Blick (R) and his navigator Bakunda celebratetheir recent win in Mukono
Blick (R) and his navigator Bakunda celebratetheir recent win in Mukono
NRC STANDINGS
Arthur Blick Jr 260 pts
Duncan Mubiru 175
Ronald Ssebuguzi 110
Pole Pole 105
Uganda Motorsport Club (UMC) has opted to have the rally in western Uganda for the first time in 39 years.
Fort Portal will host the fourth round of National Rally Championship (NRC) scheduled for July 3-5th, Clerk of Course Jeff Kabagambe confirmed this developed to the press.
“As motor clubs and the federation, we need to create competition in different territory just like we did in the Mbale Rally. It is one way of promoting the sport” Kabagambe noted.
Safety a penetrating issue was another concern cited in the Fort Portal move.
“The beauty about racing in upcountry areas, there are more closed routes compared to the ones in the central and this comes in handy to help us handle safety throughout the event better” he added.
The event will run on two days weekend with a Super Special at the Boma Grounds on July 4th.
NRC leader Arthur Blick Jnr will continue to peruse his dream of winning the NRC maiden title at the attempt in Subaru Impreza N10, after winning the last series (CMC Challenge Rally) in Mukono.
The victory, the second in a row after his triumph in the Jinja Rally in March, helped Blick stretch his NRC lead to 85 points after three events.
Sebuguzi (Rally Car), and he’s the NRC defending champion
Top city events promoter Balaam Barugahara has given singer Moze Radio, an ultimatum of forty eight hours to either publicly apologise or be sued for damages.
Balaam says Moze Radio should make apologies in the media (print, audio and video) for insulting him during a show at Hotel Africana.
This followed a standoff between the two parties after the singer and his associate Weasel of Gudlyfe group failed to put up an act in Gulu at a function where President Yoweri Museveni was the chief guest.
The singing duo had, through their manager Lawrence Labeja, allegedly pocketed Shs7m to perform at the function.
Meanwhile, as if to exacerbate the feud, the promoter has also threatened to sue Radio and hisa team for issuing him a bounced cheque of Shs20m after he reportedly gave them a soft loan of Shs35m to complete their ‘Neverland House’ in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.
Sheikh Rashid Wafula, the Imam of Bilal Mosque in Mbale town killed
Sheikh Rashid Wafula, the Imam of Bilal Mosque in Mbale town killed
Mbale-A top Muslim cleric in Mbale town, Eastern Uganda has been murdered.
Sheikh Rashid Wafula, the Imam of Bilal Mosque in Mbale town, was killed last night as he entered his home at Nakaloke, on the outskirts of the town.
Sheikh Wafula, who is the third Muslim leader to be assassinated in recent days, was also one of the founding directors of Nakaloke Islamic Primary and Secondary schools.
Other Muslim leaders that have been killed in a similar manner include Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga and Sheikh Abdul Kadir Muwaya, who was killed on December 25 last year.
Investigations into their death are ongoing but the Police boss, Gen. Kale Kayihura has come out to pin the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) as the group behind this ongoing murder of Muslim leaders.
Imam Wafula’s killing comes in the wake of murders of prominent persons in the country, the most pronounced being that of Joan Kagenzi, a former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions.
At the time of her death Ms Kagenzi was prosecuting the case of thirteen terror suspects charged with killing over seventy people who were watching the World Cup finals in 2010.
The Prosecutor, who was with two of her children, was killed by assassins moving on a boda boda as she drove home to Najjera, a city suburb.
It is now custom; teachers go on strike just before the opening of a new school term. Reason? Government has reneged on its promise to pay them increased salaries.
And today Thursday May 21, in a closed door meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda that lasted two and a half hours, the teachers’ representatives from public schools once again made good their resolve.
Under their umbrella organization, the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), the teachers said they would not teach until their demands for full payment are met by government. “Regrettably, Government has not shown willingness to make any budgetary readjustments to cater for the teachers’ increment in FY 2015/16. Instead, all proposals being offered are deferring the increment to FY 2016/17; a position that is contrary to that of the teachers.
As UNATU, our position remains that an increment should be paid in FY 2015/16. In the spirit of Give and Take, we proposed that an increment of 5% be paid in FY 2015/16 and then 15% be paid in FY 2016/17 if Government is unable to honour the full commitment of 10% salary increment in FY 2015/16.
No consensus was reached over these proposals and we await feedback from government, since it was communicated that Cabinet was to discuss the above proposals further.
In the meantime the Industrial Action continues and we urge all teachers to remain home and await official communication from the General Secretary …”, reads part of a statement issued by the UNATU Secretary General Teopista Birungi.
“We have attended the meeting but haven’t agreed on anything at all, the status quo remains,” said a one Mr.Kisekka, who is reportedly a former senior official of UNATU.
But contrary to what the teachers said, the State Minister for Primary Education Dr.John Chrysostom Muyingo said both parties had agreed that the teachers to go back to class.
“We have partially agreed with them and I hope they can call off the strike,’ Dr Muyingo said, adding: “their salaries will be increased in the next financial year and we have informed them.”
During the meeting, the teachers had reportedly informed the government officials about the availability of 200 billion shillings saved from paying ghost teachers in the previous financial year, saying that they needed only 126 billion of this money.
First Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura talking to journalists
But the First Deputy Prime Minister Henry Kajura, who chaired the stormy meeting told the teachers that the money was used to offset other arrears, information that contradicted with a report later read by the State Minister for Finance and Economic Planning which indicated that only 26 billion shillings was spent on the said arrears.
This scenario later prompted the teachers to seek for immediate 5% increment as they await the rest of the percentage. Government declined, emphasizing that there was ‘no money’.
This sent the meeting into stalemate, with both parties saying they need to make more consultations.
“We are going to sit with our colleagues and see what we can do after here but our stand still remains, we are not calling off the strike,” said a Ms Nakanjako, a UNATU representative.
Minister Muyingo talking to journalists after the meeting
But this was not before Minister Muyingo pleaded with the teachers to respect their profession’
“I am a teacher too and what that means is forgetting everything and doing your work; I urge all teachers to consider the innocent children before thinking about money and head back to classes as we settle this matter,” Muyingo implored the seeming defiant teachers.
Teachers in Uganda earn about just over two hundred and fifty thousand shillings, and this has been a point of contention that has always pitted the classroom gurus against bureaucrats in government.
Of late the teachers have been staging ‘wage bargaining strikes’ just before a new school term begins, sending government into panic and, subsequently leading to arbitration meetings, which have proved futile, at least for now.
Kampala-In a small tent located in downtown Kampala, you find two middle aged ladies seated in the tent and, on a table there are decoders are displayed alongside a plasma screen showing crystal clear pictures on one of the local channels. People are lining up, some have inquiries and some want to buy the decoders. They know time is running out, they won’t be able to watch their favourite shows on analog; they have to switch to digital broadcasting.
Digital migration was made mandatory at the Regional Radio Communication Conference of 2006 and the Geneva 2006 Agreement of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) resolved that all countries signatory to the agreement must migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting services by the end of 2015.
In Uganda, in July 2011 the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MoICT) formulated a Digital Migration Policy to serve as a guide for a smooth transition from Analogue to Digital broadcasting. The policy is based on principles of access to public information, transparency and accountability, environment protection, competitiveness and productivity, economic and trade infrastructure, access to quality social services, good governance.
The preparatory stage started in July 2009 where digital broadcasting services was delivered ‘on pilot’ basis. And, in July 2011 digital broadcasting was officially launched in the country. Though the switch off date for analogue broadcasting and switch on date of digital broadcasting was December 2012, it wasn’t effected; it was decided that the switch of and switch on date be 17 June 2015, the global deadline. “We want to know what to do since we are late, the funds are not available and technical capacity is not in place,” UCC Executive Director, Godfrey Mutabazi said at the time
Only two members in the East African Community have fully switched to digital broadcasting: Rwanda’s switch-off took place in July 2014, a year ahead of the June 2015 global deadline. Tanzania went all digital in March 2015. Uganda, Kenya and Burundi haven’t switched to digital and it’s not yet clear if the three countries will beat the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline. Uganda and Kenya are set to go fully digital on 17 June 2015 but Burundi’s stand remains uncertain since most structures have not been set up, the ongoing uprisings in the country complicate the process more.
In a country with an estimated 7 million television sets, UCC says about 300,000 use Pay TV stations. This means 95% are watching Free-to-air channels, only 5% are watching Pay per view stations. With the 17 June ITU deadline approaching, is the country ready for the switch-off?
Uganda Communications Commission Acting Director for Broadcasting Mr Otunnu Fred is optimistic that the country will beat the ITU deadline; he says they are in the final stages of the process and that most of the urban areas have been covered. “We are remaining with some few parts of the country but the biggest percentage (of areas) is covered,” he says. The Digital TV signal covers a radius of 60 Km from Kololo, some of the areas listed include; Central, Kawempe, Rubaga, Busega, Wakiso, Bombo, Wobulenzi, Luwero, Mawagga, Mityana, Nakawa, Makindye, Mukono, Lugazi, Lugalambo, Entebbe, Kigungu, Kamengo, Mpigi and Mbizzinya among others.
When asked whether she is ready for the Digital migration, Ms Robinah Namutebi, a resident of Church Zone, Najjanankumbi says she knows nothing about the digital migration. Namutebi claims it’s only for the rich since much emphasis has been put on urban areas. “My relatives are deep in the village and there’s no signal,” she says. But Mr Ottunu says they are in the process of extending the signals to all remote places in the country. “We have so far covered 70%; we hope to extend the digital signal to all areas of the country soon,” he says.
With Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) mandated as the sole signal distributor, one would ask why the extension of signals nationwide has moved at a slow pace. UBC distributes the content and a service private provider, Signet is responsible for signal distribution. Some digital providers wanted UCC to give them rights to distribute the signals but it decided to give the task to UBC. There are 10 licensed Free to Air providers and a total of 5 digital television providers and if all these were given distribution rights, the country would be fully covered by 17 June, the deadline date.
For a poor woman that sells fried cassava in Kibuye, digital migration sounds like a dream to her. Her daily income is not even enough to cater for the needs of a family of four. Although some providers have cut prices of decoders, Ms. Ruth Ssebugwawo, a resident of Kibuye says the initial prices are too high and so are the monthly charges. ”I earn so little, how can I afford to pay for television yet am struggling to look for what to eat,” asks Ms. Sebugwaawo.
Her views are shared by Mr. David Magara who argues that when buying television sets they pay taxes. He terms the digital migration process as a ‘rushed’ decision. His sentiments are based on the reason that there hasn’t been much sensitisation of the public about digital migration. “Not many of us know about the digital migration, they should have educated us more,’ argued Magara.
For the traders in downtown Kampala, some have hope that the deadline will be extended. They say they shipped in antennas recently and if UCC was to implement the deadline, that would drive them out of business.
But UCC’s Fred Otunnu advises those still thinking of an extension to reconsider and buy the decorders. ‘They have to adapt, technology is evolving and they should embrace it,” he says.
Mr. William Sevirri, an electronics shop owner at Jesco Beauty Centre says that they will still sell the antennas to the unsuspecting masses since they haven’t been sensitized. “Most people don’t know when the deadline is, we will use that chance to sell them the antennas,” he says.He however, acknowledges that in the end they will make losses.
Although there are still challenges in the digital migration process, there’s hope that all Ugandans will finally embrace it.
Seated in his shop is Mr. Pascal Tumusiime’s Lasonic digital television set displays clear crystal images from a local television program. The television lures customers to his shop. Mr. Tumusiime reveals he decided to buy a decoder because he was fed up with watching unclear pictures. “After watching digital television, I don’t think I can switch back to watching analog, these pictures are so clear,’ declares Mr. Tumusiime.
Another ardent TV watcher Abdul Muwanika, a resident of Kawempe, says he too decided to join digital television because of the clear pictures it offers.
Clear images is definitely one of the reasons why many Ugandans have switched to digital migration but Margaret Nakyagaba says she enjoys digital television because of the reliable signal and that many channels are shown at a cheaper price. She says that although the prices are a bit high, technology changes and its part of progress. “Change is not easy and we must hold onto change, we must get used to that,” she comments about the high prices.
As the ITU deadline nears, the country looks set for the migration; most of the crucial issues have been completed, more Free-to-air companies have been approved and more Pay-per-view digital providers are selling more decoders each day that goes by. Unlike Rwanda that completed the migration without upgrading most of its decoders, Uganda will enter the new digital era with high definition DVB-Terrestrial decoders.
But the big question remains: will Uganda go fully digital on 17 June?
Anyway, if the country fails to switch off analog and switch on digital broadcasting, the repercussions will be unbearable since Uganda will not be able to lodge any complaints against analogue broadcasting to the ITU.
Uganda, the EU, Germany and France sign the landmark pact on sustainable energy.
Uganda, the EU, Germany and France sign the landmark pact on sustainable energy.
Kampala– Uganda government has received Shs1.3 trillion from the European Union, Germany and France to help strengthen energy development in the country.
According the statement from the European Union, the signing took place on May 18-21, New York between Energy Minister Irene Muloni and a joint delegation from the above countries.
During the signing, Ms Muloni, stated that government has prioritized investments in energy to facilitate accelerated growth of the sector to improve service delivery. “The SE4ALL Action agenda developed by the government of Uganda will be an important tool in bringing private sector, civil society, development partners (and in particular the European Union and its member states) and government agencies together in prioritizing the actions to meet our objectives”.
The joint declaration with Uganda – co-signed by Germany and France – will serve to reinforce the political ownership and the partnership between Uganda and the European Union and its more active Member States in the sector, France and Germany, in the field of energy policy and investment in renewable energy.
In Uganda, France, Germany and the EU are currently financing projects for more than €406 million (Germany €240 million, France €116 million and European Commission €50 million) in the Sustainable Energy sector.
Below is the statement in full. Uganda, European Union, Germany and France reinforce their Partnership towards development of Sustainable Energy Shs1.3 trillion in grants and loans.
May 20, 2015, New York, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, the Ugandan Minister of Energy, Irene Nafuna Muloni, and the representatives of France and Germany have signed a joint declaration underlying their mutual commitment towards the development of Sustainable Energy in Uganda.
The signature took place in New York in the framework of the 2nd High-Level “Sustainable Energy for All” Forum hosted by the United Nations between May 18 -21. Minister Muloni and the EU Commissioner also participated in the launching of the new EU instrument, called “ElectriFI”, a financing mechanism for rural electrification projects to reduce energy poverty and ensure viable access to affordable energy services in the EU partner countries.
Ahead of the event, Commissioner Mimica said: “The EU joined the UN Secretary General initiative to provide sustainable energy for all by 2030 right from the start. Fulfilling this promise will require strong cooperation and the political will of our partner countries. Our ElectriFI initiative will, in combination with other financing resources offered by the EU, help ensure that access to affordable energy services will be possible for poor households in rural areas. The joint declaration with Uganda confirms our political determination to work closer in partnership to fight energy poverty. “.
Ms Muloni, has stated that “Government has prioritized investments in energy to facilitate accelerated growth of the sector to improve service delivery. The SE4ALL Action agenda developed by the government of Uganda will be an important tool in bringing private sector, civil society, development partners (and in particular the European Union and its member states) and government agencies together in prioritizing the actions to meet our objectives”.
ElectriFIis not only a financing mechanism, it puts forward an innovative business model to leverage more private investments and involve more key stakeholders in all areas of expertise on a global level. It has the potential to take donor funding and increase it five or ten fold. Through ElectriFI, EU grants will complement private financing, bridging potential financial gap in order to make a project bankable. This will provide the security investors and banks are expecting to boost investments. If investments are successful, the grants will be converted into loans, at a concessional rate, and the EU will be “reimbursed”. The EU will then be able to reinvest its grants in new projects, allowing more and more people to get access to electricity services. A total of €270 million have been earmarked to support this effort.
The joint declaration with Uganda – co-signed by Germany and France – will serve to reinforce the political ownership and the partnership between Uganda and the European Union and its more active Member States in the sector, France and Germany, in the field of energy policy and investment in renewable energy.Germany is financing alone more than 240 Million Euro, France another 116M€ and the European Commission additional 50M€, for a total of nearly Shs1.3 trillion.
This is a clear sign of the commitment of the European Union and its member states to strengthen cooperation in the field of energy with Uganda and the key development partner, and it will be used as a concrete road-map for action.
Nearly 1.3 billion people in the world do not have access to electricity and 2.7 billion rely on the traditional use of biomass for cooking. The situation in sub-Saharan Africa is particularly concerning. On current trends, 75% of the global population without electricity access will be concentrated in this region by 2040.
Rural electrification projects, which are smaller in size, require a different approach. In less than two years, the EU has provided significant grants to 31 projects, targeting more than 3 million people directly and many more indirectly in 20 countries.
In Uganda, France, Germany and the EU are currently financing projects for more than €406 million (Germany €240 million, France €116 million and European Commission €50 million) in the Sustainable Energy sector.
In the period up to 2020, the European Union will invest overall €3.5 billion in the creation of sustainable energy systems. This is expected to leverage between €15 and €30 billion in loans and equity investment.
Al-Shabab militants have been battling African Union forces in Somalia
Militants from the Islamist group al-Shabab briefly took over a mosque in northern Kenya, local leaders say.
The jihadists are said to have addressed the congregation for two hours before escaping into a forest.
They criticised Kenyan authorities and warned people not to pass intelligence to the security forces.
The mosque is in Garissa county, 240km (150 miles) from Garissa town, where al-Shabab last month killed at least 148 people at a university.
Police commander Caleb Matoke told The Standard newspaper that 25 fighters were involved. He said he believed they were sent by Mohamed Kuno, the man Kenyan authorities have accused of being behind the Garissa University college attack.
Al-Shabab has been at war with Kenya ever since Kenyan forces entered Somalia in October 2011 in an effort to crush the militants.
It has staged numerous attacks in Kenya. As well as the attack on Garissa university, al-Shabab also attacked a shopping mall in 2013, leaving at least 67 dead. Westgate Mall is due to open again in July.
The BBC’s Abdullahi Abdi in Nairobi says Kenya is building a wall between Somalia and Kenya in an effort to keep out al-Shabab militants but this shows that the militants are active deep inside Kenya.
Who are Somalia’sal-Shabab?
Al-Shabab Islamist militants are battling the UN-backed government in Somalia, and are suspected of links to a string of attacks in neighbouring Kenya.
The group, which is allied to al-Qaeda, has been pushed out of most of the main towns it once controlled, but it remains a potent threat.
Who are al-Shabab?
Al-Shabab means The Youth in Arabic.
It emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia’s now-defunct Union of Islamic Courts, which controlled Mogadishu in 2006, before being forced out by Ethiopian forces.
There are numerous reports of foreign jihadists going to Somalia to help al-Shabab, from neighbouring countries, as well as the US and Europe.
It is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters.
Johnson Balwigaire (L) drives past Kenya's Desmond Owili
Johnson Balwigaire (L) drives past Kenya’s Desmond Owili
Friday Fixture
Warriors v City Oilers Ladies
KCC Leopards v KIU Rangers Wednesday Results
Sharing Youth 35-71 Power
Azamon Rhino 31-67 Magic Stormers
Stanbic Warriors and City Oilers head into their Friday Airtel National Basketball encounter reloaded with new recruits.
FUBA have confirmed guard Josh Johnson Balwigaire is now Warriors player, ending his professional spell with England side Ipswich Bsasketball Club.
The guard helped Uganda (Men’s team) Silverbacks secure qualification to FIBA Afrobasket Championship.
Local Basketball body, FUBA, have also cleared Jean Landry Ndikumana the Brundian superstar and ZoneV MVP officially a CityOil Player.
It is an open secret that the trophy City Oilers now crave is the Fiba Africa Zone V Basketball Club Championship.
And few would blame them especially after a one-sided 4-0 finals series sweep over Tiger Head Power last season that clinched back to back national basketball league titles.
Ndikumana joins the defending champions from Zone V club champions side Urunani.
Josh Balwigaire and Ndikumana are expected to feature for Warriors and Oilers respectively as the two National Team coaches (#GadEteu vs #MandyJuruni) face off at Lugogo indoor arena on Friday.
KCC Leopards will take-on KIU Rangers in the opening fixture of the evening before the former departs (on Sunday) for Intercity Basketball Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Meanwhile; Tiger-Head-Power overpowered Sharing Youth 71-35 aided by Joseph Ikong (15), Sudi Ulanga (11) and Paul Odong (11) points on Wednesday as the 5-time champions are now 4-1 in the season.
Blick of Tiger Head Power of Uganda (L) contests against Ndikumana of Urunani from burundi during their 2014 Zone 5 Basketball Club
ALEX Isabirye will this week be unveiled as the new head coach for Jinja-based side Bul-BIDCO.
The tactician left Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) by mutual consent after the just concluded 2014/15 Uganda Premier League season.
“The club greatly appreciates the contribution of Coach Alex. He will forever be appreciated for delivering us the Uganda Cup success in 2013 but the board has opted to end the relationship,” URA’s secretary, Henry Mayeku
After an average season that saw the tax collectors finish 4th in the domestic league, got eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of the Uganda Cup and dumped out of the CAF Confederations cup at the first round by South African giants Orlando Pirates.
Isabirye bid farewell to the players and officials after the team’s 2-1 victory against Express FC at Wankulukuku on Tuesday.
“We agreed with URA management that I leave at the end of this season and yes I have had meetings with Bul FC officials and I hope by the end of this week everything should be done,” Isabirye confirmed to www.eagle.co.ug.
Isabirye’s last achievement at URA FC was the 2013 Uganda Cup trophy where he beat then Bunamwaya SC (now Vipers SC) in penalty shootouts in the final held in Masindi.
URA target Nsimbe or Kisala
George Nsimbe could join URA as Head coach
www.eagle.co.ug has learnt; URA has sought the services of former KCC and former Azam tactician George Nsimbe and Uganda’s Under-20 and former Bul FC coach Kefa Kisala.
“We have options place and already talking to them and we hope to confirm the next coach soon,” Mayeku confirmed.
Nsimbe was recently demoted as head coach Azam to manage the Azam youth team, while Kisala, also coach for the national U-20 team has been unemployed since BUL F.C terminated his services in January.
