The Ugandan shilling slipped on Tuesday, with demand for dollars from offshore banks, manufacturers and oil firms outweighing the central bank’s mop up of shilling liquidity.
At 0940 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,440/3,450, slightly weaker than Monday’s close of 3,430/3,440.
“Appetite is starting to pick up. We’ve received demand (for dollars) from offshore banks and also from local manufacturing and energy clients,” said Faisal Bukenya, head of market making at Barclays Bank.
Bank of Uganda (BoU), the central bank, mopped up Shs118 billion ($34.30 million) worth of excess liquidity on Tuesday, via a seven-day repo.
Ugandan based film stars known for their Youtube trailer o’Who Killed Captain Alex’ which gannered over a thousand views are making it big on the international scene.
The Nateete based Wakaliwood crew is currently on a mini tour across Canada, United States and Spain premiering another movie dubbed Operation Kakongoliro also reffered to as “The Ugandan Expendables.
The new movie actors namely Ebola Hunter, Commando Jesus, and Segwayne, Da Killer Gourd. They will be in Toronto, Canada on 13 January. On 14 January the Wakaliwood crew will be in Ontario. David Bertrand a.k.a. “Canada’s greatest Action Star” will be the host of the night. They will be in Spain on 30 January and on 4 February, Schenectady, New York.
President Museveni addresses a campaign rally at Bwizibwera in Kashari South County, Mbarara district yesterday Jan 12, 2016
“There are no Mbabazi supporters, all these are movement,”
President Yoweri Museveni who is also the Presidential candidate of the National Resistance Movement has called on NRM supporters to unite and work for the good of the party because it’s the success of the party that is more important not individual aspirations.
Museveni made the appeal while addressing a campaign rally at Bwizibwera town council in Kashari South County, Mbarara district.
President Museveni who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni said that it was not wise for a party member to split the party and the party members because one has been angered by actions of a particular individual in the party or a party organ, adding that if the Movement collapses all members are affected.
President Museveni receives a chair, shield and spear designed by Bosco Tumwine (in wheelchair) as Firts Lady Janet looks on during a rally in Bwizibwera, Kashari South, Mbarara yesterday Jan 12.
“It’s the NRM that mentored and groomed you people and now you think you are stronger than the party. I think most of you have not matured politically, otherwise you would know that in politics sometimes there is unfairness but that should not derail you from your organization’s political agenda. The NRM is very important than us the individuals and even if you get angry, you should never divide or fight the Movement if you are a supporter,” he stressed.
Candidate Museveni also cautioned Movement supporters against using lies in politics and branding each other as belonging to opposition groups which he said could affect the party support.
“I heard that you now brand each other that this is a Mbabazi person, where did Mbabazi get people from? Mbabazi’s people are with him the rest of you are Movement people,” he said.
He said that as the Movement government continues providing infrastructure development, Ugandans needed to play their role in fighting poverty in the homes noting that infrastructures alone without household income cannot develop the country.
He said that to fight unemployment, the Movement government was to embark on skilling of the youth both in schools and those out of school and equip them with practical skills that can make them employable or that can enable them employ themselves.
NRM supporters cheer President Museveni as he campaigned at Rubindi boys primary school, in Kashari North constituency in Mbarara district on Tuesday 12 December 2016.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flag bearer for the 2016 elections has urged the party flag bearers to be tolerant of each other and stop the in-fighting in the party.
Mr. Museveni was today speaking at a campaign rally held at Rubindi Boys Primary School in Rubindi Sub County Kashari North Constituency in Mbarara district.
“I heard that the Rubindi NRM flag bearers were fighting each other, but you should fight your battles wisely. Do not fight to harm one’s family or even society,” he said.
He noted that despite their differences, the NRM leaders in Rubindi have shown maturity and have been tolerant with each other.
“The Banyankole have a saying that while fighting siblings warn each other not to fall in a pit. Do not fight to destroy the party. When you become tolerant, you save many things from being destroyed and benefit more,” he said.
Museveni called for unity saying that although he started the NRM the party, it has been made strong by the party members and therefore they should be tolerant of each other or else destroy the party.
He pledged to upgrade and renovate Rubindi hospital and Rubindi Boys School. “I can see in Rubindi you have schools but the school where this rally is held needs to be renovated. Kyenshama also needs electricity,” he said. He also promised to tarmac the Ntuura – Nyamunyobwa road.
On wealth creation, President Museveni said that government decided to start the wealth creation funds after seeing that people were not doing enough to fight household poverty.
“You should not confuse development with wealth. Development is for everyone but wealth is personal. It is the role of government to bring development but it is your role to get wealth through fighting poverty,” he said.
He said that government will prioritize the wealth creation funds as they did for the development funds, saying they are going to put 1000 billion shillings in NAADs, 234 billion in the Youth and Women funds and 180 billion in the Microfinance fund.
President Museveni receives gifts as he campaigned at Rubindi boys primary school, in Kashari North constituency in Mbarara district on Tuesday 12 December 2016.
Museveni also promised to build technical schools in each constituency so that the youth can acquire skills that will enable them get jobs. “Now we have educated our children, they know English and Mathematics but they have no skills. They do not have computer skills but we are going to build a technical school in each constituency. All the 290 constituencies will have technical schools,” he said.
After the rally, excited supporters presented Museveni with various gifts thanking him for his great leadership of the country.
A Korean national on Monday night allegedly killed a Ugandan at their room which they booked at Kisumu’s Acacia Hotel.
Police said the reasons behind the fight that caused the death of the Ugandan could not be immediately established.
Preliminary reports had indicated that the two engaged in a gun drama but the police dismissed the claim saying the body of the deceased did not have gunshot wounds.
County Administration Police Commander Mr Joseph Chepkeitany said the situation only involved the two and was not in any way threatening to the security of the city.
Panic grips city
Kisumu residents panicked following the commotion as rumour had it that the shooting incident was terror related.
“Police are already dealing with the situation. There is no cause for alarm, ” Mr Chepkeitany said.
He said that the issue was between the two guests who had been booked at the hotel.
The hotel management denied claims that the shooting occurred at the 4 star facility saying the guest only collapsed after their fight.
“It is true there was an incident but there were no weapons on the suspect who is believed to have engaged his roommate in a fight,” Mr Dancun Mwangi, the hotel manager said.
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga at the 23rd Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia,
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has said that it is important for the government and the population to appreciate that the global security threats including terrorism affect everyone if Parliament is attacked.
The Speaker who is attending the 23rd Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, also said that Speakers should understand that their role in maintaining the security of the House is distinct.
“With the global threat of terrorism, parliaments must be constantly vigilant in balancing national and human security and individual freedoms,” Rt Hon Kadaga said at the three-day conference that brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from the Commonwealth to promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy and practice.
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada Rt Hon Geoff Regan, said that it is important for the government to budget for security in Parliament and other integrated forces in order to safeguard the institution. He cited the attack on the Canadian Parliament Hill that left several officers dead and the entire country’s faith and its safety tested.
A Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons emphasized that Speakers are responsible for the control and administration of the parliamentary precincts.
The conference will among other issues discuss the security of parliament, challenges facing the independence of speakers, parliamentary privilege and protecting the effective functioning democracies.
Primary leaving Examinations (PLE) results have been today released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB). The event was held at Office of The Prime Minister building in Kampala.
UNEB Executive Sectretary Mathew Bukenya revealed out of the 601777 pupils who sat for the exams, 517895(86%) passed in divisions one, two, three and four, while 82973 (13.7) failed. Bukenya noted that results of 909 pupils had been withheld by UNEB on allegations of cheating.
“English and Social Studies with Religious Education was performed best followed by Science and Math. Girls performed better in English, boys performed better in the other subjects. Generally boys performed better than girls,” he said.
He noted that 2015 performance is better than that of the previous years. “It is gratifying to note that candidature has grown from about 150,000 in 1986 to 621,401 in 2015,” boasted Bukenya.
Executive Secretary Mathew Bukenya.
Bukenya further noted that 2015 PLE results were released ahead of the scheduled time because the examination institution embraced technology. “Because of technology, candidates were registered on electronically, this examination was conducted smoothly and free from leakage.”
For the 909 pupils whose results UNEB withheld, he promised them that they would be accorded fair hearing by the body’s Examination Security Committee.
He called upon District and Municipal representatives to pick the PLE results from UNEB starting Tuesday at 3:00 in the evening. He further cautioned parents not to go to the body’s office but rather use the SMS platform.
He also thanked government and other stakeholders for their efforts in making sure that the examination process is a success.
Emirates announced that it plans to launch a second daily service from Dubai International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday July 1, 2016.
The second Los Angeles flight will be operated with an Emirates’ Airbus A380-800ULR aircraft in a 3-class configuration with 14 private suites in First class, 76 seats in Business class and 401 seats in Economy class.
Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in the United States. And according to Emirates’ officials, the complementary flight times of the new second daily service will serve the growing customer demand for travel between Dubai and the western United States, as well as for those passengers connecting to Emirates’ vast global network of onward destinations.
“Our existing service provides USD $677 million in annual economic benefit to L.A. and the surrounding area, contributes over USD $270 million in annual spending by visitors, and helps to support nearly 6000 U.S jobs,” said Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West.
He added: “So our additional service to LAX not only doubles our capacity to meet demand for our award winning service, but also increases our positive economic impact to the Los Angeles area.”
Commonly referred to as the City of Angels, Los Angeles is a global city with a diverse economy in entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, sports, technology, education, medicine and research. While most often associated with its world renowned entertainment industry, L.A. is one of the largest manufacturing centres in the western U.S. and supports a thriving aerospace sector as well. In fact, LA County has 56,239 people employed in the aerospace and defense industry, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
A major export from Los Angeles is fruits and vegetables and these account for the largest portion of Emirates’ cargo exports out of Los Angeles, transported both in the belly hold of the airline’s wide body A380 aircraft as well as through two Emirates Boeing 777-200F freighters each week.
Rwomushana with his lawyers shortly after his release
Controversial political activist Charles Rwomushana has been released from the Special Investigations Directorate headquarters in Kireka.
According to sources, police is however, maintaining a round the clock surveillance at Rwomushana’s house.
Rwomushana was arrested by police on Friday last week for allegedly posting on his Facebook page a photo of a lifeless body said to be that of missing Christopher Aine, the head of Independent and Go Forward candidate John Patrick Amama Mbabazi.
Subsequently, the Police spokesperson Fred Enanga confirmed the arrest of Rwomushana in a statement issued on Saturday.
“We have arrested Charles Rwomushana, on credible information that the dangerous and questionable pictures of a ‘dead Aine’ were widely circulated by him online,” said Enanga in the statement.
Yesterday police issued a statement saying Rwomushana had been visited at Kireka by a team of his lawyers led by Andrew Karamagi.
The mystery of Aine’s ‘disappearance’ and the subsequent surfacing of the now controversial photo has landed a handful of people in trouble, starting with two Redpepper Publications Editors and later engulfing Rwomushana, a former head of political intelligence at State House.
A month ago Aine was reportedly involved in deadly clashes between supporters of NRM candidate Yoweri Museveni and Mr Mbabazi in Ntungamo. He was supposed to appear for routine questioning but went missing about three weeks ago, prompting the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura to put a bounty of Shs 20 million on his head.
Since then there have been mixed reactions by members of the public, with some including Rwomushana reportedly claiming that Aine had died, while others including the police said he was in hiding.
All primary schools in the country are to have a pre-school class, the education minister Major Jessica Alupo has said.
Maj Alupo, who made the disclosure earlier today while presiding over the release of the 2015 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), said that government is to review the early childhood development policy.
She said that the number of candidates had increased but decried the high dropout rate, noting that 19,614 pupils who registered for the national primary exams did not sit.
The Minister reiterated her appeal to parents to send their children to school, and noted that early marriages and pregnancies were responsible for the high dropout rate of girl child.
She also revealed that a special budget of Shs 3.18 billion had been introduced for special needs education, and that other priorities to be considered include the welfare of teachers.
Speaking about teacher and student absenteeism, Ms Alupo said government would recruit more teachers and step up inspection.
According to the minister, her ministry had received disturbing reports that UPE students are asked to pay money, something she said, undermines government’s efforts to improve education in the country.
Seventy seven percent of the candidates were beneficiaries of the Universal Primary Education (UPE).
The minister said Fort Portal, Kabale, Mukono and Entebbe are some of the areas with lowest failure rate, and she urged the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) to ensure reduced exam malpractice.
According to UNEB Secretary General Mathew Bukenya, results for 909 pupils were withheld.
A total of 517, 985 pupils passed the PLE and will join Senior 1 after selections on January 28 and 29. They begin school on February 22.
