Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States Oliver Wonekha, has asked youth Members of Parliament to always consider the impact of legislation on the country’s international relations.
“While legislating, think about the impact of the law to Uganda’s relationship with the US, which is our biggest development partner; and other countries,” Wonekha said adding that, “If you are not informed, consult the Leader of Government Business or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
Ms Wonekha, a former Bududa Woman MP, on Wednesday met youth MPs Mpaka Mwine (NRM, Western), Ishma Mafabi (Ind., Eastern), Oscar Omony (NRM, Northern), Anna Adeke Ebaju (Ind., Female, and National) and Sarah Babirye Kityo (NRM, Central).
The meeting was held at Uganda’s Embassy in Washington, DC. The youth MPs are in the US to attend the International Young Leaders Assembly which will run from August 8-17 August 2016.
Wonekha said that the US “nearly broke off diplomatic relations with Uganda” over Parliament’s consideration and passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
The Parliament of Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in December 2013 outlawing and giving life sentences to persons convicted of homosexuality or gay relations. The private member’s bill, which was later annulled by the Constitutional Court, also prohibited and prescribed penalties for the promotion of homosexuality. The US and a number of European countries, unhappy with the law, imposed varying levels of sanctions on government.
Wonekha said that her job entailed maintaining and improving Uganda’s bilateral relations with the US.
There’s less than one month to go in the transfer window and teams are desperate to bolster their squad and find quality additions for the new season.
And here is one that could interest Uganda Revenue Authority fans.
Labama ‘Kamana’ Bokota has departed Rwandan Premier League side AS Muhanga after just six months to sign a one-year deal Uganda’s URA FC unveiled on Thursday at the club’s training base in Gayaza.
The ex Rwanda international veteran striker who was born in DR Congo has never been a regular goalscorer but offers pace, power and good link-up play in the final third.
Kamana in his mid-30s played for Amavubi between 2007 and 2010, scoring nine goals from 20 international appearances.
Kamana has previously played for DR Congo’s DC Motema Pembe as well as AS Muhanga from where he was snatched by URA FC
At club level, he has appeared for Conglese side AS Vita Club (2006-2008) before crossing to Rwanda to join Rayon Sports (2008-2009), APR FC in 2010, FC Les Stars for the season 2011 before returning to his homeland to where he signed for DC Motema Pembe in the same year. The bulky striker again traversed In August 2011, he signed a two-year contract with Rayon Sport for a second stint with the Rwandan club.
On August 8, 2012, Amavubi striker Bokota Labama joined Kiyovu Sports on a one-year deal and disappeared off the scene until early this year when he played for Muhanga.
Apparently URA FC chairman Ali Ssekatawa also announced the signing of two Nigerians, Harry Gentle Frank (defender) and Emmanuel Ibe Obina (forward) from Sofapaka and Mathare United respectively.
URA FC 2016/17 season new signings
Alionzi Nafian Legason (Onduparaka), Fred Okot, Julius Mutyaba (Lweza), Harry Gentle Frank (Sofapaka – Nigeria), Hudu Mulikyi (Maroons), Richard Wandyaka (JMC Hippos), Emmanuel Ibe Obina (Mathare United), Bokota Labama Kamana (AS Muhanga)
Crown Beverages Limited’s aggressive 17% price cut on their flagship soft drinks is a good deal for Uganda’s soda consumers, but they might not be so sweet for Coca-Cola, Harris International, makers of Riham, Azam and Fizzy — not to mention Pepsi itself— in the long run.
In an effort to drive sales, CBL the bottlers of Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Pepsi Cola among others has cut the price of the named carbonated soft drinks’ 330ml pack size by Shs200 from Shs 1,200 to Shs1, 000. CBL did the same in May for the 500ml, cutting the prices from shs1700 to shs1500.
The announcement was Thursday made by Jeff Sekandi, the Head of Marketing who won’t be in the job by September 4th with a new boss having been poached from a leading multinational.
In the short term, the low prices have been good news for beverage consumers. That’s because Pepsi is the one footing the bill for the deep price cuts, and demand has been so strong that the beverage companies are struggling to keep up, EagleOnline understands. Actually the new smaller players have a relatively strong presence in the market but they have become low on supply and are not available in some areas which the Nakawa based soda company are looking to take advantage of new soda consumers because their prices are now friendlier especially in these hard economic times.
However, longer term, these price cuts could undermine the quality of Uganda’s sodas.
The aggressive pricing also raises questions about Crown Beverages’ business with no projected indulgence for them to revise prices upwards anytime soon.
CBL profits have fallen one way or the other according to market analysts. That decline comes as top management level turnover continues to increase, an unfairly tilted beverage industry, heavy taxation and difficulty for big players and new entrants to survive.
Somali presidential candidates Abdirahman Mohamud Farole and Ali Haji Warsame.
Two Somali presidential candidates Abdirahman Mohamud Farole and Ali Haji Warsame, have protested against the ‘extension’ of the tenure Federal Government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.
DIDDLING? Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.Hiraan.com
In a joint statement Farole and Warsame, say a recent communiqué by the National Leaders Forum (NLF) regarding the 2016 Elections is full of ‘discrepancies and inconsistencies’ with regard to the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC).
‘It contains illegitimate self-extension for the executive power, being a conflict of interest, creating unfair opportunities to the current office holders – the President, Prime Minister and some regional leaders who are either candidates or supporters of FG leaders in the upcoming presidential election,’ the joint statement by the two states in part.
Presidential candidates Abdirahman M. Mohamud Farole and Ali Haji Warsame with their aides. garowe.online
The two argue that according to Article 91 of the Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC) the mandate of the President is 4 years, which ends on 10th September 2016, while Article 95 of the PFC states that the Speaker of the Federal Parliament will take over the office of the President for 30 days.
‘Both election timetables – the one issued by NLF on 25th June 2016, in Baidoa and the one issued on 9th August 2016 in Mogadishu have almost the same time frame to the Presidential election date. Had the NLF acted in line with the previous Election Timetable, we would not have had a problem of constitutional crisis which will come inevitably to the surface on 10th September 2016. This timetable creates inconsistence with the nation’s constitutional provisions,’ the two candidates state.
They add: ‘By not starting the election process in due time with Baidoa’s timetable, we strongly believe that there was a deceitful plan by Federal Government for term extension, which is today’s reality. Likewise, given the hectic time frame, we will not rule out of another intentional illegitimate term extension’.
Both Farole and Warsame also accuse the FG of ‘illegally’ increasing the number of members of the Upper House from 54 to 58, arguing that it is a ‘strong violation of the constitution’.
They also called upon the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNSOM), to intervene and rectify the irregularities.
‘We appeal to the office of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia and the larger international community to act immediately and put the process on the right path in line with the UNSC Resolution 2275/2016, which calls… that there would be no extension of (the) electoral process timelines for either the executive or legislative branches,’ Farole and Warsame assert.
Dethroned captain Tom Masiko is targeting a return to first-team action for Kampala City Council and has pencilled in the 2016 Fufa Super Cup to be played on Sunday 14th August at Mutessa II Stadium, Wankulukuku for his comeback.
Tom Masiko insists he will be ‘ready’ as KCC midfielder targets Vipers clash for comeback
Speaking to the club website, Masiko a son of legendary Uganda Cranes and KCC defender and life captain, Charles Baker Masiko said: “I painfully watched on the sidelines months but now I’m fit to play again. I have been under the medical guidance of club doctor Ivan Ssewanyana and doctors at Novirk Hospital who have worked tireless to see that my torn muscle in the knee gets back into shape.”
Masiko played full 90 minutes in the club’s 0-0 friendly game against Simba FC at Lugogo on Wednesday.
“I feel I have regained my full strength and I’m ready to take up my slot again in the team. I don’t fear the renewed competition in the team and my fans should expect the best from me next season.”
The box to box midfielder who sat out much of last season’s action due to a recurring knee injury has endured a succession of injuries throughout his career, but remains optimistic of helping the Lugogo side defend their Uganda Premier League title.
Masiko will give KCC depth in the midfield that already boasts of young midfielders like Muzamir Mutyaba, Ivan Ntege, Sulaimon Akinyemi, Hakim Ssenkumba, Lawrence Kasadha, Paul Mucureezi and Ronald Kikonyogo.
“I want to thank the fans, management, coaches and my fellow players for the patience and love they have extended to me during this trying period. I’m back to lead my childhood club to more trophy glory,” Masiko promised.
Misiko says he has been doing ball work and training for weeks but will soon be ready for action
The boss Mike Mutebi wasn’t quick to quash any suggestion that he would be involved.
“Tom back for the serious football? Maybe, we have not decided that yet,” he explained. ‘He is a born winner, a leader and gives the team many dimensions whenever he is on the pitch.”
Masiko, still in his early 20s, has risen through the ranks at Lugogo since starting out as a youthful player at the now defunct feeder academy-City Lads.
Nicholas Wadada of Vipers (left) tussles for possession with KCC’s Tom Masiko at the Philip Omondi stadium at Lugogo last season. The two gaints face off again in the Uganda Super Cup this Sunday 14th at Wankulukuku
With about 70,000 South Sudanese having fled their country to Uganda since the recent outbreak of violence in July, aid agencies need US$600 million approximately UShs 2,023,800,000,000 to respond to the plight of refugees running to the southern neighbour.
According to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), aid agencies are also planning for an additional influx of 80,000 people by the end of the year, 90 per cent of them women and children, with most arriving from Eastern Equatoria State, the Upper Nile State and the capital Juba.
The NRC also says the aid appeal for South Sudan is only 41 per cent funded, with US$526 million received so far, of a requested US$1.29 billion. This development comes in the wake of Uganda, a country that plays host to over 550.000 refugees, saying its resources have been stretched by the refugee influxes.
“If the hostilities in South Sudan continue, people will flee to Uganda in high numbers in the months ahead. We urgently need funding now so we can scale up and respond to the people arriving. Additional sites already need to be built to host families who have arrived. The sites need shelter, toilets, clean water – and that’s just the basics,” said Enock Mambilli, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Acting Country Director in South Sudan.
Mr Mambilli added: “Aid agencies need $600 million to respond to the South Sudan refugee crisis in Uganda, but have only received 20 per cent of that so far.”
According to the NRC, more refugees have fled to Uganda in the last 20 days than during the whole of 2015, with the latest figures from the UN refugee agency indicating that an average of 2,000 people arrived into Uganda each day in the past few days.
Many people cite active violence as the main reason for seeking refuge in Uganda. Other reasons reported for fleeing include the fear of further outbreaks of fighting, killings being carried out by armed groups, and food shortages.
NRC is working around the clock with the Government, UNHCR and other partners to register and provide relief to the new refugees in Uganda. “We are constructing shelter and toilets. As people are arriving with little possessions, we will also provide household items like soap, cooking pans, jerry cans, mosquito nets, and tents,” said Hosana Adisu, NRC’s Country Representative in Uganda.
Many South Sudanese are fleeing to Uganda for the second and third time, and the southern neighbor currently hosts over 550,000 refugees, including 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers from South Sudan and over 200,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Meanwhile, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, ranks among the countries with the highest levels of conflict-induced population displacement globally, with over 1.6 million people displaced inside South Sudan, while more than 900,000 have fled to neighbouring countries since December 2013.
Also, 6 million people – more than half of South Sudan´s population – need humanitarian assistance, and over 4.8 million people will face severe food shortages over the coming months.
Winners with the Guest of Honour, Major General Issa Suleiman Nassor (white track suit) and other officials in a group photo opportunity.
Kenya Defence Forces runners have taken the lead in all their respective heats at the 10th EAC Military Games and Culture Event taking place in Kigali, beating Ugandan runners to second place.
All the Kenya Defence Forces Athletes, the winners of the day’s games at the Podium for recognition
Lined-up for Day Two was the 10 km-Cross Country Race for both women and men at IPRC Kicukiro Stadium in Kigali, presided over by Maj. Gen. Mubaraka Muganga on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
SPTE Emmanuel Kipsanga (No. 2014) touched the finish line in a time of 27: 15: 68 minutes, followed by Private Franklin Ocelel (No. 2011) 27:16: 10, and Superintendent Stephen Arita finished third at 27: 17: 15.
In the Men’s race, SPTE Emmanuel Kipsanga touched the finish line in a time of 27:15:68 minutes, followed by Private Franklin Ocelel 27:16:10, and Superintendent Stephen Arita finished third at 27:17:15.
Private Nelson Fabiano of Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces was 6th, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) athlete Sgt Alex Chesakit was 7th and the RDF runner, Sgt Joseph Nzirorera came in the 8th position.
Kenya was the best team in the male category followed by Uganda. Rwanda came third and Tanzania finished fourth in general rankings. Out of 24 male athletes, 21 finished the race.
In the women’s race, it was an all-Kenyan affair as Warrant Corporal Sheila Chepkiryi clocked 31:17:18 minutes to win. Her fellow Kenyan runners Private Goyceline Chepkosgei and Private Judith Chemutai came second and third respectively.
The famous Rwanda’s Cultural Troupe Inganzo Ingari entertains the crowd attending the games.
In the overall performance/ranking in the Women’s race, Kenya took the 1st position, Uganda (2nd), Tanzania (3rd) and Rwanda (4th).
All Kenya Commercial Bank branches in Uganda will also be closed from Friday to Sunday this week.
According to a statement seen by EagleOnline, KCB Group will temporarily shut down all its branches Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi to carry out a core banking system upgrade beginning Friday afternoon up to Sunday midnight.
However, the KCB’s Ugandan unit announced via their twitter handle @kcbbankug that all their ATMs, mobile and internet banking will be functional.
Edgar Lungu, pictured (left) in Lusaka, is a front-runner in Zambia's presidential election (AFP Photo/Chibala Zulu)
An independent election monitoring group is reporting that a candidate hoping to become a member of parliament has been arrested over alleged vote buying as voting has begun in Zambia’s presidential and parliamentary elections following campaigning marred by clashes between rival supporters.
Patriotic Front (PF) party candidate for Serenje Central Phillip Kosamu has been arrested for allegedly offering voters money to vote for him.
It is expected to be a tight race between President Edgar Lungu’s governing PF and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) led by Hakainde Hichilema.
For the first time, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off.
Mr Lungu narrowly won the last election with 48% of votes.
Observers say Zambia’s struggling economy will be a key issue.
Plunging prices for copper, its main export, have closed mines and left thousands unemployed. With economic growth roughly halved, the country asked the International Monetary Fund for help earlier this year.
In addition, Zambia, like other parts of southern Africa, has been hit by a drought that the UN has described as the worst in 35 years.
The UPND has accused President Lungu of presiding over the ‘collapse’ of the economy. But the PF says it has a plan to diversify the economy.
A watchdog warned that clashes between rival political groups over recent weeks could keep some voters away.
“Escalating levels of violence may have a negative impact on the elections and reduce voter turnout,” the Zambian Elections Information Centre said in a statement.
“Political cadres have increasingly become unruly to the extent that they have shown no regard for law enforcement agents.”
On Tuesday, the head of the electoral commission, Esau Chulu, warned the two front-runners to avoid stirring unrest.
“I do not think that either of you will want to go on record as having been the two political parties who contributed to permanently denting Zambia’s record of peaceful elections,” he said.
Campaigning was suspended for 10 days in the capital Lusaka last month after a UPND supporter was shot dead during a protest.
As well as the election, Zambians are voting in a referendum on an amended bill of rights.
Poll will close at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and results are expected late on Friday and on Saturday.
This year about 12 African countries have held or will hold presidential elections, with most incumbents being returned. Among the countries is Uganda, Chad, Niger, Benin, Sao Tome and Principe, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Cape Verde, the Comoros and war-ravaged Somalia.
Two pro-government civil society organizations in Burundi have accused France of conspiring against the Pierre Nkurunziza regime under the CNDD-FDD party.
According to CAPES+ and PISC Burundi, by convincing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2303, France is pushing for the adoption of a unity government in order to shield Belgium from being held accountable for the social-political glitches faced by Burundi since the attainment of Independence in 1960.
On July 29 this year, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2303 authorising the deployment of 228 UN peacekeeping police, something Nkurunziza’s government has vehemently opposed.
“This UNSC resolution seeks to overthrow the current Burundi institutions democratically elected and destroy the ruling CNDD-FDD party that set up a democratic government and restored peace and security throughout Burundi,” Hamza Burikukiye, the chairman of CAPES+, was quoted as saying.
The two CSOs claim the aim of the Resolution ‘was to protect Belgium from being investigated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) that resulted from the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement. The latter was signed in 2000 and ended 12 years of civil war and cycles of massacres, including genocide, since Burundi independence in 1960’.
CAPES+ and PISC Burundi also urged other civil society organizations to join them in the protest against France through a one day campaign against the use of the French language on the 29th of every month, the date on which the resolution 2303 was approved.
According to Burikukiye, the 1994 Rwandan genocide was committed in the presence of French peacekeepers on the Rwandan territory, adding that deploying 228 UN police officers proposed by France in Burundi will allow France to commit genocide against ‘Burundian institutions’. ‘One can wonder if those UN troops expected to be deployed in Burundi will be necessarily composed of French citizens,’ he wondered and urged ‘those who want to support them in the fight for democracy and the sovereignty of Burundi’ to go to their office for registration.
