Homia –Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom  yesterday is celebrating the 21^st coronation anniversary of Rukirabasaija Omukama Solomon Iguru, commonly known as empango yesterday.

Empango is a celebration to mark the day the reigning king ascended the throne, an important function in Bunyoro and Tooro kingdoms. It’s during the ceremony that the king gives the state of the kingdom address and performs a series of cultural rituals.

This year’s celebrations have been graced by Tooro King, Oyo Nyimba and Buganda Premier, Charles Peter Mayiga. Ernest Kiiza, the Minister In charge of Bunyoro Affairs delivered the speech on behalf of the guest of honor, meant to be the President Yoweri Museveni, who did not attend the function due to other engagements.

A vigorous campaign dubbed ‘Omuganda’ had been launched by the Kingdom to raise money to facelift the kingdom. ‘Omuganda’ is equivalent to Buganda’s ‘Etoffali’ project.

Mayiga handed over Buganda’s contribution to the initiative with Shs10 million cash.

Responding to Buganda’s donation, Jonathan Akweteirehoa resident of Masindi district said this was a sign of unity and a challenge to the Banyoro to work hard.

‘‘The shs10million Buganda cash donation to Bunyoro Kingdom is a huge task to us, a challenge indeed, given the history, the current efforts to rebuild the two cultural institutions. It also carries a message that kingdoms can transform their people, through collective effort, positive jealous and using our political differences as a region for a common strength anchoring,’’ wrote Akweteireho in a message on MANET (a Facebook group for Bunyoro residents).

In 2013 President Museveni donated Shs200million to the kingdom to support renovation of the Hoima palace. However, only a foundation for the perimeter wall was dug and a gate partially built.

It’s during the ceremony that the king gives the state of the kingdom address and performs a series of cultural rituals.

The rituals peak with a traditional dance known as Amakondere. In this dance, drums and animal horns are played as specially trained youth (abakondere) and elders dance in an eye-catching and rhythmic celebration.

Bunyoro’s reigning king Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru ascended the throne on June 11, 1994, following the restoration of cultural institutions by the National Resistance Movement government. Monarchies had had been abolished by the Obote I government in 1967.

Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru is a son to Omukama Sir Tito Winyi, a fallen King of Bunyoro who ruled Bunyoro from 1924 to 1967.Iguru who is also a grandson of Omukama, and is the 27th King in the ruling Ababiito dynasty and is the chairperson of the Uganda Cultural Leaders Forum.

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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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CANDIDATES WHO WHERE NORMINATED IN FDC DELEGATE CONFERENCE 12.06.2015

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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.

For details see full text below.

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