Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
28.6 C
Kampala
Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
Home Blog Page 2348

Two Ugandans held in Kenya over links to ISIS

By
Our Reporter
-
Malcolm Lukwiya and Emmanuel Oneka who are arrested in Nairobi.
Malcolm Lukwiya and Emmanuel Oneka who are arrested in Nairobi.
Malcolm Lukwiya and Emmanuel Oneka who are arrested in Nairobi.

editorial@eagle.co.ug

Nairobi-A Nairobi court has ordered two Ugandans detained for another 30 days over alleged links to a syndicate recruiting East African youth to join the ISIS terror group.

Malcolm Lukwiya and Emmanuel Oneka were arrested on Wednesday, July 1, in a hideout in Kabete, Nairobi, after allegedly sneaking into the country.

Police said the two left Uganda following the killing of Sheikh Hassan Kirya, a top Muslim cleric in the country.

They are believed to be trained assassins involved in the killing of other prominent people, police said in an affidavit presented in court on Thursday.

Police said an analysis of their phone call data revealed that they have been in constant communication with two known recruiters hiding in Tanzania and Sudan.

“The suspects are connected with a syndicate that is recruiting youth in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania who then go to Syria to join ISIS.

“They are connected with one Sebit, a Ugandan who is in Juba, South Sudan, a known recruiter who has been in constant contact with them,” Sergeant Ezekiel Luley of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) told the court.

He said the suspects were also connected to one Ali, “who is in Bukoba, Tanzania, also a known ISIS agent”.

“A suspect, Rajab Ssenabulya, an Alliance Democratic Front fighter, has been arrested in connection with the killing of the Sheikh and by the records of their phone call data it is noted that they have been in constant communication,” the ATPU officer says in the affidavit.

A heavy security detail accompanied Malcom, 20, and Oneka, 24, when they were brought before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo on Thursday.

“The first suspect just arrived from Uganda to hide in Kenya in a rented house (in) Lower Kabete fearing arrest after his accomplice was arrested,” the affidavit stated.

The court heard that they were a “security risk” and a threat to the public, owing to their alleged connection to ISIS recruiters.

Mr Luley’s affidavit stated further that Oneka’s mother is a Kenyan, now living in Lebanon.

It said both suspects are believed to be involved with Uganda’s rebel group Alliance Democratic Front, which has claimed responsibility for the killings of prominent personalities in the country.

“There is an ongoing investigation in Uganda in connection (with) the killing of Sheikh Hassan,” Mr Luley said.

The officer asked the court to treat the suspects as “dangerous to the security of the State” because “the two are trained in arms to carry out assassinations as is happening in Uganda.”

He said the ATPU intended to carry out extensive investigations stretching into Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan in order to arrest the suspect’s accomplices, who have been “aiding the two suspects.”

The suspects, who spoke with journalists, said they were “shocked” at the allegations being levelled against them.

 

 

Stories Continues after ad

Online Ugandan development data platform launched

By
Our Reporter
-
Abel Rwendeire

 

 

Abel Rwendeire2

gamme@eagle.co.ug

In Uganda today and the world over, a lot of data is in flow, presented in diverse formats and by various agencies. But despite the data being in circulation, it is often difficult for ordinary citizens to make sense of it and as such a lot of it is not used.

Government decision making and planning processes are informed by key statistical information generated from activities such as the recent Population Census, National Population and Housing Census, the Census of Business Establishments and the Uganda Agricultural Census.

Other surveys currently being conducted to generate information for public, government, individual and education use include among others the Uganda National Household Survey, the Uganda National Panel Survey and the Uganda Demographic Health Survey.

However, when the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) generates this data used for planning and policy formulations, it is often in percentages and forms that the media has to break down for easy consumption by the average Ugandan.

According to Deputy Chairperson National Planning Authority, Dr. Abel Rwendeire, the country continues to be faced with poor quality administrative data and limited coverage and usability of statistics.

In an attempt to address this issue, Dr. Rwendeire today July 2nd launched a programme called the Development Data Hub, at Protea Hotel, Kampala. The purpose of this data provider is to attempt to gather data from different sources, analyze it and present it in visuals, text and other formats that are easily interpreted by everyone through the search engine; devinit.org/data.

According to Dr. Rwendeire, there is also need to strengthen the production of key statistics including unemployment and under employment rates and human capital, and also develop indicators relevant to our type of socio-economic conditions.

“For example if we could trace the deforestation process from 1962 to date in 2015, we would be able to ascertain the rate at which we are losing forests and natural vegetation and what contribution this is causing the climate change. Then the Ministries of environment, energy and agriculture would design relevant policies to address these factors,” Rwendeire said.

A Mr. Davis Adieno, the Capacity Development Manager of Development Initiatives, the company under which this programme is operating, said the Development Data Hub at the moment has national and sub-national information on Health, Education and poverty numbers in Uganda.

 

 

Stories Continues after ad

Let technology become our newest craze

By
Our Reporter
-

The news that mobile phone use in Africa has surpassed the 900 million mark is a welcome development on a continent that is better known for all the wrong reasons. The better news however, is that most of the users are not idling away on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram but they are busy improving their businesses through ‘smartphone technology’.

According to a survey dubbed Ericsson Mobility Report for 2015, “most of the mobile users are now walking around with powerful smartphones that give them access to applications and information to enhance their businesses.”

In fact the report emphasizes that today an employee can deliver results in real time using a tablet/smartphone and working from anywhere in the world.

It is important to note that over the last twenty years the mobile phone has ‘revolutionalised’ the way we carry out most of our day-to-day activities, making the small, portable gadgets an integral part of our daily life. Indeed, the gadget has brought us in close contact with technology, and in the process helped us in advancing our thought processes, to ease work.

Not surprisingly therefore, these days it is not uncommon for one to come across university students of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Computer Engineering coming up with applications that have over time, managed to change the lives of people engaged in farming and agriculture, health and finance, among other undertakings.

So, given its cross-cutting nature, technology should now be placed at the centre of our country’s strategic planning. We can start by introducing computer use to pupils in lower primary school. This is not rocket science, Kenya is doing it and we can borrow a few lessons from our eastern neighbor because the benefits of such a development are immense.

Then secondly, we can introduce ‘internet bars’ in the rural areas where youthful villagers can go and learn how to operate the applications that facilitate agriculture. If this is done government will not have only empowered the rural youth but will also have helped scale down rural-urban migration.

Stories Continues after ad

Kenya introduces new visa rules for visitors

By
Our Reporter
-
It should be recalled that in February this year Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda launched the use of National IDs across their countries.
It should be recalled that in February this year Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda launched the use of National IDs across their countries.
It should be recalled that in February this year Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda launched the use of National IDs across their countries.

Tourists and visitors to Kenya will now take about seven days to know if they can enter the country.

In a string of 11 guidelines that take effect today, July 2, East Africa’s biggest economy has taken digital transformation a step further, introducing the electronic visa.

In a release, government indicates that payments for the visas must be made by debit card, while one needs also to scan and dispatch (to Immigration) the details on the main page of their passport. According to the guidelines, visa acquisition is not automatic after submission of data. Also, it is forbidden for one to engage in employment, if he or she is a visitor.

Though it is not clear why the government chose to follow this path, the security situation in the country has not been good, raffled by terrorism. Also, it is not known how the tourists will react to the new measure, despite most of them being the target for terrorists.

That notwithstanding, in the past two years Kenya has been the target of the Somali-based Al Shabaab militants, who have killed several people in sporadic attacks carried out mostly at the coastal town of Mombasa and in the North East, near the border with Somalia.

The attacks have touched the raw nerve of President Uhuru Kenyatta, forcing him to shake up the security establishment, with the first victim, former interior minister Joseph Jama Ole Lenku, fired in 2014.

Other senior security figures that have lost their jobs include the former Director General of the National Security and Intelligence Services (NSIS) Maj Gen Michael Gichangi and the former Inspector General of Police David Mwole Kimaiyo.

Meanwhile, in light of the East African Community’s protocol on the free movement of people, goods and services, the Eagle Online could not readily establish if citizens of the EAC, who can also use their National IDs to travel across the region, would also be affected by the new visa rules.

It should be recalled that in February this year Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda launched the use of National IDs across their countries.

Indeed, at the time both Kenyatta and Kagame visited Uganda to hold talks on key cross border issues, and presented their National IDs in lieu of the travel documents.

Stories Continues after ad

ME oil firm acquires Essar

By
Our Reporter
-

gulf-petrochem-groupGulf Petrochem Group has acquired Essar Petroleum East Africa Ltd and changed its name to Aspam Energy (Kenya) Ltd, in a deal that seeks to enhance the group’s integrated services and products for the downstream supply chain in the oil and gas sector in East Africa.

Gulf Petrochem Group secured the due approvals from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Competition Commission and other regulatory bodies, and Aspam Energy (Kenya) will now have license to market petroleum products through outlets earlier serviced by Essar.

According to officials, the company, with offices located in upscale Parklands ‘intends to develop storage and retail infrastructures as part of its long term goals in East Africa along with the expansion of retail networks through organic and inorganic routes of growth’.

Aspam is part of Gulf Petrochem Group, which has a trading arm active in trading Fuel Oil, Gas Oil, Bitumen, Base Oil, etc. and will now naturally focus on these products in East Africa.

“With the global market for bitumen expected to reach $95.77 bn by 2020 according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. our group has recognized the potential for business growth within the African continent. Through this acquisition, ASPAM Energy (Kenya) will allow us to efficiently cater to East African customers and capitalize on a market which we plan to make our East African Hub”, said Gulf Petrochem Group Managing Director, Mr. Sudhir Goyel.

He added: “Prior to our acquisition of Essar (Kenya) Ltd, the company enjoyed roughly a 1.1% market share. With our experience, market knowledge, portfolio and global reach we hope to significantly increase that market share and consolidate the group’s offering in East Africa.”

Gulf Petrochem Group is a leading player in the oil industry, specializing in Oil Trading and Bunkering, Oil Refining, Grease Manufacturing, Oil Storage Terminals, Bitumen Manufacturing, and Shipping and Logistics.

Headquartered in United Arab Emirates, Gulf Petrochem has a presence in South Asia, the Far East Asia, Africa and Europe.

Stories Continues after ad

Akena confirmed UPC president

By
Our Reporter
-
TIGHTEN GUN LAWS: Jimmy Akena, one of the faction leaders of the UPC.
Uganda People’s Congress UPC has confirmed Jimmy Akena as the new UPC party president.
Uganda People’s Congress UPC has confirmed Jimmy Akena as the new UPC party president.

Uganda People’s Congress UPC has confirmed Jimmy Akena as the new UPC party president.

During a consultative delegates meeting held at UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo, UPC Electoral Chairman Mr Edward Ssegane announced Akena as the new president.

“He emerged winner in the district elections having won by a third of the total number of the districts that participated in the elections at district quota level,” Mr Seggane said adding, “I hereby pronounce him head of UPC”.

Out of the 110 districts that participated in the district elections, Akena managed to win in 67 districts beating off competition from other contestants like David Pulkol with four districts and Edward Kakonge who won in two districts.

Akena, who also doubles as the MP for Lira Municipality, has come under fire since being announced winner with claims that he intimidated the electoral commission officials and forced them to announce him winner.

“I am the true president and this is because the people chose me to lead them, we did everything according to the party constitution and therefore nothing is illegal,” Akena, son to UPC founder Dr Apollo Milton Obote, said.

He becomes the third member of the Obote family to take up the position of UPC party president after his father Apollo Milton Obote and his mother Miria Kalule Obote.

Meanwhile, during the meeting the former UPC president Olara Otunnu was castigated by party officials for incompetence and mismanagement of funds.

In 2013, they said the UPC received Shs86 million in donations which money has not yet been accounted for. Also, the members said during the 2011 general elections, the Electoral Commission gave the party over 309 million shillings and 111 million was later withdrawn just after nine days to cater for the delegates on their nationwide travels but they reportedly did not receive the money.

Stories Continues after ad

Mobile phones hit 900 million mark in Africa, boost business

By
Our Reporter
-
Mobile phone users in Africa have increased tremendously, hitting the 900 million mark in the first quarter of 2015.
Mobile phone users in Africa have increased tremendously, hitting the 900 million mark in the first quarter of 2015.

 

 

Mobile phone users in Africa have increased tremendously, hitting the 900 million mark in the first quarter of 2015.

According to the Ericsson Mobility Report for 2015 most of the mobile users are now walking around with powerful smart phones that give them access to applications and information to enhance their businesses.

Keith Fenner, a Senior Vice-President Sales at Sage, says the move will help employers interact with mobile employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

“We’re seeing many organisations mobilise their enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, “says Fenner, adding: “Workers and managers are increasingly able to access ERP data on the road to serve customers, speed up decision-making and save time.”

Sage Pastel Accounting General Manager, Daryl Blundell, noted that mobility is transforming smaller businesses.

“An accounting solution with a good mobile app is a real boon for SMEs,” he says, adding: “Employees with mobile devices can be productive many more hours a week because they can work from anywhere in the world and can maximise what might otherwise have been wasted time waiting in airports and reception rooms.”

Mobile technology is also helping HR departments to become more efficient and to build better relationships with employees. Gerhard Hartman, Head of Sage HR & Payroll’s International Division, said that companies can now offer employee self-service (ESS) across mobile devices to streamline HR processes and engage employees more effectively.“They can look up their payslips, change their personal details, and more, all without needing to do paperwork or phone the HR department,” Gerhard observed.

Stories Continues after ad

Miss Tourism to fundraise for Mapesa’s born marrow transplant

By
Our Reporter
-
Moses Mapesa, Former Uganda Wildlife Authority Exeutive Director.
Moses Mapesa, Former Uganda Wildlife Authority Exeutive Director.
Moses Mapesa, Former Uganda Wildlife Authority Exeutive Director.

gamme@eagle.co.ug

Kampala-Miss Tourism 2014/2015, Roberta Jean-Marie Magoba, will spearhead an art exhibition and auction to fundraise money for the treatment of former Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) boss, Moses Mapesa.

The exhibition scheduled for July 18, 2015, at the Sheraton Hotel is being organized in conjunction with Sheraton Hotel, Afriart Gallery, Association of Uganda Tour Operators and Miss Tourism who is also an artist. Activities will include an exhibition of various art works in line with nature and tourism, and thereafter, a fundraising auction.

The “Save Moses Mapesa” fundraising initiative was launched on April 22, 2015, and has had notable progress according to the committee Chairperson, Ms. Eunice Nyiramahoro Duli.

Mapesa requires US$100,000 about (Shs300million) to undergo a bone marrow transplant in Mayo Clinic-Arizona, in USA. According to Mrs. Duli, they have managed to raise Shs105million both in pledges and cash.

Mrs. Duli says the biggest chunk of money was received from friends, family, and former workmates. Mapesa’s family raised Shs50million and UWA also pledged Shs50million which she says they are still following up.

Mapesa has now scheduled an appointment with Mayo Clinic-Arizona for August 11, 2015, in order to do preliminary tests and assessments, after which he will travel back to USA in October for the transplant procedure and thereafter, stay there for three months to one year under observation.

Mapesa for eight years now has suffered from Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a disease which makes him unable to manufacture his own blood. As a result, he requires a weekly blood transfusion which costs Shs600, 000.in Kampala

According to his family member, Dr. Robert Nabanyumya, the doctors recommended a trial drug to reduce on the intervals between which he requires a new blood transfusion.

“This is why we are holding this drive so that he does not reach a point where he will need a transfusion after two days. If he once worked hard to save a gorilla, I think we can save his life too,” Dr.  Nabanyumya said.

According to Dr. Henry Ddungu of Uganda Cancer Institute, who is also Mapesa’s lead doctor, the cause of this ailment is medically unknown. He says many Ugandans have this condition but do not know they even have it. He says Mapesa is in the high risk category and that is why he needs immediate attention.

Those intending to help, for any financial assistance, please use mobile number 0700 754182, which belongs to Sylvia Mapesa (his wife); or call Sam Mwandha on 0776 890424; or reach them on the Facebook page “Save Moses Mapesa”.

The moneys raised will be remitted to the Moses Mapesa Medical Fund, Account number 6004677593, Barclays Bank; Rwenzori Courts Branch.

Who is Moses Wafula Mapesa?

49 year old Mapesa is a husband to Sylvia Nafula Mapesa and together they have seven children. He is currently into private consultancy in the areas of tourism and conservation management. Mapesa is also volunteering at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) where he is serving as the Vice Chairperson in charge of the East and South African region.

He started work as a researcher in 1988. He joined Uganda National Parks as a research officer in 1996. He was deployed as a warden for Queen Elizabeth national Park, Chief Warden for Kibale and Kidepo national Park, from where he moved on to head Mt. Elgon as the Chief warden.

In 2000, he was promoted to coordinator Planning Monitoring and Research. In 2002, he was directed to deputy Director, Field Operations. In 2005, he was appointed Executive Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority where he served up to 2010 when he left.

While at UWA, Mapesa served as board chair for Bwindi trust fund to support the conservation of Bwindi and Gahinga national parks. He also represented UWA globally in the IUCN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stories Continues after ad

17 companies shortlisted for petroleum exploration

By
Our Reporter
-
Eng.Kabagambe Kaliisa PS Ministry of Energy.

 

Eng.Kabagambe Kaliisa PS Ministry of Energy.
Eng.Kabagambe Kaliisa PS Ministry of Energy.

editorial@eagle.co.ug

Kampala-Government has shortlisted 17 oil companies for the exploration, development and production expansion blocks in Uganda.

According to press release from the Ministry of Energy dated July,1  12, 2015, the process of receiving the request for qualification ended on June Tuesday 30, 2015 with the ministry registering 17 valid applicants out of the 19 companies that had registered and received the request for qualification.

According Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development the registration of 17valid applications presents a significant milestone given the several challenges the entire oil and gas industry is going through.

He further explains that government will undertake the evaluation of the application for qualification between July 1, and July 30, 2015. The qualified applicants will be displayed on August 10, 2015.

Eng. Kabagambe further explained that government will issue request for proposal/ bidding and the modal Production Sharing Agreement documents to qualified applicants on August 20, 2015. “The applicants will then be required to bid for blocks or a block of their interest after the mandatory acquisition of data in the blocks or a block through the physical data room at the Directorate of Petroleum in Entebbe.”

The companies that will successfully submit the best evaluated bids will be the ones to go into negotiations with government before signing production sharing agreements with them. “government has planned to award new exploration development licenses before the end of this year if all goes according to the planed licensing roadmap” explains Eng. Kabagambe.

The exploration is going to take place in the Albertine Graben which is Uganda’s most investigated, de-risked and prospective sedimentary basin with surface coverage in Uganda of approximately 23,000 Square kilometers. Following the conclusion of appraisal of most of the discoveries, the resources in the country are now estimated to be 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place and 500 standard billion cubic feet of gas in less than 20 percent of the Graben.

Below is the statement in full.

 

CLOSURE OF THE APPLICATION FOR QUALIFICATION OF THE LICENSING ROUND FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION BLOCKS IN UGANDA

KAMPALA 1ST JULY, 2015:
Following the publication of Notice of Request for Qualification (RfQ) for Uganda’s Licensing Round for Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production on 25th February 2015 in which six blocks within the Albertine Graben were presented, the Ministry has received a significant number of Application for Qualification (AfQ) from companies across the Globe.

The Process of receiving the Request for Qualification ended yesterday 30th June, 2015 at 17.00 hours East African Standard Time with the Ministry registering Seventeen valid applicants out of the Nineteen applicants that had registered and received the Request for Qualification.

The Albertine Graben is Uganda’s most investigated, de-risked and prospective sedimentary basin with surface coverage in Uganda of approximately 23,000 Sqkms. Following the conclusion of appraisal of most of the discoveries, the resources in the country are now estimated to be 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place and 500 standard billion cubic feet of gas in less than 20% of the Graben. Therefore, the six blocks on offer presents great opportunity to discover additional resources that will enhance the country’s sustainability of oil and gas production and commercialization.

Dr F. A. Kabagambe-Kaliisa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development noted the registration of Seventeen valid applications presents a significant milestone given the several challenges the entire oil and gas industry is going through. He further explained that Government will undertake the evaluation of the Application for Qualification between 1st July and 30th July 2015. The qualified applicants will be displayed on 10th August 2015.

The Permanent Secretary, further explained that Government will issue Request for Proposal/ bidding and the modal Production Sharing Agreement documents to qualified applicants on 20th August, 2015. The applicants will then be required to bid for blocks or a block of their interest after the mandatory acquisition of data in the blocks or a block through the physical Data Room at the Directorate of Petroleum in Entebbe.

The companies that will submit the best evaluated bids will proceed to negotiate with government before signing Production Sharing Agreements with them. “Government has planned to award new Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production licenses before the end of this year if all goes according to the planned licensing roadmap,” explained Dr. Kabagambe – Kaliisa.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uganda, I wish to commend the following Oil and Gas Companies which have submitted the Expression of Interest:
1. Rift Energy Corp from United States of America (USA)
2. Mubadala Petroleum of United Arab Emirates (UAE)
3. SASOL Exploration and Production International of south Africa
4. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited (ONGC) of India
5. Petoil Limited from Turkey
6. Atlas Petroleum International Limited from Nigeria
7. Oranto Petroleum International Limited from Nigeria
8. Niger delta Petroleum Resources from Nigeria
9. Africa Global Resources (Telconet Capital Ltd Partnership-Tatneft-Rostec) JV from Russia
10. Petrica Energy As from Norway
11. PTT Exploration and Production PCL from Thailand
12. Glint Energy LLC of United States of America (USA)
13. Rapid Africa Energy (Pty) Ltd of South Africa
14. Dragon Oil International Ltd of UAE
15. BRIGHTOIL Petroleum Uganda Ltd of Hong Kong/China
16. WALTERSMITH PETROMAN of Nigeria
17. ARMOUR ENERGY Ltd of Australia
18. Swala Energy Ltd of Australia
19. Tullow Uganda Operation Pty Ltd affiliated to Tullow Ireland
Government will move forward the selection process in a professional manner with the above Oil Companies added Dr. Kabagambe – Kaliisa.

For further information, please contact:

The Senior Communication Officer,

 

 

 

Stories Continues after ad

Kagina explains UNRA sackings

By
Our Reporter
-
UNDER SPOTLIGHT: UNRA Executive Director Allen Kagina.

 

UNRA Executive Director,Allen Kagina explains sackings at the roads authority.
UNRA Executive Director,Allen Kagina explains sackings at the roads authority.

editorial@eagle.co.ug

Kampala-The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Executive Director Allen Kagina has explained why eighty members of staff were fired and contracts of thirty employees not renewed.

As part of its restructuring strategy UNRA is reviewing contracts of some of the employees, those with short term contracts and others with term contracts.

And, addressing journalists at UNRA offices in Kyambogo, Ms Kagina said the sacked staff were under investigation by the inspectorate of government (IGG) and had therefore been suspended.

“For the smooth-running of work at UNRA we decided to have the contracts of the people on suspension terminated upon payment,” she said.

She also said that the contracts of the other 35 staff were not renewed because “like it is anywhere it is incumbent upon the employer to either renew or cancel contracts of employees.”

However, Kagina also seeks to recruit new staff since they are understaffed, which is one of the challenges UNRA faces.

She explained that at inception in 2008 UNRA inherited 8000 km of roads, a figure that has since risen to 21000 km, a development that calls for recruitment.

Citing the Katosi road saga in which billions of shillings were swindled by dubious contractors, Ms Kagina emphasized that she is going to introduce reforms  including improving on information dissemination, the procurement system and contract management to ensure that contracts are completed within the specified period of time.

“The best way of making procurement free of corruption is by making it public and we will ensure we do exactly that,” Ms Kagina said, adding that in order to strengthen value-for-money procurement, the Authority will carry out background checks on the prospective contractors.

Ms Kagina also revealed that a compensation office had been opened up at Kyambogo, where claimants with genuine documents would be assisted.

“There is a big challenge of claimants through whose land roads pass but they do not have relevant documents for them to be compensated which in most cases delays completion of projects,” she noted. She also promised to i

And, talking about the rampant road accidents, Engineer James Okiror, the head of projects, put part of the blame on excited road users.

“When roads are newly constructed, sometimes users get excited and drive carelessly leading to accidents,” he said and called upon the police to improve on traffic law enforcement.

However he admitted that some newly constructed roads can be slippery especially when it has rained and promised to rectify the anomaly.

 

 

Stories Continues after ad
1...2,3472,3482,349...2,399Page 2,348 of 2,399

© Eagle Online. All rights reserved.

About Us

Popular Category

Editor Picks