The lease title for Lusaze Cemetery land has expired this was revealed by the Committee on Commissions and State Enterprises at Parliament.
The MPs are questioning the technical wing of the Kampala Capital City Authority- KCCA over the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending 2022.
Eli Waligo, the Director of Land Management at KCCA said the lease expired and the authority is engaging Buganda Land Board to have it renewed.
“We are in advanced stages towards the renewal of the lease but Buganda land board is still hesitant because they want the land to serve another purpose other than the cemetery,” he said.
The legislators also expressed their dismay over the continuous encroachment on KCCA land. They claimed that part of the Lusaze cemetery land was encroached on.
MP Yusuf Nsibambi asked if there any for any plans of shifting the cemetery in case Buganda Land Board declines to renew the lease title.
The MPs also learnt that the 60.4 acreages of land that was purchased to serve as a landfill in Kasenga have been encroached on. The land was allegedly bought in 1997 however it didn’t serve the purpose.
“You have land in Kasenge and what are you really doing at KCCA?” Nsibambi asked.
Waligo said the Authority filed a lawsuit against the encroachers and the matter is before the high court pending hearing. KCCA is in the process of fencing off all its land and signage indicating the ownership of land has been elected at the land to ensure that the land is not encroached on.
Kenya has suspended imports of powdered milk, a development that is set to badly affect Uganda.
In a notice dated March 6, the Kenya Dairy Board, KDB, said it was moving to protect local farmers from external products as output is expected to increase soon.
“In anticipation of the long rains, the Government has stopped the importation of milk powders to cushion the industry from surplus production and low prices,” read a statement signed by Margaret Kibogy, the KDB Managing Director.
Ms Kibogy said that the Board shall no longer issue new import permits until further notice.
While the letter does not specifically mention which countries are affected by the ban, the move has been received with consternation from across the region.
This comes two months after Kenya President William Ruto said milk imports from Uganda should be allowed into the country and the more expensive Kenyan milk be processed for the international market.
However, there have been continuous calls from both the industry and the political leaders in Kenya to ban milk from Uganda because it is cheaper and outcompetes the Kenyan products on the market.
Kenya is Uganda’s major milk market but the constant barriers have prompted the search for wider markets, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Zambia, and Algeria.
The Dairy Development Authority (DDA) said that for dairy products like casein, whey protein powder, UHT milk, and milk powder, the main destinations have been United Arab Emirates, Syria, Japan, Oman, USA, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Processed milk accounts for more than 35 percent of Uganda’s marketed milk, according to DDA. It is not known how much of the milk powder is exported to Kenya.
Recently, DDA Executive Director, Samson Akankiza said the Kenyan market was now fully open for Uganda’s dairy products, while talks are on with Algeria for the export of powdered milk.
The announcement by KDB came hardly a day after Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua vowed that the government would ‘break the monopoly’ in the milk and gas sectors so as to bring the prices down.
Speaking at a church service in Nairobi on Sunday, Gachagua said that for a long time the milk industry was dominated by one person who has bought off all other companies and that the same went for gas.
It is said that Mt Kenya and Brookside, which control more than half the market, are majority-owned by the Kenyatta family, while political ally Raila Odinga owns East African Spectre, the main petroleum gas supplier in Kenya.
“We need to open up that sector to competition so that farmers can get a fair deal. The days of monopoly are over, and we will not let a few individuals continue to exploit Kenyans,” Gachagua said.
He insisted that this was not a political witch-hunt by a move aimed at improving the livelihood of Kenyans.
“They wanted to continue with state capture and monopoly, but that has come to an end. We are going to open up the milk and gas industry so that we can end monopoly for the benefit of Kenyans,” Gachagua asserted, adding that one person has been buying up all the companies and selling milk at inflated prices.
In 2015, Brookside acquired Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Ltd which had earlier acquired the assets of Fresh Dairy from the Dairy Corporation of Uganda.
Effectively, Brookside became the leading milk buyer, processor, and exporter in Uganda.
Internal Affairs Minister, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has dismissed claims that he held a private meeting focusing on succession with fellow Generals Salim Saleh and Kainerugaba Muhoozi as speculative and baseless.
Nile Post had reported that a private meeting had been held in Kapeeka at the residence of Gen. Saleh to reconcile Gen Otafiire and Gen. Muhoozi. The story further revealed that under the same meeting, the question of succession was discussed.
However, in a telephone interview with EagleOnline Gen. Otafiire acknowledged holding a meeting with both Generals Saleh and Muhoozi but insisted that no question succession was discussed.
“It is true I attended a meeting and I refused a group photo” Gen. Otafiire said when contacted. He continued “It is true the President took me in confidence and I am not at liberty to disclose secret interactions” Gen. Otafiire said.
“The president called for a meeting of three of us and if he wanted it open, he would have said so and I am not at liberty to disclose anything. It was not a public meeting, why do you want to know”
The minister said his meeting with Saleh and Muhoozi was cordial and interactive. “It was a friendly chat between two old comrades and their son”
This website has also learnt from some sources that whereas the meeting was secret, there was no clear agenda as it was prompted by the secret document which President Museveni authored on cohesion and internal discipline within the senior ranks of the party which he wanted discussed by the three.
“Just treat that story as hearsay from part timer thinkers who neither were invited nor attended the meeting. Those are frictions of people who don’t wish Uganda well and are probably accounting for their foreign backers” a top source who asked not to be named told EagleOnline.
According to Nile Post, the meeting started with a review of President Museveni’s paper on the matter. Museveni in the document outlines that the fighting between senior UPDF/NRM leaders and attacking each other publicly doesn’t look good out there.
Sources revealed that whereas it is true that on January 17, 2023, a meeting took place at Gen Saleh’s residence, it is only the three generals that attended the closed-door meeting and two of Gen. Saleh’s staff, none of others that had travelled with Gen. Muhoozi was allowed in.
It is true Brig. Chris Damulira, the Director Crime Intelligence in the police, businessman Kwame Ruyondo and Journalist Andrew Mwenda accompanied Gen. Muhoozi, none of them attended meeting because it was meant for the three generals’
The two aides of Gen. Saleh were Emmy E Allio, the Director Investment at Operation Wealth Creation and Col. James Nkojjo, the Military Assistant to Gen. Saleh.
MAN IN THE STORM: Mbarara North MP Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari.
The under fire flamboyant Member of Parliament for Mbarara North Robert Mwesigwa Rukari has written to the Inspector General of Police registering his complaint against police officers that effected his arrest.
Rukari in a letter dated March 7, 2023, which EagleOnline has seen says ASP Kharim Mukiibi was unprofessional during his arrest as he didn’t disclose himself and the reason for arrest to the MP.
“My name is Mwesigwa Robert Rukari Member of Parliament representing Mbarara City North Constituency. I wish to officially register my complaint against the above-mentioned police officers for their unprofessional conduct to my person. On March 1, 2o23, I was arrested at around 4.30pm between Bhatia Chambers and Jubilee Insurance Centre Building along Parliament Avenue as I was coming from a meeting with the creditor’s lawyer Stanley Omwony to discuss a new debt payment plan” Rukari who came out of Luzira prisons after pay part of the loan writes.
He further continues “The arrest was effected by a Court Bailiff Moses Kirunda together with ASP Kharim Mukiibi and another police constable whose name I couldn’t readily establish armed with a pistol and both dressed in an FFU blue and white anti-riot police uniforms. Without being shown a warrant of arrest, I was ordered to abandon my vehicle on the street and forced into a waiting private car Toyota Mark X, driven to Commercial Court”.
In his complaint says to his surprise, even after the Assistant Registrar committed him to prison, at around 6.30pm, the same police officers and court Bailiff Moses Kirunda ordered him back to the same private car without a prison’s officer. Rukari says in total disregard of traffic rules, they drove dangerously at a terrific speed and in the opposite direction of the road towards Luzira Prison, putting his life in danger.
“In a dramatic fashion, at Garden City round about, ASP Mukiibi jumped out of the vehicle and stopped all the vehicles including the Prison’s bus then shifted me to the Prison bus. This is therefore, to request your good office to establish whether the said police were authorized to participate in the civil court processes in the manner described above” Rukari wrote to IGP and copied the Police Chief of Staff.
Background
Rukari was March 1, taken before Commercial section of the High Court under execution of a decree which was made and pronounced by execution miscellaneous application No77 of 2022 and by which decree it was ordered that the said should pay a decretal sum and cost 702,000,000.
Mwesigwa Rukari’s arrest and subsequent remand was due to failure to pay Shs702 million to city businessman Gerald Kalungi.
“And whereas the respondent has neither obeyed the decree nor satisfied the Court that he will not be committed. You are hereby committed the said Mwesigwa Robert into civil prison and keep him therein for a period not exceeding six months until the said decree shall be fully satisfied or the said Mwesigwa Robert shall otherwise be entitled to be released according to the provisions of Section 43 of CPA” reads the committal of respondent to civil prison.
It further continues “The Court does hereby fix Shs5,000 as allowance for the subsistence of the said Mwesigwa Robert during his confinement under this warrant of committal”
On December 30, this website exclusively revealed that Mr Mwesigwa Rukaari was having sleepless nights as several money lenders had ganged up against him demanding for repayment of loans the politician obtained from them.
Rukari’s subsequent release and payment of Shs300 million was negotiated by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, Amb. Adonia Ayebale among others.
Known for its coral reefs and beautiful beaches, Seychelles, a tropical paradise located off the coast of east Africa, is visited by thousands of tourists. Yet, beyond the country’s multi-million dollar tourist industry, BBC Africa Eye shines a light on its heroin epidemic.
In a new investigation by BBC Africa Eye, Seychelles, Heroin and Me pieces together a complex picture of how political and socio-economic factors including poverty and a lack of rehabilitation centres, are contributing to what is now a drug epidemic.
According to Seychelles’ Government, based on population, Seychelles – which is made up of 115 islands – has the biggest heroin problem in the world, with around 10 percent of Seychellois dependent on the drug.
Presented by Joseph Fady Banane, the Seychellois support worker was one of the 10 percent. Now free of heroin, he uses his experience and role as a support worker to show viewers the true extent of the drug epidemic, whilst confronting his own painful past and reconnecting with the people he loves.
Meeting drug users, dealers, government officials and the communities caught in the middle, the film captures Fady’s journey as he gains first-hand access to their stories.
He told BBC Africa Eye how he was introduced to drugs: “I was 27 when I first took heroin. Business was not picking up, sitting outside I decided to try my first couple of smokes, and that was it for five years. I still don’t know why I started smoking heroin, but part of it was just because I could – drugs were everywhere.” He added: “I became a stranger to my own mum, and my son was taken away.”
Throughout the film, individuals share details on the gruelling ripple effect of drugs in their communities and families.
Ravinia Jean, a mother, shares the impact of her son’s death Tony, who was heroin-dependent and a friend of Fady’s. “It is hard…it’s very painful.” She revealed her second son, Jude, is also using heroin and has been in and out of prison, where he is still able to buy the drug on credit. She said: “Parents have to pay for it because they will send people to collect the money…Of course you’re scared, they threaten you, they said they will kill him.”
However, there is still hope for drug-users like Jude. The documentary follows Jude’s journey towards recovery as he finally visits a councillor with hopes to recover from heroin-dependency.
Many people told the programme that drugs are used to escape the trauma of poverty. 25% of residents live below the poverty line, and in the last few years, use of crack cocaine in Seychelles has also increased. Latest figures show police seizures of cocaine have increased by almost 3,000% since 2018.1
Despite the scale of the problem, there is lack of support for heroin users due to the closures of all of the country’s residential rehabilitation centres which is contributing to the problem.
Revisiting the rehabilitation centre in Les Canelé that saved his life, which is no longer open to heroin users, Fady reflects on the consequences of the closures. “Back then, these rehab centres were helping hundreds of people. Rehab saved me from heroin, but with these programmes now closed – there’s not much help for anyone else, and many users have to fight their dependency alone.”
The only consistent support left for many users is a free methadone programme, a heroin substitute which can be used to detox.
The BBC Africa Eye investigation also revealed many women are resorting to sex work to aid their heroin-dependency. One woman told BBC Africa Eye: “No one will give you anything for free, so you have to do something.”
It is estimated two tonnes of heroin comes into Seychelles every year, which are mainly smuggled from Afghanistan via Iran through the Indian Ocean.In response, the government has resorted to a “war on drugs” approach, and the documentary explores whether this approach risks further alienating the drug-using community.
BBC Africa Eye obtained an exclusive interview with Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalalwan to understand the “war on drugs” approach. He said: “Communities, villages cannot be controlled by the drug lords, by drug addicts. This is why we have we have taken the approach that we need to disrupt those activities. It’s an all-out war on drugs in order for me to save our people.”
On what was being done to address the lack of rehabilitation centres, he revealed: “We have received a grant from the UAE to build a proper rehabilitation centre. And, and so we are going in that direction.”
The first reading of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill has failed to kick off over the lack of a certificate of financial implications.
Last month, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among tasked Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa to reintroduce the Anti-Homosexuality bill. The bill comes at a time when there are widespread cases of same-sex relationships in the community and major traditional schools.
“I want to ask religious leaders to time round be there to see who is who. We will not allow an aspect of saying there was an aspect of quorum; we are going to vote by show of hands. You are either for homosexuality or against it. We want to see the kind of leaders we have for this country,” she said last month.
During the plenary, Basalirwa said the ministry of finance has not issued him a certificate of financial implications and therefore the first reading of the bill could not go on.
“The issue of the certificate of financial implication, I think we must go on record. The front bench of government should take a stand and come out clearly. Are they willing to avail of the certificate or not?” Basalirwa asked.
He said the front bench (Ministers) should take a stand because if they don’t take a stand, then an impression would be created that all of us here are condoning homosexuality, whereas we are not.
“We are going to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill at whatever cost. We will pass it, and we are going to protect the values and morals of Ugandans.” Among said.
Through state minister for investment Evelyn Anite, Matia Kasaija, the Finance Minister assured MPs that the certificate of financial implications will be issued before the end of Thursday.
The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 was passed by Parliament on 20 December 2013 with life in prison substituted for the death penalty. Whereas it was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni on 24 February 2014, the Constitutional Court on 1 August 2014 annulled the law citing that it was passed without the required quorum in the House.
Global cloud communications platform, Infobip celebrates International Woman’s Day, reinforcing the relevance of gender equity.
The volume of women in vital positions for the business stands out in terms of female representation in all regions where Infobip has offices. From North America to Asia, women represent between 39% and 54% of the company’s workforce, which also has more than 43% of women working in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Female representation in Croatia, Latin America, and India averages around 34%.
Mirela Topić, Head of People at the company said; “I’ve been at Infobip for a little over a year and I really feel that I can be who I want to be. I can position myself and, through my role, support other women in their career paths in an easy and promising way,” she says.
Giovanna Dominiquini, Sales Manager for the South Region of Latin said my relationship with Infobip has existed since 2017. Since then, I have been recognized for my deliveries to the business in the region where I work, which shows that recognition for both men and women is a uniform reality in our company. I am proud to work in a company that offers such an environment of equity as Infobip.
Infobip’s APAC Head of Marketing, Jessica Furtado, said everyone is given the opportunity to lead their projects, enabling them to move forward with confidence and contribute their ideas. As leaders, we are committed to maintaining an environment where everyone can work together, regardless of gender with equal opportunities and access to resources so that they can reach their full potential. We have a culture of respect, inclusion, and collaboration, where everyone can contribute their unique skill sets and perspectives.
Kristin Syoen, Head of People Operations in the region, said: “As an essential part of one of the biggest global communications companies in the world, the “women” of Infobip continue to play a vital role in the ongoing innovations and transformations taking place in omnichannel communications. At Infobip, we are ahead of the curve – leading the industry in gender parity with women making up more than 40% of our North American operations.
Barbara Kohut – Product Specialist for Latin America said; “My work has a direct impact on the company’s core business. Knowing in-depth about Infobip’s products and solutions helps the company to grow, helps me to be close to our customers and add value to an entire value chain,”
Ivana Topalović – Human Resources Business Partner working in Croatia said taking care of people is what I love to do and, as a Human Resources professional, I feel empowered to take care of our professionals’ careers every day and strengthen Infobip’s mission to be a company increasingly rich in diversity and knowledge.
Tshidisegang Mosenyegi was promoted during her maternity leave at Infobip and became Head of Marketing for the Middle East and Africa region and comments on the importance of this moment in her life as part of the Infobip team.
“I didn’t expect the promotion only because I was on maternity leave, but I knew that my top leadership understood my efforts and results achieved in the company. My promotion is proof that Infobip recognizes its professionals through meritocracy and results, and I am happy to work in an organization that thinks this way,” she said.
According to Tena Šojer Keser, Global Developer Content Manager at Infobip, “Infobip has also supported women in the industry through its various community-building efforts. Their developer conference Shift, taking place in both Zadar and Miami this year, regularly features a high percentage of women speakers, well above the industry benchmark. On a regional level, following their acquisition of a technology news portal Netokracija, Infobip has joined efforts to level the playing field for women in the industry through Netokracija’s long-standing conference Ladies of New Business. The conference has been taking place 7 years in a row, focusing on challenges and possibilities for women in the various fields of the tech industry.” she said
Aurora Volarević, VP of Corporate Affairs and Board Member at Infobip, said; “At Infobip we are always just starting, but I’d say that one thing we certainly did not just start in promoting a well-balanced gender environment. A common sentiment might exist that tech companies have more men than women working and leading teams and projects, but at Infobip this is, happily, not the case. The representation of female employees within our company emphasizes the gender equity that has been established among departments and shows the power of our diversity. The diversity work at Infobip does not stop at gender but rather expands to the diversity of opinions, cultures, ages and more. Here we are heard and empowered no matter what. That’s the type of workplace that we aim to keep, and I’m eager to say that this is already a standard and successful path for our employees around the world. That’s more than enough reasons to celebrate International Women’s Day.”
Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises- COSASE has grilled the management of the Kampala Capital City Authority- KCCA over Shs 3.7 billion which was meant for the procurement of ambulances and motorcycles.
The queries arise from the Auditor General report for the financial year ending June 2022. KCCA team was led by Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka.
The report indicates that Authority used Shs3.7 billion however, Dr. Daniel Okello, the Director of Public health services and environment said they spent Shs 1.6 billion to procure seven ambulances and five motorcycles.
“At the time of the audit, the ambulances and the motorcycles had not been delivered. The ambulances were delivered in December last year and the motorcycles were not delivered and the contracted firm was not paid,” he said.
During the faceoff, MPs were irked by the table contract and faulted the contract committee of KCCA for not indicating the quantity and the prices of the items which we meant to be procured.
“How do you sign a contract which does not show the model of the ambulances and motorcycles which are meant to be procured?” Joel Ssenyonyi asked.
Kisaka contested the figures quoted in the auditor general’s report, noting that no exit meeting was held to harmonize the quoted figures.
KCCA team was also questioned about Shs2.1 billion which was spent on buying 39 chairs, 14 tables and five desks. According to the auditor general’s report, at the time of the audit, the chairs had not been delivered.
Kisaka said Shs 1.3 billion was spent on procuring office furniture, not Shs2.1 billion.
The Uganda joint security forces have released and handed over Turkana suspects to the Turkana County in the Republic of Kenya.
The exercise was done at Moroto army barracks, where Uganda’s security side was led by Brig Gen Felix Busizoori, 3 Division deputy commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) who handed over the six (6) suspects to his counterpart, Mr. Peter Eripete County Secretary and head of public service, Turkana County Government in the Republic of Kenya.
The Turkana suspects were arrested alongside their kinship, the native Matheniko in different cordon and search operations where they were engaged in cattle rustling in Karamoja Sub-region between 20th, February to 26 February, 2023.
“Following recent persistent security and diplomatic engagements between Ugandan and Kenyan authorities, we officially hand over six suspects in the gesture of EAC partnership as a sign of peaceful co-existence and brotherhood,” Brig Gen Busizoori remarked.
He urged the Turkana County Government to penalize the suspects for abusing the peaceful co-existence and cross-border security arrangements.
“This diplomatic pardon should not be taken for granted as it may lead to impunity. Those who again are violating Ugandan laws will be arrested, arraigned before courts and charged of their offenses,” Brig Gen Busizoori warned.
He noted that the native eight (8) Matheniko who were arrested alongside the Turkana will be subjected to Uganda’s Courts of law.
Speaking on the same occasion, on his part, Mr. Peter Eripete the county secretary and head of public service expressed gratitude for Ugandan authorities.
“I thank the President of the Republic of Uganda, the people and joint security commanders for giving Turkana pastoralists another chance to graze their animals in Ugandan territory.”
He noted that officials on either side of the border of the two sister countries continue to work together to find ending solutions on how best the Turkana pastoralists can live in harmony with their host communities in Uganda.
“I categorically, state that we are not allowing anybody to come and cause criminality in the host country, adding that once criminality is caused on whichever side of the border, that suspect is subjected to host country’s laws,” said Mr. Eripete
The Karamojong and Turkana pastoralists have co-existed and shared water and pasture in the grazing belts in Uganda as guided and spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two East African Community countries.
However, some armed Turkana elements have continued to violate the much desired MoU since they engage themselves in criminal and rustling activities in Uganda. These continued violations among others are the reason why both Ugandan and Kenyan authorities meet to discuss, implement and expedite security measures for peaceful co-existence and brotherhood in order to foster socio-economic transformation and development within neighboring pastoralist communities of EAC.
Atleast 28 women Agribusiness entrepreneurs graduated from the first cohort Business Accelerator Program (BAP) implemented by Agribusiness Development Centre and powered by dfcu Limited and Rabo Foundation. The ceremony was held at dfcu Bank’s Head Offices in Nakasero.
Launched last year, the Business Accelerator Program’s objective is to train 350 agribusinesses (40% women-led), link at least 50% of them to financing and or markets and enable them to grow and create new jobs. During the training, the women entrepreneurs of the first cohort were exposed to different aspects of business management from, Business Canvas Modelling, Governance, Risk Management, Marketing, Financial Management, Financier’s requirements and much more.
Speaking at the award event Josephine Mukumbya, Executive Director, ADC, said the participants were engaged in exposure visits like the Trans African summit that was organized by Women Economic Forum with the aim of showcasing their products to a wider market (African) and enabling wider networking. They were also exposed to field visits at CURAD and Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) to expose them to the services that can be used to build capacity and add value to their products.
“A multi-dimensional approach entailing a combination of training, self-paced learning, mentoring, and exposure visits was used for the program. I wish to congratulate each of you for your resilience and commitment to this day,” she said.
In a bid to expose the women to more business opportunities across the borders, different regulators were also invited to sensitize the entrepreneurs to encourage legal and regulatory compliance.
Robert Wanok, Ag. Chief Commercial Officer of Dfcu Bank reiterated the Bank’s commitment to women economic emancipation and enterprise development.
“As an enabler of socioeconomic transformation, supporting women entrepreneurs and agribusiness development is paramount. This 1st cohort inspired the launch of two more cohorts and because of this, we are proud of the journey so far and are confident of the future. Because of your collective achievements, you have paved a way for more women to benefit from the program,” he said.
“Our goal is to empower more women involved in the entire agribusiness value chain and we do this by partnering with like-minded individuals, organisations, and government to deliver on our commitment to transform lives and communities,”
The above makes a case for continued capacity development of enterprises especially agribusinesses for bankability, growth and as such job creation, which is what the Agribusiness Development Centre (ADC) powered by dfcu Limited, and Rabo Foundation are doing by targeting small and medium Agribusinesses (40% of which women led).
