Rwanda and Uganda have agreed to revive Northern Corridor Integration Projects including the much sought-after Standard Gauge Railway and removal of non-tariff barriers that limit free movement of persons and goods.

Speaking at the Joint Permanent Commission held in Kigali, Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo said both countries would now exert all efforts to promote mutually beneficial trade such as infrastructural challenges and non – tariff barriers that affect the smooth flow of goods and services.

Gen Odongo said the private sector expects both governments to provide an attractive environment for business.

Gen Odongo said that the session agreed on other strategic areas of interest for both countries such as the One Network Area (ONA), the Single Customs Territory, the Single East African Tourist Visa, free movement of persons and goods, among others.

“It is in this respect that Uganda appreciates the efforts and the progress under the Northern Corridor Integrated Projects (NCIP) framework, particularly in promoting regional infrastructure projects. In recognition of the necessity and urgency to have implementation of these projects fast tracked, this Session will deliberate on strategic areas of connectivity,” Gen Odongo said.

The Ministers of both countries exchanged views on regional and continental developments and further resolved to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation in multilateral issues.

In this regard, they underscored the importance of continued efforts and commitment to peaceful resolution and dialogue in resolving conflicts.

The Ministers further commended the efforts of regional and sub-regional frameworks aimed at finding lasting solutions to these conflicts which severely impact the lives and livelihoods of our peoples.

The Ministers reiterated both countries’ commitment to good neighborliness and safety of our citizens.

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Absa Bank has won the ‘Best Practices in Workplace Culture & Environment’ Award at the prudential best HR practices survey 2022 which was held on Friday at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
The survey seeks to recognise organisations that have implemented people policies, systems, and processes that create and sustain productivity along with industrial peace and harmony and were held following the participation of over 3800 employees from various industries in Uganda across 14 thematic areas on the best HR practices critical for influencing positive employment practices in Uganda today.

Absa has in place HR policies covering employee wellness by providing psychosocial support towards employees’ physical, mental and social health; driving a healthy and inclusive workplace culture through employee engagement and; an organisational policy that values and fosters mobility within the organisation, performance management to decrease employee grievances and a competitive remuneration proposition.

Speaking to the recognition, Sylvia Mulomi, Absa Bank Uganda’s People Function Director, said, “I would like to appreciate Prudential for allowing our employees to give us feedback. At Absa, we believe that our people are our strength and they play a critical role in enabling the bank to achieve its strategic priorities.”

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted concerns about employee wellness, healthy work-life balances and employers’ roles in guiding their workforces’ growth and development, and these have contributed to global phenomenons such as “The Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting” that have seen employees reconsider their attitudes towards work.
Mulomi added, “This award is a testament that our people value the efforts of the leadership team as well as the People Function in creating an enabling environment for our people to thrive and to grow.”
Last year, Absa Bank Uganda was recognised as having the Best Practices in Learning and Development in the Prudential best HR practices survey for 2021.

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The pre-trial of the embattled Makindye West legislator Allan Ssewanyana and Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssegirinyana resumes today at the International Crimes Division of the High Court in Kampala.

Last month, Judge Alice Komuhangi said court couldn’t continue without Ssewanyana due to his health condition. The matter was subsequently adjourned to today. The two MPs were in February released on bail after spending more than one on remand.
The two MPs and four other suspects are accused of terrorism contrary to sections 7 (1) and (2) (d) and (d) of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002 in count one, aiding and abetting terrorism contrary to section 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002 in count two, murder contrary to sections 188 and 189 of the Penal code Act in Counts three, four, five and attempted murder contrary to section 204 (a) of the Penal code Act.

Prosecution states that the two legislators together with other suspects -some on remand and others still at large on August 2, 2021, allegedly killed Joseph Bwanika, a resident of Kisekka Village in Kisekka Sub County in Lwengo District.
It is further alleged that on August 23 at Ssettaala Village in Masaka City, the MPs and their co-accused persons killed Francis Mugerwa Kiiza aka Nswa, Sulaiman Kakooza and Tadeo Kiyimba.
The MPs are also accused of attempting to kill Ronald Ssebyoto, a resident of the same area. They are also accused of financing the killings in the Greater Masaka region.

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Three soldiers were on Thursday injured after suspected encroachers on government land allegedly attacked Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) engineers renovating Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Kira Municipality, Kampala.

According to a statement by the deputy Defence spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki, it is alleged that at around 9am, a group armed with machetes, stones, arrows and bows under the leadership of one Godfrey Kawooya, the Vice Chairman of Kireka Zone B and another only identified as Masada of Katooke Zone allegedly attacked their engineers on duty within a confrontation that lasted three hours.

The engineers were reportedly surveying part of the land that hosts Namboole Stadium Complex in order to begin laying culverts and block manholes.

“The security detail protecting the site and workers shot three warning shots to disperse Mr. Kawooya’s gang but in vain. Chaos ensued and three of our soldiers were injured, including Pte Jackson Masereka, whose fingers were cut by panga-wielding gangs,” the deputy Defence spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki said.

“Civilians injured are not yet established as police join us to investigate the incidents and bring those involved to book,” he added.

The UPDF Engineering Brigade kicked off the renovation of the stadium last year with the construction of the perimeter wall as one of the requirements from CAF and to protect the land from encroachers.

As such, hundreds of residents of Kireka Zone B have been spending sleepless nights over their eviction with UPDF saying the residents were given a deadline of February 15, 2023, to vacate the premises.

“Notices of vacating the premises were sent out to encroachers several times by all concerned authorities and a deadline of February 15th, 2023 was given. Indeed upon expiry of these notices, a company called Flight Auctioneers was hired to forcefully evict the defiant encroachers,” Col Akiiki added in a Thursday evening statement.

“The UPDF engineers Brigade will continue to do its work and will not be deterred despite acts of provocation by errant and illegal encroachers on the property. We have beefed up security at the stadium and call upon citizens to respect public property in order to avoid injuries and loss of lives.”

Mr. Kawooya recently told the media that about 550 residents were ordered to leave the premises and that their efforts to engage the stadium management on the matter were futile.

“Our case is in the high court. It is very sad that these people just came and demolished people’s houses without any warning. Many people have lost their properties in that kind of manner,” he said.
Kawooya insists that block 232 on which his local council is situated, belongs to Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s uncle known as Kisosonkole.

In 2019, Jamil Sewanyana, the managing director of the stadium petitioned the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire-led land commission to help them evict individuals and companies that had allegedly grabbed half of the 120 acres of land belonging to Namboole.

In his petition, Sewanyana said that the Government bought 103 plots on Kyadondo Block 232 and Block 234 to build a stadium and several people were compensated but many denied that they were ever compensated.

The construction of the perimeter is still underway as part of the first phase of the stadium’s renovation. The renovation works will also cover the dressing rooms, playing surface, running track, installation of desks and air conditioners in the media and VIP sections, seats in the general public stands, and upgrading floodlights as directed by CAF.

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