To mark International Day for Women and Girls in Science, Coca-Cola Beverages Uganda (CCBU) celebrates the achievements of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) by recognising leading women taking part in its Women in Leadership programme.

Commenting on the programme which aims to help talented women grow into leaders through training and support, Catherine Gita, CCBU People and Culture Director said, “As an organisation grounded in innovation and driven by a commitment to sustainability, CCBU recognises the crucial role that women play in shaping the future of STEM and is actively addressing this imbalance through various initiatives”.

A government report in 2014 showed that fewer girls in Uganda were passing biology and maths exams. The 2018 Gender in Education Policy aims to change this by getting more girls into science classes and training teachers to teach STEM subjects better. To support this, the aim of the programme is to close the gender gap and increase female representation in leadership roles, including STEM-related departments.

Some of the exceptional women whose accomplishments exemplify excellence and resilience in STEM include among others Doreen Namuyiga,Barbra Namanyi and Anisha Namugabo.

Doreen Namuyiga, a Quality Assurance Technologist, ensures CCBU’s products meet the highest standards, driven by her passion for understanding the science behind food and beverage production.

“Pursuing a career in STEM has not been without its challenges, but I am grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow, both personally and professionally. Through perseverance and determination, I have overcome obstacles and continuously struggle to expand my knowledge and expertise in the dynamic field of quality assurance.”

Barbra Namanyi, a Raw Materials Planner, coordinates procurement and inventory management, leveraging data analytics and supply chain principles. Barbra’s journey in STEM began with a curiosity for problem-solving, demonstrating the diverse opportunities within these fields.

“Young women and girls need to appreciate the different fields under STEM so they can embrace them boldly.

Anisha Namugabo, a Quality Controller, envisions a future where every girl has equal opportunities in STEM. She advocates for more female role models and mentors to inspire the next generation of women leaders and innovators.

“International Women in STEM Day serves as a call to action to advocate for gender equality and to empower young girls and women to pursue their dreams in STEM. It is a day to reflect on the progress made in creating a more inclusive and equitable world where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact, regardless of gender.”

Through their achievements, CCBU’s women in STEM embody innovation, resilience, and empowerment.

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The Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) has called for enforcement of pre-employment medical tests to minimize workplace health and safety hazards. The suggestion comes in as Parliament processes the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The federation argued that employers have been dragged into endless court cases and the resultant court fines, for employing workers who are not fit for certain duties and end up with adverse health conditions.

“As it is with the military, the law should ensure that employers especially those in high-risk sectors such as the extraction, take on workers who are fit to work, otherwise employers will be subjected to unnecessary costs,” said Dan Okanya, Head of Policy and Research at FUE.

The federation made this recommendation while appearing before the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development on Tuesday, 13 February 2024 with Workers’ Representative, Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi, as acting chairperson.

FUE was concerned that the Bill does not adequately spell out what constitutes occupational and safety hazards, citing mental health as a critical health hazard that should not be left out.

“Mental health is a common emerging issue, our member organisations tell us that over 20 percent of staff has mental health challenges, some of them have best practices that we should pick from,” Okanya said.

The federation proposed that the Bill should prescribe mandatory training for all employees in safety issues such as first aid and that the employer should freely provide such training.

Henry Saaba, a specialist in occupational safety and health at FUE said the law should push for an increase in health inspectors on the ratio of one inspector per region.

According to Saaba, there are less than 20 occupational health inspectors who cannot ably supervise the entire country.

“Although the ideal is to have a health inspector per district, we are saying let government recruit an inspector for each region to enforce the law,” Saaba said.

Hon. Bakkabulindi was concerned with the federation’s position when it questioned the requirement in the Bill for all employers to have a safety committee, saying the law should be fair for all sizes of organisations.

“We are not going to protect those with 50 employees and leave those with two, the law should treat them equally,” said Bakkabulindi.

Bakkabulindi asked FUE whether its members were not affected by the emerging use of technology which he said, is likely to outcompete employees. He charged FUE to conduct a wider analysis of the Bill, observant that it is the national representative of employers.

Workers’ Representative, Hon. Margret Rwabushaija, warned that the Bill should cater for the interests of both workers and employers.

The Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to expand the scope of the principal Act cognisant that since its enactment in 2006, there has been significant change in the workplace dynamics such as teleworking, virtual jobs outsourcing, and contracting.

The existing law does not address the rapidly evolving sectors such as extractive industry and telecommunication which the Bill intends to legislate for.

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Parliament has directed the Uganda Police Forces’ Exodus Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) to stop mandatory deduction of personnel salaries as savings.

The Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs discovered that the SACCO’s management is violating the Cooperatives Societies Act by denying them the option of voluntary saving.

This was contained in the committee’s report on the inquiry into the operations of the Uganda Police Force Exodus SACCO that was presented by the chairperson, Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, during plenary sitting on Tuesday, 13 February 2024.

“The committee reiterates that the Registrar of Cooperatives Societies proceeds over the SACCO under Section 2 (2) of the Cooperatives Societies Act and immediately stops mandatory deductions on officers’ salaries and contributions for members’ savings until a comprehensive membership register is compiled on the condition that only willing members are registered,” said Kajwengye.

He added that the stopped deductions should only apply to savings and not loans, stating that all members with outstanding loan obligations should continue to pay the SACCO.

Kajwengye said that the SACCO’s financials are not being managed in adherence to sound accounting principles and standards.

“It is the committee’s considered opinion that inconsistencies in data compilation is the major cause of discrepancies and unreliable financial positions which has significantly affected the members’ savings,” Kajwengye said.

The committee also recommended that all deductions that were or are being made in the form of retirement benefits should be refunded with interest to the affected personnel, saying that the deductions are contrary to the Pensions Act.

The committee further urged Parliament to direct the Office of Registrar of Cooperatives and Bank of Uganda to institute an independent forensic audit on the Exodus SACCO, as mandated by law.

“Effectively, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives should move the Registrar of Cooperatives to initiate the process,” read the report in part.

The report further discovered that the unchecked role of District Police Commanders outside Kampala in transmitting the membership returns to headquarters in Kampala was a severe risk.

“The SACCO had no systems to effect deductions from source. Due to the inadequate verification process of membership contributions and insufficient records from inception, the SACCO management could not comprehensively update the members’ register,” said Kajwengye.

As a result of this lapse, the committee observed that each member’s percentage shareholding and savings cannot be reliably established.

The report also recommended that the SACCO management should develop a policy on claiming the savings of a departed member after a discovery that the management of the SACCO savings, shares and loans of the deceased members are maintained as if the members are still active.

Busia Municipality MP, Hon. Geofrey Macho, who raised the matter, questioned the integrity of the Registrar in ensuring that the mandatory deductions that were made will be recovered.

“It is the same Registrar and ministry queried for disappearance of SACCO money,” he said.

Hon. Gilbert Olanya, (FDC, Kilak South County) said that the SACCO management goes as far as deducting the personnel’s salaries as soon as they start their initial training in the Force.

“You come from training and a percentage is taken from your salary. You will never withdraw this money but they keep saving,” said Olanya.

The Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, justified the mandatory deductions, saying that it is aimed at improving the welfare of the officers, just like is the case with the Army’s SACCO.

“Granted, we had issues at the beginning of management, some of the issues still subsist but I want to urge members that rather than stampede a crash of this SACCO why we don’t, maybe, approach with caution and convince people to stay. I could see some sentiments – people saying, get your money and go,” said Muhoozi.

He agreed with the recommendation to institute a procedure on access of benefits of the deceased by their next of kin. “This money is theirs and they are entitled to it,” said Muhoozi.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, however, disagreed with the minister, saying that mandatory deductions of members’ salaries contravene the law.

“It is very imperative that immediately you stop mandatory deductions. It is supposed to be voluntary; you cannot do much about it unless you change the law. This money of theirs is hard earned,” Tayebwa said.

He directed the Minister of Internal Affairs to present an action taken report within three months.

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The Criminal Investigations Department task team working together with Mukono Police have arrested a notorious hacker for allegedly breaking into mobile money systems and stealing millions of shillings from agents in different locations.

Kaporonyo Sabiiti, a 48-year-old, hacker from Namugongo in Wakiso is now in police custody and faces charges of cybercrime and theft according to Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga.

Enanga said that by the time Kaporonyo was arrested, he had made millions from his hacking business with victims registered in Mukono, Jinja, Misindye, Kiira division, Kinoni and Nagalama, among other areas.

“The suspect made millions of shillings from hacking into mobile money systems by agents in Mukono, Jinja, Misindye, Kiira division, Kinoni and Nagalama, among others. He had also allegedly customized his car registration number plates, believing his car movements would not be detected,” Mr Enanga stated in Monday’s security briefing.

Upon his arrest, Enanga said “An immediate search was conducted which led to the recovery of four Airtel lines and a hacking machine. His motor vehicle, a Toyota Harrier, registration number UBD 612P, white in colour was also impounded.”

“As the Joint Security Agencies, we continue to locate and fight these kinds of criminals who steal and hurt innocent business persons. We shall investigate, expose and disrupt them,” Enanga emphasized.

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The United States government has injected Shs3.8 trillion into various sectors of the country in 2023, the US report to the people of Uganda indicates.

The annual US Report to Uganda chronicles the United States’ enduring partnership with the Ugandan people and joint efforts in different sectors. 

The report shows that 1.1 million Ugandans benefitted from US food security programming. The U.S. added $20 million in private sector investment.

Released by Ambassador William Popp, the report indicates that PEPFAR has celebrated 20 years of preventing 600,000 HIV-related deaths and 500,000 HIV infections, including 230,000 babies born HIV-free.

The US and Uganda partnership helped to end Uganda’s 3rd largest Ebola outbreak. The U.S. supported 10+ regional referral hospitals—Kiruddu, Mulago Women’s, Naguru, Kawempe, Mubende, Kawempe, Kayunga, Lira, Kawolo, and Butabika—to transition to electronic medical records.

“With U.S. funding, 2.5 million mosquito nets were distributed and 5 million malaria testing and treatment kits were provided to health facilities. 2.1 million children and pregnant women benefited from U.S.-supported nutrition programmes,” the report indicates.

Ambassador Popp said the United States has a longstanding partnership with the Ugandan people. US assistance, implemented through local and international non-governmental and civil society partners, directly benefits Ugandans from all backgrounds and regions of the country.

“Millions are living healthier, learning better, earning more, and advocating for their civic and human rights thanks to our strong partnership. For more than six decades, the U.S.-Uganda partnership has resulted in the eradication of deadly diseases, saved lives, reduced poverty, advanced democratic values, prevented and resolved conflicts, promoted peace and inclusive citizen responsive governance, and promoted resilience in communities and small businesses,” he said.

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In a significant boost to female economic empowerment, 99 women entrepreneurs from Kampala, Lira, and Fort Portal have successfully graduated from the seventh cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program.

This remarkable achievement, supported by the US Embassy in partnership with SHONA Group, underscores our collective commitment to promoting women’s empowerment in the fields of education, agribusiness, healthcare, and tourism.

The AWE Program, an initiative of the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and facilitated by the U.S. Embassy, is conducted in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and the global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan. It aims to equip women entrepreneurs with the necessary resources, knowledge, and networks to initiate and expand their businesses.

The program participants learned from U.S. business development models and are now eligible for grant funding opportunities from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and business loans ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs35 million through SHONA Capital. The graduates also join the prestigious network of U.S. government exchange program alumni, expanding their access to global opportunities and networks.

Speaking to the women graduates, Ellen Masi, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counsellor, said: “I am inspired by the Uganda women entrepreneurs who are also AWE alumni. As the Embassy, we encourage the alumni to organize themselves and create opportunities so that we can support them beyond the training and the Dream Builder program.”

Joachim Ewechu, SHONA Group co-founder and CEO, reflected on the program’s success, stating: “By investing in their growth, we are contributing to the economic development of Uganda while impacting livelihoods in our communities. Our commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs remains steadfast, and we look forward to future collaborations with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda.”

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