is how she built a formidable network of experienced politicians from across the political & ethnic divide. Underestimate her at your own peril.
The Catholic Church has been without an effective political interlocutor. This is a role she is cultivating.
The obsession by the Boss to break the Opposition gave her access to immense political power & money. She used it to cultivate business/investor contacts & how to work the security establishment. On a few occasions she managed to reverse decisions of the Executive on behalf of private interests. This positioned her as a powerful individual.
I see two possible NRM political tendencies coalescing around sections of the first family. But these will exhaust themselves in bitter rivalry since there will be no single leader who can manage this kind of friction.
The old NRM is simply moribund. CEC is fossilized, Secretariat has no resources & so does nothing, the Chairman’s office functions as an occasional mobilization centre. Hajjati Namyalo who runs it, is the de facto Secretary General. My man Richard Todwong is there as a formality. To maintain the illusion of a party, window dressing so to speak. This party cannot revive with the current team & certainly not in the current political terrain.
Which leaves the Military as the only effective organized group? I don’t want to go into this. And this is where I end my thoughts.
The Ministry of Finance has revealed that in the past 5years, Uganda has foregone taxes to a tune of over Shs12.247 trillion, following the award of tax exemptions to several taxpayers.
The details are contained in the Tax Expenditure Report FY22/23 that was recently published by the Ministry of Finance, which indicated that in 2022/23 alone, Shs2.972 trillion was foregone in revenue, despite several critiques questioning the rationale & the absence of criteria used to award these tax exemptions.
“For the value of foregone revenue due to tax expenditures is estimated to stand at Shs2.972 trillion, or 1.62% of GDP. The total amount of tax collected during 2022/23 is Shs23.733 trillion, meaning that the value of revenue foregone due to tax expenditures is equal to around 12.5% of total tax collections. Based on estimates, VAT is the tax head where revenue foregone associated with tax expenditures is highest. The cost of VAT expenditures in FY 2022/23 is estimated at Shs992.2 billion- equivalent to 0.54% of GDP and accounting for 33.3% of the total revenue foregone from tax expenditures in Uganda,” read in part the report.
The report revealed that the decision to exempt MPs from paying taxes on their emoluments has seen Uganda lose out over Shs638.6 billion in taxes in the past five years. This followed an amendment to the Income Tax Act in 2016, where MPs agreed to exempt their emoluments from tax, on the grounds that the move would relieve MPs from the burden of paying taxes and recognize expenses incident to the discharge of their duties.
The report also highlighted that Ugandans have lost out revenue to a tune of over Shs965.65 billion following tax exemption given out to officers in security agencies, while Shs30.340 billion has been foregone in tax exemption to officials in Judiciary.
In a recent ceremony at the 10 Marine Battalion Headquarters in Entebbe, Brig Gen Asaph Nyakikuru, the Deputy Commander of the Special Force Command (SFC), urged newly promoted army officers to significantly enhance their dedication and effort in service to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
“Promotion is the advancement from the current rank to the next higher rank, it’s a significant achievement in a service member’s career. Promotion is a statement of commitment, hard work, mastery of duty and skills in leadership,” he said.
During the pipping and decoration ceremony on 9th August 2024, Brig Gen Nyakikuru, who also commands the Special Force Group 2 (2SFG), encouraged those officers who had not yet received promotion to remain patient and trust in divine timing.
“God promotes when his timing is right, not our own (human) timing,” he explained, citing biblical teachings which equate promotion to divine favour and reward.
The Brig Gen reminded the newly promoted officers of the substantial responsibilities that lie ahead, urging them to rise to the occasion in fulfilling their mandates.
“Your subordinates will be looking at you as a fountain of wisdom,” he warned, stressing the importance of being solution-oriented, encouraging initiative, and acting responsibly.
In his remarks, Col Wilson Bagonza, Commander of Special Force Group 3 (3SFG), expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF for his visionary leadership.
He noted, “It is the reason we are holding such functions today because it wouldn’t have been possible if there was instability,” illustrating the transformation of the army into a formidable force known for exporting peace and stability across the region.
Col Bagonza also commended the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for revolutionising army training and introducing special training programmes that have bolstered the SFC, as well as thanking the Commander of SFC, Maj Gen David Mugisha, for his unwavering support in training initiatives.
The Director of Human Resource Management for SFC, Col John Mango Baraza, presented the promotions for a total of 104 officers who were recently elevated by the President.
The commendation included several ranks: one Ag Col was confirmed to Col, one Lt Col was promoted to Col, and 83 Second Lieutenants were elevated to the rank of Lieutenant after the termination of their probation period.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow officers, Lt Col Elisabeth Agaba expressed her gratitude towards the Commander-in-Chief for the opportunity to serve in the UPDF. She said they may not be the best from the communities but they have been given the platform to perform their duties.
Lt Col Agaba also extended her gratitude to both the CDF and the CSFC for their continued guidance. She appealed to the newly promoted officers to remain disciplined, loyal but above all be patriotic.
Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya.
Kyambogo University management is in much fear over the low tuition fees structure the university is accommodating. The management said sustaining such low fees has become a challenge due to increased expenses.
Professor Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya, the Vice Chancellor explained that compared to other public institutions, Kyambogo University continues to charge the lowest fees, which management is concerned about.
According to Katunguka, the university has undergraduate courses which charge lower than four hundred thousand shillings per semester. These are especially in faculties of Special Needs and Rehabilitation, Arts and Humanities, Arts and Industrial Design, Institute of Distance Education among others.
“I want to assure you that Kyambogo University continues to charge the least fees, and I want to give you a clear indication of what I am talking about” He explained during the press briefing at university main campus.
He added “When you look at the Faculty of Science, diploma programs which are two years, we charge Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand shillings per semester. “Is there anybody who charges this money in a university like this” furious Vice Chancellor charged.
Recently, the university reviewed its programs and introduced new ones. The Faculties and Schools proposed a moderate increase in tuition fees. In response, the University Council convened a meeting on April 27, 2023, during which they thoroughly discussed and approved moderate adjustments to tuition fees.
The said changes took effect in the 2024/2025 academic year, starting with the first-year students.
According to Katunguka, the tuition adjustments have so far been implemented in the School of Management and Entrepreneurship and the School of Built Environment. These changes only affect first-year students.
He expressed his concern how some students misinterpreted the fees adjustment and ended up politicizing it. Recently, students led by their leader-Guild president Reagan Mwebesa, staged a protest against these said fees adjustment. According to the guild, the university management failed to consult and consider the interests of the students.
Kyambogo university fees structure was established in 2008, and professor Katunguka noted that the fees structure has never been reviewed since 2008. “This is sixteenth year down the road”. The Vice Chancellor said a lot of things including the economy have changed, which calls for the university to start reviewing their fees structures.
Key stakeholders from the political, security, and religious spheres in the Karamoja sub-region have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collective efforts to combat corruption and promote accountability, accelerating the transformative agenda.
This pledge was made at the launch of activities in the sub-region at Goli Army Club in Moroto Municipality. The function was led by Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Teso-Karamoja Governance Monitoring Mechanism.
Peter Lokeris, Minister for Karamoja Affairs, emphasised the need for collective leadership efforts to effectively manage and transform Karamoja.
“I urge all leaders to work together to bring peace and prosperity to Karamoja in all aspects,” he said.
Minister Lokeris commended Lt Gen Elwelu’s past achievements, particularly the Nabilatuk resolution, which aimed to restore order in Karamoja. He called on all stakeholders to support Lt Gen Elwelu in his fight against corruption, promoting transparency and accountability.
Lt Gen Elwelu emphasised the importance of a collaborative approach, adopting a ‘watchman’ mindset rather than an ‘accuser’ mentality.
“My work philosophy aligns with the Kingdom of Heaven and the NRA’s revolutionary methods, which prioritise prevention over cure,” he said.
He pledged to oversee government programs and urged all stakeholders to uphold core values such as transparency, servanthood, teamwork, and accountability.
Maj Gen Don William Nabasa, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF), reported that the overall security situation in Karamoja remains relatively stable due to sustained collaborative efforts.
Maj Martha Asiimwe, Head of Resident District Commissioners, pledged unwavering support and allegiance to work collaboratively with Lt Gen Elwelu and his team for the betterment of the Karamoja community.
