Atleast  1.6 tonnes of waste collected after the first-ever ObaFest has been recycled,  marking the beginning of an era of environmentally sustainable social events in Uganda.
According to a report from Asante Waste Management Ltd which was contracted to ensure proper waste management and recycling practices before, during and after the beer festival – a total of 1,666.30 kg (1.6 tonnes) of waste was collected – with 82.8% (1,379.30 kg or 1.3 tonnes) being recyclables and 17.22% (287 kg) being residue that was disposed of at the designated KCCA landfill.
The brand’s move is in line with recent trends that have seen more music and outdoor festivals around the world adopt green practices, such as the Glastonbury Festival, Burning Man, the Global Citizen Festival and more , and is a timely development following increased concern about Kampala’s waste management situation .
While addressing the National Technical Consultation workshop to develop a national action plan for the management of plastic pollution in Uganda, Dr. Akankwasa Barirega, the Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), said that Kampala alone generates 150 tonnes of waste daily and only 40 per cent of the plastic waste produced in urban areas is collected.
He added that the other 60 per cent is not disposed of properly and contributes to the pollution of Uganda’s water bodies, negatively affects soil fertility and agricultural productivity, and also contributes to the blockage of drainage channels – which leads to floods.
Steered by the ambition to become Africa’s most sustainable festival by 2030, Bell ObaFest is taking significant steps to deliver an environmental impact and ensure a greener and more responsible festival experience.
Grace Amme, the Bell Lager brand manager, said, “ObaFest was a festival of many firsts and we are happy to champion a move towards sustainable festivals in Uganda. By being intentional about the way we collect and dispose of the waste generated from our events, we are sending a message to the communities in which we operate that we care about our collective well-being and the challenges we face as a people. Bell Lager is committed to ensuring the preservation and conservation of our environment even as we let the good times flow.”
Bell Lager’s efforts are guided by Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL)’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress sustainability agenda – under which the business focuses on making a positive contribution to the communities within which it operates by among others – preserving natural resources; promoting the positive and moderate consumption of alcohol and; championing inclusion and diversity.

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The Minister of Energy, Minerals and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, on Tuesday tabled before Parliament the Petroleum Supply (Amendment) Bill, 2023, that seeks to grant Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) monopoly to supply imported petroleum products.

Minister Nankabirwa told Parliament that the move is aimed at enhancing supply security, reducing pump prices, and generating additional revenue for UNOC to support infrastructure development, especially in the oil sector.

“The Petroleum Supply Act, 2003 does not empower the UNOC to supply all imports to the licensed oil marketing companies of petroleum products for the Ugandan market. This gap in the Act has threatened the security of supply of petroleum products in Uganda,” she said.

“The gap in the Act has exposed Uganda to occasional vulnerability to access the committed demand volumes of petroleum products, leading to petroleum product shortages and abrupt increase in retail pump prices,” she added.

Under the proposed arrangement, UNOC will exclusively source petroleum products from Vitol, a Swiss-based Dutch global energy and commodities giant. The duo signed a supply contract in August which was later ratified by Cabinet last week.

Uganda National Oil Company recently negotiated a five-year contract with Vitol Bahrain E.C.

The Ministry of Energy’s statement said Vitol Bahrain E.C will be financing the business by providing a working capital facility backed by its global balance sheet and working with UNOC to ensure competitive pricing of petroleum products.

Vitol Bahrain E.C. reportedly committed to financing the construction of additional capacity in partnership with UNOC of 320 million litres at Namwambula, Mpigi.

The ministry insisted that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will continue selling the products to consumers through their commercial arrangements and the retail fuel pumps.

Nankabirwa in a press statement on Tuesday said the government believes that supporting UNOC will enhance its competitiveness on the international stage and benefit the people of Uganda.

The minister said the Government of Uganda has decided to enhance its involvement in ensuring the security of the supply of petroleum products into the Country by mandating the Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) to source and supply the petroleum products to the licensed Oil Marketing Companies actively involved in the importation of the products for Uganda.

By assigning UNOC the responsibility of importing petroleum products, the bill intends to reduce reliance on external suppliers, streamline the importation process, eliminate unnecessary transactions in the supply chain, and ultimately make petroleum products more affordable for consumers.

The government also hopes that UNOC’s involvement in the importation supply chain will generate additional revenue to finance other infrastructure projects that UNOC has a vested interest in on behalf of the State.   The amendment also seeks to authorize the Minister of Energy with the approval of the Cabinet, to nominate any other person to import petroleum products for the Ugandan market.

It is hoped that the proposed changes will improve the security of the supply of petroleum products for the Country. Uganda has on many occasions faced severe fuel shortages leading to a hike in prices.     So the government is of the view that the change in the law and policy will contribute to the reduction of the pump prices by eliminating unwarranted transactions in the supply chain.

Uganda is currently a net importer of petroleum products, where more than 90% are imported through the Mombasa port in Kenya and the rest through the Dar-es-Salaam port in Tanzania.

The importation is done independently by the licensed Ugandan Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) through the importation structures in Kenya and Tanzania.

Under the existing importation structures, the Ugandan Oil Marketing Companies have been accessing their petroleum products import allocations through their affiliated Kenyan Oil Marketing Companies registered and participating in Kenyan and Tanzanian import structures.

In April 2023, the Government of Kenya made changes to the petroleum products import system by replacing the Open Tender System with the Government-to-Government importation arrangement with the Governments of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to manage some of the importation challenges that Kenya was facing.

According to Nankabirwa, despite the price-competitive nature of the Open Tender System in Kenya and its relatively normal supplies, it exposed Uganda to occasional supply vulnerabilities where the Ugandan Oil Marketing Companies were considered secondary whenever there were supply disruptions.

“These vulnerabilities posed additional challenges, resulting in Uganda receiving relatively costly products and ultimately impacting the retail pump prices” said Nankbirwa.

She explained that with the amendment of the Petroleum Supply Act, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development shall maintain its overall responsibility of regulating the importation of petroleum products into Uganda.

Under the proposed arrangement, the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) will be responsible for sourcing and supplying petroleum products to the licensed Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) involved in importing the products to Uganda.

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The Chief of Defence Forces, General Wilson Mbasu Mbadi has challenged the newly promoted Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Generals and Officers that promotions come with extra demand of accountability to the country and the institution of the UPDF.

“You must prepare yourselves and also remember that the ranks denote seniority, authority and responsibility according to the chain of command,” said Gen Mbadi.

He made the remarks as he presided over the decoration ceremony of newly promoted Generals and senior Officers that was held today at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Joint Headquarters, Mbuya. This follows their promotions by the President and Commander-in-Chief on the 3rd of October, 2023.

Gen Mbadi reminded them that the new ranks represent a great military service which they have exhibited through discipline, loyalty, integrity, selfless service, personal courage and patriotism and urged them to remain healthy and fit.

The Chief of Defence Forces urged them to always remember the UPDF’s pro-people code of conduct and to avoid injurious tendencies to the UPDF that undermine its cohesion and effectiveness.

He acknowledged the sacrifices and support of the spouses and their families extended to the officers.

Speaking on behalf of the decorated Generals and Senior Officers, the Commandant Uganda Military Academy – Kabamba, Brig Gen Wycliffe Keita extended gratitude to the guidance of the Commander-in-Chief and the CDF’s stewardship of the UPDF. “Your direction, personal example, can’t and consistent guidance have significantly helped us to grow professionally and consolidated our collective strength both individually and collectively as an institution,” said Brig Gen Keita.

He added, “Your confidence in our abilities means a great deal to all of us. We look forward to the new challenges and opportunities the new ranks provide.”

Those decorated today included: Brig Gen Jimmy N Musoke, Brig Gen John Patrick Otongo, Brig Gen James Muhwezi, Brig Gen Richard Rubongoya, Brig Gen Wycliffe R Keita and seventeen Colonels.

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President William Ruto has welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla who are on a four-day state visit in Kenya.

Although the four-day trip by Charles and Queen Camilla has been billed as an opportunity to look to the future and build on the strong ties between London and Nairobi, the legacy of decades of British colonial rule looms large.

It is the 74-year-old British head of state’s first visit to an African and Commonwealth nation since ascending the throne in September last year on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

While welcoming the duo, H.E Ruto said that Kenya is honoured to host His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

“We will work together to build an even stronger and more prosperous future featuring cooperation in strategic areas such as defense and security, education and climate change for our shared prosperity,” Ruto said.

He added that the Kenya-UK historic ties have grown steadily, deeper and stronger, enabling the two countries to achieve stable progress in trade and investments.

The British High Commission said the visit, which follows trips to Germany and France earlier this year, will “spotlight the strong and dynamic partnership between the UK and Kenya”.

But it will also “acknowledge the more painful aspects” of Britain’s historic relationship with Kenya as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence in December.

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The death toll in Kasana Junior School inferno has risen to seven, Eagle Online has learnt. The revelation was made by Dr. Rose Alenyo, a Surgeon at Kiruddu hospital.

Dr. Alenyo a said the victims were critically injured with some succumbing on arrival and others during the night.

On Monday, two pupils were confirmed dead after a fire gutted the boy’s dormitory. The five new casualties succumbed to fire wounds at Kiruddu Referral Hospital, where they had been rushed for treatment.

According to the Masaka deputy regional police commander, Jamada Wandera, they are still investigating this grim incident to establish the cause of the fire.

“We instituted investigations into the cause of this fire and we are continuing to pray that we get to the root cause of the inferno,” he said.

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The International Crimes Division of the High Court has convicted an American couple Nicholas and Mackenzie Spencer on their own plea of guilty.

The couple is facing for charges of aggravated trafficking in children, torture of a 10-year-old boy, unlawful stay, and working without a permit.

Prosecution avers that Spencer aged 32 and his wife Mackenzie, a 32-year-old, volunteer, fostered three children, including John Kayima, in 2018, from Welcome Ministry, in Jinja City.

The couple was released on bail for alleged mistreatment of a 10-year-old child, who was one of the children in their care. According to the amended plaint or charge sheet, the couple reportedly adopted a 10-year-old boy, whom they then mistreated on grounds that he was obstinate.

The suspects came to Uganda in 2017 and started working with Akola Project, based in Jinja. The couple joined the Motive Creation Agency and moved with their children to Upper Naguru, where they have been staying together.

It was however, realised that between the year 2020 and December 2022, the couple constantly tortured John nKayima, a 10-year-old pupil of Dawn Children’s Center in Ntinda, which attracted the attention of neighbours.

The couple kept the victim barefoot, and naked throughout the day, would occasionally make him squat in an awkward position, with his head facing the floor and hands spread out widely, he spent his nights on a wooden platform, without a mattress or beddings and was served cold meals from the fridge.

In 2018, they fostered three children including the victim from Welcome Ministry – Jinja. They moved to Kampala when they joined Motive Creation Agency, with their three children.

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The Forum for Democratic Change Principal, Patrick Amuriat Oboi has revealed that through their intelligence information, the National Resistance Movement Party wants to exploit the Parish Development Model (PDM) program to distribute money to voters during the LCI, LCII and women councils’ elections and other elections ahead.

Amuriat made the revelation today following the government’s delay to prepare the elections for LCI, LCII and Women Councils elections saying that FDC has been closely monitoring the actions of the National Electoral Commission in relation to the preparation for the long overdue elections for these elections and they are compelled to address several alarming developments.

“We have intelligence information that the NRM wants to exploit the Parish Development Model (PDM) to distribute money to voters during these and other elections. As we speak now, the NRM leaders are moving across the country discriminately distributing money under the guise of the Parish Development Model, some of which will certainly end up in the campaigns.” Amuriat said.

He added, “We wish to issue a stern warning that attempts to use any government programs for the purposes of political expedience will lead to failure of those programs and the undermining of democracy. This will easily lead to Ugandans seeking other means to bring change to their country.

In light of these concerns, we call upon the Electoral Commission to immediately release a clear and unambiguous roadmap for these elections.”

Amuriat further noted that initially, the Electoral Commission cited lack of funds as the reason for not organizing these elections. However, after several postponements, they subsequently released what appeared to be a roadmap for the elections, only to later backtrack and claim it was an internal document released in error.

“To us it looks like the National Electoral Commission may be engaged in games meant to take political parties in the opposition by surprise in order to favor the ruling NRM party. The purpose of these maneuvers appears to be aimed at creating confusion and disarray within opposition political parties and making it difficult for us to adequately prepare for the elections,” he said.

Amuriat asserted that there is a real risk that the Electoral Commission intends to hold these elections as a surprise when it suits the ruling party’s interests as they have done before.

“We urge the Electoral Commission to desist from playing “Ping-Pong” and to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates,” he cautioned. 

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