President Yoweri Museveni has sacked the board of Uganda National Oil Company over irregularities in recruitment of key personnel.
According to sources, Museveni was irked by the way the board led by Emmanuel Katongole tried to recruit senior manager who had no qualification for the position the agency had advertised.
It is said UNOC placed adverts for the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) which many respondents responded to and as all these was ongoing, the Chief Executive Officer of UNOC was on leave. However, what surprised many at UNOC was that one of their colleagues who is also a daughter to a minister in government was handed the job amidst resistance from the Human Resources department head.
Sources further reveal that it is at this point that the CEO cut her leave short to return to office only to see this daughter of a minister occupying the office of COO. She protested the development and demanded that the process be halted as other competent applicants had submitted their application and were suitable for the position.
“UNOC tried to hire this lady who had joined the company hardly two years from Total. However, what shocked the entire organization was the fact that the said recruit didn’t have any qualification in engineering which was the bases for the job”.
Sources further reveal that it is at this level that UNOC CEO sought for audience with the president over the matter. Museveni in turn dispatched his intelligence teams to verify the allegations which turned out true and hence summarily dropping the board. It is said that said daughter of the minister has been told to revert back to her old role or be sacked by the new board which he has constituted and whose names have been sent to the Speaker.
“The girl is incompetent for that job as she was sacked from Total, we wait and see what follows”
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the outbreak of conjunctivitis, commonly known as red eyes in Kampala. The outbreak has been identified in several schools in the capital city and eight prison facilities in the country.
According to Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, the director of general health services at the Ministry of Health, the affected divisions within Kampala District are Nakawa and Rubaga. The affected prisons include Luzira Upper Prison, Murchison Bay Prison, Kasanda Prison, Kaweeri Prison, Lira Main Prison, Erute Prison, Pader Prison, and Kampala Remand Prison.
As per surveillance and laboratory reports, some suspected cases have been reported within the schools. Samples from suspected individuals have been collected for bacterial and viral laboratory testing within Uganda.
As of March 13, 2024, a total of 954 cumulative cases were registered, with an incidence of 353. Joint surveillance efforts between the Kampala City Council Authority and Ministry of Health teams are actively underway.
He said a total of 790 cases cumulatively have been diagnosed in the affected prison facilities, of which 711 have been declared as recovered giving a recovery rate of 90%. The incident cases are mainly admitted as new inmates by police who initiate the cascade of in-custody transmission.
“Conjunctivitis, characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball and lines the eyelids, can be caused by various factors including viral infections, seasonal allergies, bacterial infections, and reactions to eye medications,” he said.
He said viral conjunctivitis is highly contagious and can spread from person to person through direct contact, sharing of personal items such as towels or pillowcases, facial contact, or sharing of eye drops or eyeglasses. Symptoms may include redness in the white of the eye or inner eyelid, increased tears, thick yellow discharge over the eyelashes, itching, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
The contagious period lies within the first 10-12 days; infection can last up to 3 weeks.
In order to control the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health, with support from partners, has initiated several measures including promoting personal hygiene and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activities in affected schools, strengthening surveillance in Kampala District, managing and treating affected individuals, sensitizing the public about the disease and prevention measures, and orienting health workers on investigating and responding to cases of red eye disease.
He urged the public to adhere to frequently wash hands with clean water and soap, avoid direct contact with infected individuals, particularly touching the eyes and shaking hands and
refrain from sharing items with infected persons, such as pillows, washcloths, towels, eye drops, or eyeglasses.
The Uganda Development Bank Ltd (UDB), the country’s national Development Finance Institution in partnership with Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL) has urged women to formalize their business for growth and access to funding.
Held under the theme; Accelerating Women’s Economic Equality through Financial and Non-financial Inclusion Opportunities for Ugandan Women, the conference brings together 200 registered women enterprises from all 14 UWEAL clusters in the country as they share experiences and explore opportunities.
The inaugural Annual Women Entrepreneurs Conference aims to the bridge information gap, a key barrier faced by women in accessing affordable finance and the participation of women in the country’s development agenda.
Sophie Nakandi, the Company Secretary and Head of legal in her remarks noted that the Bank remains resolute about delivering its mandate of accelerating Socio-economic development in Uganda. “We are deliberate about addressing the constraints to the country’s sustainable development. To do this, we continue to design appropriate interventions and solutions that address the needs of the underserved segments in our society, thereby facilitating financial inclusion and economic equality.”
“Cognizant of the systemic challenges women in business face, including inadequate access to affordable-patient capital and business development services, the Bank established a specialized proposition, dubbed the UDB Special Programs, to address the specific financing needs of youth, SMEs and Women,” she said at hotel Africana.
Launched in December 2021, UDB’s intervention for Women continues to grow enterprise assets and revenue, create employment, and redistribute wealth across all the sub-regions of Uganda.
“Under the women financing segment, (Women Prosper loans) the bank has in the last two years supported 72 enterprises in over 40 districts and approved 75 billion worth in loans.” Nakandi further explained.
Addressing the delegates, State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization Minster Evelyn Anite applauded UDB and UWEAL for this inaugural conference as it symbolizes efforts to address these structural barriers, “The government’s commitment as outlined in Vision 2040 and National Development Plan III, underscores gender equality as a cross-cutting enabler for socio-economic transformation.”
She added, “In an economy where women account for about 77% of the agricultural labor force, the sector that accounts for 24% of the GDP, and about 40% of Uganda’s export earnings, we stay committed to ensuring that such opportunities reach every woman across Uganda.”
The Board chairperson UWEAL, Sarah Kitakule hailed UDB for offering tailor-made financial solutions aimed at providing low-cost and patient capital for Women entrepreneurs and facilitating Women-owned businesses.
“Our partnership with Uganda Development Bank further increases our footprint and impact in the country. Through Business development services, Women Entrepreneurs develop the knowledge and skills necessary to grow and sustain their businesses.” She said.
Dr Maggie Kigozi reiterated the power of building synergies in business, for women to achieve economic equality, further noting that in such gatherings, women should learn from each other and build networks to propel their businesses.
Uganda continues to witness growth in the number of hotels and related facilities to support the local tourism industry, but none has done it better than businessman Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of Ruparelia Group which is determined to provide classy accommodation and conference facilities, which is in line with international standards.
Sudhir’s expertise in providing hotels and conference rooms is the talk of the town after he built a 3,800-seater Conventional Centre at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort, complete with 16 breakout rooms attached to another 16 in the old structure. Sudhir’s expertise in the hotel industry helped Uganda to host the Non-Aligned Movement [NAM] and G77+China summits that put Uganda on the world map.
Presidential dinner during NAM at Sunset Restaurant.
Under his Ruparelia Group, the businessman is also steadily implementing Kabira Country Club Extension Project in Bukoto Kampala. This project is expected to provide Ugandans, and others with accommodation, and more jobs. Recently the Commissioner of Uganda Revenue Authority John Musinguzi and the High Commissioner of India to Uganda, among other visitors toured the construction project, guided by Sudhir himself.
Trusting Ruparelia Group in hotel business
There is no doubt, we know that Ruparelia Group runs one of Uganda’s largest and finest hotels and resorts serving both the luxury and budget market. The Group offers the ultimate in luxury accommodation, leisure facilities and the finest conference and business meeting venues in Uganda.
All Ruparelia Group’s hotels and resorts are situated in the most strategic locations and offer an array of luxury services, intense hospitality, modern amenities, and business facilities.
However, Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort is the front-runner in the Ruparelia Group, and is well known for hosting national, regional and global conferences, as we recently saw with NAM and G77+China summits.
Tour of Kabira Country Club extension.
This leading 5-star resort is set on 90 acres in the Speke Resort complex, close to business, shopping and entertainment centres. The comfort and convenience offered by the Resort has attracted several high-profile visitors, from heads of state and foreign dignitaries to international celebrities.
Kabira Country Club is an exquisite facility in Kampala that combines short and long-term residential accommodation and conference facilities with the most prestigious health, fitness and leisure complex in Uganda.
Tourist Hotel has a modest blend of all Ruparelia Group’s deluxe accommodation, conference and leisure facilities into an economically mindful package, with no compromise to service, convenience and comfort. The hotel is located in a busy business centre in Kampala and offers a choice of 70 comfortable rooms to the discerning businessperson and tourist at budget prices.
Speke Hotel, another in the Ruparelia Group, is one of Kampala’s oldest hotels and offers all the charms of bygone days complimented by efficient, modern services and facilities. Speke Hotel is located in the heart of Kampala, close to banks and business centres. Speke Apartments offer overnight accommodation and holiday apartments to travellers in Kampala for rent on a daily or monthly basis.
Others are: Forest Cottages in Bukoto, Speke Resort Bujagali Falls, Bukoto Heights and Bukoto Living, Pearl businessman park, Kingdom Kampala Hotel, Sese Gateway hotel, Paradise Resort.
The Group’s award-winning performance in hospitality led to Speke Resort and Conference Centre being named Africa’s best luxury lakeside Resort in the 2019 World Luxury Hotel Awards, while Kabira Country Club bagged the award for best luxury boutique hotel.
Classification of hotels sees hotels under Ruparelia Group doing well
In August last, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) started undertaking a nationwide grading and classification exercise, and most of the Ruparelia Group hotels appear among the best.
According to UTB CEO Lilly Ajarova, the hotel classification exercise is in fulfillment of one of UTB’s mandates to carry out Quality Assurance of the tourism sector as enshrined in the Tourism Act 2008. The exercise aligns the country and tourism players to the provisions of Article 115(2) of the East African Treaty. In the treaty, Tourism is one of the identified sectors where partner states work together in a coordinated manner, to develop the quality of accommodation and catering facilities for visitors within the region.
Ruparelia Group hotels meet most of the Five “As” of tourism including Attractions, Amenities, Activities, Accessibility and Accommodation. Accommodation is one of the important components in streaming standards that make Uganda a competitive destination.
According to experts, hotels must meet international standards to attract tourists to the country, and this has been achieved by hotels run by Ruparelia Group.
A new report shows that HIV infections continue to decline in countries that are part of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition (GPC) faster than in the rest of the world.
Eleven GPC focus countries have reduced their annual number of new HIV infections by at least 66% since 2010. By comparison, the average reduction in new HIV infections since 2010 globally is 38%. The GPC is a coalition of 38 countries working together to accelerate declines in new HIV infections to achieve the target of having 95% of the people who are at risk of HIV accessing effective combination prevention options.
The GPC countries that have prioritised primary prevention and treatment and that have focused on reaching people most at risk have secured the strongest consistent declines in new HIV infections.
Globally, progress in HIV prevention has been highly uneven and a majority of the world’s countries are not currently on track to achieve the 2025 targets. Indeed, several countries are experiencing prevention crises with low access to services and face record rising new HIV infections.
“The findings of this report offer crucial lessons for action,” said Angeli Achrekar, Deputy Executive Director Programme, UNAIDS. “The report shows that sustained political leadership, investment in effective HIV prevention programmes, and an enabling policy environment are crucial to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.”
Declines in new HIV infections have been boosted by the cumulative impact of combination HIV prevention options and increased access to antiretroviral treatment which has also increased viral suppression in people living with HIV. People who are on treatment and are virally supressed cannot transmit HIV.
“It’s remarkable to see what has been achieved in the AIDS response in the past 20 years. But the progress to date has not been equitable and is not yet sustainable, and we must never confuse progress with being sure of success,” said Mitchell Warren, GPC co-chair and Executive Director, AVAC. “Our progress is fragile, and what we’ve achieved today could slip away even more quickly than it was achieved if we let complacency take hold.”
Key populations and adolescent girls and young women are still at high risk of new infections. HIV incidence remains unacceptably high among populations where gaps in HIV prevention investments persist.
Around 3100 young women and girls aged 15-24 became newly infected with HIV every week in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 and HIV incidence declined less rapidly than it has among young men. Only 43% of the sub-national areas in which there is elevated HIV incidence among young women are being reached with dedicated prevention programmes for young women.
Although GPC countries have shown solid gains in reducing new HIV infections, challenges remain worldwide in reaching key populations most at risk of new HIV infections including men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs. Every week, more than 11 000 new HIV infections occur among key populations and their sexual partners globally.
Only 44% of sex workers, 28% of gay men and other men who have sex with men, and 37% of people who inject drugs accessed two or more HIV prevention services in the previous three months according to median values reported by GPC countries ––against a target of 90%.
HIV prevention is being obstructed by shortfalls in prevention financing, and by punitive laws. Social stigma, violence, discrimination and social exclusion are barriers to key populations’ access to health-care services and information, exacerbating their risk of acquiring HIV. Law reform is a crucial enabler of prevention programmes. Protecting the human rights of everyone is vital for protecting the health of everyone.
Investments in both condom and voluntary medical male circumcision programmes, which are both effective in preventing HIV, have fallen in some of the countries with the largest HIV epidemics. In addition, breakthrough HIV prevention options such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medicine to prevent HIV, are still only available to a small fraction of the people who need them.
There are unprecedented opportunities for HIV prevention in 2024. There is a growing array of prevention options including existing tools and new long-acting prevention technologies, as well as country examples of how to implement prevention at scale and increase choices available to communities.
HIV Prevention programmes need to be at scale, efficient and equitable. The actions that are needed for success and sustainability are known, have been shown to work, and have been agreed: collaborate, follow science, tackle inequalities, protect everyone’s rights, let communities lead, and invest in what is needed. Sliding back on resourcing or inclusion would hurt everyone. Solidarity will benefit everyone. Communities, countries and international partners can prevent new infections together.
Parliament has ordered for the arrest of Ms Doreen Katusiime, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, for failure to respond to accountability queries.
The Permanent Secretary was expected to appear before the Public Accounts Committee today to account for the money that was allocated to the ministry last financial year; however, she delegated her roles to her juniors at the ministry. The committee learnt that Katusiime took her annual leave a few days before the scheduled meeting with MPs.
According to CID officials attached to Parliament have failed to trace the whereabouts of Ms Katusiime prompting the Public Accounts Committee to issue fresh summonses requiring her to attend a meeting on March 19, 2024.
“You recall that we suspended the meeting and summoned the Permanent Secretary to appear; the Criminal Investigations Directorate is having difficulty tracing her, and the time we had set had elapsed. We want to extend the same summons to Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 3 p.m., and the CID is thereby directed,” Butambala County Muwanga Kivumbi said.
The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, has recalled MPs from recess to handle the urgent matter of exorbitant expenditure at the house.
The recall of MPs follows a section of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs led by Lwemiyaga County legislator Theodore Ssekikubo and Buyaga West counterpart Barnabas Tinkasimire who joined the opposition in demanding for the immediate summon of members from recess over the ongoing exhibition that revealed exorbitant expenditure at the August House.
“During the sixteenth sitting of the third meeting of the third session of the eleventh parliament held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the speaker adjourned the house sine die. This is therefore to inform you that the plenary sittings will resume tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.,” Adolf said.
EagleOnline has, however, learnt that the MPs will be discussing ministerial policy statements tabled by various ministries.
Led by social media activists led by Dr. Spire Ssentengo and the journalist Agatha Atuhaire, who leaked documents showing the alleged exorbitant sums of months pocketed by the speaker, Anita Among, in the name of per diem, cooperation, social responsibility, and others.
The funds were being deposited in various accounts of the parliamentary staff. The exhibition revealed that several MPs claimed per diem for the same activity from Parliament and the National Council of Sports.
It further showed that the speaker received over Shs2.4 billion in a space of 39 days. The money that was received by Daniel Adilo and Okwi Emmanuel Emuron was reportedly meant to cater to field mobilization activities, her outreach activities, community consultation activities, and others.
It also showed that she pocketed, per diem, Shs2.6 billion for the eight trips she made out of the country between September 2023 and January 2024. She also received a per diem of Shs646 million between July 2022 and July 2023.
In a period of four days from October 11, 2023, to October 16, 2023, Shs2,673,000,000 was put into a personal bank account, which included that of Chris Obore, the Director of Communications at Parliament.
Amb. Amoru presenting his credentials to President Mnangagwa yesterday March 13, 2023 in Harare.
Harare – March 14, 2024-His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on Wednesday March 13, 2024 officially received Mr. Paul Amoru, marking the commencement of his tenure as the High Commissioner of Uganda to Zimbabwe. The presentation of credentials by Mr. Amoru at State House in Harare not only symbolises a continuing friendship between the two nations but also propels them into a future of increased collaboration and mutual development.
Mr. Amoru conveyed the warmest regards and best wishes from His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, emphasising the solid foundation of excellent relational dynamics that exists between Uganda and Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa warmly welcomed Ambassador Amoru, recognizing the strong diplomatic relations that have been nurtured since the liberation struggle. He acknowledged the significance of Uganda’s support, particularly in advocating for the lift of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, showcasing a unity in regional and international advocacy.
In a speech that highlighted the event, Mr. Amoru extended his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for the opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties through his new role. The event also served as an occasion for Mr. Amoru to appreciate President Mnangagwa’s participation in the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit and the 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 + China, held in Uganda this January. The visit underscored a shared vision towards Pan-Africanism and deepened the historical bonds forged by common interests and mutual respect.
Emphasising the focus of Uganda’s Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, Mr. Amoru spoke about the collective mission to address the challenges faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs), striving for prosperity through increased trade, advancement in science and technology, sustainable environmental practices, and enhanced security measures.
Both President Museveni and President Mnangagwa share a mutual acknowledgement of the need to activate the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) and the establishment of a Joint Business Forum, aiming at exploring new areas of cooperation and enhancing bilateral trade. Uganda and Zimbabwe have expressed a keen interest in further collaboration across various sectors including mining, tourism, agriculture, and education, aimed at elevating the living standards of their people and fostering economic development.
While acknowledging the Ugandan diaspora’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s strategic sectors, Mr. Amoru thanked the Zimbabwean people and government for their continued hospitality. The discussion during the Credentials Ceremony also revisited the major milestones achieved during the two countries’ historical interactions, including high-level visits and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at bolstering their bilateral relations.
President Mnangagwa commended the previous High Commissioner of Uganda, Amb. Barbra Nekesa Oundo, for her outstanding performance and recognized the positive impact of past high-level visits between the two countries. Additionally, he lauded President Museveni’s continuous support for Zimbabwe, particularly in advocating for the removal of sanctions and promoting peace, security, and stability in the region.
Looking towards the future, President Mnangagwa expressed his desire to convene the long overdue Joint Permanent Commission between Uganda and Zimbabwe to further solidify cooperation. He underscored the shared membership in COMESA as a platform to enhance bilateral trade and cooperation on regional peace and security issues.
President Mnangagwa’s commitment to working closely with Uganda on matters of regional peace and security resonated with the shared aspiration for a prosperous future for both nations.
The Zimbabwean leader expressed his earnest wishes for Mr. Amoru’s successful tenure as Uganda’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, viewing this as an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the two countries even further.
Mr. Paul Amoru’s appointment and the warm reception from Zimbabwe pave the way for a new era of diplomatic relations and collaborative ventures, promising not only to benefit the respective countries but also to exemplify African unity and solidarity on the global stage.
A section of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs led by Lwemiyaga County legislator Theodore Ssekikubo have joined their counterparts in the opposition, demanding the immediate recall of Parliament from recess.
The development follows social media activists led by Dr. Spire Ssentengo and the journalist Agatha Atuhaire, who leaked documents showing the alleged exorbitant sums of months pocketed by the speaker, Anita Among, in the name of per diem, cooperation, social responsibility, and others.
The funds were being deposited in various accounts of the parliamentary staff. The exhibition revealed that several MPs claimed per diem for the same activity from Parliament and the National Council of Sports.
It further showed that the Speaker received over Shs2.4 billion in a space of 39 days. The money that was received by Daniel Adilo and Emmanuel Okwi Emuron was reportedly meant to cater to field mobilization activities, her outreach activities, community consultation activities, and others.
It also showed that she pocketed, per diem, Shs2.6 billion for the eight trips she made out of the country between September 2023 and January 2024. She also received a per diem of Shs646 million between July 2022 and July 2023.
In a period of four days from October 11, 2023, to October 16, 2023, Shs2,673,000,000 was put into a personal bank account, which included that of Chris Obore, the head of communications at parliament.
Ssekikuubo said that following allegations made in public that the members of the Parliamentary Commission distributed amongst themselves funds in the name of service awards, some commissioners have gone into hiding.
“Even the commissioners themselves are in hiding. We are here; we are loitering around the corridors of Parliament, and we can’t see anybody. These are very disturbing issues, and we are calling on the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Clerk to live up to their calling to restore Parliament. Parliament is being run down.”
“We can’t now walk with our heads high on the streets of Kampala; we smuggle ourselves and bold out. It isn’t the best time to be identified as an MP. We are all bundled up; nobody is giving answers. Should we all go by roll call, not me? We are all being castigated, and we look bad in the eyes of the public,” Ssekikubo said.
The updating of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) membership register has kicked off in the various villages in the country.
The exercise was launched by NRM National Chairman and President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta, at the party headquarters last month.
The update and registration will run from today, March 13, 2023, to March 17, 2024. There will be a display of the NRM register in all 72,000 villages.
According to Richard Todwong, the Secretary General of NRM, the existing register has been cleaned, and only 11.4 million out of the 17 million were maintained.
“Last-minute conversions from other political parties have to be scrutinised carefully before being registered as NRM members, and the villagers should confirm that such persons have been pro-NRM in the NRM village activities.” Museveni said.
“Mobilisation, holding meetings, and all those other efforts will be very easy if you go back to the NRM principles. The principles of the NRM are a diagnosis of the problems in Uganda. Those principles are at first a diagnosis; what is this Uganda suffering from? And then a prescription. Therefore, as you mobilise, first of all, understand these principles very clearly. That is why you, the leaders, must be different from the followers. A follower doesn’t have to understand the depth of the matter; he needs a summary,” Museveni said.
Adding “Unlike in the past, where we used to update the register at the headquarters, the party shall have sub-regional data centres after collecting data from the villages, which is compiled at the sub-regional data centres before being forwarded to the party headquarters”.
