The Kenyan President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan have congratulated their counterpart Paul Kagame for his fourth term victory as the president of Rwanda.

President Ruto praised Kagame’s leadership and his role in promoting stability and development in Rwanda. He highlighted the strong bilateral relations between Kenya and Rwanda and expressed confidence that these ties would continue to flourish under Kagame’s continued presidency.

“On behalf of the people and Government of Kenya, I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda,’ Ruto said.

He added, “We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country in the path of peace, stability and posterity.”

Ruto said that he looks forward to continuing working with Kagame in regional and Pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda.

President Suluhu also extended her congratulations, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and unity. She commended Kagame’s efforts in fostering economic growth and regional stability and expressed her hope for continued collaboration between Tanzania and Rwanda.

“On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Paul Kagame, on being re-elected as the President of the Republic of Rwanda,” Samia said.

Samia Suluhu also looks forward to continuing working with Kagame in fostering the relations between our two countries and in the pursuit of East Africa’s unity and prosperity.

Paul Kagame won the presidential election with 99% securing the fourth term in office. He has been the country’s leader since 2000, and his victory continues his long-standing leadership.

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The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) company Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Makerere University to guide collaboration between the two parties towards the realization of the National Content Capacity Building initiatives and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and projects.

EACOP is a project company set up to develop, build and operate a pipeline system which will transport crude oil from the inlet flange at Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

Among the commitments made by Makerere in the MoU is to work with EACOP to support knowledge and build capacity among Ugandan fresh graduates, technicians and instructors, professors, and lecturers from tertiary and vocational training institutions.

Makerere University Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe and EACOP Managing Director Martin Tiffen on Tuesday signed the MoU.

“We are delighted to formalize our collaboration with Makerere University through this Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership highlights our commitment to fostering local talent and enhancing capacity-building initiatives in Uganda. By working closely with Makerere University, we aim to equip recent graduates, technicians, and educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project and beyond,” EACOP MD Martin Tiffen said.

These commitments will be realized through the implementation of two key Capacity Building initiatives. The first is Internship/ Graduate Training programs where graduates or existing students from the institution will be offered training and work exposure with EACOP’s suppliers and contractors on various scopes of the project according to their disciplines. The duration and location of the internships varies between the different contractors/suppliers.

The second is to the Trainer programs, which will be delivered by EACOP’s contractors and suppliers and will seek to share knowledge on their different scopes of work on the project as they relate to various engineering disciplines and vocational skills.

To date, Tiffen said EACOP has signed MoUs with Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) as well as with professional bodies such as the Institute of Surveyors of Uganda to support the onboarding of graduate trainees with our contractors/suppliers and of interns with EACOP’s internal departments.

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President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the attempted assassination on America’s former President, Donald Trump over the weekend at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, citing the act as a despicable and cowardly attempt.

“I learnt of the assassination attempt on His Excellency Donald Trump’s life on Saturday, July 13, 2024, during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. On behalf of the Government and people of Uganda, and on my own behalf, I wish to convey our deep and heartfelt sympathies to His Excellency,” Museveni said.

Museveni’s condemnation reflects his stance against political violence, emphasizing the importance of peaceful political processes globally. This sentiment aligns with the international reaction to the incident, which has drawn widespread attention and concern

Museveni noted, “I condemn this despicable and cowardly assassination attempt that put his life and that of his supporters at risk.”

Museveni also extended his deepest condolences to the family that lost their loved one.

He added, “As freedom fighters and peace-lovers, we condemn political violence because it threatens democracy wherever it manifests. I wish His Excellency and all those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Trump was targeted days before he was to accept the Republican nomination for a third time. He was shot on the ear and whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after gunshots rang through the crowd.

Trump’s campaign announced Monday that the former president was doing “fine” after the shooting, which he said pierced the upper part of his right ear.

The shooter was identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, who was fatally shot by secret service operatives.

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The Uganda-South Sudan electricity sharing agreement is set to receive over 300 million- US-dollar funding from international development partners to fund the project.

South Sudan has the world’s lowest electricity access rate – with only 7 percent of its 13 million population having access to electricity power, according to global data and business intelligence platform, Statista.

The power transmission agreement is expected to boost South Sudan’s electrification, create development and employment opportunities in the country.

Dr. Isaac Arikwe, the Program Coordinator of Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action said South Sudan will receive about 100 million US dollars from the European Union, 59 million US dollars from the African Development Bank, and 148 US dollars will be given as a loan to Uganda by the AfDB.

“South Sudan is going to be given a grant. One portion of the grant will come from the European Union which is going to provide a grant of about 100 million, then the AfDB will give a grant of about $59 million,” Arikwe said.

Dr. Arikwe underscored that South Sudan will have to account for the deficit of about 25 million US dollars as a sign of ownership of the mega power sharing project between the two countries.

Arikwe said the project will boost South Sudan’s economic development and industrialization which will open job and business opportunities to the nationals.

“Electricity access in South Sudan is still at a very low level, this transmission line connecting the two countries will help improve electrification in both urban and the rural areas.”

“This will contribute, of course, to economic, socio-economic development including industrialization opening up job opportunities, business opportunities for the communities in South Sudan and even the revenue for South Sudan itself.”

In May 2024, the Ugandan government negotiated with a Chinese company a 180- million US dollars deal to build a hydro power transmission line to Juba.

Many businesses and households in South Sudan depend on diesel-powered generators to operate, and the main electricity supplier Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) – hardly covers all residential areas of the capital.

The South Sudan government is scrambling between options of importing hydroelectricity from the region and building dams in a bid to find solutions to its energy problems.

In September 2023, South Sudan activated an agreement with Russia for the construction of a hydropower plant in the country.

The cooperation agreement reportedly signed in 2018, was revisited in a meeting in Moscow, a day after President Kiir met his counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

It came on the heels of uncertainties over the position of downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan, who have conflicted with Ethiopia over a newly built mega-dam.

South Sudan also signed an agreement in 2022 with Ethiopia to import 100 megawatts of hydroelectricity power for three years. The deal is yet to be implemented.

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