–          Deal worth Shs4billion

–          Shs1.8billion direct to FUFA accounts for national Team activities

–          Shs2.2billion additional to promote Cranes through media and countrywide tours.

LOCAL Football governing body, FUFA and partners Nile special have renewed another four-year project to unearth talent and a campaign meant to garner Cranes’ support.

In what has become a story successful project with players making National team (Cranes) breakthrough using this country-wide tour, Farouk Miya, Ismail Watenga(goalkeeper), Muzamiru Mutyaba and  Derrick Tewko among others are some of the notables that have made senior team debuts having made their mark from the “Cranes Na Mutima” campaign.

FUFA and Nile Breweries Limited under the flagship brand, have extended their sponsorship partnership by four years, worth Shs4 billion at a momentous ceremony at the Nile Breweries Limited plant in Luzira yesterday.

“It has become a “the perfect footballing channel” ever been thought, I remember Miya coming on as a substitute and scoring in Cranes’ 1-nil win over the Western region and the saying goes, the rest is history for the boy,” Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic, Uganda Cranes head coach remarked.

In the new deal, 1.8 Billion will go direct to the FUFA account for the national team activities; 2.2 billion is an additional package to promote the national team through media and countrywide tours for over the four years.

The package takes the form of cash, communication during the national team engagements and the Nile Special Cranes Na Mutima tours.

“Our major objective is to improve Cranes’ country-wide appeal so that it remains a viable platform to associate with. We thank the brand for this vote of confidence.It is a firm indicator of the value that the brand has leveraged by its association with the national team” FUFA CEO, Edgar Watson noted.

The current sponsorship package in comparison to the previous sponsorship deal that was worth Shs1.2 Billion for three years, to October, 2015.

“As a brand we take special pride in local occasions that bring us together as Ugandans and the national team is such a one” the Nile Special sponsorships manager Isaac Sekasi reasoned that, following the previous campaign, which in spite early promise, ended tearfully “there is need to pick up our Cranes’ regalia again and get behind our team”.

“We are aware of the heartache suffered by the nation following yet another nearly campaign last year. But this is our national team. We have to make a conscious decision to stick with it no matter what. This is what we mean by Cranes na Mutima,” said Sekasi, who also pledged that the brand is going to utilize much all its available media properties.

To further canvass for support and once again galvanize the nation around the nation team, Cranes is scheduled to tour three upcountry destinations and play exhibition games with regional select sides. The regions earmarked include West (Mbarara), East (Mbale) and North (Gulu).

At the same function, the Breweries’ Marketing Director Daniel Ogong handed over Shs54million to Watson which was collected by fans from last year’s Cranes Na-Mutima campaign.

In the new contract Ruwenzori Bottling Company are the official water providers of the Cranes.

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gamme@eagle.co.ug

-Contributes Shs15m Ttofaali

-Bunyoro titles being processed

President Yoweri Museveni has handed over 80 land titles to the Buganda Kingdom and said government decided to return the titles so that the Kingdom can use them for development. He however expressed his concern over reports that the Kingdom is charging Shs 100,000 as registration fees for people using the various pieces of land.

“We decided to give the titles to the Buganda Kingdom Institution so that they may be used for development. I am concerned by reports that Buganda administration was demanding Shs100,000 as

registration fees,” he said.

The land titles were received by the Katikiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga at a ceremony held at State House in Entebbe today.

The President said that the NRM Government resolved to maintain the 1928 Governor’s stand and decided to maintain the land rates as nominal and that the rent for land should be maintained as nominal and not commercial.

He said that the peasants cannot be subjected to the rental conditions and that this was his understanding with Kabaka Ronald Mutebi. He stressed that if the rates are commercialized they would create problems. He said that the NRM Government was not ready to proceed with an agreement that the peasants are not comfortable with.

President Museveni was pleased after being briefed by the Katikiro of Buganda that the arrangement was on a voluntary basis and that it is appropriate if a voluntary arrangement was put in place.

He warned that the culture of misusing cultural institutions for opportunistic purposes should stop.

“We are looking for a strong Uganda and a strong Africa. The NRM Government cannot go against the Kingdoms unless the Kingdoms go against Uganda,” he said. He warned that self-seekers should not be involved in politics.

President Museveni said that the land titles of the Kingdom of Bunyoro were being addressed and would be processed and handed over. He assured the people of Kyangwali that they would not be evicted. He noted that the Government has used it as a refugee camp.

He said that the Government was trying to establish whether the Rolls Royce car in the Uganda museum belonged to Kabaka Mutesa or the Uganda Government. He said that it would be attended to as soon as the facts are established.

The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga saluted President Museveni for returning the properties of Buganda and assured him that the proposal on the land rates was not a commercial one but a voluntary arrangement. He revealed that it is not compulsory but a voluntary exercise for the people who are willing.

He assured President Museveni that the intention is to ensure that the peoples’ pieces of land are secure and that those who are not ready or willing were free to remain as they are.

Katikiro Mayiga hailed the President for his contribution of ettoofali of USh 15 million.

The Chief Whip of NRM Ruth Nankabirwa revealed that they were moving well with the mobilization of the people of Buganda.

Prince David Wasajja of Buganda kingdom said that they were very happy with the implementation of the agreement it signed with the Uganda Government for the return of the property.

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Uganda is one of the countries that will benefit from the opening of a Facebook office in Africa, the first of its kind.

Based in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, Facebook’s newest business office will be headed by Ms Nunu Ntshingila, the company’s new Head of Africa, who officially starts work in September.

According to a release, the move is to further the multi-billion dollar company’s commitment to help businesses connect with people in Africa.

Further, the release states that Facebook’s active user population in Africa has grown 20% to 120 million in June 2015 from 100 million in September 2014. More than 80% of these people access Facebook from their mobile phones.

Nicola Mendelson, the vice president of Facebook Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) said in the first quarter 52 per cent of the company’s advertising revenue was from outside the US and Canada.

“We are inspired by the incredible ways people and businesses in Africa use Facebook to connect. This momentum in Africa comes on top of strong advertiser partnerships and excellent adoption of our products across all regions,” Mendelson said and added: Africa is important to Facebook, and this office is a key part of our strategy to expand our investment and presence across EMEA. Facebook is already a central part of people’s lives in Africa, and with more than a billion people in Africa, we want to do more to help people and businesses connect.”

Ari Kesisoglu, Regional Director, MEA at Facebook echoed Ms Mendelson and said the new African office will support customers across the continent.

“We know that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work when it comes to building products and solutions that address diverse needs on the continent, which is why we are committed to creating solutions tailored to people, businesses and specifically for African markets,” Kesisoglu said.

Kesisoglu added: “Businesses need stronger, more flexible and less fragmented ways of reaching people in Sub Saharan Africa. Our mission will be to connect brands and consumers in Africa, creating value for all parties in the process.”

According to the release issued June 29 by the Africa Press Organisation (APO), Facebook will initially focus on growing its business in anchor countries in the major regions of Sub Saharan Africa:  Kenya (East Africa), Nigeria (West Africa), and South Africa (Southern Africa). Other supported territories include Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Ethiopia.

According to available statistics, Facebook, one of the world’s fastest growing companies generates US$1.4 million in an hour.

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The Basamaba of Eastern Uganda and Western parts of Kenya, popular known as Bagisu have this evening elected Mr Bob Mushikori as their new cultural leader (Umukuka) replacing outing leader Amb. Wilson Wamimbi.

Amb. Wamimbi has served his one five year term which is none renewable. The Bamasaba occupy Sironko, Bulambuli, Mbale, Bududa and Manafwa districts and Western Kenya where they are referred to as the Babukusu. Mr Wamimbi was elected by 26 clan leaders in July, 2010, as the pioneer head of the institution (Umukukha).

Mushikori has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Inzu Ya Masaba (House of Masaba). Mr Mushikori got 28 votes while Manafwa LC5 Chairman Walimbwa Peke, 26 Votes; Prof. Gimoi Kiboma, 10 Votes and Gregory Gidagui, 2 Votes. He also served the President for North American Masaba Cultural Association.

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The World Bank has appointed a new country manager for Uganda. According to the press release, Ms Christina Malmberg Calvo is to replace Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye. Ms. Malmberg’s appointment took effect on May 1, 2015.

Ms. Malmberg Calvo, a Swedish national, joined the World Bank in 1992 and she has held various positions in the World Bank, including Country Manager in Dominican Republic and, most recently, Manager of the poverty global practice in the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia regions. She has worked extensively on infrastructure and sustainable development in Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The World Bank Group has a strong partnership with the government of Uganda that dates back to 1963. I will build on my predecessors’ work and bring the very best of the World Bank Group to Uganda.  It will be an honor to serve the country and I look forward to a most productive collaboration with the Ugandan authorities, the private sector and civil society more broadly,” the statement quotes Ms Malmberg.

As Country Manager for Uganda, Ms. Malmberg will lead the Bank’s day-to-day dialogue with the government of Uganda and key stakeholders, and continue to strengthen the relationship between the bank and the country. She will furthermore oversee the implementation of the World Bank overall program in support of Uganda’s development priorities.

Currently, the Bank’s financial support to Uganda is at a record high with a portfolio commitment of US$ 2.5billion in credits from the International Development Association. The Bank’s program also includes analytical services and research to advise the government on policy and strategy direction, technical assistance, and capacity development, as well as convening services for knowledge exchange and learning.

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