The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has announced an extension of the national population and housing census, which was initially slated to end on May 19 to May 25, 2024.

According to UBOS Executive Director and Census Commissioner, Dr. Chris N. Mukiza, the extension is aimed at ensuring that everyone is counted and no one is left behind.

 “We want to guarantee that all households and individuals are enumerated, and this extra time will enable us to reach those who may have missed the initial period,” Dr. Mukiza explained.

The census exercise, which began on May 10, has faced some challenges, including login difficulties and incomplete listing during mapping, which affected some enumeration areas. The extension provides an opportunity for households that have not yet been enumerated to make an appointment with their LC1 Chairpersons to agree on a date and time for enumeration before the end of the waiver period.

Supervisors have been urged to ensure complete coverage and quality assurance during this period. The data collected will be used to inform development planning, policy decisions, and resource allocation.

The public is encouraged to take advantage of this extension and make sure they are counted. By doing so, they will be contributing to shaping Uganda’s future.

“Remember, the census is a crucial exercise that helps the government understands the needs and characteristics of the population, and it’s essential that everyone participates. Don’t miss this opportunity to be counted,” Mukiza said.

The Bureau has meanwhile advised members of the public who have not yet enumerated to reach out to their respective Local council 1 chairpersons to book for the same.

“Due to challenges experienced at the start of enumeration, we do not want to leave anyone behind and thus found it prudent to have an extension of the Census exercise. In case you haven’t been counted, this is your time. Also, reach out to your L.C to have an appointment booked for you to be counted”.  Noted Mr. Mukiza

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The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House working with Criminal Investigations Directorate have arrested Polly Natuhwera, Director of Zionat Multipurpose Limited, on charges of Embezzlement of government money and fraud.

Mariam Natasha, the unit’s spokesperson said that the suspect’s trouble started from the diversion of over Shs162 million that was advanced to his company to start the construction of learning structures at Mwello Seed School.

Ms Natasha revealed that in December 2023, Shs648,323,714 contract was signed between Tororo District and M/s Zionat Multipurpose International Limited for the construction of Mwello Seed School, with a completion date of May 30, 2024.

“The site was handed over in February, and an advance payment of Shs162,080,929 was paid to the contractor. However, he did not start work until April 19, 2024,” Natasha said.

According to the preliminary report, Tororo District officials, including the District Engineer and CAO, made numerous attempts to get to the contractor without any success and also notified him of their intention to terminate the contract.

“Upon arrest, Natuhwera admitted to diverting part of the Shs162 million to other uses,” Natasha added.

She noted that investigations also revealed that, whereas during the bidding process, the contractor provided profiles of qualified and registered engineers as project manager and site engineer, on the ground he has no qualified and registered engineers doing the work.

Investigation further revealed that the same contractor has an ongoing contract for the construction of Simu Seed School Phase II in Bulambuli district, which is also at foundation level, since the signing of the contract in January 2024 at a cost of Shs89 million.

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The head of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s security detail, Captain Edward Ssempijja has vanished from duty. His disappearance was confirmed by the head of Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the Director for Communications at the Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF).

Cap. Ssempijja vanished at the time when Kabaka went overseas for medical attention. Kabaka has been out of the country for four weeks. Cap. Ssempijja went missing 10 days ago.

According to Gen. Kulayigye, for now, UPDF is counting Ssempijja as absent from duty. After 21 days of disappearance, he will be declared away without official leave, and he will now be the suspect.

He noted that for now, UPDF has given him a benefit of doubt because he may come back with an issue that has taken him a long way. After 31 days, UPDF will institute a Board of Inquiry to establish what happened to him. Did he run away? Was he kidnapped?

“If it is found that he went on his own, what was the cause? Was it to do with the workstation or family issues, or was he a security threat to the person he was protecting? Capt. Ssempijja was on special duty protecting a VVIP. So why do you disappear? Could there be reasons why you would endanger the principal? If so, we must get you to the bottom of the case,” Gen. Kulayigye said.

He noted that any officer leaving on his own must appoint somebody to act; if he vanishes, just like Ssempijja did, the institution appoints somebody to act in that position until the substantive one is identified.

“This is a special deployment. You don’t deploy any officers; the person must be of proficient discipline and others. There is a captain who has been appointed to take charge of the unit until a substantive is appointed,” he noted.

He will be considered a deserter if he fails to appear before the inquiry team within a month.

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President Yoweri Museveni and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto have directed their respective Ministers of Trade to convene “as soon as possible” and address the unresolved Non-Trade Barriers (NTBs) that continue to stifle Uganda-Kenya trade.

Uganda remained Kenya’s biggest trading partner in terms of exports for the period ending October 2023, according to data published by Kenya Bureau of Statistics in early January, in the eight-member East African Community (EAC).

Exports to Kenya mainly iron and steel products accounted for 31.5 percent while imports to Uganda mainly farm produce and petroleum products 43.5 percent of the total goods sold to the EAC.

However, the two countries have severally sparred over trade, particularly with Kenya blocking a number of Ugandan products including poultry, sugar, beef products, and maize to the chagrin of traders and manufacturers who have called for retaliatory measures or accused the government of not doing enough.

This, as Kenyan traders on the other hand continue to enjoy Uganda’s open trade policies. Technocrats from both sides have met several times to iron out the protectionist practices, but without much success.

According to a communique signed by the permanent secretaries of the ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two governments, the two presidents during President Museveni’s state visit to Kenya on Thursday discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest and “directed the Ministries responsible” to develop implementation modalities of the MoUs inked.

President Museveni also emphasized the need for continued collaboration between the two nations to address common challenges and seize opportunities for growth.

He provided context to the agreements and protocols signed in the joint communique, emphasizing their alignment with the historical missions stating that more than 60 years ago, when Africa gained independence, there was a lack of proper harmonization regarding the historical mission beyond liberation.

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Brokers, idlers and drunkards are to be expelled from Bus Parks. This comes as part of the resolutions arrived at in a meeting between the Chief Licensing Officer, the Uganda Bus Owners Association Management of Kisenyi and Namayiba bus terminals.

“This move will ensure heightened security and orderliness in the bus parks. The bus owners will also save up to Shs335,000 per local bus and Shs1,340,000 per interstate bus paid to brokers for loading,” Ministry of works and transport revealed.

The Ministry instructed the Director of Namayiba and Kisenyi Bus Parks in Kampala to, with immediate effect, inform the targeted categories to vacate.

Most brokers are often drunk while on duty and treat passengers with inhumane characters, a practice that will be reduced once the decision is implemented.

Recently, the Works Ministry held an extensive meeting with the administration of the two parks to stall the rent increment by one month and with Terminal Management to do away with all brokers, idlers, drunkards, and drug abusers from within and around bus terminals who cause insecurity to the traveling public.

Yesterday, former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Asan Kasingye raised concern over the bus brokers who disguise themselves to offer bus receipts to passengers and disappear in case the conductors reject them and there is no refund to these passengers.

“Something is happening at the Mbarara Bus Park. These guys; man and lady, con unsuspecting passengers by claiming to be agents of Tausi Bus Company, they collect Shs25,000 as fair to Kampala and give receipts of Shs2,000 in favour of Khans Legacy coaches. This bus does not accept the receipts and by the time passengers realize, they are off the scene. This has been going on and nobody seems to care about the plight of passengers,” Kasingye posted on his X (formerly twitter) account. 

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