Ms. Renah Nakyeyune, a daughter of Ambassador Henry and Dr. Florence Mayega over the weekend introduced her fiancé at their home in Bwebajja.
Renah and David Ndugwa are set to wed on December 17, 2022, at Namirembe Cathedral and later hold their reception at the Sheraton hotel Kampala.
Uganda Cranes will withdraw from the forthcoming 2023 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in Algeria due to lack of funds, Fufa President Moses Magogo has revealed.
“Like for the U-23, we are left with no further option but to withdraw the Uganda Cranes from CHAN finals because Ministry of Finance has not provided the funds as appropriated by Parliament,” a tweet from Magogo on December 12 read.
“The sanctions to Uganda will affect the future if we don’t take the hard decision now. Sorry for the players and coaches who qualified the team but it is the moment to face the reality,” the tweet added.
The team was due to start preparations for the tournament on December 21, 2022.
Uganda was pooled in Group B alongside two-time champions DR Congo, Cote D’Ivoire and Senegal.
This was the sixth successive time that Uganda Cranes was going to play at the final tournament having featured in the 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 editions.
The tournament is played by only home-based players.
The Championship will take place from 13 January to 4 February 2023.
The Convocation of Kyambogo university has recognized and given out accolades to the best performing students for their outstanding performance, during the 18th graduation ceremony.
Convocation Chairperson, Mr. Kenneth Mbogo applauded the best performers, saying that this is a great achievement and as Convocation, they do not take it for granted.
“It’s our mandate as convocation in every graduation to come out and appreciate the efforts of the best performing students,” said Mr Mbogo.
He said that oftentimes, coming out to award and recognize the best performers every year at such a function, has encouraged many students to strive hard for this reputation, hence achieving the best grades.
This year’s best performing students are; Semwanga David, Bachelor of Textile and Apparel Design from Faculty of Science, Nakaddu Zaitunie (best overall student CGPA 4.83 out of a total of five), Bachelor of Business Administration and Muhereza Gibson Epaphras from Special Needs Education, Bushenyi Center. They obtained a Cumulative Grade point average (CGPA) of 4.85 out of five.
“I wish to congratulate these students for performing well. Thank you for not wasting time, and being focused,” said Professor Eli Katunguka.
Vice chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka also revealed that, out of Twelve Thousand and Eighty students (12,080), two hundred fifty (285) got first class degrees in various bachelor programs.
Dr. Mary Gorreti Nakabugo, the chairperson of the 5th university council noted that such outstanding performance is not easy, and therefore as a university they feel high and happy for their performances.
“I want to add my voice to that of Vice Chancellor Prof Eli Katunguka, chairperson of the convocation, Chancellor among others, to congratulate our best performers of this 18th graduation ceremony. Thank you for your outstanding performance,” Dr Nakabugo said.
Kyambogo University took it to their social media platforms and shared their happiness and thanked the university convocation for recognizing these students.
“We appreciate the Kyambogo University Convocation under the Leadership of Mbogo Kenneth as the Chairperson for recognizing the best performing students during the 18th Graduation ceremony. And once again congratulations to the best students,” they posted.
In a ceremony that ran from 7th-9th, for the very first time, Kyambogo university awarded five students with doctorate in Humanities, Food Science and Education. During the 17th graduation, only two students were awarded with Doctorate.
The Secretary-General of the Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC), H.E. Sheikh Manssour Bin Mussallam, on Thursday announced the appointment of Mr. Julius Mucunguzi, as Under-Secretary-General for Public Relations and Engagement.
Mr. Mucunguzi brings with him a wealth of experience and skills acquired throughout his career spanning over 20 years at the national and international levels.
Prior to his appointment at the OEC, he served within the Office of the Prime Minister of Uganda since 2015, both as an Advisor and the Head of Communications. From 2006 to 2014, he served as Communications Advisor and Assistant Spokesperson at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, where he was additionally assigned as Media Advisor to eight former Heads of State and Government during their election observation missions in different regions of the world. He also oversaw communications for high-level summits of Heads of Governments, as well as for Ministerial meetings.
Mr Mucunguzi has additionally worked as a Senior Communications Officer for World Vision International and was a visiting trainer at the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin Germany as well as at Makerere University in Uganda.
On accepting this appointment at the OEC, Mr Mucunguzi expressed his gratitude to the Secretary-General for entrusting him with this responsibility:
“I am excited about this appointment by the Secretary-General, providing me with an opportunity to serve within an organization in whose mission and vision I firmly believes, particularly to transform our education systems towards balance and inclusivity, with relevance to the socio-cultural, traditional and other specific contexts of the peoples of the Global South. The OEC is moving us from agonizing about the problems faced by our education systems to reaching concrete solutions by organising. I therefore look forward to ensuring, from the PURE Department, the generation of a critical mass of stakeholders that understands, supports, and contributes to this essential agenda.”
In his new capacity at the OEC, Mr. Mucunguzi heads the Department of Public Relations and Engagement (PURE) and serves in the Cabinet of the Secretary-General.
Octagon Africa has urged teens and youth to attend the financial literacy training session scheduled for 15th December 2022.
The company announced the return of the programme, an intensive free career development program aimed at leveling up the financial literacy quotient among Ugandan youths and teens to build a saving culture in the country.
The campaign aims to teach essential money management habits which contribute to the financial well-being, resilience and prosperity of households and the greater community.
Speaking when he commissioned the programme in Kampala, Octagon Africa Group CEO Fred Waswa said it’s important to build foundational financial literacy skills among the youth, and Octagon is taking advantage of the school holidays to indulge the future generation into the future of financial prosperity.
“There has never been a better time than now to empower children with financial literacy. Good financial health may be hard to achieve, but it is not impossible, especially if people are taught how to manage their money from an early age. Growing up with this knowledge will help them make better choices,” Mr. Waswa said.
“An empowered youth is essential to an equitable and sustainable economy in the long run. At Octagon Africa, we believe it is crucial to empower our young communities with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage their finances in the future and provide them with a platform where they can gain real-life experience to move forward in an efficient and sustained manner.”
This training session will be delivered virtually by highly experienced financial experts from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm 12:00 pm EAT respectively for ages 16 – 22years, while 8 – 15 years will have an afternoon session from 4:00 pm – 6:00 PM EAT.
Octagon Africa Financial Services has held several training courses for youth and teens, especially during holidays. Over 1,000 have benefited from the financial literacy training in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. The company has a target to train at least 2,000 young people over time.
Octagon Uganda General Manager, Darius Niwaha said: “It is important that the young generation is taught to take advantage of new technology-driven financial services offerings, in addition to receiving basic financial literacy education. Financial literacy is a crucial skill in every stage of life, more so for young people today.”
“Financial literacy is a key component to improving individual financial behaviour, preventing over-indebtedness and ensuring overall financial resilience,” Darius added.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Secretary General, Mr. Nathan Nandala Mafabi has lost his mother.
Joyce Nafuna died yesterday at Mt. Elgon hospital.
“Our Secretary General Nandala Mafabi announces the death of his beloved mother Joyce Nafuna who died on Thursday 8th Dec 2022, at Mt Elgon Hospital,” FDC said in a statement.
“Our condolences to Hon. Mafabi, the family, friends and relatives. We shall keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Rest well, Joyce.”
She will be laid to on Saturday 10th December, 2022 in Busita, Budadiri Sironko District.
The URA customs enforcement team has impounded a taxi, registration number UBD 701M and recovered 1.6 tons of smuggled basmati rice.
The authority recently received information of a taxi coming from the East that had carried suspicious items. They immediately swung into action to had it impounded.
However, like most smugglers, the driver of the taxi too had his informer because he kept driving on and off the designated routes.
With URA’s vigilance, all suspicious corners were deployed until the taxi was chased after from Mukono-wantoni and netted in Seeta.
The taxi was driven to URA and upon verification, 65 bags of 25 kilograms of Basmati rice were found.
URA urged the general public to report to all suspicious trade practices in their areas to enable create a level trading ground for all legitimate traders.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has commenced the implementation of the Power Sector Reforms, targeting to enhance sector performance and provide affordable power to the people of Uganda.
The reforms are expected to minimize expensive private capital in the Electricity Sub-Sector investments in generation, transmission and distribution. It will culminate in creating the Uganda National Electricity Company Limited (UNECL) as a state-run entity with majority shareholding under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as a possible option.
Cabinet, among others, directed the Ministry not to renew the Concession and Privatization Agreements for Eskom Uganda Limited and UMEME Limited after their concessions come to their natural end.
Eskom is the country’s largest energy generator on a 20-year concession effective March 1, 2003, for managing and maintaining the 180MW Nalubale and 200MW Kira Hydropower Plants. Umeme is Uganda’s main electricity distribution company, holding a 20-year electricity distribution concession from the Government of Uganda, effective March 1, 2005.
The Ministry has already formally notified Eskom and UMEME of the Government’s decision not to renew their concessions agreements when they come to their natural end in March 2023 and March 2025, respectively.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) have also been directed to make appropriate arrangements for the transition.
Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, appreciated UMEME and Eskom for the years of continued support and investment in Uganda’s Energy Sector.
“On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I take this opportunity to appreciate UMEME and Eskom for the Operation and Maintenance of the Government assets on behalf of UEDCL and UEGCL for the past 18 and 19 years, respectively.”
The Minister noted that the electricity distribution network under UMEME covers a large percentage of the country, has grown in asset capacity and complexity and employs about 2,000 staff. “To this effect, I call upon the parties to the concession agreements to ensure a smooth transition of all the relevant responsibilities and asset handover in close coordination with this Ministry,” the Minister said.
She said the Ministry would spearhead the transition process and engage all concerned parties, including the shareholders, to ensure that the Government of Uganda’s decision to end the concession naturally is executed reasonably.
The Ministry has already constituted a Joint Committee to handle the Eskom Concession and is in the process of making a similar arrangement for the UMEME concession. The respective Committees are tasked with the planning and management of the end of the concessions to ensure seamless handover of the operations of the assets.
“Government is committed to avail the necessary financing to ensure it fulfills its obligations in the related agreements,” elaborated Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry. “UEDCL and UEGCL will be supported to enable them to manage the transition period and operation of the concessions as happened with the 50MW Namanve Thermal Power Plant that has reverted to UEGCL in 2021.”
The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry, with the support of the Auditor General, would undertake due diligence of the companies’ investments to determine any outstanding obligations by the Government.
Church of Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) to enhance adoption of agricultural technology promotion in all Church of Uganda Dioceses beginning with Karamoja region where there is urgent need for food security and nutrition interventions.
The MoU signed at the Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe, will see NARO provide technical support for technology adoption and promotion and conduct agriculture related trainings for technology transfer and adoption for farmers and practitioners..
The partnership will also see NARO support capacity building of Church of Uganda leaders and make available or recommend agriculture equipment and inputs required in agriculture technology adoption and promotion.
The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda and Rev Canon William Ongeng, the Provincial Secretary signed on behalf of Church of Uganda while Dr. Ambrose Agona, the Director General of NARO signed on behalf of NARO.
Archbishop Kaziimba lauded the partnership and pledged total commitment of Church of Uganda to implement the partnership with transparency, accountability and faithfulness.
“I am happy that we have entered this partnership to help our people embrace agriculture technology. The government has been very supportive to our agriculture mechanization agenda.” Archbishop Kaziimba said.
He added, “NARO has always been supporting Church of Uganda. We have well laid structures from Parish level in every village in Uganda. Our accountability and leadership structures are very well laid which makes the work of reporting and collaboration very easy.”
Dr. Ambrose Agona pledged government’s continued support to help the Church transform the lives of its people by promoting value addition and quality in the agro-processing value chains.
“We shall produce seeds and make it available for Church of Uganda, designate and facilitate personnel for technology transfer and dissemination to the communities in this collaboration.” Dr. Agona said.
Rev. Andrew Agaba, Church of Uganda’s Director of Household and Community Transformation said that the partnership comes as a result of the recent intervention by the Church in Karamoja.
“When we recently gave food to Karamoja with funding from ACT Alliance, our Dioceses and other partners, we realized the need for sustainability. The seeds provided by NARO and other services will greatly transform Karamoja and other areas.” Rev. Agaba said.
He added, “We want our people especially those in Karamoja to grow their own crops and have bumper harvests. I am certain, this partnership will greatly support our sustainable livelihoods agenda.”
Government is urged to carry out extensive restructuring and pay reforms in the Ministry of Public Service in a bid to streamline salaries of public servants.
This arose against the backdrop of the debate of the report of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government on the petition on salary enhancement and discrepancies for nurses and interns during a plenary sitting on Thursday, 08 December 2022.
MPs tasked government to fast-track the Salary Review and Enhancement Commission that will scrutinize salaries for all public officers to curb a back-and-forth discussion on the same.
“There is no uniformity in the way salaries are enhanced. We recently talked about putting in place a Salary Review Commission because it’s not only health workers who are crying over salary increments, all other sectors are affected. Every sector is now coming up with petitions on salary enhancement, we want a once and for all solution to this problem,” Hon. Judith Alyek (NRM, Kole District) said.
Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Sarah Opendi demanded that government overhauls the current public service structure and adopts a new practical structure that can accommodate the demands of the current population.
The Leader of Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga who described public service as a place of “organised chaos” said the necessity to structure Uganda’s public service is long overdue.
“The entire public service is chaotic; you have medical workers’ pay enhanced on paper but in reality, the release is of the old wage bill. Somebody is running away from responsibility by making pronouncements that can’t be followed up by actual implementation,” he said.
The report of the committee presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Godfrey Onzima noted that whereas government has enhanced salaries of medical workers for financial year 2022/23, the funds being disbursed in some local governments are still based on the previous wage bill before the salaries were enhanced leading to wage shortfalls.
“We have a wage bill in the budget completely different from what is being released to the MDAs. So some local governments have decided to continue paying health workers according to the old wage bill because that is what is being released to them….there is a lot more that needs to be done,” Hon. Richard Gafabusa (Bwamba County) said.
However, State Minister for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi reaffirmed that as of July 2022, all scientists including health workers have been receiving their enhanced salaries as per the 2018 Collective Bargaining Agreement with government.
“We enhanced all salaries for scientists across the board including the nurses…Whatever is not going well can be resolved administratively among MDAs which are implementing,” Musasizi said.
State Minister for Health (Primary Health Care), Hon. Margaret Muhanga said the discrepancy in salary payments of health workers has been fuelled by a system failure at the Ministry of Finance which she said is being addressed to capture all medical workers.
