A three-day media workshop sponsored by the East African Community (EAC)-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania.

The workshop for community radio journalists is organised by the EAC Community Media Network (EACOMNET), and has attracted 35 participants from the five EAC Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Addressing participants on the opening day Ms. Zulmira Rodrigues, the UNESCO Representative to Tanzania said her organization would support community media initiatives in the EAC region.

She noted that the UNESCO-supported community radios are the main source of wide-ranging information for rural, marginalized and indigenous communities.

“UNESCO through its support has further significantly contributed to ensuring quality broadcasting, ethical programming and inclusive content to include all groups – men, women, the youth, persons living with disabilities and persons living with albinism – to actively participate in key processes for democracy, peace and development,” said Ms. Rodrigues.

Officially opening the workshop, the EAC Deputy Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, said the Community attaches great importance to the role of the media promoting awareness in the EAC integration.

“We have directed the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department to come up with a strategy to involve community radio stations in the Partner States in our outreach and advocacy programmes in the next Financial Year. With this strategy in place, we shall work and engage with you more closely,” said the Deputy Secretary General.

The workshop is being facilitated by community media experts from the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, India, led by the UNESCO Chair on Community, Professor Vinod Pavarala, assisted by Prof. Vasuki Belavadi and Dr Kanchan K. Malik.

Stories Continues after ad

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete will make his last address to the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) 4^thsession currently sitting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

According to EALA Speaker Dan Fred Kidega, the outgoing President, who is also the chair of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State, will address the EALA members on October 13, about two weeks away from elections in his country to be held on October 25.

Kikwete’s mandate as President of Tanzania comes to an end this month, after he has served a two-five year term.

Meanwhile, during the two-week session, the EALA will among other assignments, debate the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill 2014; the EAC Forest Management and Protection Bill 2015 and the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill 2015.

“We further expect to hold consultations with a number of other stakeholders during our stay here to inform the work of the Assembly to carry on with its mandate of legislation, representation and oversight. The involvement of East Africans in the process is fundamental given the fact that integration is very much ‘a people centred process’”, Speaker Kidega said and added that since he became Speaker in 2014 the EALA has passed seven Bills and seven Resolutions, and also adopted 13 reports.
The Speaker also lauded members of the 70^th United nations General Assembly (UNGA), a forum at which the newly-introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted.
‘Last month, EALA benefited from a 4 day training on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) thus preparing the Assembly for the big task ahead of oversight and possible legislation around sustainable development,’ Kidega said and also hinted at polls’ process in the EAC region, where Tanzania and Uganda will hold presidential elections in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

‘Another key area we as a Parliament are keen on – concerns that of elections in the region.  The United Republic of Tanzania is headed for its polls on October 25, 2015 while Republic of Uganda is expected to hold a similar exercise in the first quarter of 2016. Our appeal to the Partner States is to ensure elections are held in a credible manner and that such processes fall within the ambits of constitutionalism and electoral laws’ he said, before imploring the media to ensure effective and objective reporting.

The Speaker also said there is need to prioritise peace and security in the EAC region, in light of the threats occasioned by the Al-Shabaab insurgents.

‘We need to fast-track the ratification of the Peace and Security Protocol in the region to anchor the architecture and also operationalize joint activities that ensure a peaceful region.  So far, Uganda, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania have ratified the Protocol.  When the region has peace, then there is unrivalled development and progress,’ he added.

Earlier today Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the 2^ndmeeting of the 3^rd Assembly of EALA, whose sessions at the National Assembly in Nairobi will end on October 15.

Stories Continues after ad

There have been misleading reports on Social Media and in the Monitor Newspaper under the headline “Bamuze collapses, dies” in which they quote a relative as having said the fallen Major General Ali Bamuze missed a step, fell and vomited blood before collapsing in State House, Entebbe.

This is to clarify that Gen. Bamuze had no scheduled appointment and was not anywhere near State House and could therefore not have collapsed there.

Gen. Bamuze was however part of the UPDF officers who attended an Operation Wealth Creation meeting organized by the Commander of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Wamala at J&M Hotel in Bwebajja along Entebbe Road. The meeting was addressed by President Yoweri Museveni.

Gen. Bamuze collapsed shortly after the President had left and was immediately rushed to Nakasero Hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.

The UPDF who are handling this matter will brief the press on the postmortem report at an appropriate time.

Stories Continues after ad

Government has issued 16 companies with bidding documents for oil exploration.

Nineteen had applied when government put out a request for qualification stage.

According a press release by ministry of energy, the bidding documents comprise of Request for Proposal, Model Production Sharing Agreement 2015 (MPSA), Model Confidentiality Agreement for sale of data, Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (Data Sale) Regulations 2014 and Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (Data Sale) (Amendment), Regulations 2015.

Dr. Kabagambe Kalisa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development (MEMD), says the issuance of the bid document marks the commencement of the Request for Proposal stage which entails bidding and competitive process of the licensing round.

He adds that the bidding and competitive process will close on 15th January 2016 with submission of bids.

“Government will evaluate the bids, negotiate with successful bidders, sign Production Sharing Agreements and award exploration, development and production licenses thus marking the end of the licensing round,” explained the Permanent Secretary.

The successful companies are; African Global Resources (JV comprising of Telconet Capital Limited, RT-Global Resources LLC and JSC Tatneft), Russia,  Petrica Energy AS, Norway,Energy Limited, Australia,Oranto Petroleum International Limited, NigeriaTullow Uganda Operations Pty Limited, Ireland, Rift Energy Uganda Limited, Canada,African Exploration Venture (JV comprising of Rapid Africa Energy Pty Limited and Africa Energy SA Corp)South Africa.

Others include; Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, Nigeria, Glint Energy, LLC, USA, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited, India, SASOL Exploration and Production International Limited, South Africa, Brightoil Petroleum (Uganda) Limited, Hong Kong/China,Petoil (Uganda) Limited, Turkey, Swala Energy (Uganda) Limited, Australia, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Nigeria,MDC Oil and Gas Holding Company, LLC, United Arab Emirates.

The six biddable blocks comprise of the Ngassa (410 Km2) in Hoima District, Taitai & Karuka (565 Km2) in Buliisa District, Ngaji (895 Km2) in Rukungiri and Kanungu Districts, Mvule (344 Km2) in Moyo and Yumbe Districts together with Turaco (425 Km2) and Kanywantaba (344 Km2) in Ntoroko District.

Uganda discovered commercial quantities of oil in 2006, with the oil in place estimated at 3.5 billion barrels. It’s not clear when production will start as the year has kept being changed.

Stories Continues after ad

 Kampala: He always wore his necktie tight to the neck, his suit spotlessly pressed. A tradition he probably picked from Busoga College Mwiiri.

Just last week, he drove into grand imperial hotel, his car draped in campaign posters with ‘vote Mutende’ slogans.

He was planning to contest again for Mbale Municipality. However, he was found in bed unresponsive and pronounced dead at Nsambya hospital. As we write this, the cause of death is yet to be known.

James Mutende joined government in 2011 as a junior minister for industry and an ex-officio in Parliament, a position he held till the time of his death.

He was a regular attendant of plenary, always coming in earlier than most of his cabinet friends albeit rarely contributing to debate as is the case with the majority of cabinet ministers.

He has been described, by his Mbale politics colleagues, as hardworking, honest a committed servant, with great dignity, who gave his all to perform his duties and responsibilities. He was also known to be honest and a man of great dignity.

“I first met him in Mwiri when he was in senior three while I was in senior one and when I was joining University he was in third year and so we have been great friends and I will miss him a lot,” Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) said, adding that he was “indeed a man of principle.

“I always joked with him. He is used to call me a small boy because of my small size, and I used to call him big boy,” he said. Mutende was actually smaller compared to Mafabi.

Simon Mulongo (NRM, Bubulo West) remembers him as a well-groomed gentleman and academician.

“He was more of a technical person than political. He was never a selfish person and was not a person who used every means to get what he wants.

“In him we have lost a very resourceful person both to the people of Mbale and the country as a whole,” he said.

Mutende was instrumental in drafting the NRM manifesto and helping to build party structures in Mbale.

According to Mulongo Mutende leaves behind the legacy of construction of the industrial park in Mbale, a feat he achieved after talking to the President who provided money for acquisition of land and compensation of affected people

Leader of Opposition in Parliament Hon. Wafula Oguttu said Mutende was humble, social, and never indulged in dubious actions like many politicians of our time.

“Mutende was free from any corruption scandal right from his days at the National Investment authority to his appointment as Minister,” says Wafula.

Mutende comes from a family of distinguished technocrats and politicians. His father Michael Mutende was the first Ugandan Town Clerk of Mbale Municipality, from 1964 until 1974.

His uncle James Francis Wapakhabulo was Uganda’s foreign minister at the time of his death in 2004.

A holder of a PhD in economics he was one of the three most highly educated ministers in Museveni’s current government.

He was born in Mbale in 1962. He attended locals schools before joining Busoga College Mwiri . In 1984, he joined Makerere University where he studied Veterinary Medicine graduating in 1988.

In 1999, he graduated with a Master of Business Administration. He received a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from New School University in New York.

He began his career as a teaching Assistant at Makerere University in 1987, during his final undergraduate year, continuing in that until 1989.

He joined national politics when he contested for Mbale Municipality Member of Parliament seat only to be defeated by Jack Wamayi Wamga. In 2011, he again contested and was still defeated by Jack Wamayi Wamanga before being appointed Minister of State for Industry.

By the time of his death, he was seeking to contest for Mbale Municipality Member of Parliament seat on the NRM ticket. Four children and wife, Lydia Wanyoto, survive him.

May his soul Rest in Peace.

Stories Continues after ad

Maj Gen Ali Bamuze, the former commander of the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) II rebel group, on Sunday night collapsed and died in State House, Entebbe. Details to follow.

Stories Continues after ad

Breaking News: Minister Mutende dead 

Richard Wanambwa

Junior minister for industry James Mutende is dead. He was 53.

According to a family member, Mutende was found unresponsive in bed at his Makindye home.

Mutende replaced the late James Wapakhabulo in Mbale municipality before losing the seat to  FDC’s Wamanga Wamai. He was former deputy director Uganda investment authority. He was also a key member of 2011 and 2016 manifesto task force.

Education Background

He was born in Mbale, on 26 February 1962. After attending local schools, he was admitted to Busoga College Mwiri, an all-boys boarding secondary school near Kakira in Jinja District. He graduated from Mwiri, with the Uganda Certificate of Education in 1980 and with the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education in 1983. In 1984 he was admitted to Makerere University to study veterinary medicine, graduating in 1988 with the degree of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. In 1999, he was awarded the degree of Master of Business Administration, also by Makerere University. Later, in 2005, he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economicsfrom New School University in New York City

Stories Continues after ad

The Electoral Commission has set new fees for presidential and parliamentary aspirants. This move follows the recent amendments made to the Presidential Elections Act.

Addressing journalists at the EC headquarters in Kampala, the Chairperson Eng Badru Kiggundu revealed that presidential aspirants will now have to pay Shs20 million, up from Shs 8 million, while fees for those aspiring for Parliamentary seats will have to pay Ush 8 million, up from Shs 200,000.

“The presidential aspirants who had already made a payment of shs 8,000,000 are advised to pay the balance of the fees before nomination days,” announced Kiggundu.

He announced other amendments to the Elections Act which included the scraping of a requirement that entailed a presidential candidate campaigning in every district. The EC chairperson also disclosed that the Commission would not facilitate presidential candidates in next year’s elections. In the previous elections, presidential candidates were each given Shs20 million, a vehicle and security to help in the campaigns.

Also adjusted were the voting hours, which were changed from 5pm to 4pm.

In another development the Electoral Commission has extended the nomination dates for presidential candidates. EC boss Eng. Badru Kiggundu says this was caused by the recent amendments to the electoral laws.

“The Electoral Commission found it necessary and took a decision to extend the dates for the nomination of candidates for the 2016 presidential elections,” he noted.

Nominations which were supposed to be held on 5 and 6 October will now be held on 3 and 4 November. EC has set Mandela National Stadium in Wakiso district as the venue where the nominations will be conducted.

“The extension will among other others enable EC and aspiring candidates to fully comply with the provisions of the amended electoral laws,” stressed the EC chairperson.

The nomination exercise will commence at 10 in the morning and close at 4 on both dates. After the inspection of nomination papers and harmonization of campaign programmes, the candidates will start their campaigns on November 9 to February 10 although EC has not set the polling date for the Presidential Elections.

The Commission also extended submission of lists of supporters by aspiring candidates, and the exercise will end on October 23.

“Therefore, aspiring candidates should ensure that they comply with the (nomination) requirements so that their nomination is successful,” Kiggundu implored.

Stories Continues after ad