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TotalEnergies Uganda, light for the world sign MoU to promote inclusive employment

By
Francisco Adongo
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TotalEnergies EP Uganda and Light for the World (LftW), have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing equal, inclusive, and diverse employment for all qualified persons and affirmative action for Persons with Disabilities.

Under the MoU, LftW, a global disability inclusion and development organization, will support TotalEnergies EP Uganda internal disability inclusion frameworks and access of Persons with disabilities to various employment opportunities as well as deliver bespoke disability awareness training to the Company employees.

The MoU is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) theme ‘Leave no one behind,’ as well as SDG 8 ‘Reduced inequality’ and 10 ‘Decent work and economic growth’. Through the implementation of the MoU activities, TotalEnergies EP Uganda seeks to amplify one of its key diversity actions ‘the recognition of abilities’.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Mr. Phillipe Groueix, General Manager, TotalEnergies EP Uganda, said, “Including and supporting employees with disabilities is an integral part of our diversity policy. As we grow our activities in Uganda, we are ensuring that our commitment to diversity is implemented as it draws on our intrinsic values of Respect for Each Other and Standing Together.”

“With this partnership, we hope to demonstrate our concrete actions towards ensuring that our Company is all-inclusive, respects the rights of persons with disabilities, develops and implements non-discriminatory policies and practices, makes the Company premises and tools accessible, undertakes appropriate measures to enable job retention, and respects confidentiality of personal information regarding disability.” He added

The Country Director, LftW Silvester Kasozi noted, “Promoting disability inclusion within the extractives’ sector isn’t just a matter of diversity; it’s an imperative for progress and doing what is right. By embracing the unique talent and perspectives of individuals with disabilities, we unlock innovation, drive efficiency, and build a more resilient industry.

I believe that our expertise as an organisation in disability inclusion and development, coupled with TotalEnergies EP Uganda’s goal to create a more accessible, diverse, and vibrant work environment, clearly demonstrate that leaving no one behind is not just jargon, but a commitment that drives sustainable business practices and societal development.”

TotalEnergies is a signatory of the International Labour Organization’s Disability Charter and a member of its global network that works to improve disability inclusion policies and practices.

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Police continues to suspend NUP mobilization activities

By
Francisco Adongo
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As today marks the seventh day of the suspension of the National Unity Platform country-wide mobilization, Police has again cautioned the party leadership not to dare carryout any mobilization until they comply with the police guidelines and law abiding.

The continued suspension has been revealed by the Police spokesperson, SCP Enanga Fred.

“As you are all aware, today marks the 7th day, into the suspension of NUP mobilisation activities, following several breaches of guidelines that led to public disorder, traffic disruption and delays, loss of business, malicious damage to property, and dangerous driving causing death and injuries, among others. As indicated, the suspension of mobilisation activities, continues until when the NUP leadership complies with the police guidelines and law abiding,” Enanga said.

He added, “While the NUP insisted that their mobilisation tours were peaceful, we had credible intelligence on how they were determined to confront police and attract ugly scenes. Their unregulated processions caused significant risk to the public, motorists, pedestrians, bystanders and participants.”

In the first phase, the police and sister security agencies, exercised restraint and avoided any confrontation with NUP that could have attracted ugly scenes, for publicity and negative propaganda against the police and the country at large.

In the previous NUP demonstrations, several people lost their lives, others were charged with various crimes ranging from Arson. Malicious damage, attempted murder, incitement of violence, damages to roads, assault and obstruction of officers on duty and various traffic offences among others. Through these acts, the demonstrators showed no respect or minimal regard towards the communities.

“Although NUP has vowed to defiantly continue with its second phase of the mobilisation tour, they must be aware that under the Police Act, Sec 32(1) the police have a duty to police public meetings in a proportionate manner. Our priority has always been to ensure that millions of Ugandans and visitors in the country enjoy a safe and secure environment,” Enanga cautioned.

He added, “We call upon all Ugandans and visitors in the country, to stand in solidarity with rule of law and reject these unlawful demonstrations, violent or destructive behaviour associated with the NUP. As police, we anticipate protest events that are planned for days to come and an alleged mass demonstration dubbed “Go-Kungu” on 15.01.2024.”

However, Police have a multi-layered strategy that includes, counter –response, reaction and arrests.

“We will not rest until those who plan to use violence and intimidation for impunity and lawlessness are brought to full justice,” Enanga asserted.

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Police warns NUP against defying its orders

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Bobi Wine, the leader of NUP.

The Police have warned the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party against defying its decision to suspend the national mobilization.

Last week, police suspended mobilisation activities of the NUP party, citing blatant bleaching of the given guidelines.

“We will not look on as the country burns due to NUP’s violent rallies that have at times led to loss of lives while at the same time promoting sectarianism, Deputy IGP Maj Gen Tumusiime Kasigazi said in a statement.

Following a police statement, Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine said as soon as they announced our mobilisation activities, police immediately started issuing terror threats, which they believe were intended to block them from doing activities in the Kampala Metropolitan area.

“We have a duty and obligation not to abide by any illegal, unjust orders. To obey them would be to betray and commit an offence against our people,” he said.

Speaking earlier today, Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson said while NUP insisted that their mobilization tours were peaceful, they had credible intelligence that they were determined to confront police and attract ugly scenes, which would lead to disruptions of unregulated crowds.

“They (NUP) have definitely indicated that they are going to proceed with the second phase, but they must be aware that, as the police, we have a duty to police public meetings in a proportionate manner,” he said.

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Academic Families organizes overseas boarding school’s expo

By
Francisco Adongo
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Academic Families, a leading UK-based education consultancy, has announced the upcoming “Overseas Boarding Schools Expo” to be held at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel on September 25.

The one-day educational fair aims to provide valuable insights and support for parents, students, and guardians seeking international school placements in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada.

The inspiration behind organizing this education fair for the Ugandan community is rooted in Academic Families’ seven years of experience successfully placing students from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda into UK boarding schools. During this period, Academic Families has received referrals from satisfied clients, leading to its expansion across East Africa. In an effort to provide tailored educational solutions, the consultancy team has conducted two visits to Uganda to gain a deep understanding of the unique requirements of local families seeking international boarding education.

MBE Lorna Clayton, Managing Director and Founder, Academic Families, emphasized, “Our goal is to introduce carefully selected top boarding schools to Ugandan families. We want parents and guardians to understand firsthand that their children are highly valued in UK and Canadian boarding schools. This event offers a unique opportunity for families to engage with representatives from prestigious institutions and have their questions answered.”

The participating schools in the Overseas Boarding Schools Expo include: Roedean School, Rossall School, Royal Hospital School, Bedford School and Felsted School.

Academic Families Education Consultants will also be available at the event to provide guidance on choosing the right school and to support families in finding the best educational fit for their children. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the child’s individual requirements and aspirations rather than geographical location, as Academic Families can provide local support through their guardianship program.

To make the most out of this educational fair, attendees are encouraged to think ahead about their preferences, book consultations with education consultants, and research the participating schools to have prepared questions ready for their representatives. The event promises to be an invaluable resource for those seeking international education opportunities.

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CMA denies offering investment deals to three companies

By
Francisco Adongo
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Capital Chicken Limited

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has clarified that Capital Chicken Limited, the Mall Fund Limited and Veta Plan Chicken have not sought the approval of the Authority to offer investment contracts to the general public.

According to CMA, it has been receiving various inquiries seeking guidance on the widely publicized ‘investment opportunities’ by the three entities purporting to offer investment contracts to members of the general public.

But CMA warns that in the absence of regulatory oversight, investors in unregulated investment activities have limited recourse in the event of unfair treatment, loss or other challenges faced in their investment journey.

“Accordingly, members of the public are urged to participate in investment opportunities approved or regulated by CMA or any other relevant regulator and are further urged to seek investment advice from licensed investment advisors or other legitimate professional in order to make sound investment decisions and avoid being a victim of investment fraud,” CMA stated on Monday, 18 September 2023.

They said a comprehensive list of approved investment advisers and other service providers operating within the Uganda capital markets industry in relation to approved public investment opportunities is available on their website; www.cma uganda.co.ug.

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UMC discharges Ssegirinya, jets into the country

By
Geoffery Serugo
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MP Ssegirinya

Kawempe North MP Muhammed Ssegirinya has been discharged from UMC hospital in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he has been undertaking treatment.  

The revelation was made by Alex Luwemba, the personal assistant of Ssegirinya. Ssegirinya is today expected to jet into Uganda after more than one month out of the country.

Ssegirinya, who has recently been in poor health, while in prison, was recently admitted to hospital in Amsterdam.  Prior, he was admitted to Mengo hospital before traveling to Agha Khan Hospital and later UMC hospital in Netherlands.

On discharging him, Ssegirinya said he has been battling skin cancer, hypertension and lung infection. He was discharged from the hospital after doctors were satisfied that he would be fine. “I am still unwell, and will be visiting the facility for checkups,” Ssegirinya said.

Earlier the Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa and the National Unity Platform faulted Ssegirinya for failure to petition the medical board, office of the speaker and clerk before jetting out for treatment.

“If you have an issue and you don’t know how to go about it, please approach the office of the clerk for guidance on how the procedure is done,” he said.

The leader of opposition Mathias Mpuuga said Ssegirinya traveled to the Netherlands without notifying his office or the NUP party headquarters.

He said that he has communicated the matter to the party leadership, including President Robert Kyagulanyi.

Chris Obore, the Director of Communication at parliament said the House cannot neglect any MP when they have health complications. He said that there is an insurance scheme for each member and immediate family, but that Parliament only foots the medical bills for treatment outside the country upon clearance by the Medical Board.

He faulted Ssegirinya for traveling abroad for medical attention without the Medical Board’s clearance and without notifying the Speaker of Parliament or the Leader of the Opposition. He said that this makes it difficult for Parliament to process public funds for Ssegirinya’s treatment.

 “Ssegirinya’s handlers have been reaching out to Parliament and that the procedure for seeking medical treatment outside the country has been explained to them. He said that it is not a good example to go to social media to attract public sympathy while ignoring the law,” he said.

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Singer, movie actress Evelyn Lagu is dead

By
Our Reporter
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RIP: Evelyn Nakabira Lagu

Singer and movie actress Evelyn Nakabira Lagu has passed on after a prolonged battle with kidney failure and heart problems spanning four years.

Born in Masaka now Kalungu district on June 1, 1982, Lagu was raised by her aunt in Mityana who worked as a midwife and her husband, the late George William Lubega.

She went to Aga Khan, Mityana SS, Pride SS Mityana and St. Peter’s SS Busubizi, where she completed her A’ level in 1999.

Evelyn Lagu was considered one of the finest singers and actresses on the local scene. She has performed with Mustard and Flash bands and sung backup vocals for (the late) Carol Nakimera, Halima Namakula, Ragga Dee, Makoma and most recently, Mampi from Zambia.

This story will be updated.

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Housing Finance Bank reiterates support to business community at contractors orum

By
Our Reporter
-

Business enterprises, constituting over 90% of Uganda’s private sector and contributing at least 20% to the GDP while employing millions of Ugandans, are pivotal drivers of the country’s socioeconomic development. Nevertheless, these indispensable entities often grapple with multifaceted challenges that necessitate the intervention and support of financial institutions.

In full recognition of this pivotal role, Housing Finance Bank recently convened a contractors’ forum at Hotel Africana that brought together business and industry leaders from diverse sectors, united in their efforts to provide feedback, share perspectives, and offer suggestions. This initiative is integral to the Bank’s ongoing commitment to serving business needs and cultivating partnerships that foster enterprise growth while increasing customer satisfaction by over 90% by 2027.

Led by a distinguished team comprising Mr. Michael K. Mugabi, Managing Director; Ms. Peace K. Ayebazibwe, Executive Director; and Angela Ndawula, Head of Business and Institutional Banking and other senior executives, the Bank’s contractors’ forum provided an invaluable platform for comprehensive discussions on the effectiveness and impact of Housing Finance Bank’s suite of business banking solutions, encompassing trade financing, vehicle financing, and asset financing.

“As a Bank, we have crafted a robust customer value proposition but are constantly pursuing continuous improvement. These gatherings play a vital role in enabling us to critically listen and gather feedback, which in turn supports the refinement of our solutions to align with the real-world requirements of our esteemed customers,” emphasized Mr. Michael Mugabi, Managing Director of Housing Finance Bank.

Throughout the event, Angela Ndawula, Head of Business and Institutional Banking, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in strengthening the bonds between the Bank and the business community. “Our commitment to the business community transcends mere financial transactions and more into creating enduring partnerships that contribute to the growth of enterprises. This forum underscores our dedication to crafting banking solutions that genuinely address the needs of businesses and contractors in Uganda,” she affirmed.

Jonah Stanislaus, an official at the National Enterprise Corporation and a long-standing Housing Finance Bank customer, shared his perspective on the customer service forum, highlighting Housing Finance Bank’s unwavering dedication to serving the Ugandan business community. “We have been banking with Housing Finance since 2010, particularly in vehicle and asset financing. We have witnessed their commitment to delivering tailored solutions significantly contributing to our business growth.”

Housing Finance Bank remains steadfast in its ongoing efforts to create avenues for stakeholder engagement across the business community. These endeavours not only drive business growth but also make a lasting impact on Uganda’s socioeconomic development.

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Pay Shs611b debt, Court of Appeal silences AYA Investment

By
Our Reporter
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Aya boss-Hamid.

Court of Appeal in Kampala has sustained the earlier ruling which ordered AYA Investment Uganda to fulfil its debt obligation to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa Ltd, saying the Ugandan company cannot appeal in the matter where the commercial court endorsed the payment of Shs611 billion award to the South African financiers.

In 2021, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Ltd attempted to seize the hotel to recover a debt of $118 million but court issued an order restraining the South Africans from going on with the seizure process.

The money is part of the financing contract signed between AYA Investment and the South IDC to finance the construction of a hotel in 2007 in Nakasero, Kampala. AYA Investment says IDC made it hard for them as it delayed the disbursement of the money to them, which allegedly also resulted in delay of the project completion.

AYA also cited disputes with Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on what taxes to pay but also admitted that it was going to be tough completing the construction in time, especially due to Uganda’s landlocked nature.

Further, in 2017, AYA Investment entered into another deal with a Belgium-based hotel company, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (now Radisson Hospitality) in January 2017. However, this was short-lived as Radisson withdrew six months later. It was replaced in September of the same year by a South African hotel brand, Sovereign Hotels on a short-term basis to oversee the opening the following month.

American group, Wyndham Hotels, and Resorts, then was hired by AYA boss Muhammed Hamid, in 2018 to manage the hotel, but this did not go far. The hotel is currently trading as WIN 5 Hotel & Spa since February this year. The branding has since changed from Pearl of Africa to Win 5, amidst reports that the Libyan foreign investment firm, LAICO has taken the majority holding of the hotel.

It is not clear how many companies and individuals have claims on AYA Investment, but one of the longest-running claims is by meat processing company, Fresh Cuts, which says that in 2017 AYA was supplied with assorted meat products worth Shs44.9 million which it failed to pay for.

Through Haguma Law Chambers and Advocates, Fresh Cuts secured commitments by AYA Investment to pay but it didn’t fulfil the pledge.

On September 12, 2018, Mengo Chief Magistrate Sarah Mbonye ordered AYA Investment to clear the Shs44.9 million debt plus a 25 per cent per annum interest from the year of default to the year of completion of payment, with allowable tax deductions of Shs10 million.

After failing to enforce this directive against the hotel owner, Fresh Cuts asked the court in 2021 to declare AYA Investments bankrupt following the expiry of the time agreed to clear the date as per the Insolvency Act, however did not happen.

In 2018, KCCA warned it would close the hotel located in Nakasero Kampala over failure to pay local hotel tax that had accumulated to almost Shs34 million. The hotel was requesting concessions like paying in instalments which KCCA rejected.

At the same time, the electricity bill was rising and by 2021, electricity distributer, UMEME was demanding over Shs800 million and resorted to power disconnections to force the company to pay.

Last year, Global company Sanlam General Insurance sued AYA Investments for breach of insurance contracts. Court ordered the company to pay a total of about Shs175 million to Sanlam.

AYA Investment joins businessmen like Patrick Bitature and Hamis Kiggundu whose companies do not want to pay debts.

Last month International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in London, the United Kingdom, has ordered Ugandan businessman Patrick Bitature, his wife Carol Nzaro and four of their companies to pay South African lender, Vantage Mezzanine Fund, Shs244 billion after he argued in Ugandan courts that the South African lenders gave him the money illegally and therefore he was not obliged to pay back.

Still this year in June the Supreme Court ruled that $11million which Diamond Trust Bank Uganda and Diamond Trust Bank gave to Kiggundu as a syndicated loan was legal after the businessman claimed the two sister banks did it illegally as “contravened the Financial Institutions Act. The case still hangs in court.

However, economists, banks, and financial regulators fear that the bad habit of Ugandan businessmen who get money from foreign sources and then don’t want to pay back is likely to negatively impact on foreign investment in the country.

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Ugandan fintech Emata raises $2.4m in seed funding

By
Simon Kabayo
-

Emata, a Ugandan-based fintech with operations across East Africa, has raised $2.4 million in seed funding to bolster its operations.

The $2.4m which comprises $800,000 in equity and $1.6 million in on-lending capital was raised with support backed by five funders; African Renaissance Partners, Norrsken Accelerator Zephyr Acorn, Swedish angel investor Marcus Bostrom and global venture philanthropy firm – Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.

Magdi Amin, Managing Partner at African Renaissance Partners, one of the founders, said they were impressed by Emata’s financing model.

“We are delighted to back Emata – the digital and affordable solution for East African farmers. Our portfolio is geared to high-growth companies that use technology to solve real problems that Africans face every day.

Emata is a perfect fit for us: growing rapidly, with many competitive differentiators, digital strategy at its core, and materially impactful. The company has a great future ahead and we look forward to working closely with its management team,” he said.

Bram Willem van den Bosch, founder & CEO of Emata, said the funding will increase the visibility of their operations across the region.

“We are thrilled to complete our $2.4 million seed fund raise, backed by high-profile, impact-oriented investors who recognize the huge potential of digital agri-loans in East Africa, and beyond.

He said the proceeds will be used to expand Emata’s agri-loan offering across East Africa – both within its debut market of Uganda, and via imminent international expansion – which is most likely to be Tanzania.

“It will focus on scaling its core markets – dairy and coffee. A multi-crop company from inception, Emata’s other operations are oilseeds and maize, whilst expansion is also anticipated into potatoes,” he said.

Emata dares farmers to dream big and eliminates traditional obstacles that have made agricultural finance unavailable for the vast majority. Our solution turns a lifelong struggle into a five-minute process and is already tangibly impacting thousands of East African farmers,” he said.

In 2022, Emata witnessed expansion and now has 50 agricultural partners – reaching over 40,000 individual farmers – and has disbursed $1 million of loans.

Emata’s credentials have already attracted global attention. The company won the coveted “Best Newcomer / Best New Startup” at the 2023 Global Startup Awards – beating 80,000 other start-up entrants from around the world and was named on Yale Africa Startup Review’s list of 30 startups to watch in 2023.

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