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Former Manafwa District Health Officer found dead in Kenya

By
Simon Kabayo
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Dr. Gideon Wamasebu

The body of former Manafwa District Health Officer Dr. Gideon Wamasebu, has been retrieved in Kenya.

In a statement released by the family today, it clarifies that on Monday February 6, 2023, Dr. Wamasebu, aged 62, left his home in Mbale town indicating he was needed for a business trip.

“On Tuesday February 7, 2023, several members received distress messages from his phone indicating he had been kidnapped and was being held in Kenya. The messages were also seeking a ransom for him to be set free,” the family indicated.

The family immediately informed Uganda Police which began investigations. They got in touch with Kenyan counterparts and several arrests were made.

On Monday February 13,  following certain leads, some family members accompanied by Uganda and Kenya police visited the site at Malava, Kakamega in Kenya where it was thought that Dr. Wamasebu was killed.

“The body was retrieved and both Uganda and Kenya personnels are conducting extensive tests to ascertain the identity of the body,” the family confirmed adding, “We have been told to wait for the results  before drawing firm conclusions.”

In a meantime Ugandan and Kenyan security continue with investigations.

“As a family we thank all of you who have reached out to us in this obviously trying time. We shall keep you posted on the way forward in due course. Keep us in your prayers,” the family stated.

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Equatorial Guinea confirms first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak

By
Our Reporter
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Health workers

Equatorial Guinea today confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease. Preliminary tests carried out following the deaths of at least nine people in the country’s western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for the viral haemorrhagic fever.

Equatorial Guinean health authorities sent samples to the Institut Pasteur reference laboratory in Senegal with support from World Health Organization (WHO) to determine the cause of the disease after an alert by a district health official on 7 February. Of the eight samples tested at Institut Pasteur, one turned out positive for the virus. So far nine deaths and 16 suspected cases with symptoms including fever, fatigue and blood-stained vomit and diarrhoea have been reported.

Further investigations are ongoing. Advance teams have been deployed in the affected districts to trace contacts, isolate and provide medical care to people showing symptoms of the disease. Efforts are also underway to rapidly mount emergency response, with WHO deploying health emergency experts in epidemiology, case management, infection prevention, laboratory and risk communication to support the national response efforts and secure community collaboration in the outbreak control.

WHO is also facilitating the shipment of laboratory glove tents for sample testing as well as one viral haemorrhagic fever kit that includes personal protective equipment that can be used by 500 health workers.

“Marburg is highly infectious. Thanks to the rapid and decisive action by the Equatorial Guinean authorities in confirming the disease, emergency response can get to full steam quickly so that we save lives and halt the virus as soon as possible,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival. A range of potential treatments, including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies, as well as candidate vaccines with phase one data are being evaluated.

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Dubai-based band offers recording opportunities to African artistes

By
Our Reporter
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A Dubai-based band, Quincy Jones v4texx, has given African artistes the opportunity to work hand-in-hand on various projects. The band aims at helping artistes from different parts of the continent so that they give African music a new and different feel from Afro-beat and other common genres on the continent.

The works between V4texx and African artistes will be carried out at Q bar which is located in the luxurious Palazzo Versace in Dubai. Based on what we have so far seen, the beautiful venue is the epitome of splendor as the hotel is draped with Versace from top to bottom.

Quincy Jones’ Club Q is the first-ever hot spot he has owned as a legendary producer. The hangout spot has so far bagged numerous gongs for its epic live music, including Fact Dining Awards Dubai 2022, Time Out Dubai, Night Life Awards 2022, and Dubai’s 2022 Best Live Music Venue Award.

Apparently, the band consists of three Nigerians and Dante Kennedy, who is originally from the USA.

Before recruiting the Nigerians, the band first worked with a Kenyan guitarist and someone from Colombia, thereafter, recruited three Nigerians. Based on the way how they want African artistes to join the band is to emphasize coming correctly.

“It was a complete coincidence, we were just looking for people who can play well they just all happen to be from Nigeria. We played with a Kenyan guitarist and someone from Colombia before, so we are open to working with African musicians and artistes, but they have to come correct,” Quincy Jones said.

The V4texx band leader, Dante Kennedy, is a veteran in the music industry who was recruited initially by Quincy Jones himself in 2018.

He has performed at over 400 shows at the luxurious hotel. He has worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Wiz Khalifa.

He was also in the room when Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars made “Billionaire”.

Last year, Dante worked with over 30 artistes, connecting them with opportunities in the UAE, something he is looking to scale up this year.

Having played in Dubai for more than five years now, Dante admits that though the music in the UAE is still growing, it has made great strides.

Many of his fans fly in just to catch live music vibes. His advice to African artistes hoping to make a move to the UAE is; “There are a lot of opportunities for musicians to thrive in the UAE, but we must take a long-term approach and start with building relationships and trust with authorities and the community here.”

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One Ugandan confirmed dead in Turkey earthquake

By
Our Reporter
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Florence Babirye, a Ugandan national has been reported dead in the earthquake which occurred in southern Turkey last week.

According to her passport, Babirye whose details about what she was doing in Turkey have not been established, was a resident of Lwengo.

On February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred in southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria. This quake was followed approximately nine hours later by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake located around 59 miles (95 kilometers) to the southwest.

The earthquake was the most devastating to hit earthquake-prone Turkey in more than 20 years and was as strong as one in 1939, the most powerful recorded there. More than 36,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured.

The initial earthquake was centered near Gaziantep in south-central Turkey, home to thousands of Syrian refugees and the many humanitarian aid organizations also based there. Governments around the world were quick to respond to requests for international assistance, deploying rescue teams and offering aid.

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Stanbic Bank confirms arrest of 10 people who fraudulently withdrew Shs6.6b from customer’s account

By
Simon Kabayo
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Handcuffs

Stanbic Bank has acknowledged the arrest of ten people with the help of the Uganda Police, suspected of fraudulently withdrawing Shs6.6 billion from a customer’s account using forged documentation.

In a statement issued on February 13, 2023, Stanbic Bank says the suspects have since been produced before the anti-corruption court and charged with ‘causing financial loss and money laundering’.

Stanbic Bank also clarified that there was no ‘intrusion into the bank’s systems’ as alleged by some media reports.

“Cases of fraud are on the rise in the financial service sector. Stanbic bank appeals to customers and Ugandans in general to remain vigilant and safeguard personal and business banking details to avoid becoming victims of fraud,” Stanbic stated.

The Bank added, “No further comments will be made on this matter as the case is before court.”

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Former NBS journalists start digital TV

By
Our Reporter
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Former NBS journalists have started a digital TV platform, BBEG Media.

Four senior journalists who formerly worked with Next Media have started a digital TV platform, BBEG Media.

Edris Kiggundu, Tyaba Abubaker, Noah Kyeyune and John Kibalizi officially launched the digital channel on February 13.

It’s accessible on YouTube as BBEG MEDIA while is twitter handle is @BbegMedia.

Their offices are located at Wandegeya.

The TV went live with the story on the release on bail of MPs Muhammad Ssegirinya (Kawempe North) and Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West).

The TV’s chief executive officer Edris Kiggundu said they decided to start the online TV out of realization that the current programming format that many traditional TV’s use is outdated.

“The era of linear TV programming where people are expected to wait for a programme at a specific time is over.  Many TV stations have straight-jacketed viewers in the sense that they believe people are supposed to be in a given place at a specific time. But viewers have become more sophisticated and are busier today than they were yesterday,” Kiggundu said.

Kiggundu said BBEG MEDIA TV will be an unconventional TV in the sense that local communities will take the lead in news gathering and curating. “We want the communities to take the lead in telling their stories not the other way round where media organizations determine how and what they cover about a given community.”

Kiggundu said the platform will strive to uphold high standards of journalism and is independent of political, business and other interests.

Noah Kyeyune, a founding director said the platform will be used to try to transform and build the country. “We shall highlight the ills and injustices in society. We shall also show the good side, the strides the country is making.”

Kibalizi, the director operations said given the experience they have in the media industry, it would have been a disservice for them to just sit back.

“It would have been unfair for us to just give up. Amongst the four of us, we have more than 60 years of combined media experience which we can put to productive use,” Kibalizi said.

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EAC secures $1.4m for feasibility study of key road project

By
Our Reporter
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EAC Logo

The East African Community (EAC) has secured US$1.4 million for a feasibility study on a key section of the Northern Transport Corridor linking the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote, disclosed that the funding from the African Development Bank would be used to conduct feasibility studies on the 256 km multinational Kisumu-Kisian-Busia/Kakira – Malaba-Busitema-Busia expressway project.

Eng. Mlote further said that part of the AfDB funding would also be for the feasibility studies for the upgrading of the Malaba, Busia and Lwakhakha border posts along the Kenya-Uganda border.

Eng. Mlote further revealed that the Secretariat had also secured a commitment of 10 million Euros from the Federal Government of Germany in December 2022 for purposes of financing of feasibility studies towards upgrading trade infrastructure in the region.

Eng. Mlote was speaking during the opening session of the EAC Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology (SCTCM) that was held in Bujumbura, Burundi from 6th – 10th February, 2023.

Speaking during the opening session, the Chairperson of the Meeting who is also Burundi’s Minister for Infrastructure, Equipment and Social Housing, Captain Dieudonne Dukundane, emphasised the importance of introducing performance indicators in the TCM report in future as a way of assessing progress in the implementation of the directives of the sectoral council.

The SCTCM directed the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Burundi to implement the EAC Roaming Framework by August 30, 2023 and provide the status of implementation to the next Summit of the EAC Heads of State.

The meeting also further directed the United Republic of Tanzania to make the necessary statutory amendments towards the implementation of the 16th Summit directives (issued on 15th July, 2015) with respect to roaming and surcharges on traffic from Partner States.

In addition, the Ministers directed Tanzania to ensure that the amendments are done in the following areas: wholesale tariff (i.e. inter-operator tariff) shall be capped at US$0.07/Min for traffic originating and terminating within EAC; retail tariff shall be capped at US$ 0.10/Min, inclusive of taxes, for traffic originating and terminating within EAC.

Also, there shall be no charges for receiving roaming calls originating within the EAC in addition to the removal of surcharges for international Traffic originating and terminating within the EAC.

The EAC Roaming Framework or One Network Area was meant to harmonise mobile and data roaming charges across the region and make affordable calls starting from and ending within the region, in addition to enhancing intra-regional trade.  The framework-imposed price caps on roaming charges and called for the removal of surcharges on cross-border telecommunications traffic originating and terminating within the East African Community.

The framework was developed and approved by the 30th Meeting of the Council of Ministers in 2014 and endorsed by the EAC Heads of State in February 2015.  So far, the Republics of Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan have implemented the framework.

On the roads sector, the meeting directed the Secretariat in collaboration with Partner States to develop a performance measurement toolkit (PMT) to assist in assessing the performance of the OSBPs in the EAC with a view to inform policy decision making.

The TCM Meeting further directed the Secretariat to convene a regional meeting of Partner States experts to consider the initiatives being undertaken under the OSBP Phase 2 programme and to receive new border points connecting to the DRC, the bloc’s newest EAC Partner State.

On the water transport sector, TCM directed the Secretariat to fast track the development of the Regional Maritime Transport Policy and report progress to the 19th TCM, meeting. The ministers also directed the Secretariat to convene a meeting of maritime transport experts to review progress in the development of the Regional Maritime Transport Policy.       

The Ministers further recommended to Council to establish the position of Maritime Officer in the Directorate of Infrastructure at the EAC Secretariat to handle regional maritime matters, as proposed in the new EAC Institutional Structure.

On meteorological services, the Sectoral Council on TCM directed Partner States that had not ratified the Protocol on Cooperation in Meteorological Services, to complete the ratification of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation of Meteorological Services as directed by 18th Ordinary Summit Directive to Partner States and deposit with the Secretary General the instruments of ratification of outstanding protocols by June 30, 2023.

Only the Republic of Kenya has ratified the Protocol and deposited the instruments of Ratification with the Secretary General. The objective of protocol is to promote cooperation in the provision of meteorological services within the EAC Community.

The meeting also reiterated its directives to Republics of Burundi, Kenya and South Sudan to expedite the transformation of their Meteorological Departments to Meteorological Authorities as directed by 16th TCM.

On air transport, the TCM Meeting directed Partner States to finalize national consultations with relevant stakeholders on the mechanisms required to reduce the cost of air fares in the region and submit their recommendations to the EAC Secretariat by end of March 2023.  Ministers also directed EAC Secretariat to convene a meeting of EAC Sub Committee on Air Transport to harmonise the reports from National Consultative meetings in the Partner States by 25th April 2023.

On convening the 5th Retreat of the Summit of Heads of State on Infrastructure Development and Financing, the Ministers directed the Secretariat to develop a concept paper and budget in readiness for convening the retreat.

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Man arrested for forging Digital Tax Stamps

By
Our Reporter
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Sample of the strip of forged digital tax stamps

A joint intelligence operation with police led by Uganda Revenue Authority has led to the arrest of a one Joshua Bulegeya, suspected to be involved in forgery of Digital Tax Stamps (DTS) on gazetted products.

Bulegeya was incarcerated for operating an illegal business and counterfeiting of ambiance waragi gin. His operation stretched throughout Nansana and to adjacent towns. 

“The alert on the tax fraud scheme was as a result of a lodged complaint to Uganda Police by Mr. Joseph Kiyimba, the Managing Director of Ambiance Distillers Ltd,’’ revealed Mr Denis Kugonza, the URA Commissioner of Tax Investigations.

Mr. Kiyimba similarly informed URA about his concerns regarding the tax crimes being committed under his business name by Bulegeya who was affixing forged digital tax stamps on counterfeit ambiance waragi gin packed in 200ml plastic bottles.

URA submitted the seized samples to its science laboratory for forensic examination to ascertain the validity of the digital tax stamps in contention. Indeed, as suspected, the results indicated that the digital tax stamps were forged and the products were counterfeit.

The suspect appeared before the Anti-Corruption court and remanded to Luzira prison on two counts of forgery of a stamp contrary to section 350(a) of the Penal Code Act, CAP 120 and being in possession of a forged tax stamp contrary to Section 62nd of the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Act 2022 as amended.

URA reminded all manufacturers and importers of DTS-gazetted products to always comply with the requirements of the tax laws which creates a level ground for all players. Taxpayers are also implored to always alert URA whenever they have information about businesses they suspect of counterfeiting and forging digital tax stamps.

The use of Digital Tax Stamps was rolled out in 2019 as a requirement for excisable products whether produced locally or imported in Uganda. These products currently include beer, soda, bottled water, wines, spirits, tobacco products, sugar, cement, cooking oil, juices, alcoholic, non-alcoholic and fermented beverages.

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Museveni intervenes in Convention Centre row

By
Our Reporter
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Sudhir and Kasaija welcoming PM Nabbanja

Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia and the government of Uganda agreed to build a modern Convention Centre at Commonwealth Speke Resort Munonyo. The centre will host 3,000 delegates and its first conference will be the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) scheduled for this year.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sudhir and government was done in February 2022. It was attended by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Permanent Secretary Finance and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi.

The construction is estimated to cost $40 million (Shs140 billion) but it remains unclear how much each side will invest.

President Museveni was due to chair a meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2023, to resolve disagreements regarding the development of the modern Convention Centre. However, it is still unclear if the President’s meeting took place as planned.

A day before the scheduled meeting, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja held a readiness assessment meeting to update the President on the project’s progress.

In attendance at that meeting were Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala, Junior Finance minister Henry Musasizi, the Executive Director of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) Patrick Birungi, and representatives from the Ministry of Trade. Mr. Sudir Ruparelia and his son, Rajiv Ruparelia, were also in attendance.

The convention center is supposed to be fully functional before November to host the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, followed by the South Summit of the G77 and China.

The readiness assessment meeting was expected to provide guidance to the President on the issues hindering progress on the convention center, which will include a 3,500-seat modern auditorium, a suspended restaurant overlooking Lake Victoria, and smaller conference rooms for the NAM summit.

Sources reported that 80% of the project finances have been released by the Treasury through UDC. However, Mr. Ruparelia reportedly expressed frustration at the slow release of funds during the meeting, which he says is hindering progress.

UDC, responsible for accounting for the funds, cited the need for caution to prevent government losses. Gen Katumba also mentioned the poor working relationship with the project developer, who he claims had locked out the ministry’s engineers evaluating the foundation’s structural integrity.

Preparations for hosting the two summits began in 2019 when Uganda was endorsed as the NAM chair from 2022 to 2025. The government is hoping that the summits will help improve its image on the international stage.

The NAM summit movement comprises 120 countries that are not aligned to any of the rival eastern and western power blocs and it was founded during the Asian-Africa meeting in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955.

It is leaders of these countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, with observer China and Russia who are expected to convene in Kampala in November 2023 for the movement’s summit.

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MPs Ssegirinya, Ssewanyana finally granted bail

By
Our Reporter
-

Kawempe North Member of Parliament, Muhammad Ssegirinya and Makindye West Legislator Allan Ssewanyana have finally been granted bail.

The two legislators who have been in jail for almost a year and a half, were granted bail by Masaka High Court Judge Lawrence Tweyanze.

They have been released on cash bail of Shs20 million each and their sureties Shs50 million. Their Passports have been deposited with the court until further orders. They will also report once every month at the Registrar International Crimes Division and have been ordered not to interfere with the investigations.

The MPs are accused of murdering Joseph Bwanika, a resident of Kisseka B village in Lwengo district. They also face several counts of murder, terrorism and attempted murder, emanating from a spate of killings that happened in Masaka in August 2021. The others accused are Bulo Wamala, John Mugerwa, Jackson Kanyike, Mike Sserwadda and Jude Muwonge.

Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) withdrew affidavits objecting their bail application. The communication was made by the Senior State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka. Jennifer Amumpaire (Asst DPP), Innocent Mubangizi (CID Officer) and Thomas Jatiko (Asst DPP) had filed affidavits.

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