The Uganda Handball Association has named 24 players to represent the country at the International Handball Federation U-20 continental zonal championships.
The four day tournament will run from 4 to 8 August in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Ugandan players, who qualified after beating Kenya in August last year will be under the guidance of coaches Jimmy Remie Oroti and Michael Ssempira.
The team has three goal keepers: Mustapha Kilaga, Ivan Kisa and Musa Okiria with the other 21 outfield players, all of who are currently training at the Police Training School grounds in Kibuli.
Participants at the intercontinental tournament are the winners of the different African zones where Uganda won the Zone B IHF Challenge trophy that was hosted at the Uganda Christian University, Mukono in August 2014.
During the qualification games at UCU the Ugandan girls were beaten in the finals by Kenya and failed to make it for this tournament.
The seven zone winners in both men’s and women’s competition will face off each other in order to secure a position and participate in the Intercontinental Tournament slated for October this year.
The tournament for both Competitions will first play a preliminary round where teams will be divided in two groups (one group of four and one group of three). The best two teams will precede to the semi-finals and the medal matches while the rest of the teams will play in the placement round.
In the women’s Competition last cycles’ winner; Congo did not qualified making it quite an exciting tournament since it will provide a new champion. National teams of Senegal, Kenya and Burkina Faso compose the group A, while the host Ethiopia is paired alongside Madagascar, Chad and Mozambique in Group B.
Given the groups, it would be very difficult to determine a favorite as all teams go in the competition with equal chances.
The men’s competition carries last cycle’s winner Nigeria over to the Continental stage, and as title defenders they enter the tournament as favorites.
Nigeria is drawn in Group B together with Mozambique and Cape Verde, while Group A is made of Ethiopia (host), Uganda, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The winners in Addis Ababa will join Bulgaria, New Zealand, Martinique and Uzbekistan, who have already qualified in the women’s competition, while the men join the Faroe Islands, Tahiti, Colombia and Uzbekistan in the competition for the InterContinental Phase of the IHF Trophy.
File Photo: Byandala being led out of Anti Corruption Court to Luzira Prison.
Byandala being led out of Anti Corruption Court to Luzira Prison.
In 2011, when president Museveni appointed Eng. Abraham Byandala as Minister of Works and Transport, it was an elevation that called for jubilation for the representative of the people of Katikamu County North.
However, little did Eng Byandala know that four years down the road his appointment to the hitherto ‘sensitive ministry’ that handles trillions for road construction would lead him to Luzira Prison.
So, yesterday the Anti-corruption Court, after hearing charges ranging from two counts of abuse of office, disobeying lawful orders and influence-peddling, sent Eng Byandala on remand to Luzira Prison, a few hours after his arrest by agents from the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
Byandala, together with the former Ag Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority(UNRA) Eng Ssebugga Kimeze; Joe Ssemugoma, a former UNRA Acting Director of Finance and Administration),Marvin Baryaruha, (former UNRA legal counsel), Apollo Ssenkeeto(businessman) and Isaac Mugote, a former banker with Housing Finance Bank, were remanded till August 11.
This follows the way he handled the Mukono- Kyetume- Katosi-Nyenga road contract when he served as the Minister of Works and Transport at a time the government reportedly lost at least shs24bn in the now controversial contract, awarded to Eutaw Construction Company.
It is said that Byandala wrote a letter to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) asking them to award the contract to Eutaw before a complete due diligence was carried out.
Eutaw, purporting to be based in America, secured the contract and was paid Shs24 billion even before thorough investigations were carried out to establish the credibility of the company.
Even when he was under fire, with claims that Eutaw was non-existent, Minister Byandala insisted that the company was genuine and that his predecessor John Nasasira had paid a visit to its headquarters in 2011.
He also reportedly said the company showed key documents that proved its authenticity, contrary to investigations by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Parliament and the Police.
Mysterious as it was, Eutaw procured the Katosi road deal which according to the IGG and Public Procurement and Disposal Authority (PPDA), should have been advertised. The IGG and PPDA also reportedly discovered that the company (Eutaw) had forged insurance bonds (rather than bank guarantees) to dupe UNRA officials into giving them the money.
Meanwhile, when the procurement process began, a number of firms competed for the lucrative construction deal and Eutaw Construction Company emerged the ‘best evaluated bidder’.
But before the road works gained momentum, the Ministry of Finance and Planning Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi wrote to Byandala, indicating that he had received reports that there was fraud in the way Eutaw had procured the Katosi road project.
On July 9, Muhakanizi also wrote to the IGG asking for urgent investigations to establish the truth regarding the entire procurement process. In her investigations the IGG Lady Justice Irene Mulyagonja and her team, among other things, probed the circumstances under which Eutaw had been paid the Shs24 billion.
Subsequently, it appears she uncovered some irregularities and issued a report in nine days, ordering the project halted, with protestation against Eutaw’s decision to sub contract, 100 per cent, the construction of the road to a Chinese company, Chongqing Construction. The IGG also queried how UNRA had paid out the Shs 24 billion (through Housing Finance Bank) without sufficient due diligence.
For instance, the IGG noted that then Ag Executive Director Eng Ssebuga Kimeze was on leave but sanctioned the payment to EUTAW’S account in January 2014, ‘well knowing that the due diligence was to be done in February 2014’.
On the spot was Eng Abraham Byandala, the political head at the works ministry, who had the desire to have the Katosi project delivered expeditiously by 2016, ostensibly to popularize government ahead of the general elections next year.
According to a special investigations report of the police, on noticing discrepancies on the Eutaw file, the UNRA Executive Director reportedly notified Eng Byandala, who was directly supervising the project.
Unfortunately, it was a little late to rectify the mess, the reason Eng Byandala, the current Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the President, is now behind bars together with some of the UNRA officials who handled the project.
Before joining elective politics as the legislature for Katikamu North, Eng. Byandala had served at the then Kampala Capital City (KCC) as chief engineer but presided over the expansion of potholes. However, before thinking of joining politics, Byandala was implicated in a corruption report at KCC and by deciding to join National Resistance Movement (NRM) party as its flag bearer for Katikamu North where he dislodged Amb. James Kinobe, Byandala was trying to get a soft landing and indeed, his star rose when he was elected chairman of the physical infrastructure in the 8th Parliament.
It is also known that while at the committee, as its chairperson, Byandala silently opened a war on the then Works and Transport Minister Eng. John Nasasira where he allegedly would use his committee powers to ridicule and expose Nasasira and team as a failed group at the Ministry of Works. It is based on the above fact that when the Mukono-Katosi road saga started, Byandala pointed his fingers at Nasasira.
Another person whom Byandala underestimated was the Presidency Minister and KCCA, Frank Tumwebaze, Byandala remained a true an African mourner who accuses anybody when death strikes a member of a family and goes around accusing each and everyone around as responsble and this is the same scenario Eng. Byandala was in when he pointed fingers at Tumwebaze.
Yes, the truth on Mukono-Katosi aren’t yet out to know who did what or influenced but what has befallen Byandala looks like an end of road in his career as a politician.
Kampala-President Yoweri Museveni has held a meeting with Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of the Al Emaar Properties during which they discussed prospects of constructing a satellite city near Luzira, a Kampala Suburb.
In a press statement sent to newsrooms, Presidential Press Lind Nabusayi, the meeting that took place yesterday July 28, at State House, Entebbe, where the Mr Museveni and his guests discussed plans by Al Emaar Investment International to focus on the development of the real estate sector and boost the Ugandan economy.
Al Emaar Group is a leading global property developer and provider of premium life styles through world class real estate, malls and hospitality assets.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Daudi Migereko and State Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology Prof. Tokodri Tagboa.
The Supreme Court in Rwanda has today heard a case lodged by opposition party, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda,that sought to block President Paul Kagame from having an extended rule after his two term mandate.
On July 8, the DGPR filed a case in the Supreme Court challenging any constitutional amendment that would pave the way for Kagame to get another term in office after the completion of his two seven-year term that ends in 2017.
The case was adjourned by a nine-member panel of Judges led by Chief Justice Sam Rugege, after lawyers for the DGPR failed to turn up in court.
Led by
the DGPR has remained the lone voice against Kagame’s possible stay in power beyond 2017, with arguments that the move would stifle democracy.
The DGPR has also claimed that lawyers fear to take up their case.
By filing time it was not clear what had transpired in the Supreme Court, but analysts say the court is unlikely to pass judgment in favour of the DGPR.
Kagame became president of Rwanda in 2002 after then President Pasteur Bizimungu was relieved of his duties by Parliament.
In 2003, after the promulgation of the country’s new Constitution, Kagame was elected President for a seven-year term by adult suffrage, ending his first mandate in August 2010.
In the same month he was elected for a second seven-year term, which is ending in 2017. But even before the date nears, millions of Rwandans including the political class have all called for a constitutional amendment to Article 101, to pave the way for a post-2017 Kagame presidency, something the DGPR and other development stakeholders like the US, have opposed.
It should be recalled that while addressing the African Union in Addis Ababa yesterday, President Barack Obama castigated African leaders who ‘stick’ to the presidency, noting they were detrimental to development in their respective countries.
Meanwhile, a report carried out has indicated that out of the 53 African leaders, 47 of them have been in power for more than 10 years.
The financial services industry in Africa is rapidly evolving as a result of advancing technology, in the process fueling innovation and growth in the sector.
Sumesh Rahavendra, Vice President of Sales for DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, says the burgeoning middle class and abundance of SMEs in Africa present great opportunities for financial services companies to provide retail banking services to individuals and trade finance to SMEs.
“We see SMEs as the engine for growth in Africa and the lack of access to finance can often hinder their development. With one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world, there is a wave of consumerism for all types of goods and services such as FMCG, electronics and pharmaceuticals,” Rahavendra says.
The future shape of financial services in Africa 2015(1) report by PwC describes the sector as a marketplace without boundaries. It explains that compared to global markets – where the outlook for financial services is more solid – the risk of disruption in traditional African financial services market has triggered the need for entities to reassess their strategies.
“While most international banks are moving towards e-commerce, in Africa, a number of local banks still share information and conduct business with hard copy documentation,” adds Rahavendra.
An Accenture report titled African financial services come of age, suggests a promising future for the region’s banking sector. It reveals that the development of consumer payment networks took years to become fully functional in mature economies, while many countries in Africa are now beginning to expand their traditional payments infrastructure to adapt to new international standards.
“The local retail banking sector is increasingly making use of new technology such as ‘Mobile Money’ platforms. Consumers have started to move away from physical cards, instead relying on their mobile phones to conduct day-to-day banking transactions,” Rahavendra notes.
He says DHL’s expansion into Africa in 1978 was fuelled by the financial sector, adding that the resultant improvements still shape their service delivery ideals as the sector grows.
“As the only logistics company to be present in every country and territory in Africa, we not only have front row seats to witness the impressive growth of the sector, but are fortunate enough to work with some of the largest and emerging financial institutions on the continent and play our part in their growth story,” Rahavendra says.
Parliament has passed the Tobacco Control Bill into law amid jostling by both the anti-smoking campaigners who cite the health damage caused by smoking, and the industry players who aver that cigarettes contribute greatly to the national purse.
According to health statistics, over five million people die from tobacco related ailments per year, making cigarette smoking one of the deadliest death traps.
As a result, several countries around the globe have enacted tough anti-smoking laws at the workplace and in other public places like stadia.
So, in light of the dangers caused by cigarette smoking, it is quite instructive that our Parliament has joined the fray and reinforced the previous ‘feeble’ anti-smoking law, in a bid to protect the people of Uganda from this preventable death trap.
Also important to note is the fact that the age limit has been stepped up from 18 to 21 years, meaning our youth will now not be duped into joining the ‘smokers clubs’.
And, talking about age and weak law enforcement, it is now no longer surprising to find youthful people in Uganda, seemingly aged below 18 years of age, engaged imbibing harmful alcoholic drinks like the sachet-packed liquors that have flooded the market.
Indeed, if Ugandans are to benefit from the newly passed tobacco control law, there is need for stricter enforcement of rules and regulations by watchdog institutions like the Uganda Bureau of Standards (UBOS), the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the police.
Mourinho condemns his successor Rafeal Benitez for Realmadrid’s demise.
Mourinho condemns his successor Rafeal Benitez for Realmadrid’s demise.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has accused Rafael Benitez for Inter Milan’s poor performance. He said this after Benitez’s wife teased her husband was “cleaning up” Mourinho mess at Real Madrid.
Just likeMourinho, Benitez once managed Chelseaand Real Madrid, though he never replaced Mourinho directly at both clubs.
“The wife is a bit confused; her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and to Real Madrid where he replaced Carlo Ancelotti. The only club he replaced me was Inter Milan ,where in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe” said Mourinho after Chelsea‘s win over Barcelona in the International Champions Cup.
“If she takes care of her husband’s diet, shewill not have time to talk about me,” Mourinho added.
Seara Montserrat, Benitez’swife, seems to have started a snappy relationship between the two managers, who have been successful in their professions and last clashed when they were managers of Chelsea and Liverpool in turn.
Around five years and seven managers were at Chelsea between Mourinho’s departure from his first invocation as Chelsea boss in 2007 and Benitez taking over in 2012.
Delegation from Amolotar listen to President Museveni at State House Entebbe where he encouraged them to invest more in food security and education for their children.
Delegation from Amolotar listen to President Museveni at State House Entebbe where he encouraged them to invest more in food security and education for their children.
Entebbe-President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to ensure food and income security through wealth creation projects that are cost effective to fight household poverty.
Addressing members of Amolatar Women Informal Enterprising Group, Museveni advised Ugandans to choose cost effective enterprises such as animal and poultry rearing, coffee and fruit production among other projects that can give them food and incomes security.
“You should know what you can do at your home that can make you earn more money and also have food security,” president Museveni told the group that was led to State House, Entebbe yesterday by the Amolatar Member of Parliament, Caroline Okau by the Amolatar Member of Parliament, Caroline Okau.
According to the Press Statement issued by the Presidential Press Secretary, Linda Nabusayi, Mr Museveni also urged parents to support their children to acquire skills that empower them to get employment.
“Education that enables one to speak English is good, but you must have skills in order to get jobs. Get skills that the society wants or can buy easily. Skills are a form of wealth as they enable people to get jobs and empower one to be wealthy,” he said.
He also warned the people against imbibing too much alcohol and having immoral life styles, saying they are an abuse of one’s health.
The President told the meeting that Uganda is now peaceful because of the capacity the National Resistance Movement has built, noting that currently there access to electricity, developed infrastructure such as road and ferry services, schools, and health centers, and pledged Shs288million towards the completion of various grain milling machines in Amolatar district.
The President also lauded faith-based groups, saying they are fully involved in the fight against poverty and urged Christians and Moslems to be role models in the wealth creation campaign.
The delegation pledged their total support to President Museveni in the 2016 general elections as their sole candidate. They also commended him for supporting the people of Amolatar district and the Women Group in particular.
A combination of circumstances led to Di Maria becoming unhappy and desiring for a move. As freshly as last Sunday, Van Gaal said he hoped the Argentine would stay, despite several confessions by the Dutch coach over the past year that it is counterproductive trying to keep unhappy players.
The fact is Di Maria’s victory was last in the game against Everton on October 5, Di Maria never scored agoal notuntil January 4, when United beat League One side Yeovil.
Argentina lost a friendly match 2-0 in October against Brazil in Beijing. To Di Maria who played the full 90 minutes the air quality was not good and temperatures were too high. After three days, Di Maria performed in the final 17 minutes of a friendly against the Hong Kong national side.
The trip was approximately 12,000 miles. For Di Maria who had not had any summer break because of international obligations and finishing the World Cup with a thigh injury, the long East trip must have been physically challenging.
In addition, Louis van Gaal’s hunt for his greatest formation – and Di Maria’s best position in it – meant there was little consistency to his role.
In United’s first 16 games in South America Di Maria played in six different positions including central midfield and striker.
As reliability continued to demonstrateelusiveness, Di Maria’s contribution and not scoring seemed irrelevant; he shaped only three goals in four months between October 6, 2014 and February 10, 2015.
The pelvic injury kept him out of virtue all December.
A combination of fatigue, injury, lack of form and getting used to a new country, language difficulties could all have been playing on his mind on January 31, when thieves attempted to break into his house in Cheshire.
Though the intruders did not gain entry, they smashed a glass door and the mental impact on his wife, Jorgelina Cardoso, and the young daughter, was so great that they are now living in a city-centre apartment, which, while luxurious, is hardly perfect for family life.
While at the pitch Di Maria continued to slide and a send off in the FA Cup quarter finals loss to Arsenal on March 9, worsened it all. He was substitute in six successive games following his return fro suspension He started the final match of the campaign against Hull city only to get off with hamstringinjury 23 minutes after the match begun.
Di Maria did not join the squad in the United States on their pre-season tour while his future is thrashed out.
Paris St-Germain wanted him last year and is now out.
The leader of one of the deadliest Islamic militant groups, the Taliban, is not alive.
According to Afghan government sources, Mullah Mohammed Omar, 55, reportedly died about three years ago.
Reportedly a close associate of former Al Qaeda boss Osama Bin Laden, Mullah Omar, also known as the ‘Supreme Leader’ has had a bounty of US$10m issued by the State Department, following attacks on the Twin Towers on September 9, 2011, a dark day in the history of the US, commonly referred to as 9/11.
According to a biography released by the Taliban early this year, the reclusive Mullah Omar, a one-time leader of Afghanistan, has no known assets anywhere in the world.
