The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has again been recognized for its outstanding financial reporting, winning four accolades at the 2023 Financial Reporting awards held recently.

The Fund won the prestigious Silver award, beating over 100 companies that submitted entries to the 12^th edition of the FiRe awards. It also received the awards for best Sustainability report, Presentation and Communication award, best report in the Public Sector category as well as a certificate of recognition under the Corporate Governance category.

According to the judges, the Fund’s integrated report had a clear emphasis on value creation and strategy. It crisply emphasized the entity’s purpose and approach to sustainability with links to where more sustainability and ESG information could be found. 

In addition, “The report clearly articulated the entity’s understanding and relationships with key stakeholders and how the organization responds to their legitimate needs and interests. NSSF provided a compelling value creation story by linking its strategic value drivers to its business model, key priorities, and strategic outcome,” the awards’ judging panel explained.

Under the Presentation and Communication award, the Fund’s integrated report was recognized for its ability to engage the reader through the use of multiple readership enhancement techniques and showed innovation and creativity in its delightful portrayal of the achievements of the organization.

The Fund’s recognition for the Sustainability award was due to the disclosure of the entity’s plans to develop a comprehensive ESG reporting strategy aligned with the entity’s vision, mission, and goals. It provided a holistic picture of the combination, interrelatedness, and dependencies between the factors that affect the organization’s ability to create value over time. The FiReAwards Committee was impressed by the entity’s commitment to sustainable practices throughout its operations.

Patrick Ayota, NSSF Managing Director attributed these achievements to the Fund’s commitment to transparency and accountability. “Our continuous recognition in the leading local financial reporting awards are an affirmation that our disclosures are fairly and appropriately represented in accordance with international reporting standards,” he said.

“Transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership remain at our core, and we will continue to embrace innovation with clear, transparent communication, forging a transformative journey towards inclusive prosperity and a more sustainable future for generations to come.” Ayota added.

NSSF has previously won Gold in the FiRe awards for a record three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022. In addition, it previously won Gold in 2018, Silver in 2017, Bronze in 2019, and took Communication award and Public Sector award in 2018 & 2017 as well as good corporate governance awards in 2015 and 2016.

The Financial Reporting awards are organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) with an aim of recognizing and rewarding excellence in financial reporting in the country. This year’s theme for the award was ESG : Reporting as Brand Storytelling.

The winning NSSF 2023 Integrated report can be found on the Fund’s website www.nssfug.org

Stories Continues after ad

National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) has dismissed the rumors making rounds on social and print media claiming acquisition by the Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited.

Reports indicated that a resolution was made by the Board of Directors of Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited dated October 3,2023 to initiate a formal acquisition intention to UNOC.

The documents further indicate that Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited has been authorized by its Board to draft documents required for the acquisition of UNOC including undertaking due diligence, negotiating the acquisition, and signing transaction documents (that would be approved by the relevant departments of the Ugandan Government) among others.

In a November 4, 2023 statement, UNOC refuted the claims – noting that it is a fully Government of Uganda-owned company established under Section 42 of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act and Section 7 of the Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) Act, both of 2013 and any assignment or transfer of its participating interests and shareholdings to another entity can only be considered through the relevant approvals and legal instruments that established it.

“The commercial participating interests and shareholding levels of UNOC in the various oil and gas projects across the petroleum value chain have been established by legislation through Acts of Parliament and/or approval of Cabinet.”

“UNOC would like to categorically state that its Shareholders, Board of Directors and Management have not at any time considered any offer from Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited to acquire UNOC or its commercial participating interests in the oil and gas projects,” they added.

“UNOC hereby strongly disassociates itself from the alleged transaction by Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited and considers the claims to be a fraud done in bad faith with the intention to discredit the Government of Uganda and damage the reputation of UNOC. We wish to advise the public to disregard the claims made by Peace Oil and Gas Company Limited, and that UNOC has issued fraud alerts on its social media platforms to this effect.”

Stories Continues after ad

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development on Tuesday held a graduation ceremony for the first cohort of apprentices the country has registered in many years, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to tackle unemployment and underemployment.

The 90 graduates were crowned at a colourful ceremony held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala after successfully accomplishing on-job studies in different fields in the Hotel Industry. 

“Today’s ceremony holds significance not only for you as individuals but for our entire nation. We are here to witness the first graduation of apprentices in generations. This marks the inauguration of a new and promising chapter in our country’s development.” The National Apprenticeship Superintendent, Mr. Alex Asiimwe, who is also the Commissioner Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity, noted.

He revealed that in the colonial and immediate post-colonial era, apprenticeships played a critical role in skills development, however the program fizzled out in the 1970s due to a host of factors, including the expulsion of Asians and the restructuring of industrial training institutions, which, unfortunately, did not adequately address the necessary legal and institutional mechanisms.

The Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Amongi Betty, who presided over the graduation, revealed that in 2018 President Yoweri Museveni tasked the Ministry to revitalize the National Apprenticeship Scheme in key sectors of the economy and subsequently a national Framework was approved by Cabinet.

She added that working in collaboration with Uganda Hotel Owners’ Association (UHOA), Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) and Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), and with financial and technical support from The Netherlands Embassy and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Ministry successfully launched an Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme in the Hotel sub-sector, leading up to the Tuesday graduation.

The Minister highlighted that apprenticeships are a powerful strategy to confront skills deficiencies in the labour market because it offers hands-on skill development, engages employers directly, and provides tailored learning that aligns with industry needs.

“This approach responds to President Museveni’s prioritization of skilling and re-skilling of school leavers and dropouts to enhance their employability, including self-employment.” She said, adding that it as well resonates with the Economic Growth Strategy, which focuses on developing a knowledgeable, skilled, and ethical workforce.

The Minister praised the collaborative efforts of stakeholders including the instructors and 35 hotels spread across the country that accepted and trained the apprentices. 

She urged all employers to embrace apprenticeships as a key avenue for skills development, enhanced production and productivity.

Commissioner Asiimwe revealed that 67% of the apprentices had already been offered employment by the host and non-hosting hotels, while others had opened up individual businesses based on the skillsets they had acquired especially in pastry and baking. 

The UN Resident Coordinator, Her Excellency, Susan Ngongi Namondo commended Uganda for its open-door policy for refugees and the promotion of regional integration, which had enabled learners from refugee and host communities benefit from the pilot phase of the new apprenticeship program.

The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda, Her Excellency Karin Boven noted that her country was happy to have provided financial support for the intervention and pledged to continue supporting the skills development agenda. 

The apprentices were implored to perform their duties with excellence and rebuild the value of apprenticeship in Uganda.

The ceremony was also attended by the chairperson Uganda Hotel Owners’ Association, Ms. Susan Muhwezi, the Director Directorate of Industrial Training Dr. Patrick Byakatonda, the International Labour Organisation Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Steven Opio, and the Principal Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, Mr. Richard Kawere, among others. 

Stories Continues after ad

The Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Mariam Wangadya has decried inadequate funding despite the growing demand for human rights services in the country.

Wangadya said while receiving a donation of two pickup doubles from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to support the delivery of human right services in Uganda.

“The commission used to get support from the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights however; the two organizations are no more yet, the commission is expected to among other conduct nationwide civic education, especially as we prepare for the next cycle for the elections,” she said.

The pick-up vehicles are expected to boost the commission’s ability to reach out to Ugandans in its human rights and civic education programs.

The donation of the two vehicles is timely, since the commission is grappling with the challenges of an old fleet of vehicles. It is a perfect replacement of the two pickups that UNDP donated to the Commission in 2012 and are now grounded after 10 years of facilitating the delivery of human rights services to Ugandans.

“We pledge to continue executing our mandate as provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. We look forward to your continued support to the protection and promotion of human rights in Uganda,” she said.

Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Resident Representative said in terms of advancing the voice, on the issues raised, the Commission needs to be flexible enough to move, interrogate and find solutions and therefore, we hope that the two vehicles will facilitate the commission’s work throughout the country.

Stories Continues after ad

The Diwali festival, an event of lights and one of the most significant events in Indian culture which involves a variety of traditional dishes, games, plays and other activities to symbolize Indian culture is back set to take place on Sunday November 5^, 2023 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Diwali is a Hindu festival observed as a public holiday in various countries like Fiji, Mauritius, India, and Trinidad & Tobago and all over the world by over 100 million people. In most places, it is celebrated for five days.

It is marked to celebrate the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, life over death, self-renewal, and knowledge over ignorance, and others.

Diwali also marks the death of many demons like Narkusur by Lord Krishna, the arrival of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after killing Ravana, and Lord Vamana defeating Bali.

During celebrations, people pray to Goddess Lakshmi Puja and ask the goddess to bless them with prosperity, happiness, peace and wealth.

The auspicious carnival is widely associated with Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity and Ganesha the God of wisdom and remover of obstacles, with many other traditions connecting to the holiday.

Gates will open starting midday, at the resort and fireworks will be lit from 7:30pm onwards.

The day is usually full of fun and couples, families, friends, business associates engage in acts of love like gift exchanges, settling off old deals, forgiving one another as a way of positivity and moving forward.

The event will have a variety of Indian delicacies, games, music and drinks for the people to enjoy and celebrate with their families and friends. There will be home cooked food, casino, bar and kids’ corner.

Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Speke Resort Munyonyo is an elegant, beautiful and magnificent resort, and it is also part of Ruparelia Group of Companies owned by tycoon Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia.

It has hosted a series of groundbreaking events including United Nations conferences, big concerts, high profile weddings and African Union summits. In 2007, the resort rose to global prominence after it was chosen to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Stories Continues after ad

Kampala Metropolitan Police is actively investigating a recent incident involving suspected criminal activity in Sempagala Zone, Ntinda, Kampala. On the evening of October 31, 2023, at approximately 22:30 hours, Sergeant Isabirye Joshua and his patrol team conducted routine patrols around a local school in the area, where they encountered three individuals on a motorcycle with registration number UFX 639Y.

Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson said that upon spotting the police officers, the individuals attempted to evade the authorities and fled the scene, colliding with the police motorcycles and causing injuries to the riders and their crew. The pursuit continued until the suspects crashed near Abed Bwanika’s church, resulting in their capture and the discovery of critical information.

During the incident, the rider of the motorcycle managed to escape the scene, abandoning his two injured colleagues, who were later identified as Onganyi Sukura, 19 years old, residing in Kamwokya, and Kamira Derick, 23 years old, and residing in Kiyembe Makindye.

A search of Kamira Derick revealed his possession of a sharp and potentially deadly weapon, a new panga, which raised concerns about their criminal intentions in the area.

Owoyesigyire revealed that in response to these developments, a case has been initiated for investigation regarding the possession of a deadly weapon against the two suspects. The injured suspects have been provided with medical attention at China Hospital Naguru and are under police guard.

Additionally, the motorcycle with registration number UFX 639Y and the panga have been secured as evidence.

“The police are actively working to apprehend the third individual involved in the incident who is currently on the run. Further investigations will include searches of the suspects’ residential homes and an effort to establish their criminal intentions within the area,” Owoyesigyire said.

He added, “The Kampala Metropolitan Police emphasizes the importance of thorough investigations and prosecution in the courts of law for individuals involved in criminal activities, particularly those who possess dangerous weapons. These measures aim to minimize such incidents in our work areas.”

“The Kampala Metropolitan Police remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the community. We will continue our inquiries into this incident and keep the public informed of any developments,” he noted.

Stories Continues after ad