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Makerere University eulogizes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Makerere University has joined the World to send condolences and to eulogize the fallen queen of the United Kingdom for the loss of their iconic leader.

Through the Makerere University School of Public Health-MakSPH Twitter account, the University at large is grateful for the contributions by the fallen Queen.

“Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we offer our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom as well as our partners! Rest in Peace,” the post reads.

“We extend our sympathy and prayers to the Royal Family and the entire United Kingdom including our partners on the passing of Her Majesty the Queen”.

According to the post, all her unwavering support to the people of Uganda and her passion for quality education is still remembered.

“The UK government has always supported Makerere University through capacity building of our staff, students scholarships, exchange programs, research and innovation,” they posted.

The news about the death of the queen shocked the World when it was officially announced by Buckingham Palace. Since then, many people, institutions have come out to send condolences to the Royal Family.

According to the statement by Buckingham Palace the period of Royal Mourning will be observed from today until seven days after The Queen’s Funeral. The date of the Funeral will be confirmed in due course.

It has also been announced that gun salutes, one round fired for each of the Queen’s 96 years, will be fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London as the nation enters a period of national mourning, the details of which will be announced by the government.

Buckingham Palace said the queen, who was 96, died peacefully at Balmoral Castle, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. Her son became Britain’s new monarch, King Charles III.

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has reigned for 70 years. Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

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Hundreds tipped on Financial Management

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Hundreds of young people who turned up for season eight of the Men’s Business Convention initiative, were tipped on the importance of financial management and record keeping.

The three-day training, which was held at Victory Church Ndeeba, sought to promote a culture of mentorship among young men in the business space.

Themed: “The hands-on experience,” the initiative focused on providing young entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to improve how they operate their businesses aiming at beating losses.

The Executive Director of Diamond Trust Bank-DTB, Maina Kariuki, said young entrepreneurs should always first evaluate their business cash flows before taking loans. He said many people didn’t have the knowledge on how to run enterprises and whether they actually needed the money they were borrowing.

He emphasized double-checking the capacity to repay the loan, the contribution to the business, security coverage, the character in terms of integrity or creditworthiness, and the viability of the business in the environment.

Kariuki also opined on looking out for banking covenants once loans are approved to avoid misunderstandings once the payment grace period elapses. Some of the covenants include period, disbursement covenants, collateral required, insurance costs, and annual returns submissions, among others.

While sharing her successful story, Justine Thomas Nassiwa, an agribusiness expert, from Buzibwera Charity Green Acres Farm said young businessmen should pick a leaf from the operations of the highly established businessmen in the country.

“The businessmen and women you see in the limelight know how to control their money, spend time exploring new business ideas, and read on how best to grow their businesses. If you waste time and money spending on family contributions and attending every function, your business can not grow. Do yourself a favor,” said Nassiwa.

Nassiwa cautioned the entrepreneurs on having a passion for their own invented business, time management, and working hard for their future.

The annual convention that was attended by over 5000 people was also tipped on government securities that have investment opportunities such as treasury bills where one can invest within 3 to 12 months at a discount and recoup face value at the period end of the investment.

Also, treasury bonds which are meant for long-term savings for up to 20 years and have 6 months of coupon interest ranging between 12-16% interest rate. 

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Kyambogo University: Examination malpractice worries VC Katunguka

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Professor Elli Katunguka Rwakishaya, the Kyambogo University Vice Chancellor has raised a concern of his worries over the overwhelming malpractices during the examinations among the students.

In an interview with this reporter, the Vice Chancellor said that the number of students caught in this malpractice every day is worrying. He said that over one hundred students have been found with forged examination permits trying to access the examination rooms.

According to Professor Katunguka, by the time the examinations started, they realized over Seven Thousand students had not registered and fully paid tuition, and that this meant they would not sit for examinations.

“It is a requirement for every student to register and pay all the university dues before sitting examinations. Once you register, the system captures your information and allows you to print your examination permit, and it is that permit that allows you to sit for the examinations,” he explains.

The Vice Chancellor said that it has been observed that all these students that did not register have turned into using all the forgeries in order to sit for examinations, adding that some other students go ahead to hire machineries to sit for their exams.

“These students have connived with people around the Banda area to forge examination permits, and do not pay the university. We have put a mechanism of checking the permits in examination rooms, and we have already captured more than hundred students,” Professor said.

He says these suspects are now assisting police to conduct investigations about this wide ranging malpractice.

The Vice Chancellor warns whoever is involved in this malpractice to stop it to avoid the worst. “I therefore want to warn students that this act will lead to cancellations in the university as per Senate guidelines.”

He further urges parents of all the students to be concerned about their children, and to take a step to find out if their children have cleared their school fees, or if there are any challenges they are encountering.

“Parents take interest in the progress of your students and when this happens, you should not blame management for not informing you that this is happening in the university.  My hope is that we work with students, parents and administration to make sure that we curtail this malpractice. It is not a good one and we are not training the right thinking people for our country,” he warns.

Kyambogo University students started conducting Semester I and Semester two examinations this week on 5th Monday and it will end on 2nd October.

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NITA on the spot for failure to refund Shs1.1 billion World Bank funding

By
Geoffery Serugo
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NITA-U logo

The Ministry of Finance has directed the National Guidance and the National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) to refund Shs1.1 billion World Bank funding, Eagle Online has learnt.

In a letter dated 30th August, addressed to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the Executive Director of NITA Uganda, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance who doubles as the Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, directed NITA-U to refund USD 304,089 (Shs 1.1 billion) to World Bank.

The Government of Uganda secured US$ 75 million (Shs286.4 billion) funding from IDA – World Bank to finance the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (RCIP). The six-year program was designed, approved, and became effective on 26th May 2016.

Uganda became the eighth African Country to benefit from the program which aimed at helping address the region’s connectivity constraints. Other countries that have already benefited from the initiative include Kenya, Burundi, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, and Comoros. A regional approach will help to mitigate the impact for landlocked countries which must rely on transiting traffic through neighboring countries and enhance the viability of infrastructure increasing the volume of traffic leading to reducing prices and improving regional affordability of broadband.

The program aimed to support the Government of Uganda in improving: coverage for IT infrastructure in the country; the delivery of public services by improving efficiency through government cloud infrastructure; Integration of Government IT systems; building capacity in the management of IT programs and projects; and improve policy and regulatory environment for ICT in the country.

According to documents received by Eagle Online, in July this year, Ggoobi directed NITA to refund $249,500 (Shs 952.7 million) to World Bank and declined.

“The funds were ineligible expenditures that were incurred under the Regional Communications Infrastructure Program during the payment for the Electronic Government procurement system,” Ggoobi said.

“The World Bank through a letter dated 5th August 2022 has also brought to my attention another ineligible expenditure of $ 54,589.19 under the same project for-miss procurement of 90 Laptops.”

He urged the Ministry of ICT and NITA to refund the funds to World Bank. “Please ensure that the refund is expedited to avoid suspension of disbursements under the portfolio which may affect other ongoing projects,” Ggoobi said.

Last week, Eagle Online exclusively reported about the brewing feud between the ICT and NITA officials over the Shs 771.5 billion funding from the World Bank. Two officials want to swindle $1 million (Shs 3.78 billion) and Shs 10 million before approval of the project. The corrupt nature has reportedly stopped the implementation of the project.

The financing is meant to expand access to high-speed and affordable internet, improve the efficiency of digitally enabled public service delivery, and strengthen digital inclusion in Uganda.

Eagle online contacted Florence Mukankusi, the communications manager of NITA Uganda however she couldn’t pick up nor return our calls.

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Of Nyege-Nyege festival and why Speaker Among and MPs should keep mum about it

By
Our Reporter
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Performances at the Nyege Nyege Festival

Some members of Parliament headed by Speaker Anita Among are up in arms and vehemently lamenting about the upcoming annual Nyege-Nyege festival to be held in Jinja. Among and her colleagues argue that the festival is an immorality that should not happen. They think to suggest that Uganda is purely a country of good morals, but that is in theory as opposed to practice.

What some of us know is that Nyege-Nyege is festival where Ugandans host their friends and others worldwide to celebrate humanity as they entertain, laugh, mingle, dance and sociialise. In this event, some people have been able to get husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, made new friends met relatives as well as created business opportunities.

Nyege-Nyege is a Ugandan thing that must be maintained and not condemned. Of recent we have had Kampala Carnival, where Kampalans have hosted others in celebration of humanity and its achievements. Nyege=Nyege is about entertainment and happiness of the people, it is an escape from the tough times characterised by the poor economy. People must left to enjoy themselves. Such events bring in the so-much needed dollars, used to pay the same MPs talking ill of such events.

If there are people who have failed good morals in Uganda, it is the politicians. For instance, the MPs have defiled the constitution for their own selfish interests; They were bribed to change the constitution two times not long ago. History will tell this immorality by the MPs for generations to come.

The MPs, as we know today, continue to increase salaries for themselves as the rest of the Ugandan citizens languish in poverty. They are given free cars, yet the salaries they earn can buy them their own vehicles. They are exploiting Ugandans to the fullest in the guise of being facilitated to serve the country better. The truth is that political leaders at various levels of governance are cheating Ugandans. These are not good morals and it is what they are teaching the young generation that corruption is good.

The country knows of MPs and councilors who have physically fought in parliament and council halls for their own selfish interest. Are  these good morals that they are teaching Ugandans? We remember what happened during the Age Limit and Third term removal from the constitution. We know that some MPs went against the wishes of their constituencies to vote in favour. Those MPs who went by what their voters told them [not to amend the constitution] were castigated by the powers that be, even up to now.

The MPs castigating Nyege-Nyege should be reminded of Jesus story in the Bible where dared to some to stone a prostitute. He reminded them that they were sinners just like the prostitute they wanted to stone to death. The Ugandans MPs therefore cannot claim to be morally upright than those that are going to participate in Nyege-Nyege.

We further know that some MPs left their original political parties, just because they were promised jobs and money by the dominant side. On this, the MPs cannot tell us to be principled and of good standing. The truth is that Uganda needs salvation, but it should begin with the leaders at the top. This thing of say of ‘Do what I tell you to do and not what I do’ is rubbish.

Over the years, we have had stories of MPs fathering children outside their marriage, committing adultery, and using housemaids. Some of the MPs have been accused of orchestrating domestic violence. These examples, and several others show our parliament is full of people, who like other Ugandans live just because God is merciful to human beings. There is no one who is pure in the eyes of the Lord. Even religious leaders in the country and world over have failed the morality and purity test for they have had sexual intercourse with their juniors and people’s wives.

Nyege-Nyege, or no Nyege-Nyege, Uganda is a country where morals are questionable. We live because God is merciful to us all, so some politicians should take themselves to be morally upright and pure in whatever they do. The executive should let Nyege-Nyege happen.

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Money Markets were solid during the week trading within 9% to 10% levels

By
Our Reporter
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Ugandan currency

The currency continued to trade within a tight range between the 3790 – 3835 range during the week with balanced activity on the supply and demand side, Catherine Kijjagulwe, Head of Trading at Absa Bank Uganda said.

She said the current range-bound trading within the Shs 3780 – Shs 3870 range is likely to hold in the short term until we see significant activity on either side.

Money Markets were liquid during the week with overnight yields trading within the nine percent to 10 percent levels. Bank of Uganda held a Shs 550 billion 5-year and 20-year Treasury Bond auction that was well subscribed and yields cleared at averages of 16.250 percent and 18.5 percent respectively. Bank of Uganda will hold a Shs 285 billion Treasury Bill auction on Wednesday 14th September 2022.

She said the narrative is the same for the Kenya shilling which continues to remain weak against the dollar with continued demand against limited inflows maintaining trading within the 120.00 -127.000 trading range. On Tuesday 13th September, William Ruto will be sworn in as the 5thPresident of the Republic of Kenya and he is determined to focus on unifying the country.

There was continued demand for dollars during Thursday’s trading session supported by lower jobless claims data and, a commitment by the Federal Reserve Bank to raise interest rates, to curb rampant inflation.

The Euro strengthened very briefly on Thursday as the European Central bank raised the benchmark rate by 75bps to 1.25 percent with signals of further hikes soon to tame inflation. The Euro closed the day at $0.9994 (Shs 3804).

The Pound weakened on Thursday after the passing of Britain’s longest-serving Monarchy having initially strengthened momentarily during the day on Prime Minister Liz Truss’ plan of action to cap energy bills for the next 2 years, to cushion the UK economy from the aftermath of the energy crisis. The pound touched lows of $1.1458 (Shs 4362) and ended the session at $1.1500 (Shs 4378).

Crude oil prices dropped on Thursday with the continued decline in global demand due to China’s lockdown and global recession fears as Central Banks continue to aggressively hike their benchmark rates. OPEC  though still in talks to reduce production to mitigate sharp drops in oil prices. Brent crude traded at  $91.48 (Shs 348,286) a barrel, West Texas Intermediate traded at $85.33 (324,871) indicating a seven-month low in oil prices. Gold traded at $1713 (Shs 6.5milion) an ounce.

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Dfcu appoints three new executives

By
Our Reporter
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Susan Sharon Kabedha

Dfcu Bank has named three new executives: Susan Sharon Kabedha as Head of Human Capital, Peter Mugenyi as Head of Data Analytics, and Andrew Katende who joins the Bank as Head of Business Technology.

Susan Sharon Kabedha – Head of Human Capital

In this role, Susan will be responsible for the implementation of the Human Capital strategy through driving a high-performance culture, talent management and succession planning, employee engagement, learning and development, employee relations, and employee wellbeing.

Susan joins dfcu from Stanbic bank where she brings a wealth of knowledge from a rich career spanning over 20 years. She worked for over 5 years as a Senior Human Capital Business for Corporate and Investment Banking and prior to that, as a Human Capital Business Partner for Business and Commercial Clients as well as supporting the regions.

She also worked in the insurance industry for over 13 years starting at Minet Uganda and later at CIC insurance group as the Human Resource Manager.

Susan holds a diploma in Business Management, a Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University Kampala, and is an Associate of the CIPD UK. She is also a member of the Human Resource Managers Association of Uganda and the Elevate HR Community.

Peter Mugenyi – Head of Data Analytics

Peter will be responsible for providing execution of enterprise data frameworks consistent with dfcu’s goals and objectives. In addition, he will oversee the development, implementation, and management of financial and data science models to aid in value-mining, identifying new opportunities, and deriving meaningful insights to aid in decision making.

A data science creative and practitioner, Peter brings a wealth of experience in Data Analytics spanning over 7 years from the Financial Services and Pension sectors.

Prior to joining dfcu, Peter worked with NSSF Uganda in the Operations department in several capacities as a Data Scientist, Supervisor of Data Analytics, and Ag. Data Science Manager. He also worked with Stanbic Bank Uganda in the Information Technology department as an I.T Channels Officer and Data Scientist.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (1st Class) from Makerere University with notable accreditations including Certified MIT Data Science & Machine Learning practitioner, Certified Data Scientist – the University of the Witwatersrand – SA, Microsoft Professional Data Scientist, SAFe – Scaled Agile Framework Practitioner to mention but a few.

Andrew Katende – Head of Business Technology

In this role, Andrew is responsible for overseeing the Bank’s Information Technology operations and infrastructure and has direct responsibility for developing and establishing IT policies and systems that will support the bank’s business strategies.

Andrew brings to the bank a wealth of experience in information technology spanning over 17 years. He has served at the Senior Management level for over 10 years in the telecommunication industry. He has extensive experience in building and leading teams in a multi-cultural environment as well as delivering on large and complex IT projects. He brings a combination of technical knowledge and managerial experience that will be invaluable as we move forward with the formulation and execution of our business plans and technology strategies.

Most recently, Andrew served as the Head of Operations at Ericsson Uganda looking after Ericsson’s operations in Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia, Madagascar, and Malawi. Prior to that, he was the Head of Operations Assurance at Ericsson Rwanda and Ericsson Tanzania for a period of over eight years. He also worked with Airtel Uganda for several years in various capacities within IT, VAS, and the technical department.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Honors) from Makerere University and a Postgraduate diploma in computer science from Makerere University.

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Winnie Byanyima commends Germany’s pledge of Shs4.9 trillion for the seventh Global Fund Replenishment

By
Our Reporter
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UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima

UNAIDS has welcomed Germany’s pledge of €1.3 billion (Shs4.9 trillion) for the seventh replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, an increase of 30% on the country’s contribution of €1 billion (Shs 3.8trillio) made in 2019.

The announcement is a significant step toward reaching the goal of raising at least $18 (Shs 69.1trillion) when President Biden hosts the 7th Global Fund Replenishment Conference in New York later this month.

“This announcement demonstrates Germany’s continued leadership in global health, its commitment to multilateralism, and its determination to save millions of lives by ending AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.

 “This is an investment in young people’s health and wellbeing, particularly of young women and girls  and it will strengthen global security by instilling resilience into systems needed to protect all of us from emerging health threats. I look forward to other donors matching Germany’s increase in funding.”

The United States is the Global Fund’s largest donor and has pledged $6 billion (Shs 23trillion) for the organization’s 7th replenishment contingent on the $18 billion (Shs 69.1trillion) target being fully met. Last week, Japan announced that it was increasing its contribution to the Global Fund by 30% to more than $1 billion (Shs 3.8trillio).

The Global Fund Replenishment Conference takes place from 19 to21 September at a time when funding for the HIV response remains under intense pressure. In 2021, international resources available for HIV were 6% lower than in 2010. Overseas development assistance for HIV from bilateral donors other than the United States has fallen by 57% over the last decade. The HIV response in low- and middle-income countries is US$8 billion short of the US$29 billion needed by 2025 to get the world on track to end the AIDS pandemic as a global health threat by 2030.  

To maximize the effectiveness of their investments to the Global Fund, donors are also being urged to fully fund the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS is present in 70 countries worldwide working in partnership with governments, civil society, and communities, collecting the data that shapes the HIV response, advocating for the reversal of harmful laws and policies to create an enabling legal environment, working for an end to HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and challenging the inequalities driving the HIV pandemic among vulnerable and marginalized groups of people. 

UNAIDS’ latest report In Danger shows that recent crises have knocked the global AIDS response off track, with HIV infections on the rise in 38 countries. It shows also that the end of AIDS by 2030 is possible if leaders act boldly together.

The announcement of Germany’s increase was made in Berlin by the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, at the Get Back On Track international conference organized by civil society organizations, including Action Against AIDS Germany.

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New cyber law spells out tough penalties for offenders

By
Our Reporter
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MP Muhammad-Nsereko

Parliament has passed the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022 privately moved by Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko which imposes tough penalties for cyber-crimes.

The Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill, 2022 sought to amend the Computer Misuse Act, 2011 to enhance the provisions on unauthorised access to information or data; prohibit the sharing of any information relating to a child without authorisation from a parent or guardian; to prohibit the sending or sharing of information that promotes hate speech.

With deletion of clauses that sought to bar convicts under the law from holding public office or running for elections in 10 years, the rest of the clauses unanimously sailed through uncontested, with Mawogola County South MP Gorreth Namugga dissenting.

A new clause in the bill, proposed by the ICT committee chairperson, Moses Magogo, defined social media and created penalties for computer users who take refuge in pseudo accounts.

The clause reads: “A person who uses social media to publish, distribute or share information, prohibited under the laws of Uganda or using disguised or false identity, commits an offence”.

A person who manages an account of an organisation where this happens will be held liable for the commission of the offence, the bill provides.

The clause proceeded to give a diverse definition of social media to mean, “a set of technologies, sites, and practices which are used to share opinions, experiences and perspectives, and includes YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WeChat, TikTok, Sina Weibo, QQ, Telegram, Snapchat, Kuaishou, Qzone, Reddit, Quora, Skype, Microsoft Team and Linkedin”.

A person who commits the offence under the clause in issue shall, on conviction, suffer either a fine of Shs16 million, five years in jail or both fine and imprisonment.

Social media accounts that are verified will be presumed to be owned by the persons in whose names the accounts are run, unless the contrary is proved.

Also, a person whose telephone numbers and or email addresses have been used in creating social media, will be personally liable for prosecution for offences committed under the act as amended.

Magogo justified the clause as being intended to “provide for the regulation of social media”.

The bill also criminalised and defined unsolicited information, but excused commercial adverts from the categorisation, granting advertisers the liberty to share information with target audiences.

“For the purposes of this section, “unsolicited information” means information transmitted to a person using the internet without the person’s consent, but does not include an unsolicited commercial communication,” partly reads clause 5.

In her minority report, MP Namugga said the bill was unconstitutional and implored the House not to pass it.

“The entire bill should not be left to stand as part of our laws as all the clauses are already catered for in existing legislation and in some instances offends the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; the fundamental rights to access information electronically and to express oneself over computer networks are utterly risked by this bill,” she said.

She added: “lf passed into law, it will stifle the acquisition of information; the penalties proposed in the bill are overly harsh and disproportionate when compared to similar offences in other legislations; this bill if passed, will be a bad law and liable to constitutional petitions upon assent.”

Kazo County MP Dan Atwijukire processed the bill on behalf of its mover, Muhammad Nsereko.

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Mpuuga calls for overhaul of 1995 Constitution

By
Our Reporter
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Former LoP Mpuuga

The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda should be overhauled as it is no longer representative of the aspirations of the people, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Mathias Mpuuga, has urged.

“A constitution is an outcome of the people’s consensus. At least there was some basic consultation that led to the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution. Is it still the same document? Is it a culmination of the people’s consensus? Why are we running away from that conversation?” the LOP wondered.

Mpuuga made the remarks at the launch of the multiparty youth forum, a platform that brings together youth leaders from the different political parties and civil society groups to build a generational consensus for progress.

The launch was held Protea Hotel in Kololo, an upscale Kampala suburb on Wednesday, 07 September 2022.

“I want to see young people raise their voices to ask potent questions that will herald a durable constitutional order,” Mpuuga said and further encouraged the youth leaders not to shy away from involvement in discourses on the future of Uganda.

Drawing from his experience going through the mentorship programme of the DP, Mpuuga said that parties have to adopt deliberate efforts to nurture future national leaders than keeping youths in a position where they cannot articulate their respective party ideologies.

“Between the 40-year-olds and the 70-year-olds, there is a gap, and that void became too big because of our history; a history of one man takes it all, and therefore, there was no opportunity for political organisations and institutions to organise, build, incubate, mentor and deploy young people,” Mpuuga said.

The forum is a culmination of engagements between the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and leaders of the youth leagues of the six major political parties with representation in Parliament namely; National Resistance Movement (NRM), National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Democratic Party (DP), Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Justice Forum (JEEMA) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

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