It is good the government of Uganda through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has delivered food aid to the over six thousand refugees and Ugandan returnees currently holed up in the Sango Bay Camp.
These children, men and women, repatriated from neighbouring Tanzania, all represent the ugly face of the oppressed and suffering masses that straddle across the African continent and for them to go without food aid for four months is despicable, to say the least.
Over the years, every East African country, save for Tanzania, has produced refugees. This is a pathetic state of affairs that must not be given latitude to morph into something almost akin to ‘normal’.
Unfortunately, this time round, with the refugees and returnees in Sango Bay camp, it was the Tanzanian government expelling other East Africans, even when there are mechanisms that can be used to sort out issues of illegal immigration amicably, between the host and recipient countries.
First, Tanzania is signatory to the EAC Treaty, a pact that stresses the importance of the free movement of goods and services by East Africans across the region. It is important to note that due to a number of circumstances, all countries are, at a certain point in time, home to illegal immigrants or refugees, but we must at least strive to be our vulnerable brothers and sisters’ keepers in their trying moments. That is the spirit that informed the revival of the EAC as we know it today.
Just about a month ago, Burundi was up in flames and over 150.000 people were headed to the nearest border, to lurch to safety. The biggest number fled to neighbouring Rwanda and Tanzania. As if that were not enough, earlier and at different times, Kenyans, Congolese and South Sudanese had flocked the Ugandan border points, fleeing from raging conflicts in their respective countries.
So, it is not surprising that today in Uganda alone the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that there are about 300.000 refugees currently under the UN agency’s care.
In many ways these refugee numbers are disturbing and something must be done to reverse that deplorable state of affairs!
Anxiety, excitement and frustration has engulfed supporters and stalwarts of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), as Uganda’s biggest opposition party is conducting polls to fill several national posts ahead of the presidential election in 2016
The heated contests at the National Delegates Conference at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) grounds include that of the Party’s Secretary General that pitted former FDC National Treasurer Nathan Nandala Mafabi against Aruu County Member of Parliament Odonga Otto and Terego County Member of Parliament Kassiano Wadri and Kampala Woman Member of Parliament Nabillah Naggayi Ssempala; the post of National Chairman that attracted East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Wandera Ogalo, former Ugandan Ambassador to Japan Wasswa Biriggwa, former Katikamu North MP Bwanika Bbale and Moses Kasule; and that of the Regional Vice President for Eastern Uganda that pitted Leader of Opposition and Bukooli Central Member of Parliament Phillip Wafula Oguttu, Kumi county MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi against outgoing Secretary General and Serere Woman MP Alice Alaso Asianut. Alaso also serves as the current Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson.
Other posts that elicited heated contest were that of the regional Vice President for Western Uganda that drew in Rukiga County MP Jack Sabiiti, unrelenting party activist Francis Mwijukye, outgoing Mbarara district FDC chairman Stanley Katembeya and Patrick Baguma Ateenyi from Bunyoro.
Other contestants include outgoing National Chairperson Joyce Ssebugwawo and Victor Nkalubo Bulega for Vice President Central, while Reagan Okumu was returned unopposed for the post of Regional Vice President for Northern Uganda.
Those vying for the post of Deputy National Chairman include Kamuli district Chairperson Salaam Musumba, Ms Zainab Namutamba and Busia Woman MP Kevina Taaka, while western Uganda has Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume Kaginda and Remigius Turyahebwa. From the north Mayor Buga is contesting against Lillian Masia and JB Okello Okello, while from Central Baganda Ssenfuka is tussling it out with Faisal Nanyumba.
Those vying for the post of Deputy Secretary General include MP Florence Ekwau Obi, Harold Kaija and Julius Tindimwebwa, while those contesting for Treasurer are MPS Geoffrey Ekanya and Angelina Osege.
For Deputy Treasurer it is Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Atim Anywar aka Mama Mabira, tussling it out with Wilberforce Kyambadde, while outgoing Women League Chairperson Ingrid Turinawe is battling it out with MP Anita Among for the post of Secretary for Mobilisation.
Meanwhile, by filing time Aruu County MP Odonga Otto had stood down for Nandala Mafabi, while journalist-turned-politician Wafula Oguttu and Kumi County MP Patrick Amuriat Oboi stood down for Serere Woman MP Alice Alaso Asianut, to paving the way for her to become Regional Vice President, Eastern Uganda.
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Sango Bay refugee camp in Rakai district has finally received food relief from government following several months of serious food shortage at the camp.
At least 6000 Ugandan returnees from Tanzania and refugees at Sango Bay camp had spent more than four months without food items and Sergeant Ronald Kirunda, the in charge of the camp’s general duties, said they last received food supplies from government in February this year
Through the Office of the Prime Minister, government last week delivered 2000 bags of posho and 1000 bags of beans to the camp, but Mr Kirunda said they are supposed to get 3000 bags of posho every month.
“I am grateful that my people have received food relief since February but I have fear that the delivered food may not be enough since government at times delays to deliver more food,” Sgt Kirunda said adding that some households had resorted to skipping some meals because of little food they had waiting for the next distribution by Government.
He also said some of the households were employed to cultivate at nearby villages and instead of being paid cash, they were given food to cater for their families.
Camp authorities revealed to eagleonline that many people especially the minors and elderly fall victim to diseases due to inadequate food supplies.
Elias Byarugaba, the camp chairman, said over 600 children abandoned school last term due to lack of food and resorted to looking for jobs to get food.
Betty Busingye, mother of three said before government delivered the food, she has been struggling to get food for her children by digging outside the camp adding that sometimes she failed to get the food and returned to the camp empty-handed.
Meanwhile, due to the persistent conditions at the camp, new reports emerged that the returnees started stealing sugarcane from Sango Bay sugar plantations for survival.
One Okello who guards the sugarcane plantations, said the camp occupants steal sugarcane mostly at night.
According to him, almost three lorry trucks of sugarcane were being disbursed in the few months they missed food.
Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Aronda Nyakairima last month visited the camp and said government is in the process of relocating the returnees to gazetted camps.
In August 2013, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania expelled over 6000 people for illegal entry into the country and settling in Kagera region and Misenyi district that border Uganda. In response, the government of Uganda decided to resettle the refugees at Sango bay camp where they have stayed for over two and half years.
The number of Burundian refugees arriving in Uganda since November 2014 is now over 7,700 with the refugees coming in at a rate of approximately 144 persons a day since June 1, the World Food Programme in Uganda has revealed.
According to the WFP, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, are reviewing the inter-agency contingency planning figure of 15,000 refugees till the end of 2015 including the 12,000 refugees that lived in the southwest settlements prior to the new influx.
The agency says all the approximately 8,000 new arrivals have been granted refugee status and are in the process of being resettled by OPM, UNHCR and partners.
“To facilitate provision of assistance by partners, the Burundians are to be granted prima facie refugee status and re-settled immediately on arrival in Uganda,” a WFP release indicates, adding that the WFP is providing relief food and nutrition assistance for all refugees wit the available resources.
“Providing food and nutrition assistance in Uganda to 15,000 Burundian refugees for the next 12 months from June 2015 will cost WFP USD2.5million, the release states, and adds that already some money has been pledge4d by Australia (US$2.3m), Canada, (US$1.57m) France (US$200,000) and the USA, which has pledged USD 15.4million.
The WFP is one of about 10 humanitarian agencies providing assistance to the new arrivals, others being UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and NGOs, while the American Refugee Committee (ARC) is managing distribution of the WFP hot meal on behalf of UNHCR.
The WFP is currently supporting approximately 300,000 refugees monthly at a cost of about USD5.5 million each month, and is providing hot meals at Juru and Kabazana reception centres located inside Nakivale. The agency further states that already 65 percent of the cost is funded and ‘WFP Uganda is actively engaging with donors to raise new funds for the rest of 2015’.
The refugees are arriving through the Uganda -Tanzania border or through Kisoro district and many of them are arriving in good health but in need of immediate food assistance.
‘An inter-agency assessment conducted by OPM and humanitarian partners including WFP on 28-29 May indicated a need for scaling up of staffing and assistance in the areas of registration and reception, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, education, livelihoods and protection. Therapeutic feeding was recommended for addressing cases of malnutrition among the new arrivals’ the release further states.
OPM and humanitarian agencies are developing budgets in relation to gaps identified during the assessment. Seven sectors have been created led by OPM, UNCHR, NGOs and UN agencies, with WFP heading the sector on food, livelihoods, non-food items and environment, the release states.
Sports Club Villa executive have vowed the club won’t honor a replay of the abandoned Uganda Cup final at the Kyamate sports ground in Ntungamo last Saturday.
Latest development follows a letter from Local football governing body, FUFA to both Villa and KCC FC, confirming the date, time and venue to replay the Uganda Cup final.
‘’Anything concerning with replaying the entire game (90 minutes), Villa is out of it” Ben Misagga, the club president told a gathering in a heated meeting between club executive, media and fans held at Villa Park on Thursday.
The game in Ntungamo was abandoned just after 72 minutes of play due to pitch invasion by fans in protest of referee Robert Donney officiating thus a premature end to the game, with Villa leading 1-0 through a controversial Erisa Sekisambu’s penalty.
‘’Villa will play only the remaining minutes (18minutes) of the game and in Ntungamo” Misagga added.
Moments after the abandonment, FUFA president Moses Magogo convened an emergency executive meeting in which they agreed to have a 90 minutes replay of the game next Wednesday Namboole stadium.
‘’ Whereas the FUFA Statutes provide for independence of certain FUFA committees and bodies and whereas as the President I have always allowed the committees and bodies to execute their roles independently, I still take the responsibility as the institution head to promote and exercise fair play, and sporting justice’’. Magogo said.
FUFA that Statutes, Regulations, Decisions and Directives of FUFA, CAF and FIFA are an obligation and not an option to all parties.
According to FUFA, the game was abandoned due to a combination of the failure by security to bar the fans from interfering with play.
Uganda’s external reserves have gone down by about 9 per cent, amounting to US$266.5 million, after the balance of payment position registered a deficit of US$475 million over a 12-month period ending March this year.
Reading the Budget on June 11 during the Fifth Session of the 9th Parliament at the International Conference Centre, finance Minister Matia Kasaijja noted that the country had suffered from the effects of imports outweighing the exports, regional security challenges, the economic meltdown in Europe and, the Shilling depreciating against the dollar.
“Our external sector suffers from an imbalance between growing imports compared to the poor performance of exports. Exports have been constrained largely due to political instability faced by some of our trading partners in the region, and an economic slowdown in Europe,” the minister said.
Mr Kasaijja disclosed that the total export revenue was about half the import revenue, standing at US5, 0498.9 million and US$2,701.6 million, respectively, for the period between April 2014 and March 2015.
The Minister, who is serving his first year at finance, having been appointed on March 1, said government would remedy the problem by enhancing export diversification and value addition to agricultural products, and revealed that government had already identified investors to add value to Uganda’s coffee and cotton.
Further, Mr Kasaijja revealed that the current account deficit had been plugged by US$2414 million through external grants (US$299 million); workers remittances (US$915); and current account deficit investments inflows of US$1200 million. The Minister further noted that in the period ending March 2014, the government recorded a surplus of US$ 287.4 million during the previous 12-month period and allayed any fears, saying that the overall external reserves were healthy, standing at US$2.972.4 million, an equivalent of four months of future imports of goods and services.
Government expenditure in this financial year, Mr Kasaijja said, is estimated at Shs 13,988 billion compared to Shs11, 456 billion in the last year, an increase of about Shs2.5 billion. Further, the recurrent expenditure this year is estimated at Shs7, 550 billion, while the development expenditure is projected at Shs4, 881 billion during the same period, the Minister said.
“Domestically raised revenues will fund 100 percent of the recurrent expenditures and 66 percent of development expenditure,” he said adding that statutory expenditure will almost be doubled this year, from Shs753.9 billion last year to Shs1, 4007.7 billion.
“Development expenditure is budgeted to grow by 58 percent next financial year, mainly driven by major infrastructure projects including the rehabilitation of Entebbe International Airport, new roads and the Karuma and Isimba hydropower projects,” the minister revealed.
Public debt
According to the Minister, Uganda’s public debt that comprises 60 and 40 per cent external and internal arrears, respectively, enjoys donor endorsement, is sustainable and expected to rise by US$0.4 billion, from US$7.2 billion last year to US$7.6 billion this year, as a result of borrowing to finance infrastructure development.
“Our public debt therefore remains sustainable and our economy is by no means under debt distress. This is the same conclusion reached by independent parties who undertake credit rating for Uganda, and the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) conducted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank,” Mr Kasaijja said.
The roads sector has for the fourth year running topped the priority areas of government spending which will amount to Shs 23,972 billion in the next financial year, half of which will go to ministries, Departments and Government Agencies.
Reading the budgetary estimates for the year 2015/16 under the theme ‘Maintaining Infrastructure Investment and Promoting Excellence in Public Service Delivery’, finance Minister Matia Kasaijja said roads had been apportioned 3.328.79 billion, representing a budgetary allocation of 18.2 per cent, for construction and rehabilitation.
The Minister enumerated eight highways that had been completed and these include Tororo – Mbale – Soroti and Jinja – Kamuli in Eastern Uganda, Hoima – Kaiso – Tonya and Buteraniro – Ntungamo in Western Uganda, Kampala – Masaka and Namanve Industrial Park Access Road in Central Uganda; and Vurra- Arua- Koboko – Oraba and Gulu- Atiak in Northern Uganda.
The Minister further listed 22 roads currently under construction, and disclosed that over the last five years, paved roads in the country had increased by 889 kilometres, while the kilometer coverage of reconstructed paved roads stood at 882.
He also said that out of the annual target of 250 km, a total of 167 kilometres of roads had been upgraded from gravel to tarmac, and announced the creation of a Road Reserve Protection Unit comprised of officers from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and the police.
Following the Public Finance Management Act 2015, this is the first time the budget has been approved by Parliament before the financial year begins, and Kasaijja said this move will enhance financial discipline, ensure accountability and enhance reporting for public resources.
He announced that the Ugandan economy is currently valued at 75.183 trillion, about 25 billion dollars, 17 per cent bigger than it was previously estimated, and that the economy was expected to grow by 5.3% in the financial year 2015/16.
“The budget seeks to attain a better future for Uganda and is anchored on the Second National Development Plan (NDPII), launched earlier today. Allocations have been made to fund strategic choices that will drive the socio-economic transformation of the country into a middle income country” the 53-page budget release indicates in part.
Kasaijja, who was made finance minister in this year, also has good news for the men and women in uniform and other security agencies, apportioning a defence budget of over one trillion shillings (shs1.632.89bn) to cater for recruitment and training; acquisition of modern equipment; peacekeeping, defence diplomacy and conflict resolution; and improvement of welfare including accommodation, medical facilities and access to credit.
In order to achieve the fiscal goals, Kasaijja also announced that domestic revenues are expected to increase to Shs. 11,333 billion up from Shs. 9,799 billion, through interventions like increased passport fees and levies.
According to the Minister, passport fees have increased from 120.000 to Shs150.000, and increase of Shs30.000, while any person who wants to get a passport within 24 hours will part with Shs300.000.
Similarly, in respect to increasing the tax base, Mr Kasaijja announced a temporary increase of the ‘environmental levy’ on used motor vehicles from 20 to 35 per cent for vehicles of between 5-10 years (as at date of manufacture), while those vehicles above 10 years will attract a levy of 50 per cent. This levy excludes commercial vehicles.
On energy the minister said that electricity production had risen from 595MW in to 851MW in 2014, and that the government would address the pitfalls including high costs and unreliable power (outages), to enhance production.
A fire has broken out at Kakira Sugar works (KSWL), damaging part of the sugar cane and injuring several people.
According to an eye-witness the fire broke out at about 10 am, after a boiler exploded, spilling hot water in the process.
The number of injured has not been confirmed but eye witness alleged one of the employees lost his leg after the explosion. It was not possible to get a comment from the management of the factory by press time today but the witness said Police fire brigade managed to contain the fire and that the injured have been rushed to Jinja Main Hospital for treatment.
Earlier this year, a fire broke out at the premises of Eurofoam mattress company at Ntinda in Kampala, killing six people and injuring several.
The president and MPs during the 2016 budget reading
The president and MPs during the 2016 budget reading
KAMPALA-Uganda’s Shs24 trillion budget for financial year 2015/16 is heavily clouded with new measures to generate more money through taxation, public debt repayment and recurrent expenditure in government ministries departments and agencies.
In his budget for financial year 2015/16 this afternoon, the minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Matia Kasaija said the main thrust of tax policy is to progressively enhance revenue mobilization to fully finance the budget.
“This is to be accomplished while ensuring that taxation is not a hindrance to private sector investment, savings, production and social welfare,” he said.
Uganda government has opened a new front of increasing domestic revenue by 0.5 percent annually through taxation over the next four years.
Mr Kasaija explained: “In pursuit of this goal, our efforts are geared towards increasing the tax to GDP ratio by at least 0.5 percentage points of GDP every Financial Year and to attain a target of 16 percent by 2018.”
In totality, domestic revenues are expected to increase to Shs11.333 trillion up from Shs9.799 trillion in the financial tear 2015/16.
Mr Kasaija said this will be achieved through a number of changes to the structure and coverage of taxes, and efficiency improvements in tax collection and compliance.
Though government is determined increase tax ratio to the GDP over the next four years, on the other hand, Mr Kasaija expressed worries that some of the challenges that inhibit the pace of revenue growth include among others; a large informal sector that constitutes 49 percent of GDP, a poor taxpaying culture among many Ugandans and lack of collaboration among Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Governments.
The total approved budget for financial year 2015/16 is Shs23.972 trillion. Out of this, Shs17.329 trillion is allocated for spending by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s), which includes statutory expenditures amounting to Shs1.148 trillion.
Shs6.643 trillion is debt repayments plus interest on total debt. The total debt repayment includes Shs4.787 trillion which is meant to pay maturing domestic debt; Shs200 billion for recapitalization of the Bank of Uganda; Shs1.370 trillion and Shs285.7 billion for domestic and external debt interest payments respectively.
The minister said new domestic debt to be raised through Treasury Bills and Bonds next year is expected to amount to Shs1.384 trillion, which he says these funds will help to finance Government’s contribution to infrastructure investment projects.
Uganda’s public debt has been growing both external and domestic debt; the stock of outstanding public debt is projected to reach $ 7.6 billion by end of this financial year 2014/15, compared to $ 7.2 billion last year 2013/14
Statistics shows that 60 percent of Uganda’s debt stock is external and 40 percent is domestic. The increase in public debt reflects the increased borrowing to finance infrastructure investment.
Uganda’s budget is partly funded by the development partners, Mr Kasaija said: “Next year we expect to receive external financing equivalent to Shs5.649 billion in grants and loans, of which Shs1.095 billion is grants, Shs1.326 billion is concessional loans, and Shs3.228 billion is non-concessional loans. I thank our development partners for this good gesture.”
Uganda’s export is still low compared to what it imports, total export revenue for the period April 2014 to March 2015 are estimated at $ 2.701.6 billion, compared to imports of $ 5.048 billion over the same period.
Consequently, the current account deficit for this year is projected to widen to 8.5 percent of GDP compared to 7.2 percent in the financial year 2013/14. During the 12-month period ending March 2015, preliminary estimates indicate that the overall balance of payments position was a deficit of $475 million, compared to the surplus of $ 287.4 million that was recorded in the previous 12-month period ending March 2014.
The current account deficit has been partially financed by transfers in the form of external grants to Government amounting to $299 million, workers’ remittances amounting to US$ 915 million, and foreign direct investments inflows of $ 1.200 billion.
However, government officials admit that this was not enough to close the deficit, resulting into a reduction in external reserves amounting to $ 266.5 million.
Mr Kasaija said: “Despite the reduction, our reserves remain healthy at $2.972 billion, equivalent to 4.0 months of future imports of goods and services.”
Government projects that Uganda’s economic growth rate will rebound to 6.5 over the medium term, while inflation is expected to be around 5 per cent.
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Bostwana “Zebras” defensive midfielder Ofentse Nato says the mood in their camp is sky-high ahead of their crucial 2017AFCON qualifier against Uganda Cranes at Namboole stadium afternoon.
Speaking after Zebras’ training session at Lugogo stadium, Ofentse revealed they are confident of putting in a good showing at a ground where Uganda has lost once (0-1 against Togo) in the last 11-years.
“The players have been longer together, we are also banking on the fact that our opponents don’t know us and hope we can pull a surprise,” Ofentse said.
A contingent of 28 Botswana players and officials arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Wednesday evening.
Zebras defensive midfielder Ofentse Nato
They traveled with South African Airways. Head coach, Peter Butler will reach on Thursday.
FUFA Protocol committee official, Boniface Oryema and FUFA security committee member, Emma Ssekago together with EX-international, Edward Kalungi warmly welcomed the team at Entebbe.
The team is accommodated at Hotel Africana, Botswana Contingent:
