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Letshego Africa Holdings denies loan default claims

Letshego Africa Holdings Ltd, a leading pan-African inclusive finance group, has vehemently denied reports of defaulting on loans in Kenya and Uganda, labelling the claims as “false and incorrect”.

In a statement released yesterday, the company clarified that it has not defaulted on any of its obligations in its subsidiaries, contrary to a headline published by Nation Media Group on July 5, 2024.

“We wish to categorically state that the allegations of default are entirely unfounded and misleading,” said Letshego Africa Holdings’ Group Chief Executive, Aupa Monyatsi. “We have always been committed to transparency and accountability, and we want to assure our stakeholders that our financial position remains solid.”

The company explained that the confusion arose from adjustments made to its Expected Credit Loss (ECL) methodology, which impacted its 2023 results and led to a restatement of its 2022 financial results.

This adjustment resulted in covenant breaches with some funders, which have since been addressed through proactive engagement and the obtaining of “letters of no action”.

“We proactively engaged with our funders and obtained the necessary waivers, ensuring that our debt obligations remain up to date,” Monyatsi emphasized. “Our capitalization and liquidity position remain strong, and we are confident in our ability to continue delivering on our pan-African inclusive finance strategy.”

The company’s Annual Results for 2023, published on March 22, 2024, provided a detailed account of the adjustments made and their impact on the financial results.

Stakeholders are encouraged to visit the company’s website or contact the investor relations department for factual information and official public releases.

“We appreciate the ongoing support and partnership of our funders, investors, and other stakeholders,” Monyatsi concluded. “We remain committed to our mission of providing inclusive financial services to underserved communities across Africa.”

In a show of confidence, the company’s shares remained stable on the stock market, with analysts predicting minimal impact on the company’s overall performance.

The swift response from Letshego Africa Holdings has helped to alleviate concerns and reaffirm the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

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NRM retreat kicks off in Kyankwanzi

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially open the Public Service Leaders’ Introspection Retreat of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and Members of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) top leadership at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi.

The retreat, which kicked off earlier today, will run until July 14, 2024. The seven-day residential retreat will run under the theme Answering the Citizens’ Call: Improved Service Delivery for Social and Economic Transformation.

The retreat seeks to evaluate manifesto implementation and address the gripping levels of corruption taking shape in ministries and parliaments in Uganda. The delivery of services has, over time, been riddled with corruption.

Currently, five legislators are under detention for corruption and embezzlement of funds. Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, Elgon County MP Mudimi Wamakuyu, and lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko were accused of diversion of funds and conspiracy to defraud Shs 164 billion meant for compensating cooperative societies.

Lwengo district woman MP, Cissy Namujju; Busiki county MP Paul Akamba; and Bunyole East county MP Mutembuli Yusuf were conversely remanded for soliciting a bribe from the executive director of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, to enhance the commission’s 2024/25 budget. The group would take 20% of the enhanced budget.

This financial year, the government has prioritised security with Shs 9.588 trillion, followed by roads and transport, access to electricity through grid expansion and connectivity projects, maintenance of the roads, the building of new strategic roads, the accelerated rehabilitation of the Metre Gauge Railway, the commencement of construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, and tourism.

According to Emmanuel Dombo, the Director of Information and Publicity at the NRM secretariat, the retreat is aimed at discussing the performance of the government in the last financial year, how to improve service delivery, and manifest implementation.

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The Future of Goal Sports Betting Trends to Watch in Uganda

Sports betting has always been a significant part of the sports culture globally, and Uganda is no exception. With the increasing popularity of various sports like basketball, football, and rugby, goal sports betting has become a prominent aspect of the betting industry. This article delves into the future of goal sports betting trends in Uganda, focusing on the unique dynamics of the market and the specific sports that are expected to shape the betting landscape in the coming years.

As the industry evolves, staying informed about these trends will help you make the most of your betting experience. For those eager to explore these developments, check out Topbets gal sports betting review and also for well-analyzed betting tips and bookie reviews.

The Rise of Football Betting

Football, without a doubt, is the most popular sport in Uganda. The sport’s widespread appeal has translated into a thriving betting market, with goal betting being a significant segment. Goal betting, which involves predicting the number of goals scored in a match, the timing of goals, and the players who will score, is particularly popular among Ugandan bettors.

Key Trends in Football Goal Betting

  1. Player-Specific Goal Betting: One of the emerging trends in football goal betting is the focus on individual player performances. Bettors are increasingly placing wagers on specific players to score goals. This trend is fueled by the availability of detailed player statistics and performance analytics, which help bettors make informed decisions.
  2. In-Play Goal Betting: In-play betting, or live betting, allows bettors to place wagers on various aspects of a game as it unfolds. In-play goal betting has gained immense popularity, enabling bettors to place bets on the next goal scorer, the total number of goals in a match, and the timing of the next goal. This dynamic form of betting adds excitement and engagement, making it a significant trend in the Ugandan market.
  3. Accumulative Goal Betting: Another notable trend is accumulative goal betting, where bettors place wagers on the total number of goals scored across multiple matches. This type of betting offers higher potential payouts and attracts bettors looking for larger returns on their investments.

Basketball Goal Betting: A Growing Market

While football remains the dominant sport, basketball is rapidly gaining popularity in Uganda. The National Basketball League (NBL) and international competitions like the NBA have a growing fan base, leading to an increase in basketball goal betting.

Key Trends in Basketball Goal Betting

  1. Point Spread Betting: Point spread betting is a common form of basketball goal betting. Bettors place wagers on whether a team will cover the spread, meaning they will win by a certain number of points or not lose by more than a specified margin. This trend is particularly appealing to bettors who enjoy analyzing team performances and predicting outcomes.
  2. Player Point Betting: Similar to football, player-specific betting is becoming prevalent in basketball. Bettors place wagers on individual players to score a certain number of points. This trend is driven by the availability of player statistics and performance data, allowing bettors to make informed decisions.
  3. Quarter and Half Betting: Betting on specific quarters or halves of a basketball game is gaining traction. Bettors can place wagers on the number of points scored in a particular quarter or half, adding an extra layer of excitement and engagement to the betting experience.

Rugby Goal Betting: Niche but Growing

Rugby, though not as popular as football or basketball, has a dedicated following in Uganda. The sport’s physicality and strategic gameplay make it an exciting option for goal betting.

Key Trends in Rugby Goal Betting

  1. Try Scorer Betting: One of the primary forms of goal betting in rugby is predicting the try scorers. Bettors place wagers on which players will score tries during a match. This trend is driven by the detailed player statistics available and the unpredictable nature of try scoring in rugby.
  2. First Try Scorer Betting: Betting on the first try scorer is another popular trend in rugby. Bettors predict which player will score the first try of the match. This form of betting adds an element of suspense and excitement, making it a favorite among rugby enthusiasts.
  3. Total Points Betting: Similar to other sports, total points betting is prevalent in rugby. Bettors place wagers on the total number of points scored in a match. This trend is appealing to those who enjoy analyzing team performances and predicting high-scoring games.

Technological Advancements Shaping Goal Betting

While the focus of this article is on specific sports and goal betting markets, it is essential to acknowledge the role of technology in shaping the future of betting. The integration of technology has transformed the betting experience, making it more accessible, engaging, and data-driven.

  1. Data Analytics and Predictive Models: The use of data analytics and predictive models is revolutionizing goal betting. Bettors can access detailed statistics, historical data, and performance metrics, allowing them to make informed decisions. Predictive models use this data to forecast outcomes, enhancing the accuracy of bets.
  2. Mobile Betting Applications: Mobile betting applications have made goal betting more convenient and accessible. Bettors can place wagers from their smartphones, access real-time updates, and engage in in-play betting, all from the palm of their hand. This convenience is driving the growth of the goal betting market in Uganda.
  3. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality: The future of goal betting may also see the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. These immersive technologies can enhance the betting experience by providing virtual simulations of games, interactive betting environments, and real-time visualizations of goal events.

Conclusion

The future of goal sports betting in Uganda is promising, with football, basketball, and rugby being the primary sports driving this market. Emerging trends such as player-specific betting, in-play betting, and accumulative betting are shaping the landscape, offering bettors new and exciting ways to engage with their favorite sports. Technological advancements are further enhancing the betting experience, making it more accessible, data-driven, and immersive.

As the sports culture in Uganda continues to evolve, goal sports betting is expected to grow, attracting more enthusiasts and creating opportunities for both bettors and the betting industry. The trends highlighted in this article provide a glimpse into the future of goal sports betting in Uganda, promising a dynamic and thrilling betting experience for sports fans.

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Keir Starmer must change foreign policy

New UK PM Keir Starmer.

By Dr David Matsanga in surrey UK

Last year and this year I sat down in the Old Bailey Court in London listening to the government lawyers defending the Rwanda scheme and I wondered why Rishi Sunak was interested in sending illegal undocumented immigrants to a country that has just recovered from the genocide in 1994.

As an African scholar and investigative journalist, I am interested in such case studies that help future generations. I still want to research further on why Rwanda a peaceful and pride model for Africa was chosen for the scheme.

I want to be on record by saying that those whose backgrounds have traits of immigrant nature have been at the forefront of “exporting others” to Rwanda. I had warned my dear sister from Uganda Pritt Patel not to start this Rwanda saga but she   that it was sad as people who originally came from Africa should use Africa as a dumping site.

I am smiling all the way to the airport as I leave Heathrow for Accra for my Pan African work to better and defend my continent from Colonial American hangovers. The mistakes America makes in the world turns UK into a battlefield.

The Sunak project is now dead and buried. Rishi Sunak wanted to undo the entire 1951 Geneva Convention that the United Kingdom helped to enact after the second World War. He messed up UK and will return to write his memoirs and eat the wealth he added on a huge family purse.

One question that lingers in my mind to date is why do some of our Asia brothers and sisters especially those who have roots from East Africa hate immigrants so much yet most of their families were immigrants? In both occasions my British Asian sisters and brother Rishi Sunak exhibited their dislike for immigrants.

I want to debunk the lies by those who unfairly hate President Paul Kagame. The on-Rwanda Scheme was not his scheme. It was the scheme of Pritt Patel. Rwanda Government did not ask the United Kingdom for Syrian and Afganistan undocumented immigrants. It was targeted because they wanted to fail Rwanda. Africa was targeted as a dumping ground.

I will always defend a friend at their lowest or at their highest peaks. My dear good friend President Kagame himself a former refugee is simply a good man but did not ask widely on the risks of the scheme. He acted in good FAITH with wrong people like Pritt Patel, based on a wrong foreign policy of a lead of a Commonwealth country of UK.

It was the mess of Tory psuedo foreign policy work of few right wing nationalists in the conservative government that went around the world shopping for the resettlement of their former combatants in the Syrian and Afganistan wars.

The most prudish behaviour was exhibited when Rishi Sunak went to a full length of telling the UK Parliament to change the European Human Rights law and ignore the European Courts – He termed them “Foreign Courts” Truly speaking this guy was a very hater of immigrants. But in the courts, we defeated him and in public opinion we did also last week.

That said, let us celebrate the new Labour Government led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that has promised change. The change where all world citizens are not segregated on the basis of race, religion or colour. Britain is multicultural society with values for all.

British people are the only people in the world that inspire hope in all world citizens despite their backgrounds. They support real refugees not fake ones, they give second chance to those whose lives were shattered by conflicts in the world.

The new Labour Government must research on the root causes of influx of immigrants to the English Channel. With our slogan -change the British Foreign Policy must change. It must deal with root causes not symptoms of those conflicts that create the influx.

Syrian, Iraq and Afganistan wars were all fought on falsehood. The Tony Blair sexed dossiers that brought us misery. Starmer must avoid Blair mistakes- he should not create the Zimbabwe style of foreign policy-Blair isolated Zimbabwe instead of containment and engagement.

I must be bold and state here that Tony Blair, Clare Shot, Baroness Patricia Scotland Baroness Amos, Lord Peter Haines, Baroness Kate Hoey must not come near any African policy desks because they will again create refugees in Africa.

We must not repeat the mistakes that caused the Zimbabwe misery in 1998. The Brighton mistakes must not be repeated. Millions of Labour members and supporters have brought about the landslide majority let us give them hope.

In 1997 in the former Croydon Central constituency we wrestled with the Tories only to be disappointed by Tony Blair with his Isolation policies and sexed dossiers. Blair’s foreign policy put us in opposition for 14 years.

The Conservative policies brought the boats in the waters and near the Borders of UK in the English Channel – they were sparked by failure of a foreign policy that never listened to containment and to dialogue.

The Syrian war brought quite a lot of suffering to the people of the world. The Syrian immigrants never wanted to leave their homes.  It was France that started the War against Syrian government which they did not win.

The same France as a country is the source of all wars in the world that creates immigrants. It is again in France where a mafia type of operations take place on immigrants. Dubious human being traffickers are allowed to pay the mafia to cross the immigrants from France into UK.

The first step for the Labour Government is to look at the 1951 Geneva Convention and reinforce it. The first country where refugees land is where they claim asylum. Why does France accommodate the illegal immigrants and then deport them to United Kingdom?

As I land, I wish the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer the best of luck on Foreign policy. We voted with logic and we are here to help so as to give solutions. We shall protect British interests abroad but let the Labour Party avoid the past miserable policies of Tony Blair’s sexed and doctored dossiers that plunged Iraq into terrible state.

The writer is a Pan Africanist based in London, Political scientist & International Relations expert, studied conflict Resolution, a member of Royal African Society (RAS) Founder /Chairman Pan African Forum (UK)Ltd @MatsangaDr

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Avoiding running multiple budgets

Mr Kenechukwu Aguolu

A country’s budget is simply a projection of revenue and expenditure for a period. When expenditures exceed projected revenue, additional funding sources—such as borrowings are indicated; resulting in a deficit budget. Budget estimates should be realistic and achievable within the budget year. A country’s budget reflects the policies and priorities of the government. It is an essential planning tool and should align with the long-term goals and aspirations of the country.

Supplementary budgets are meant to fund expenditure items that may have been omitted from the main budget or spin-off from unforeseen circumstances like war or pandemics, such as #COVID-19. The budgeting process should be thorough to avoid omissions that might necessitate requests for supplementary budgets or the need to vire funds from one expenditure category to another. Wars and pandemics are however often unpredictable.

It is public knowledge that the Federal Government has often extended the capital component of its annual budget into subsequent fiscal years, typically until March or May. However, the National Assembly’s approval to extend the capital portion of the 2023 Annual and Supplementary Budgets until December 2024 has raised eyebrows, as it seems somewhat unusual. Complicating matters further, the Federal Government is likely to submit 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly for approval soon. This implies that, at some point, the country may have four budgets running concurrently. This situation could have been avoided with better budget preparation and implementation. Running multiple budgets simultaneously complicates monitoring and execution.

Only the amount of expenditure likely to be expended within the year should be included in the budget. For example, if constructing road costs four hundred million naira and takes eighteen months to complete, it would be incorrect to allocate the entire amount to the budget as the project would extend into the next year. Only the portion that can be completed within the current budget period should be budgeted.

Additionally, when preparing the budget for the subsequent year, the portion of capital projects unlikely to be completed in the current year should be rolled over to the next budget. For instance, if one billion naira is allocated for a project in a year and it appears only seven hundred million will be spent by year-end, the remaining three hundred million should be included in the subsequent year’s budget.

A better approach to deal with the current scenario would be to consolidate the uncompleted portion of the Capital component of the 2023 Annual and Supplementary Budgets into the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill. This would prevent having four or potentially five budgets running simultaneously. We are only halfway through the year, yet a supplementary budget request will soon be made. What is the likelihood that another request will not be made before year-end?

The National Budget, as a planning and control tool, should be prepared with utmost diligence. The practice of extending budgets into subsequent years should not be encouraged. While requests for supplementary budgets are often unavoidable, they should be minimized. They should primarily be to take care of unforeseen circumstances rather than omissions. Achieving these goals requires better budget preparation and implementation. Running multiple budgets complicates monitoring and execution even future

Author: Kenechukwu Aguolu   FCA, PMP, CBAP

Abuja, Nigeria

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Rev. Venerable Michael Chorey elected 5th Bishop of Karamoja Diocese 

Rev Ven. Michael Chorey

The House of Bishops of Church of Uganda sitting at Lweza Training and Conference Centre, has elected Rev Ven. Michael Chorey as the 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Karamoja.

He will be consecrated and enthroned as the 5th Bishop on August 25, 2024 at St Phillip’s Cathedral, Moroto, replacing Rev. Joseph Abura who has been the Bishop since May 27, 2007 and the Dean of the Province of Church of Uganda.

Rev. Ven. Chorey was born on April 10,1970 in Dingdinga village, the present day Katabok Sub county in Amudat District.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour on May 12, 1986 at a fellowship organized by the School Chaplain who was also a Church teacher. The message was, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 6:23.”

He was ordained as Deacon on July 13, 2003 and priested on December 18, 2005. He began his Church Ministry as a Lay Reader from 1995 to 2000 and is currently the Archdeacon of Pokot Archdeaconry, a position he has held since April 1, 2012 to date. He also serves as the Parish Priest for Christ Church Amudat Parish.

He is married to Rev Canon Jane Chorey with whom they have planted 24 Churches which are now under Pokot Archdeaconry.

Rev. Ven Michael Chorey holds a Master of Arts in Theology and Development and a Bachelor of Divinity from Uganda Christian University. He is currently in the completion stages of his Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Development at Uganda Christian University.

He has undergone a number of trainings including monitoring and evaluation for HIV/AIDS, basic training of Trainer of trainers (TOT) for advocacy, peace and small arms monitoring and attended a leadership training at the Anglican Leadership Institute in South Carolina, USA.

He has translated manuals for Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja (ABEC), translated the Parliamentary ACT of 2010 of prohibition of female genital mutilation, and many other documents aimed at creating awareness on HIV/AIDS, Drugs and neglected diseases.

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Museveni creates special unit to oversee operations and fight corruption at URA

Mr David Kalemera.

President Yoweri Museveni has created a State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to oversee Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) operations and fight corruption within the tax administration system.

“His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has created the State House Revenue Intelligence and Strategic Operations Unit to do an oversight on Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) operations and fight corruption within the tax administration system,” read the letter from the Presidential Press Unit.

The President also appointed Mr. David Kalemera as a Senior Presidential Advisor and Head of the Unit.

“The creation of this Unit will help the government to close revenue leakages and boost tax collection,” the letter confirmed.

On June 28, Eagle Online revealed through a story on how conmen, ex-high profiled convicts are running URA whistleblower’s rackets to make a kill.

Uganda Revenue Authority is a subject of discussion as details emerge that its Whistleblower’s portal is being abused by its staff and top city tricksters to lure top companies in unsuspecting tax rackets.

Information available indicate several companies have fallen victim to this racket and are seeking the country’s investigative agencies to come to their rescue

“Agencies like the Anti-Corruption Unit should look into URA rackets and act harshly the same way they have worked on Parliament”.

According to one of such companies, this involves rackets in URA which aids damping goods in the country that include fuel that creates losses to the Republic of Uganda.

One of the rackets that Crime Intelligence should investigate is the whistleblower racket which they say works in connivance with some people to lure some companies that they owe URA money and therefore, moves ahead to demand for 30%. Sources told this website that a top multinational company that has been a victim of this racket recently obtained recordings, legal documents on how the commission on the 30 % is shared allegedly amongst these rackets and URA staff.

Part of this racket is to force estimates on companies and upon rejection, they are forced to pay 30% deposit and of this 30% deposit, the whistleblower claims 10% straightaway which is paid to a group in URA since it is an internal racket.

However, as this goes on, the affected companies move to seek legal redress and once the said company wins the case against URA, the whistleblower commission is kept on the books of account and is never refunded. According to sources, this has amounted to billions of shillings for the last few years and there is a hashtag code named internal connivance. The affected companies claim this is direct theft from the treasury because the companies are never refunded by the whistleblower.

The second racket is the VAT racket and as we speak, there is a case in court as an employee of the taxman was dragged to court as evidently accepted by URA with admission. The pleas are that there should be an audit as to how much has been lost through this scheme and money refunded and culprits dealt with the same way Members of Parliament are handled.

The concerned companies say a similar occurrence took place when the same group tried billions of shillings from Bujagali power.

“This racket has reduced investor confidence in Uganda and one wonder why entities like Game and among others are leaving the country.

This racket involves people from the taxman, some conmen in town and ex-high profiled convicts.

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Two suspects plead guilty for backfilling Lwajjali wetland 

The Chief Magistrates Standards, Utilities, and Wildlife Court has remanded two suspects, Kerim Ray and Eric Avunalo, to Luzira Prison for degrading Lwajjali wetland.

Kerim is the director for a Turkish company, Yaman Construction Ltd., while Avunalo is manager of Rockbuild Ltd., a contractor for site clearing.

The two are accused of violating the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) conditions given by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and a depositing marram into Lwajjali Wetland. 

Prosecution avers that the two were, on June 30, 2024, found backfilling Lwajjali Wetland in Gongobe Village, Goma Division, Sseeta Parish, Mukono Municipality in Mukono District.

The two pleaded guilty to the offenses. Yaman Construction Ltd is a concrete products manufacturing factory that was issued an ESIA certificate on June 14, 2024, in accordance with the National Environment Act 2019. 

The approval was meant for concrete manufacturing.

According to the Act, backfilling a wetland is a crime and a person who contravenes the law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand currency points or imprisonment not exceeding twelve years or both.

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Internal Affairs Ministry set to destroy over 60,000 uncollected passports

An Immigration official displaying some of the unclaimed passports.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is set to destroy over 60,000 uncollected passports worth Shs12.5 billion, citing storage space constraints. The unclaimed passports, mostly belonging to individuals seeking employment in the Middle East, have been stored at the Kyambogo collection center for years.

“We have been keeping these passports for a long time, but the owners have not come to collect them. We are running out of storage space, and we have decided to destroy them,” said Simon Mundeyi, the Ministry’s spokesperson.

Mundeyi explained that the passports have remained unclaimed for longer than six years, and the labor export activities have drastically reduced. “We have tried to contact the owners, but most of the phone numbers are no longer in use. We have also advertised in newspapers, but no one has come forward to claim them,” he added.

The Ministry has been struggling to manage the backlog of uncollected passports, which have accumulated since 2018. “These passports keep accumulating, and we are running out of storage at our collection center in Kyambogo. We currently have over 60,000 uncollected passports, which have not been claimed by their owners,” Mundeyi said.

The congestion has been worsened by an additional 10,400 passports abandoned by labor export companies and embassies. “When the passport is ready, messages are sent to the applicants to collect them. However, their phones are often off, and the messages bounce. We have tried contacting them using our toll-free lines, but nothing has yielded results,” Mundeyi explained.

The Ministry is urging people who applied for passports to promptly pick them up or check the ministry’s website to find out the status of their documents. “We don’t want to destroy anyone’s passport, but we are running out of space. We are appealing to those who applied for passports to come and collect them,” Mundeyi said.

The destruction of the passports is expected to take place next month, and the Ministry is urging the public to take action to avoid losing their travel documents. “Passports allow for exit from and re-entry into a country and also enable citizens to travel in a foreign country in line with visa requirements and request protection for the citizen while abroad,” Mundeyi emphasized.

The Ministry has also reminded citizens that passports are essential travel documents that enable exit and re-entry into a country and provide protection abroad. In Uganda, three types of passports are issued: ordinary, official, and diplomatic. The uncollected passports fall under the ordinary category, which costs Shs250,000 for a booklet.

The public has been advised to take urgent action to claim their passports before the deadline to avoid destruction.

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How will elections in UK & France affect Africa?

Writer of the article David Matsanga.

By Dr David Matsanga in Africa

Today is a great day in Britain – I voted via post long time ago for Labour Party in my constituency in Surrey. By the end of the day the Labour Party that I have been a member for over 37 years will win with a landslide. I happy that Sunak will fall today because he is a businessman but not political scientist.

The new Labour government will come with new policies that will affect Africa. But my happiness is that Sunak will go. Mr.Rishi Sunak will go back to back benches and discuss the Rwanda Refugee saga without any support. These changes will be very strategic for Africa because Labour Party listens to Africa.

 As things look splendid in United Kingdom, across the English Channel in France where Sunak’s boat refugee nightmare came from, a new wind of danger of Right wing extremism is growing in France. In few years to come it might be only Britain that will not have a right wing political leadership.

As literature scholar It would been easier to begin today’s article with a quote from W. B. Yeats’ The Second Coming. Many of you are like reading. You should read that book. Then see the type of mafia teams sweeping over Europe. In France things have been worse and they will be worse for Africans there.

As an African I am used to the book of Chinua Achebe called “things fall apart” and the words that are in like “the centre cannot hold”. This is what I can predict for Europe. But again, I want rise high and see the other reflection, I am not going to allow Africa to go that way Europe is going. I have read the books of Dr. Seuss and he feels more apposite. I will not.

I want to allow those who can read children books on line to try reading Dr Seuss books. For those who might not have children or without small children or long memories, the books are about a young boy who lays in bed, declaring to his mother and the world that he simply will not get up today. It is me.

I am one of those few Africans who says I can’t give up on Africa and I have said that France is the enemy of Africa. I have said that France should have left Africa long time ago. Almost every former colony of France has war or conflict.

France killed Libya and the leader. The French would not listen to some of us when we were warning the world about Libya: “I guess now President Emmanuel Macron must start listening because things are serious in his country with a right-wing leader coming power soon”.

What I ask my readers today is to bear with me, as I turn a bit to the Sunday’s French parliamentary elections. These elections brought in the deadliest woman on earth Marine Le Pen who might become the President of France. Her policies on Africans and migrants are horrible.

Following a disastrous performance in May 2024 European elections, President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election, seeking a “clarification” from voters. Essentially, he sought to call their bluff. But things turned ugly on him and he will go down in history

I always tell Africans to pray that such crude guys who have brought misery to Africa like Sarkozy end up in Jail. Macron’s calculation was that voters may not be content to support the far-right in elections that they consider distant and unimportant, but when it matters, they would return to the mainstream fold. He miscalculated and worst nightmare of woman who hates Africans and migrants in Europe is sweeping him out of power.

Like the British PM who will trounced today’s elections after failing to send refugees to Rwanda Macron faces the same chopping knife. The ploy of a snap election failed spectacularly. The French have chosen to back Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) a second time, the French demonstrated to their Macron that they were indeed fed up and serious.

Like the Tory Party in UK that will be washed out today July 4, 2024 the President’s centrist coalition, Ensemble, has been sent to a distant third. The truth is that it is only in Britain where moderate parties will take power but it seems the whole Europe is moving towards ultranationalist parties as stated at the beginning.

Like the outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has said there is a “moral duty” to prevent Le Pen’s party from gaining a majority in the National Assembly the former British Prime Minister Boris lamented that if Labour Party takes power Britain will be in hell. But let me remind Boris Johnson that for that not happen today and to avoid such an outcome today would require a huge miracle from God.

How does Africa shape its policies towards the two scenarios in Europe and UK? What does this mean for Africa? Shall we have opposition parties in Africa running to Europe or Britain for help like what Ugandan opposition and Zimbabwe opposition do? I tell you that strategist of both governments must begin to figure out what next out the new Labour Government coming on Friday. 

Whichever case it emerges Africa is at risk.  It is now clear that there is a spectre of the first far-right government in France since the Second World War and both Britain and Africa must be worried. It does raise uncomfortable questions for the UK government. and for the rest of Africa.

Join me to celebrate an early Labour Party victory.

The writer is a Pan Africanist based in London, Political scientist & International Relations expert, studied conflict Resolution, a member of Royal African Society (RAS) Founder /Chairman Pan African Forum (UK)Ltd @MatsangaDr

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