Makerere University Business School in partnership with Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has concluded the eBooster bootcamp which focuses on providing solutions to the unserved and underserved communities and sectors.

Running under the theme, “ICT Solutions for the unserved and underserved communities” the two-day event consisted of fifteen (15) companies from which ten (10) were selected to participate in the final where the top five companies will be shortlisted for the final grants.

One of the companies, InfoSect Technology Ltd leader, Barnet Agaba said that from the research, 31% of women in Uganda are domestically evaluated every year. And this is from the report from the UN in 2021. Now, these women with no access to justice, when their rights are violated because they cannot afford legal services, is why they came to showcase their proposal of the pro bono photo, which is going to break the gap between the women who have been domestically abused.

“We have examples of women in our villages who are battling divorce, who are trying to fight for their custody for their children. An example would be a woman whose husband is abusing her domestically,” Agaba said.

He added, “So the pro bono photo is helpful in such a way that those who can’t afford legal services or who can’t even actually get a lawyer to help themselves with their problems so that they can also get justice. Now, the pro bono photo, the way it works because now we already have a part for where we have over 800 lawyers who have access to the whole smart case manager, which is a law practice management system, where these lawyers now actually track all their business processes, which is helping break the gap between the underprivileged person who can’t access legal services.”

The Sigynalic Uganda SMC Ltd leader, Mugabi Elvi while presenting said, “We need a healthy ecosystem. We see continuous, the one the government calls, chronic community stock outs. And those community stockouts are communities of medication like oxytocin, oxytocin costs 200 children.”

He added that without it, the mother having a hemorrhage during delivery can lose her life. And these things occur in the community, but there have been immense efforts by the government and other world leaders to digitize this health system so that the chronic loss of life can be a reality.

Mugabi revealed, “We are bridging a gap that is left by a lack of state infrastructure. We provide hardware such as this. This is really to the world, security, and connectivity. We have specialized connectivity equipment that ensures that signals can be transmitted to the energy and ensures that that can be up and existing that the data that is generated on this box doesn’t stay on this box.”

MUBS Principal, Prof. Moses Muhwezi congratulated the competing teams for the two-camp.  In Addition, Majority of the people don’t earn one thousand shillings a week, not a day, a week, or one thousand. And you see when they give us average, it pours up to those who are bankrupt. It means there are those who can’t get one thousand in two weeks.

“I need to inform you that 80% of the population ideally is from the country. It’s not in town. When you are making products, you make products for the people in town. You are making products for 20% and there is power in numbers if you are doing business. So it means the people out there are left out. You are competing for business in Kampala. But the business in Kampala, you are competing with Washington, with Hamburg, with Amsterdam. They also want to access people in Kampala and reach them by group, by these sophisticated methods,” Prof. Muhwezi said.

He added, “You will give the population of them 80% and sell it. What a contradiction. Look at the person who brought the mobile money and ask a number and where it gets to go because mobile money is everywhere and that’s where it starts, idea, that’s where it started. And that business we cannot easily fail. So as we craft business plans and apps and all this, it’s important that we know where the majority of the people are, especially if the product is not a very expensive and unsurpassed product.”

He asserted that these applications being developed will create efficiency in systems.

UCC representative George Katongole said that they have a good rate of spending 125% of the money that the government gave out that will be spent on this project.

And this money is really a big part of the people that are trying to communicate. And it is a big part of the kind of communication in the first place that I have established for the other people. It is a big part of the communication in the first place for the other staff and the hand service that is for people who are in the country.

The eBooster camp is part of the eBooster project which is funded by UCC and implemented by Makerere University Business School led by Prof. Ernest Abaho.

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The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), in partnership with the Embassy of Turkey in Uganda, is embarking on an eight-day Industrial Tour to Turkey. This initiative presents a remarkable opportunity for Ugandan manufacturers to expand their reach, forge international partnerships, and drive economic development, all of which align with the goals of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

The primary objectives of this industrial tour are to open up markets for various Ugandan products, facilitate investment partnerships, establish crucial business connections, and promote the exchange of knowledge and experience. A delegation of 25 members from the Uganda Manufacturers Association and Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry is set to connect Ugandan manufacturers and traders with the global market, fostering partnerships that will contribute to Uganda’s economic growth.

Deo Kayemba, Chairman of the UMA board of directors, emphasized the significance of such international partnerships during the flag-off meeting at the UMA Head Office. He stressed the need to extend the influence of Ugandan industrialists beyond national borders, securing markets for local products while gaining exposure to international best practices, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative ideas, all of which align with the PDM program.

“The carefully crafted tour itinerary will provide the Ugandan delegates with comprehensive insights into Turkey’s industrial sectors, including steel, energy, food processing, textiles, and more. Through planned engagements, the delegation aims to gain first-hand knowledge of potential investment opportunities and foster valuable business exchanges,” Kayemba added.

The economic ties between Uganda and Turkey have been steadily strengthening. In 2021, Uganda’s exports to Turkey reached US$11.7 million, featuring key commodities such as coffee, tea, tobacco, and fruits. Meanwhile, Turkish exports to Uganda, including machinery, electronic products, and home appliances, amounted to US$53.1 million.

This growth trajectory underscores the expanding economic partnership, which has evolved from a mere $722k in 1995 to US$11.7 million in 2021, representing an annual growth rate of 11.3 percent. The UMA’s policy agenda aims to revitalize primary industries, supporting existing manufacturers and agro-processing.

“This industrial tour is expected to unveil numerous investment and partnership opportunities, particularly in electronic, electrical, steel, textiles, coffee, and the mineral sector,” said James Kalibbala, the chairperson of the UMA advisory committee. In addition to market exploration, delegates will delve into Turkish markets, gaining insights into sourcing raw materials and machinery for Ugandan industries and enhancing product competitiveness in both local and global markets.

The tour also seeks to facilitate discussions and partnerships that can attract foreign investment to Uganda, bolstering industrial capabilities and creating job opportunities. Business networking is another key objective of the tour, where Ugandan delegates will engage with Turkish industrialists and entrepreneurs, fostering valuable business contacts and the exchange of innovative ideas, paving the way for new collaborations and growth opportunities.

According to Kalibbala, UMA remains dedicated to supporting local manufacturers in their pursuit of growth and global competitiveness. “This industrial tour is not just an event; it’s a catalyst for progress, empowering Ugandan industrialists to tap into the vast opportunities available on the international stage.” Sarah Basemera, one of the manufacturers participating in the tour, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, which she intends to utilize for benchmarking and networking.

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The Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with private sector stakeholders including; Uganda Breweries Limited, Stanbic Bank Uganda, Total Energies EP Uganda, Development and civil society partners among others;  have once again held a national tree planting day as part of the ROOTS – Running Out of Trees campaign during which one million trees were planted at St Francis Xavier, Bweya Kajjansi which is along the shores of Lake Victoria, a major water catchment area in Uganda.

Speaking at the tree planting activity, Sam Cheptoris Minister of Water and Environment highlighted this year’s theme ‘Conserving Uganda’s tree species diversity through the establishment of tree seed banks’ which serves to remind us of our bio-diversity and unique heritage that provides us with food, medicine, building materials, fiber and economic support for our well-being, to withstand climate change.

“Ministry of Water and Environment pledges to sustain the mobilization of private, public, civil society and development partners under the ROOTS umbrella, as a means of collectively tackling the current climate change issues. Geo-tracking of trees is also critical to the ROOTS initiative.”

The ROOTs campaign, which seeks to plant trees in five years, is geared towards soliciting commitments from the private sector to support the Government’s initiative to restore forest cover in Uganda. By the end of 2025 over 40 million trees will have been planted and thus seizing an estimated 15 million tons of carbon.

Suleiman Ngondi, Uganda Breweries Sustainability, and Communications Manager, reiterated the Breweries’ responsibility to plant trees and the magic that crucial partnerships like this have made to achieve this purpose.

“Planting trees is one of the most important and impactful actions we can take to sustain our planet. We also understand how crucial partnerships are in increasing the scale and impact of programs and are grateful for all private sector players that heeded our call to join the government on this program.” he said.

Jan Sadek, the ambassador of the European Union (EU) said it is important for all Ugandans to participate in the National Tree Planting Day because it is the right time to do so.

“Forestry cover is critical to the health of this planet and it is up to us to take purposeful steps not in words only but in action,” Sadek said.

Juliana Kagwa, Uganda Breweries Corporate Relations Director urged more corporate bodies to come on board and join the ROOTs initiative.

“Planting trees is one of the most important and impactful actions we can take to sustain our planet. We also understand how crucial partnerships are in increasing the scale and impact of programs. We are grateful for all private sector players who heeded our call to join the government on this program” she said.

Ngondi added saying if Ugandans are to see a change in climate change, we need to take action by taking tree planting as an individual responsibility to see drastic changes.

“We are a business that appreciates that our success is inextricably likened to the health of the planet and society. This is well detailed in our Society 2030: Spirit of Progress sustainability action plan that guides us in contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive Uganda” he said.

Under the ROOTs campaign, 1.92 million indigenous trees were planted in 2022. These tree seedlings were all geotagged and are currently being monitored for growth by Tree Adoption Uganda.

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The Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramadan Ggoobi has dropped Trade and Cooperative Ministry PS Geraldine Ssali as accounting officer of the Ministry.
In the letter dated 3rd October 2023 to the Ministry of Trade and co-operatives, PS Ramadan Ggoobi noted, “Reference is made on the report on the investigation into the utilization of the supplementary funds to your office for the FY 2021-2022 where Parliament received that the secretary to the treasury should exercise his authority under Section 11(2) c of the Public Finance Management Act 2015 to the appointment and designation of Ms. Geraldine Ssali as an Accounting Officer for the Ministry of trade Industry and Cooperatives.”
After sacking Ssali, Ggoobi guided, “I therefore request the minister of trade to nominate a suitable officer to execute the duties of the accounting officer as allegations against Geraldine Ssali and others are being investigated.”
In the same letter the Accountant General Tom Opio has also with immediate effect been denied access to the Electronic Government Procurement system.
“You are also informed that Mr. Tom Opio has been removed from the Electronic Government Procurement system and Management is advised to liaise with the Accountant General to ensure that there are no disruptions in the Procurement processes,” Ggoobi told the Minister.
This development came after Parliament recommended the sacking of Geraldine Ssali, the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives over allegations of inflating the price for the renovation works at the Ministry Head Quarters at Farmers House in Kampala.
The decision was part of the recommendations contained in the report by Parliament’s Trade and Tourism Committee following probe into the utilisation of Shs5bn that was meant for the acquisition of new office Space at Kingdom Hall Kampala, but the top officials at the Ministry instead opted to use the funds to carry out renovations, a decision that raised queries than the Ministry was able to provide, thus prompting prove into the expenditure.
Mwine Mpaka, Chairperson Parliament’s Trade Committee while presenting the report faulted Ssali for failing to regulate and ensure proper utilization of funds which saw the cost of works inflated to a tune of Shs2bn.

“The Committee therefore finds that the Permanent Secretary Geraldiine Ssali is personally liable for the dubious and mysterious inflation of the estimated contract price from Shs4.664Bn to Shs6.2Bn without any formal or legal justification,” remarked Mpaka.

In sealing Ssali’s fate, Mpaka called on the Secretary to Treasury, Ramathan Ggoogbi who is charged with supervising all Permanent Secretaries and accounting officers to relieve Ssali of her duties for causing Government financial loss.

“The PSST exercises his authority  to withdraw the appointment and designation of Ssali as an Accounting Officer of the Ministry of Trade in view of her failure to control the regularity and proper use of money appropriated to the vote in regard to the procurement of renovation works,” said Mpaka.

Parliament also recommended for an investigation into the edalings of Grace Choda, former Acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade by both the Inspectorate of Government and the DPP with a view of prosecution for initiating a request for supplementary budget worth Shs8Bn for rent new office premises at Kingdom Kampala by MTIC; based on personal conviction and sentiments that Farmer’s House was dilapidated and unfit for occupancy.

Parliament also recommended having the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to conduct an investigation into the procurement process that resulted into the award of the renovation works at Farmer’s House to Sarick construction company Ltd with a view to enabling the amendment or cancellation of the contract in the interest of Government.

This was after the Trade Committee revealed that despite receiving payment amounting to Shs4.8Bn for the works, the contractor Sarick Construction Company refused to remit18% Value Added Tax to Uganda Revenue Authority as required by the law, and the contractor also didn’t submit a performance guarantee as required per bid documents.

Parliament also recommended for the prosecution of Daniel Kalule (Transport Officer, Ministry of Trade for facilitating the creation of ghost fuel cards that resulted into the loss of government funds amounting to Shs362, 316,812

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