Passengers boarding a Kenya Airways plane at Entebbe International Airport
As far as pitiable national airlines go, dead Uganda Airlines has to be up there with the worst of them.
But its struggling sister Kenya Airways Ltd is plotting to make a comeback adding seven routes in Uganda and the region in the next five years.
Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), an institution charged with reinstating the flag carrier of Uganda fumbles, KQ boss Willem Hondius has already formulated plans to dominate the Entebbe skyline using Jambojet, the low-cost carrier owned by the Kenyans.
“We want to be a greater Eastern African operator, flying to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, the Comoros, South Sudan and Goma and Kisangani in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” Hondius is quoted in an interview in Nairobi.
Economic growth in the Uganda and her neighbours who Jambojet is targeting, along with its home market of Kenya, is expected to average 5.2 percent this year, outpacing the 4.3 percent expansion in sub-Saharan Africa that’s forecast by the International Monetary Fund. Rival budget carrier FastJet Plc, which was founded with the ambition to become a pan-African carrier, last month said it’s closing routes on the continent including Uganda’s after sales failed to meet expectations.
British Airways last year also suspended flights between Entebbe International Airport and Heathrow, London, airport on grounds that the flights are not “commercially viable.”
KQ’s Jambojet will probably enjoy a better reception that BA and FastJet have.
EAC Secretary General Amb Richard Sezibera receives a gift from the Liquid Telecom's boss Eng Sam Nkusi
The Secretary General of the East African Community Dr Richard Sezibera recently received Mr Sam Nkusi, the Group Executive of Liquid Telecom, the leading independent data, voice and IP provider in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.
The Secretary General, who was accompanied by the EAC Senior Engineer in charge of Planning and Communications, Eng Robert Achieng, warmly welcomed the Liquid Telecom Group Executive to the EAC Headquarters.
Mr Nkusi briefed Amb Sezibera on the operations of Liquid Telecom and said the company was embarking on a project to build a new submarine cable infrastructure that will provide a cost-effective and reliable link for landlocked, southern, central and east African countries to the Internet and to the world.
“Leveraging Liquid Telecom’s 20,000km-long fibre optic terrestrial network, this pan-African private sector project will support fast growing needs for Internet connectivity and help Africa’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector leapfrog towards achieving its Sustainable Development Goals,” noted the Liquid Telecom CEO.
Mr. Nkusi reiterated that the cable, running along the East coast of Africa and into the Red Sea, will take a less congested route to Europe, and will interconnect with all existing networks and with other international submarine cables. According to Liquid Telecom, this will also address the need for mobile operators to increase internet speed delivered over their mobile broadband networks.
He said the project was a major step towards fulfilling EAC’s mission to widen and deepen Economic, Political, Social and Cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of East Africa.
The Secretary General hailed the private sector-led initiative and urged Partner States to support the project. He noted that the biggest support EAC could provide towards the overall implementation of the project would be to provide a Cross-Border Inter-Connectivity Regulatory Framework in order to guide and facilitate inter-connections across borders within the EAC, and could .possibly be shared with other regional economic blocs in Africa.
FDC Spokesperson Semujju Nganda says the opposition party has temporarily halted its unpopular ‘stay home’ campaign but other #FreeMyVote campaign activities continue.
Speaking at the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala Monday, he said: ‘The campaign is suspended. For now.’
FDC last month urged their supporters to boycott any person or businesses that are owned by people suspected to have supported President Museveni in the just concluded elections pointed to sheer opportunism to say the least according to political analysts.
He said, “However, we have postponed the Stay at Home campaign since its target of freeing Dr. Kizza Besigye has been achieved.
“The campaign shall be revived in case Police tries to imprison him again.
“We shall be announcing several other activities that will be carried out every Thursday in which Dr. Besigye shall be actively involved.
Among others, party officials also asked Ugandans to boycott all Mr Museveni’s activities as well as those perpetuating his stay including musicians who campaigned for the National Resistance Movement flag bearer in the presidential elections.
Tubonga Nawe lead singer Moses Ssali aka Bebe Cool had earlier dismissed the call as “cheap politics”, saying FDC should concentrate on showing them what “we can do better not what we have done wrong.
Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS) Telefayina is in position to follow in Bukedde TV’s footsteps and cash in with TV advertising worth millions, but the new station is gonna have an edge over its popular state-run cousin with the Kabaka’s endorsement.
Several big-time media sources tell us pitchmen did well putting together BBS owner Smart Kiyimba with the Katikiro (Prime Minister) and Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
We’re told the most lucrative path was to start be a telefayina that Buganda relates with as compared to the state run Bukedde.
BBS’ CEO, former football pundit Joe Kigozi has the Luganda football fraternity, including Kabaka, under a blanket deal after stealing former employer NBS TV’s rights for the free-to-air game on SuperSport every week.
The Kabaka, himself, has accepted to launch it as part of his celebrations to mark his 61st birthday. So, that is a reaffirmation; the Kabaka has never launched a television before.
So, come Tuesday, the King will make a short stroll from his palace at Lubiri to Masengere building in Mengo-Bulange where the TV station that hit the airwaves in December last year is housed.
Sources close to Industrial Area based Bukedde TV tell us they’re scared as netherworld.
President Museveni chatting with mothers during his working visit to the Rwenzori region
President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to treat murder, promotion of any form of sectarianism and maintaining backwardness.
President Museveni, who is on a four-day working visit in Rwenzori region, made the remarks while meeting leaders of Bughendera county in Bundibugyo district today at Fort Portal State Lodge.
President Museveni addresses people of the Rwenzori region
President Museveni said that the National Resistance Movement has always opposed sectarianism and extrajudicial murders and warned that the government will not tolerate those promoting the two vices.
“Sectarianism, extrajudicial murders and backwardness have been Movement taboos and anyone promoting them today is our number one enemy. I was in the Democratic Party but I had to leave the party because the party exercised sectarianism and I left to join the Uganda People’s Congress but sectarianism had done great damage to the country that the post independence government collapsed four years after independence,” he said.
He said that the Movement will not therefore discuss matters of extrajudicial murder with criminals but will have to handle them in accordance with the law.
The leaders pose for a group photo
Museveni expressed disappointment that Ugandans and the Movement is degenerating from the core principles on which the National Resistance Movement was founded.
“Issues of criminality and murder are resolved by the constitution of Uganda and even God’s laws are against murder. I think we misled you by being too soft on some of you who made mistakes in the past but we thought some of you were committing crimes out ignorance but I think it has gone out of hand. How do you kill someone for voting in a certain way? Then what is democracy for and what did the NRM fight for? ” he said.
The President said they will deal with the criminals decisively.
“We shall deal with them decisively. We have done it Karamoja against the advice of the opposition politicians who said that we should talk to the Karamajong cattle rustlers who were killing people. We must make it clear that killing in Uganda is out of question,” the President said.
He also warned against mixing traditional and cultural leadership with political leadership and administrations, saying some of the problems in the Rwenzori region are because some players are mixing the two.
He said that although the NRM government allowed the reinstatement of cultural institutions in parts of Uganda they must operate in accordance with the Constitution.
Hi Valentine; How can I know for sure if my partner is cheating on me? I have this strong feeling that he is but I don’t know how to prove it.
Monica
Well, Monica. This is definitely one of the million-dollar questions out there. The truth is, I have no idea. That said, there are signs that have never led me the wrong way.
Are you getting frequent yeast infections? Are you trying to convince yourself that they are due to all the sex that you are having with your man? Maybe you are having a reaction to condoms or lubricant? In speaking to many women, I have come to the conclusion that this is a definite sign that something is amiss. Does your partner seem sexually distracted? This might be hard to pinpoint if you are the new partner and you don’t have a long history to compare things to. Just pay attention, does he forget the last time you had sex? Or think you like certain things when you’ve let him know that you do not? Compartmentalising two or more women is not an easy thing to do and he will probably slip up. It won’t be as obvious as calling you the wrong name, but it will happen.
Unexplained silences and absences are another sign that your partner is elsewhere. Does he disappear for stretches of time? Suddenly travelling for work or working longer hours than usual? These might show his attention has been diverted elsewhere.
Trust your gut and pray. I have been cheated on twice and each time, it is God who told me. I feel you. Just pay attention and trust that the truth will come out because it always does.
The recent reports that Karuma Hydroelectric power station under construction to produce 600 megawatts and valued at the cost of US $1.6 billion had cracked isn’t necessarily true.
The reports forced President Yoweri Museveni to issue stringent directives to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to make sure that the project is implemented in accordance with the plan and if not so, the constructor (Sinohydro Corporation Limited) be expelled.
Energy Permanent Secretary Dr. Kabagambe Kaliisa (L) being briefed at Karuma HPPPresident Yoweri Museveni recently issue stringent directives to Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to make sure that the project is implemented in accordance with the plan
It was alleged that Ministry of Energy officials and officials from its agency, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), and among the other three consulting firms hired to supervise the construction of the dam had left the contractor to get away with shoddy works at both Karuma and Isimba hydropower dams.
It is upon this that President Museveni questioned the quality of works at the two dams had been compromised. “If it is necessary to suspend work until the defects are corrected, it should be done. The “owners Engineers” could either be reinforced or even dismissed,” he wrote.
Adding “My information, for instance, points out that there is something known as draft tube where the turbines are supposed to sit. These draft tubes should be assembled outside the hollow structures that are supposed to be their ultimate home and put in the hollows when they are able to align with the other parts. Instead, I am told they wielded in the hollow. I am told that is very risky.”
However, according to a tour of both dams by Ministry of Energy officials, UEGCL plus both constructors Sinohydro for Karuma and China International Water and Electric Corporation for Isimba, Energy Infratech who are lead supervisors for the Ministry including SMEC and AF Consults who supervise on behalf of UEGCL as well as the media, it is true, there were minor cracks but by the time the team visited, some had been fixed and according to Eng. V. Vasu, Chief Executive Officer of Energy Infratech PVT Limited, 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.
Karuma HPP has minor cracks but by the time the team visited, some had been fixed according to the contractorsEng. V. Vasu, Chief Executive Officer of Energy Infratech PVT Limited said in engineering cracks occur but they do so for a reason.
According to the Sinohydro engineers, the cause of the cracks on one particular spot can’t be explained as they give variation of explanations.
According to an engineer from AF Consults who spoke on conditions of anonymity because he isn’t free to speak to the media, what might have caused the cracks at the upper stream could have been the hard granite rock that hadn’t been crashed well, lack of coolant due to the high temperatures experienced at the site or non-conformity to the plan by using less materials.
According to the Sinohydro engineers, the cause of the cracks on one particular spot can’t be explained as they give variation of explanations.The consultant’s report claimed the company lacked competent key personnel on the ground and asked the ministry to ask it to improve its performance by assigning personnel at the site.
However, it was agreed that works at that specific spot be suspended as investigations continue. And in compliance with the Ministry’s directive, the contractor and the three supervisors concurred and promised that the findings of the investigation should be made public in one month.
“We have managed to see cracks and the EPC managers have told us that they suspended work two weeks ago and a thorough investigation is going on and a prescribed framework on how they will be filed will be issued after then work will resume at that spot . Cracks are inevitable in this kind of work and so all this we have discussed and the EPC have said that within a month the repairs will start,” Eng. Irene Muloni, Energy Minister said.
She added “All in all, work is going on well and we have seen the underground tunnel. The tunnel had not collapsed but it was a misinterpretation and an engineer from A F Consults has apologized.”
AF supervises Karuma while SMEC supervises Isimba.
The Minister also told the media that a crack could be as a result of bent arch that isn’t straight or due to the mixture of concrete. She however advised all the parties involved to remain calm as the investigations go on. Reports that the tunnel had collapsed were also found to be untrue as a comprehensive tour of the tunnel didn’t indicate any collapsed area.
An official working with Energy Infratech in Kampala recently insisted their men are on ground and instead accused UEGCL of paying monies to experts who are not on ground and “keep raising small and negligible issues” with their work.
Earlier, there was exchange of words between officials of Energy Infratech laboratory officials and UEGCL Executive Director, Eng. Harrison Mutikanga. The visibly inceased Eng. Mutikanga accused the contractor of not giving him results of the tests that had been carried out earlier. The Laboratory officials didn’t take it lightly hitting back at Mutikanga as a liar.
“You have not given us conformity results, where are the results?” Mutikanga asked the laboratory official before Muloni and Permanent Secretary Dr. Kabagambe Kaliisa.
The Laboratory official shot back, “Results are shared in the laboratory. We have provided all the results and the hard copies are in the laboratory. Stop this game of accusations,” she retorted back. At this point, EagleOnline has established that the public bickering between these institutions is all blamed on UEGCL headed by Eng. Mutikanga for allegedly authoring reports that portray the two projects as failures. However, Eng. Mutikanga denies and says the contractors aren’t doing enough.
“We have all agreed and there were issues but everything will be sorted,” Eng. Mutikanga told a presser at Karuma on Friday.
Infratech insist there are just a few concerns with respect to quality and effective supervision in both projectsEnergy Infratech bosses told Minister Muloni they have 40 staff on site that are rich with industry experience in similar projects around the world.
It is alleged that whereas the Ministry hired Energy Infratech as the lead supervisor, UEGCL went ahead to hire SMEC from Australia and AF Consults from Switzerland to carry out supervision on their behalf. And it is from this that each of the supervisors authors reports that aren’t shared amongst all the players.
Muloni also warned on intrigue and bickering saying the Ministry is the owner of the project and any fights involving any of the agencies won’t be tolerated.
“Since the ministry decided that we have agencies (Generation and Transmission) and the understanding is that when this project is complete, we shall handover to the agencies to run it. But if these companies are running to compete with the mother, then it is wrong,” she said
Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Irene Muloni address journalists as Mr Harrison Mutikanga, the Chief Executive Officer UEGCL looks on. The ping-pong between Energy officials and UEGCL would continue unabated, culminating in the latter contracting two firms as a stop gap measure to practically do the same work Energy Infratech is doing.
Nonetheless, Muloni said in every field, there are challenges and so engineering isn’t exceptional but encouraged the parties involved to stick their roles and adhere to the project plan.
“We just need to ensure that we work as a team because of different interests and training. And on that note, I am going to rearrange the managerial structure in terms of reporting and duties for people involved in these projects to come with a better formal structure,” she said.
The current cost of power from the Bujagali Hydro Power Project is 12 US cents (Shs409.2) per Kilowatt Hour, according to State Minister for Energy Simon D’Ujanga (R)
Dr. Kaliisa warned the parties to ensure that the project is completed on time. “This is a strategic interest of government. Government took this public sector project to produce cheaper power and so we must be mindful of time.”
During the guided tour, it was discovered that works on the excavation of the tunnel was at 80 per cent as it is only the two kilometer distance left to complete the excavation of the 15 kilometer underground tunnel which is 100meter below the surface.
Karuma is to produce 600 megawatts of power and is one of its kind in Africa as both the power house and turbines are going to be underground. Part of the Nile River will be diverted underground into a tunnel where power will be produced and then after water will be released into the 8.5 kilometer distance downstream to join the river exactly 8.5 kilometers down of the bridge.
Due to the wildlife concerns, it was decided that the dam is constructed underground so that wildlife along Nile River isn’t endangered.
Pepsi Uganda has laid off over 55 employees to cut costs while the economy and business community feel the strain of the February 18 elections with little prospect for a short-term recovery.
Pepsi which is controlled by holding company Crown Beverages said the new cuts effective April 01, 2016 are needed to make sure the company remains resilient through the current downturn and beyond.
“This regrettable development has been caused by the economic down turn in the soft drinks sector which has made it necessary for us to rationalize our costs to remain competitive,” CEO Simon Lugoloobi said through an email.
Immediately after news had filtered about the Head of Sales and Marketing, Mr. Innocent Tibayeita asking to leave the company for a new challenge, top management acted fast and summoned upcountry based marketeer Charles Byonanebye to Kampala to fill the void immediately. Byananebye has been the Regional Sales Manager, Western Uganda and his immediate task will be to popularise the new “drink and peel” promotion announced last month.
As part of the changes, the previously combined Sales and Marketing department has been split into two functions; Sales on the one hand and Marketing on the other.
“We are confident that the new structure will improve financial performance while continuing to offer the much needed employment and contributing to national development by paying taxes to the Government,” Lugoloobi recognising that it is never easy to be out of employment said.
“Once again, I take this opportunity to thank all our former staff for their efforts that have made Crown Beverages Limited one of Uganda’s leading soft drinks manufacturer. We remain committed to satisfying our customers’ needs through innovation and by being a responsible citizen,” he added.
Pepsi Uganda’s staff cuts add to the pain being experienced throughout the economy, which, according to the Uganda Manufacturers Association is high since the downturn began. Analysts have said they expect numerous companies to announce further reductions in budgets and staff numbers as the downturn persists.
Two years ago, CBL took-over Uganda’s soda market and then commanding 53 percent of the market but analysts are skeptical 2016 is making any economic sense after the ‘big’ sales of a number of smaller producers in operation as well. Three new competitors; Riham, Fizzy and Azam (a brand owned by Tanzanian privately-owned firm Bakhresa Group which began producing carbonated drinks in 2011), led to increased competition with Pepsi Uganda and Coca-Cola who had enjoyed a duopoly in the sector since 1996 after the collapse of Creeps. Competition led to price wars in the sector as companies competed for a share of the market.
Uganda’s per capita soda consumption is at 23 bottles, Kenya’s about 40 bottles and Tanzania 35 bottles.
Go-Forward team. On the left is Aine Christopher who disappeared but has since surfaced on government side. Next to him is head of secretariat Solome Kimbugwe while extreme right is lawyer Fred Muwema whose alligiance also questioned (internet Photo).
The Go Forward team is finding trouble moving ahead after staff started disappearing, some showing up to work as and when they feel like due to unpaid salaries.
According to sources in the team, workers in the Go Forward team have not received a salary for six months since October 2015. They demand shs1billon.
Sources quote the communications director, Josephine Mayanja Nkanji and the Chief of Staff, Solome Kibungwe, are some of the top employees who are no longer enthusiastic about showing up for work.
“Maggie Lukowe (communications assistant) only comes in for a press conference here and there but she now fully sits at her personal office,” the source said. “Mayanja Nkangi no longer comes and Solome is also doing her own things. They hardly come around.”
On some days, former Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi goes to his office on 12th floor Crested Towers and sits there alone, sometimes with a few office staff like the receptionist and his personal assistant.
It is believed that Mr Mbabazi’s financial inflow was disrupted by government during presidential campaigns. Highly placed sources say the former premier’s accounts were frozen and he is therefore finding it hard to run his activities even after the campaigns.
Eagle Online could not readily get a comment from Go Forward as known phone numbers of the spokesperson, Josephine Mayanja Nkanji, couldn’t be reached.
That aside, Mr Mbabazi is continuing with discussions with his counterparts under their umbrella TDA Go Forward Uganda umbrella, to discuss the best way forward in the next five years.
As part of the initiative to discourage irresponsible drinking and drunk driving, Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has embarked on a series of activations in Bars around Kampala. UBL scouts have been going to Kampala hangouts, the likes of Club Gabiro Bugolobi, Sky Lounge, Zone7 and engaging revelers on responsible drinking and urging them not to drink and drive.
On Friday night, the UBL scouts stormed Legends bar and asked party goers to pledge to responsible drinking. The attendees received red cards and free goodies from Uganda Breweries, as well as tips on responsible drinking. The excited party goers were thrilled to partake in the dice game and pledged not to drive under the influence of alcohol.
These lovely people pledged not to drink and drive
Responding on why they took the campaign to bars, Rhona Arinaitwe, UBL corporate Relations Manager said, “We chose to go to the points of consumption because these are the best places to reach our target audience and cause behavior change.”
She noted that preventing drunk driving is at the cornerstone of Uganda Breweries Limited’s mission to encourage responsible drinking.
The scouts will every Friday and Saturday be hitting Kampala night spots and dazzling revelers as they show them how to enjoy responsibly.
