Our ideology is a system of ideas that forms the basis of our economic and political theory and policy.
First and foremost, we embrace progressive views. We support progressive social causes, a stronger taxation system and social programs based on the community responsibility. We embrace social liberalism through seeking a balance between individual liberty, social justice and the common good. We believe in government getting involved in addressing issues such as poverty and access to education and health care. We believe in government funding social programs intended to help the poor, the disadvantaged and the low-income earners.
We believe in a market economy in which decisions regarding investment, production, and distribution are based on supply and demand, and prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. We deliberately support business regulation and a progressive approach to taxation to increase market fairness and prevent unfair labor practices. We believe in supporting small businesses and startups to enable them grow so that in future they can provide employment to Ugandans in addition to contributing to the national income through taxation.
Thus our ideology enables us to effectively address issues concerning all Ugandans including the low-income workers, laborers, disadvantaged groups and the young job creators and business owners.
Plastic at a garbage Collection centre in the city
Garbage Collection in the city
Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) has revealed to traders that the Kaveera ban is still on and that NEMA will implement it.
Speaking to traders today in Kampala, KACITA Secretary General Mr. Sentamu Ephraim Kaddu said that after having consultations on 8 April with the government, NEMA and other stake holders, it was agreed that the ban on polythene products with less than 30 microns remain in force.
Mr Sentamu told the traders and manufacturers that they can only deal in products with microns 30 and above. “As KACITA we don’t allow any trader to sell those products that have below 30 microns,” he said. ”NEMA should not go on harassing traders that sell Buveeras with 30 microns and above.”
Dr. Tom Okurut told the traders that NEMA would go ahead to do its job of implementing the ban. He further advised the manufacturers to come up with better polythene products that are environmental friendly. “We will find alternatives, many companies have invested in tree planting,” he said, adding: “You should invest in other packaging products.”
This development leaves traders who had acquired new polythene stocks in dilemma. NEMA in conjunction with police will confiscate there products if they are below the required micron percentage.
Okurut Tom, Executive Director NEMA
Mixed feelings at NEMA-KACITA meeting.
Traders under their umbrella body Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) have failed to reach a consensus with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) officials. The traders blame NEMA officials for impounding their polythene products without considering their micron percentage.
Speaking at a press conference held today at Diamond Hotel, Kampala, the traders owning ‘buveera’
wholesale shops complained that NEMA officials confiscate their merchandise without considering the micron percentage in them.
The traders allege that all plastic bags are impounded thus making them incur losses. “We are really in a tight state now, I imported polythene products that are above 30 microns but NEMA impounded all of them,” said Mr. Kyeyune Sadik, a trader in Kikuubo.
Traders asked NEMA that if the “Kaveera ban’ is to succeed, sensitization was needed and all stake holders needed to be educated about it. “All of us want to learn about the Kaveera ban but we haven’t been sensitized properly,” said Ms. Muwanga Rehema.
Mr. Sabra Naim, a member of Uganda Plastics Manufacturers and Recyclers Association (UPMRA) blamed NEMA for what he termed as ‘spending money in the wrong direction.’ He advised NEMA to hold dialogue with the traders instead of confiscating their merchandise.
Nakivubo drainage channel
“I have a license and I was allowed to manufacture, you (NEMA) are fighting the traders yet we (manufacturers) are allowed to produce,” asserted Mr. Sabra. He advised NEMA and the government to consider recycling since most African states do it, saying, “the only way forward is recycling to mitigate climate change.”
Dr. Tom Okurut, the Executive Director NEMA called upon all traders not to put the blame on NEMA because it was only implementing what was passed by parliament. “Those arguments should be taken to parliament,” he said.
The Uganda parliament passed the Kaveera ban law in 2009 and after six years when it was passed, the polythene bags are still on the market. Earlier this year NEMA decided to implement the ban amid protests for traders and manufacturers.
Security in and around Makerere Business School (MUBS) campus has been strengthened as graduation day approaches. This move comes after terrorists issued a threat warning to attack universities.
Speaking to Journalists at the university campus, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Mr. Onyango Patrick said that a professional police will be deployed to keep calm and make sure that the campus is secure. ”Our Counter Terrorism Unit officers will be the lead agency, they will monitor the access control points,” he said.
Mr. Onyago said that they have come up with restrictions this time round and that no fire arms will be allowed into campus premises, he advised the officers to leave their guns at their respective offices.
Private photographers, large back packs, canned food and drinks are some of the prohibited things listed.
According to guidelines, the main gate will be used by VIPs, University officials and members of academic procession. Parents and graduands will use the same gate opposite capital Shoppers.
Mr. Odoki Simon Peter, the MUBS Public Relations Ofiicer, said that all preparations were done and all steps were taken to ensure a successful ceremony. “Over 1000 students from all academic fields will graduate with Post Graduate Diplomas and Certificates,” he said.
The Public relations officer revealed that security in and outside campus will be tightened because of the terrorists’ threats to attack universities nationwide and that the move was to take precaution.
The event will be presided over by Makerere University (Mak) Chancellor Prof Mondo Kagonyera. Unlike the past graduation ceremonies where successful business people have been invited to inspire the new graduands, Mr. Odoki says this year’s chief celebrant will be the presidential advisor and Commander of Operation wealth creation, Gen. Salim Saleh.
Mr. Odoki says they decided invite Gen. Saleh because of this year’s theme. The theme is “Youth tapping into other structures of job creation.” “General Saleh is the best choice we made to talk about that,” said Mr. Odoki.
Over 1000 MUBS students will graduate with Post Graduate Diplomas and Certificates at the university’s 10 Graduation ceremony.
A hospital has been ordered to fund the upbringing of a child who was conceived after a long-term contraceptive implant on her mother failed.
The High Court directed Aga Khan University Hospital family planning clinic to pay the woman (name withheld) KSh4.3 million to cater for the unplanned child.
Justice Hatari Waweru also ordered the hospital to pay the woman a further KSh500,000 for pain and loss of her comfort.
“This sum (KSh4.3 million), if wisely invested, should bring in an annual income that will go a long way in maintaining and educating the child without the necessity of delving into the principal sum,” Waweru ruled.
The court heard that the now mother of three visited the clinic for a long-term birth control as she did not want to have more children.
The woman said the reason she did not want a third child was because she and her husband were already struggling to bring up their two children.
She told the court that on July 4, 2011, the hospital advised her that implanon was the most appropriate contraceptive method for her.
Implanon is a flexible plastic rod about the size of a matchstick that contains a progestin hormone called etonogestre. It is inserted just under the skin of the inner side of the upper arm.
The court also heard after going through the medical procedure, she was assured that it would be safe to have sex with her husband without using any protection.
She was assured that the implant would secure her from pregnancy for at least three years.
But she soon had the shock of her life when she realised that her periods had failed. She did a home pregnancy test and confirmed that that she, indeed, was pregnant.
She rushed to the same hospital, which also confirmed she was pregnant. Other tests confirmed that the contraceptive had beenimplanted in her arm.
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy won the 2014 Uganda Golf Open
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy won the 2014 Uganda Golf Open (courtesy photo)
The 73rd edition of the Tusker Malt Uganda Golf Open will have five tournaments in one hosted at the Uganda Golf Club, Kitante.
Uganda’s most prestigious tournament will be played over 16 days from July 15-August 1 with the Uganda Ladies Open, Uganda Open, Seniors’, Professionals, Pro-Am and a Junior tournament.
“The dates for the professional open coincide with the slack period of the Sunshine Tour (in Mombasa) members,” Kiryowa Kiwanuka, the Uganda Golf Union president said.
“The Union wish and is pushing to have all the regions’ best golfer participate in the Uganda Open to give it competitiveness” he added.
Action will start with the Uganda Ladies Open from July 15-18 a subsidiary event for the ladies will also be held on July 17 with those making the cut after the first day playing in the second round alongside the players in the main draw on July 18.
The seniors Open will follow thereafter on July 19-20 before the main amateur open that will be played over 72 holes from July 21 with a practice round, followed by competition over four days.
The professionals will yet again tussle it out for a share of 100 million at stake however that amount of money could increase ahead of the tournament with just only a month to go.
“The Union has sent out invites to professionals from North Africa and Middle East” Herbert Rwamibazi, the tournament director said.
The Pro-Am will be held from July 28 while the Professionals will tee off from July 29- August 1 with projected cut to be determined after two rounds of action.
Grace Nsehemeire Gwaku, the Uganda Breweries Marketing Director hands dummy check for the sponsorship 2015 tusker malta Uganda open(courtesy photo)
“Uganda Breweries will continue to pledges pattern with the Golf Union to promote and facilitate the sport,” Grace Nsehemeire Gwaku, the Uganda Breweries Marketing Director emphasized during the Launch.
For the first time the Uganda Golf Union has incorporated every golfer in one tournament right from the gross players to the senior golfers, the ladies and the junior players at a later stage.
Entebbe Club’s Kitata Willy clinched last year’s Open title; Flavia Namakula won the Ladies’ unanimously decorated as Uganda’s golf queen, wining her third Uganda Ladies Open title.
Kampla-As Uganda Peoples’ Congress prepares to elect its leaders, focus is put on individuals who have shown interests in the presidency, current party president Amb. Olara Otunnu will not be vying for a second term and as such new faces have sprung up for the office party presidency. Eagle Online brings you who is who in this race.
Joseph Bbosa- He is the current party Vice President to Olara Otunnu and hails from Buganda region. He has been active in the party affairs. As Otunnu hid himself from the limelight, it is always Bbosa who is seen at press conferences.
Joseph Bbosa
He is a lawyer by profession and he was Otunnu’s guild government as minister for justice and constitutional affairs. After university, Bbosa started his career as legal officer at Bank of Uganda until he rose to the position Director of legal affairs. He retired mid 2000s and ventured into business. He surfaced in UPC politics after the return of Otunnu and was named Vice President. He contested in the Makindye East constituency race in the last elections under UPC but lost.
Julius Ochen
Julius Ochen –The firebrand from Teso sub-region has held several positions in the party having started as a youth winger in the party’s national youth league. He holders a university degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and is currently undertaking a masters degree in the same field. He was formerly Amurai district chairman Local Council Five. He is a disciplinarian and with his radical views, he is seen a favorite for the radical UPC members.
Jimmy Akena
Jimmy Akena-He is a son to the late Apollo Milton Obote, former President of Uganda. Akena is currently a Member of Parliament for Lira Municipality in Lango sub-region which he has represented since he returned to Uganda in 2006. Akena, among Obote’s sons was his favorite and by so he inherited him politically. He is taking a second shot at the party presidency having failed to defeat Otunnu in 2009.
Prof. Edward Kakonge
Prof. Edward Kakonge- He is the current national chairman of the party and a Biochemist by training and a former bio-chemistry lecturer at Makerere University. ProfKakonge is also current chairman of the Uganda Debt. He is the young brother to the late John Kakonge, the founding Secretary General of UPC and hails from Hoima district in Bunyoro sub-region. He has served the UPC in many capacities; he was the first Minister of Local Government in President Yoweri Museveni’s first government in 1986.
David Pulkol
David Pulkol-He is among the people who championed Otunnu’s return and at the start of Otunnu’s administration, Pulkol was the man behind scenes in most of the congress activities. However, he fail-out with Otunnu’s administration and became a ‘rebel’ of sorts within the party. Otunnu consequently fired him and others but Pulkol united with former national party chairman, Maj.Edward Rurangaranga and sued Otunnu. Before crossing over to UPC, Pulkol had been a member of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) but also fail-out with the party’s establishment. He is also former junior minister in the Museveni regime as well as former Director General of Uganda’s External Security Organisation (ESO). He hails from Mororto district in Karamoja sub-region.
Benson Obua Ogwal
Benson Obua Ogwal- Is a Member of Parliament for Moroto County in Lango sub-region and was the chairman of the organizing committee that returned Olara Otunnu back into Uganda. He is a reserved born again politician who unlike colleagues mingles freely with anybody.
Sepp Blatter is standing for re-election as head of Fifa
The Fifa presidential election will take place on Friday as planned despite the arrest of seven Fifa officials on charges they received millions of US dollars in bribes.
Among those arrested is Fifa vice-president Jeffrey Webb.
A separate criminal investigation into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were allocated has also begun.
But Fifa has already ruled out a revote, insisting Russia and Qatar will remain the respective hosts.
Sepp Blatter faces Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in Friday’s election as he seeks a fifth term as Fifa president.
Prince Ali described Wednesday’s developments as “a sad day for football” but declined to comment further.
The seven Fifa officials were arrested after the US Department of Justice issued a 47-count indictment charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a 24-year scheme.
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic and deep-rooted,” said New York attorney general Loretta Lynch.
“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”
The charges allege:
Nine current or former Fifa officials, including Webb and former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner, charged with corruption
Four individual and two corporate defendants, including former Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer and Warner’s sons Daryan and Daryll, plead guilty
Alleged scheme “fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created uneven playing field”
“Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa”
Majority of scheme involved corruption over media and marketing rights to matches and tournaments
Those arrested in a dawn raid at the prestigious Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich were Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and Jose Maria Marin.
Sad Day for Football
Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein standing against Blatter
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the man challenging Sepp Blatter for the most powerful job in world soccer, said he was saddened by the latest corruption scandal involving FIFA.
“Today is a sad day for football,” Prince
Ali said.
“Clearly this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging,” the Jordanian said.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Live: Fifa news conference on arrest of football officials in Switzerland
Live: Fifa news conference on arrest of football officials in Switzerland
Six football officials have been arrested over corruption charges at governing body Fifa and face extradition to the US, officials say.
Separately, Swiss prosecutors have launched a criminal case into the 2018 and 2022 football World Cup bids.
The suspects, who include a Fifa vice-president, allegedly accepted bribes worth $100m (£65m; €92m) over 20 years.
Fifa members are due to vote Friday in a presidential election. Incumbent Sepp Blatter is seeking a fifth term.
However, Mr Blatter is not understood to be one of those arrested.
Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan – Mr Blatter’s rival for the Fifa presidency – described the development as “a sad day for football”, but withheld from commenting further.
Fifa’s Zurich headquarters has also been raided, with documents seized, Swiss prosecutors say.
‘Seeking clarification’
Those arrested include:
Jeffrey Webb – head of the confederation for North and Central America and the Caribbean, Concacaf
Jack Warner, former Fifa vice-president
Costa Rica’s national football chief Eduardo Li, who was due to join Fifa’s executive committee on Friday
Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo, president of South American football governing body Conmebol
Brazil’s Jose Maria Marin, a member of Fifa’s club committee. Police were seen carrying his suitcase and some of his possessions in plastic bags
Several officials have already pleaded guilty, the US Department of Justice says. These include Charles Blazer, the former head of Concacaf, who was previously on the Fifa executive committee.
Fifa was seeking to clarify the situation, a spokesman said.
Fifa officials from left: Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo, Jose Maria Marin
Football’s untouchable ‘dark prince’ – Imogen Foulkes, BBC News, Switzerland
Many have wondered how Sepp Blatter can have been in charge of Fifa for so long, amid so many reports of corruption, and yet remain, apparently, untouched.
One Swiss newspaper jokingly called him “the dark prince of football, the godfather, Don Blatterone’ – but no inquiry has ever revealed proof of his involvement in bribery.
“He’s a survivor,” says one member of parliament, Roland Buechel. “Nothing ever sticks to him; there is always someone between him and the bribes.”
Some old friends describe Mr Blatter as down to earth and open. Others who have worked with him say he is a man who resents opposition, pointing to the swift departure of Fifa colleagues who dared to question him.
What emerges, finally, is a man who both critics and supporters say cannot imagine his life without Fifa, a man whose tenure as president has outlasted three marriages.
But as scandal follows scandal, Mr Blatter’s determination not to leave his post willingly could see him bundled unceremoniously out the back door.
The raid took place at a five star hotel in Zurich early on Wednesday
The crimes were agreed to and prepared in the US via US bank accounts, it adds.
Swiss authorities can immediately approve the extradition, the statement continues.
In a separate move, prosecutors opened criminal proceedings “against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering in connection with the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 football World Cups,” said a statement from the Swiss attorney-general.
Earlier this month, Mr Blatter said he was aware some of his former colleagues were under investigation but denied that it involved him.
He was responding to an ESPN documentary that claimed the Fifa president had been avoiding travel to the US for almost four years due to the investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation
vice president Jeffrey Webb to USA federal charges after raid on Switzerland hotel
vice president Jeffrey Webb to USA federal charges after raid on Switzerland hotel
Six Fifa officials, including Vice-president Jeffrey Webb, have been arrested on suspicion of corruption in dawn raids at a Zurich hotel ahead of Friday’s presidential election.
The members of the world governing body were held by Swiss police at the US Department of Justice’s request.
They are suspected of having received bribes totaling millions of US dollars, the Swiss authorities said.
The FBI and US Department of Justice will hold a news conference later.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who is seeking a fifth term in charge of the organisation when he stands for re-election on Friday, is not one of those arrested.
But Vice-president Webb, who is also head of the North America, Central America and Caribbean football federation, is among those held, according to BBC Radio 5 live’s sports news correspondent Richard Conway, who is in Zurich.
Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Eugenio Figueredo of Uruguay and the Brazilian deputy FA chief Jose Maria Marin were also taken away.
Members of Swiss law enforcement were still present in the hotel at 0800 BST but the main activity and arrests seemed to be over.
Li was due to join Fifa’s executive committee on Friday, while Marin, who was led out of a side exit, is a member of Fifa’s club committee.
The officers were carrying his black suitcase and some of his possessions in plastic bags.
A high-level meeting of Fifa officials is now under way at their headquarters and a news conference is expected at 1000 BST.
Swiss authorities began their operation to arrest the Fifa officials at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, pending extradition to the US, early on Wednesday.
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ) said those held were being investigated “on suspicion of the acceptance of bribes and kick-backs between the early 1990s and the present day”, totalling “more than $100m”.
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke briefly visited the hotel on Wednesday morning but declined to comment
A Fifa spokesperson said: “We have seen the media reports and are seeking clarity in this matter. We will make no further comment at this stage.”
Blatter is to go head-to-head against Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan in Friday’s presidential election.
Prince Ali and his advisors will meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the impact of the arrests on the upcoming vote.
The New York Times reports plain-clothed police officers took the room keys from the reception of the Baur au Lac hotel and headed upstairs to the guest rooms.
