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Kenyan Supreme Court confirms Ruto’s presidency

By
Agencies
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President William Ruto.

The Supreme Court in Kenya has today upheld the election of William Samoei Ruto as Kenya’s fifth president.

The Chief Justice Martha Koome-led Bench unanimously threw out a petition by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition candidate Raila Odinga, who argued the declaration of Dr Ruto was null and void.

Justice Koome said that the court will issue a summary, and then give the full judgment after 21 days.

The court in its considered view, found no evidence of a man in the middle server and no evidence was produced to show that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati and other IEBC staff were involved. 

Justice Koome also said that the Supreme Court found no significant differences found between forms uploaded on portal and forms delivered to Bomas, at the IEBC National Tallying Centre. 

“No credible evidence was given to show forms given to agents were different,” CJ Koome said. 

The court also found that affidavits by two of Mr Odinga’s experts not admissible. “There is nothing to show that Raila asked the two people to swear affidavits. We must remind counsel who appear before this court or any other court that swearing to falsehoods is a criminal offence,” she siad. 

The Court also dismissed the contents of the affidavit of John Mark Githongo, adding that it may have contained  falsehoods. “No admissible evidence was presented to show that forms 34A were manipulated. The affidavits amount to double hearsay,” Justice Koome said.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on August 15, six days after the General Election declared Dr Ruto as the president elect after he garnered 7,176,141 million votes (50.49 percent) against Mr Odinga’s 6,942,930 million votes (48.85 percent).

Ruto will swear in as Kenya’s next President on 13th September 2022.

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Ministry of ICT, NITA fight over Shs771.5 billion World Bank funding

By
Geoffery Serugo
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NITA-U logo

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) Uganda, a government agency are feuding over Shs771.5 billion funding from World Bank, Eagle Online has learnt.

On June 02, 2021, the World Bank approved $200 million (Shs771.5 billion) financing to expand access to high-speed and affordable internet, improve efficiency of digitally enabled public service delivery, and strengthen digital inclusion in Uganda.

The new Uganda Digital Acceleration Project-GovNet (UDAP-GovNet) is aimed at supporting the extension of 1,000km of the national backbone fiber infrastructure, an additional 500km of fiber optic network links between towns, mobile broadband connections for 900 government administrative units and service centers in underserved areas, and 828 Wi-Fi hotspots in select locations to support access to online services among rural and peri-urban, underserved and unserved communities.

With $140 million (Shs540 billion) in financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and a $60 million (Shs231 billion) grant, the project would support the implementation of the governments’ flagship initiative, GovNet, which contributes to the objectives of Digital Uganda Vision and the Digital Transformation Program under the National Development Plan III.

According to a source that declined to be named, since the approving of the funding, NITA Uganda and the Ministry of ICT officials have been feuding over the said funding and hence delaying the implementation of the project.

“Every Ministry in Uganda is supposed to have two representatives at the ministry of Finance. The Ministry of ICT officials have been fighting over that money. They want a share of that funding before approving it for NITA Uganda to implement the project but NITA declined,” the source said.

 “That money was supposed to be approved last financial year and NITA forwarded its budget proposals however the ICT officials declined to approve it. One of the ICT officials wants USD 1million (Shs 3.8 billion) of that funding while the other (junior officer) wants Shs 100 million. That has delayed the implementation of the project,” the source said.

The source said the leadership of NITA Uganda declined to heed to the ICT officials plea claiming that there is no way they will account for that money because the World Bank is so strict when it comes to issues of accountability.

“This is not the first time that the ICT officials are frustrating NITA activities. This year cut the NITA budget proposal to Shs 60 Billion. They were punishing NITA officials for their failure to give them kickbacks after approving the previous budgets,” the source said, adding that, “That is the practice, when representatives of the ministry approve your budget; you have to bring a kick back. By all means, the government agency has to look for a way of accounting for that money (Kickback).”

The source said the ICT officials are now pushing for the merging of NITA Uganda with the mother ministry. To their dismay, NITA Uganda is not on the list of the 53 government agencies that are set to be merged.

The source said when the leadership of NITA Uganda established that ICT officials cut their budget proposal, they engaged Matia Kasaijja’s (Minister of Finance) son who also works at NITA to have their budget maintained or increased.

Matia’s son engaged his father who later scheduled a meeting with the leadership of NITA. They later met and had breakfast at Kasaijja’s home. The minister accepted their plea and the budget was approved.

Following Kasaijja’s intervention and subsequent approval of their budget, the ICT officials didn’t shy away from asking the bribe claiming that they made sure that the budget was approved.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NITA SPEAKS OUT

When contacted to explain the delayed implementation of the project, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa, the executive director NITA Uganda declined to comment about the matter and urged our reporter to write to him requesting for an interview. The executive Director has not replied to our request since 22nd August 2022.

Florence Mukankusi, the communications manager of NITA Uganda said the money has not been budgeted for use however declined to delve into details.

“My boss is currently out of the country for a work visit so I can’t access his office for details,” she told Eagle Online.

NITA-U is an autonomous statutory body established under the NITA-U Act 2009, to coordinate and regulate Information Technology services in Uganda. NITA-U is under the general supervision of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

The Agency is mandated, among others, to create and manage the national databank, its inputs and outputs, to set, monitor and regulate standards for information technology planning, acquisition, implementation, delivery, support, organisation, sustenance, disposal, risk management, data protection, security and contingency planning.

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Deputy Speaker Tayebwa to push for diaspora treasury bonds

By
Our Reporter
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Tayebwa to push for diaspora treasury bonds

The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has pledged to champion efforts to establish Diaspora bonds.
This he says, will encourage Ugandans in the diaspora to invest in the country’s treasury bonds. 

Tayebwa made this pledge at the 34th Uganda North America Association Convention (UNAA) in San Francisco, California on Saturday, 03 September 2022. 

“We want you to contribute to national development through diaspora bonds which have helped governments to get money from their people in the diaspora,” Tayebwa said. 

He said that investment opportunities are more in Africa, where the continent is making 30 per cent returns on investment compared to investing in America where returns on investment are as low as one per cent for Ugandans. 

“Most of you who are fixing money here, you can use your money to buy treasury bonds in Uganda because we borrow from the domestic market,” he said adding that, ‘you will find that your money is giving a return on investment of around 15 per cent per annum and you cannot make it here’.

The Deputy Speaker assured the Ugandans that the country’s debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio is 48 per cent compared to the rest of Africa at 50 per cent. 
“This means your money is safe. We allow you to bring in your money and take it out. We have free zones in which if you invest around US$2 million and also get all these benefits like tax free cars,” Tayebwa said. 

He added that Uganda is set to benefit the growing population as more countries join the East African Community. 

“East Africa is a market of 400 million people. By 2050, it is anticipated to be a market of 854 million people. We are going to be a much bigger market where you produce in Uganda and sell to 800 million people, duty free,” he said. 

Tayebwa said that Parliament will discuss strategies to increase Uganda’s presence in the USA, as a way of maximising business opportunities. 

“When you look at California alone, as a state, it is the fifth biggest economy in the whole world but we do not have any official presence here.  As a government, we have to go back and rethink. We are going to support you,” said Tayebwa. 

He also called on Ugandans to promote unity, saying that working together will make their stay in America easy. 

“You have immigration problems then you again fight yourselves on lines of yellow, red…to me you should love your country and focus on promoting it. The moment we have a country that is loved and taken in high regard, that is what we need,” Tayebwa said. 

Tayebwa said that the call by the diaspora to take part in the voting at the general elections will be considered when the constitutional review commission is in place soon.

The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua gave reassurance of government’s commitment to provide services to Ugandans in the Diaspora through missions abroad. 

“We are here to listen and discuss with you, but more importantly to take back home your action points for purposes of implementation. What unites us is the fact that we do not have a second choice country. That is our point of convergence,” Obua said. 

Uganda’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC, Ambassador Santa Laker Kinyera said the insufficient budgetary allocation to the embassy constrains them to serve Ugandans better.  

“The embassy in Washington DC covers a very wide area of accreditation. This calls for better appropriation of funds to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Missions abroad. Of course we appreciate what Parliament has done to improve appropriation,” said Kinyera. 

Kinyera also revealed that  the embassy is discussing with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide mobile kits for passport processing to increase outreach to Ugandans outside the USA and those in hard to reach areas within the USA 

She added that despite the shortcomings, the remittance flows to Uganda from abroad stands at US$1.2 billion, with US$100 million coming from the USA. 

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Imani Technologies unveils new smart business cards to ease information sharing and connection

By
Our Reporter
-

Imani Technologies has today launched a new and exciting digital product dubbed “Imani Smart Card”, a virtual business card to help businesses, corporates, and individuals easily share information, manage their social and professional connections, and enable their data-sharing experience.

This was launched during the Omweso-Tubayo market day event at MoTIV where creatives, tech-preneurs and SME businesses had the opportunity to display and showcase their products to customers and the general public.

The rise of the digital business card market has been hastened by the smartphone evolution and its popularity among millennials. According to a report by Market Research Future (MRSF) quoted by GlobeNewswire, the digital business card market will touch USD $242 million at an 11.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate by 2027.  

Speaking during the unveiling, Ivan Sewajje Founder Imani Technologies said, “The concept of Imani Smart Card originated during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the urgent need to create intelligent contactless networking solutions for businesses and individuals to experience a new way of sharing social contacts, building customers data-base and connecting with relevant networks and like-minded people with just one tap. This process has the ability to contribute to market growth through the products convenience”

The multiple benefits that come with the card including customized options, editable, contactless, affordable, eco-friendly, convenience, and others, and the flexibility to update changes like details, addresses, contacts, and other modifications along with notifications and keeping in touch with established collaborators has the opportunity to add to market growth.

“We aim to revolutionize the networking culture in Uganda. Our digital business cards are environmentally friendly, more interactive, cost effective and sustainable compared to paper-made cards that have been used since the 17th century. Imani Smart Cards are NFC-enabled and compatible with all IOS and Android smartphones. They can be customized to fit your brand, style, business, and an organization’s system. Also, they can be used to share information with anyone at anyone given time seamlessly” Sewajje added.

According to Ivy Kayitesi, Head of Customer Relations, we have segmented Imani Smart Cards into three digital products tailored to meet the needs of our customers. “ImaniConnect, our flagship card that allows the user to share information using Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology or customized QR code for those without NFC to make network connections. The card also allows customers to control and modify their accounts to suit their needs.” 

“The ImaniAdapt card is more customized for customers, and organizations to own the cards based on their brand name, logos, and colors. This is intended to give them the opportunity to stand out and make the first impression when pitching, selling and getting the attention needed. And finally the ImaniBlend card, our premium product, which has been modified to serve as both customer identity card and smart business card,” Kayitesi added.

Annually, over 100 billion business cards are produced worldwide and 88% get tossed within a week. “Our goal at Imani Technologies is to produce eco-friendly products that contribute to the reduction of carbon emission to offer a more reliable, secure, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly solution. It’s also contact-free, easy to update and enables customers to automatically digitize their information,” Kayitesi emphasized.

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India overtakes UK to become world’s fifth largest economy

By
Agencies
-
India

India has overtaken the United Kingdom to become the fifth largest economy in the world, according to Bloomberg, which has cited GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund.

New Delhi pushed Britain to the sixth spot in the final three months of 2021 to become the fifth-biggest economy. The calculation is based on US dollars, with India extending its lead in the first quarter.

According to the Bloomberg report, the size of the Indian economy with regards to ‘nominal’ cash was $854.7 billion during the quarter through March on an adjusted basis and using the dollar exchange rate on the last day of the relevant quarter. In contrast, the UK was at $814 billion.

The calculations were done using the IMF database and historic exchange rates on the Bloomberg terminal.

The latest report reflects the economic trajectory these two countries have taken in recent months.

While UK is witnessing its worst cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation—the highest in four decades—and a potential recession that is expected to last well into 2024, according to the Bank of England, the Indian economy, on the other hand, is forecast to grow more than 7 per cent this year.

“A world-beating rebound in Indian stocks this quarter has just seen their weighting rise to the second spot in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, trailing only China’s,” the Bloomberg report said.

Moreover, the IMF’s forecasts show India pegged to overtake the UK in dollar terms on an annual basis this year, putting the Asian powerhouse behind just the US, China, Japan and Germany. 

About a decade ago, India was ranked the world’s 11th largest economy, while the UK used to remain at the fifth spot.

The latest economic performance comes as a major blow to the ruling Conservative party, which is in the midst of leadership change following the resignation of Boris Johnson.

The Tory members will pick Johnson’s successor on Monday, with reports indicating a comfortable win for foreign secretary Liz Truss over former chancellor Rishi Sunak.

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NMS Sponsors 100 Staff to Participate in Rotary Cancer Run

By
Our Reporter
-

National Medical Stores (NMS), a government body tasked with the procurement, storage and distribution of essential medicines and health supplies, is set to take part in this weekend’s Rotary Cancer Run.

“In line with our commitment to preventive health and as part of our internal stakeholder engagement activities, NMS is sponsoring 100 staff to this year’s Rotary Cancer Run,” said NMS publicist, Sheila Nduhukire.

The Run will take place on Sunday, 4th September 2022 at the Kololo Independence Grounds.

The initiative by the Rotary Cancer run is meant to raise financial support for the Cancer institute. It will be a physical event after two years of COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 2,100 people die every year in Uganda due to cancer.

NMS has been at the forefront of fighting non-communicable diseases by promoting physical fitness exercises, sports, regular health checkups and mass awareness campaigns.

“We urge Ugandans to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and carry out regular health check-ups in a bid to curb non-communicable diseases, such as cancer thereby reducing the demand for medicines in our health facilities,” said Nduhukire.

Medics say active participation in sports activities helps ease stress and improves general well being of the body.

Sports also bring positive energy, discipline, and other commendable qualities.

The Rotary International President Dr. Jennifer Jones, who is in Uganda, will flag off over 20,000 runners at the Rotary Cancer Run.

Jones will also visit Rotary Peace Centre at Makerere University and tour a number of projects implemented by Rotarians in Uganda which include among others; the Mengo Hospital Rotary Blood Bank, the Rotary Centenary Bank Cancer Ward at Nsambya Hospital, Mulago Heart Instite

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Victoria University holds 6th Graduation ceremony

By
Our Reporter
-


Victoria University held its 6th Graduation during a ceremony held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Saturday 3rd September 2022.

Dr Lawrence Muganga delivered an indelible send-off message to graduands.

“At this moment in history, the world has a hunger for a resource like you: one unafraid of new challenges, one with the tenacity to surmount the insurmountable; one with the foresight to anticipate the unforeseeable, one with the flexibility to adapt to the world,” he said. 

The University Chancellor  Prof. Opuda-Asibo John said he is sure experiential learning as a model has been a rewarding experience and pledged the University leadership to demonstrate the best of its rewards.

Prof. Opuda-Asibo said “with a conducive working and study environment enjoyed at Victoria University, a platform to succeed is inevitable.”

The Chancellor is self-assured Victoria University will retain its place at the summit as ‘change makers’ if it commits to attracting top-tier staff and top-tier students.

The Minister of State for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo lauded the remarkable transformations at the University. 

He said “Victoria University students are a safe pair of hands; one of a kind not synonymous with strikes.”

Victoria University, is one of the best universities in Uganda, and stands out as a centre of academic excellence. It offers a fresh and intellectually stimulating environment that nurtures critical thinkers.

The university was opened in August 2010 and has the capacity, the facilities and determination to revitalize higher education in Uganda and in the region.

It is committed to playing a leading role in bringing and developing high quality, student–centered learning opportunities based on standards of excellence that are unique, innovative and difficult to match.

It is centrally located in the heart of Kampala City and on the main public transportation routes coupled with ample parking space.

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Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: Gun jams during bid to kill Argentina vice-president

By
Agencies
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Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Argentina’s vice-president has narrowly avoided assassination after a gunman’s weapon jammed as he aimed at her.

Footage shows the moment Cristina Fernández de Kirchner – surrounded by a mob of supporters – found herself face-to-face with the loaded weapon.

The former president was returning home from court, where she faces allegations of corruption. She denies the charges.

Police said the gunman, who local media identified as a 35-year-old Brazilian man, has been taken into custody.

They are attempting to establish a motive for the attack on the left-leaning politician, who was Argentina’s president from 2007 to 2015, and its first lady for four years before that.

President Alberto Fernández revealed the gun was loaded with five bullets, but failed to fire when triggered.

Video circulating on social media shows the gun emerging from the crowd as Ms Fernández de Kirchner approaches. She initially appears confused by what is going on, ducking down to retrieve an object dropped on the floor.

In another video, people in the crowd appear to try to block Ms Fernández de Kirchner from the suspected gunman, who came within inches of her. The crowd has been gathering outside her home for the last few nights in a show of support as she fights charges of defrauding the state and being involved in a scheme to divert public funds while she was president.

A police spokesperson earlier told Reuters news agency that a weapon was found a few metres from the scene after the man had been arrested.

Addressing the nation late on Thursday night, President Fernández – who worked as chief-of-staff to both Ms Fernández de Kirchner and her husband during their tenures – said: “Cristina remains alive because, for a reason not yet technically confirmed, the gun, which contained five bullets, did not fire.”

He went on to condemn the attacker and said the attempt on Ms Fernández de Kirchner’s life was one of the “most serious” incidents since the country returned to democracy in 1983.

“We can disagree, we can have deep disagreements, but hate speech cannot take place because it breeds violence and there is no chance of violence coexisting with democracy,” President Fernández said, declaring a national holiday on Friday to allow Argentines time to “express themselves in defence of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice president”.

Argentina’s economy minister, Sergio Massa, called the attempted shooting an “attempted assassination”.

“When hate and violence prevail over debate, societies are destroyed and situations like these arise: attempted assassination,” he said in a tweet.

Ms Fernández de Kirchner has yet to make any comment.

She is accused of defrauding the state and of fraudulently awarding public works contracts in her stronghold in Patagonia while she was president between 2007 and 2015.

If convicted at trial, prosecutors have asked that the ex-president face 12 years in prison and a lifetime ban from politics.

However, Ms Fernández de Kirchner is the Senate president and so enjoys parliamentary immunity. She would not be imprisoned unless her sentence was ratified by the country’s Supreme Court, or she loses her Senate seat at the next elections at the end of 2023.

Ms Fernández de Kirchner has faced numerous other corruption trials following her time as president. The verdict of this trial is expected to take some months.

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Gov’t unveils new National Cancer Control Plan

By
Simon Kabayo
-

The government of Uganda through the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) has set up a new national cancer control plan to enable Ugandans access cancer care services in all parts of the country.

The government revealed that they reached upon this milestone after a thorough study of the challenges stopping people from accessing cancer care. These barriers have resulted in high death rates, especially among new cases.

Among the challenges which have led to wide disparities in cancer treatment are; gender norms, poverty and social economic factors such as transport as well as geographical divide and age.

Catherine Namulindwa, the UCI spokesperson, addressed the press in Kampala where she hinted on these barriers. She said the government chose to close the cancer care gap through a new national cancer control plan.

“In this, the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) plans to tackle the cancer challenge in Uganda by following seven pillars. Health promotion and cancer prevention; early detection, diagnosis and treatment; palliative care; cancer survivorship; cancer surveillance and research, policy and advocacy and special populations that include refugees and albinos,” she said.

She revealed how training, research capacity and increasing bed capacity at the UCI will help expand cancer care. The number of beds at UCI will be increased from 120 to 365.

She went ahead and cautioned the public that all care at UCI is provided free of charge and no one should pay any money to the health workers.

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Shilling maintains trading levels amid soaring prices of fuel

By
Our Reporter
-
Uganda Shilling notes

The currency traded within a narrow range between the 3790 to 3830 trading levels throughout the week with pockets of activity on the supply side with last minute month end inflows balanced by some Corporate and interbank demand, Catherine Kijjagulwe, the Head of Trading at Absa Bank Uganda revealed.

The unit is likely to maintain trading within the range of Shs 3770 to Shs 3880 in the near term as activity slowly picks up in the new month. Globally, the dollar maintains its strength against most currencies.

She said Uganda said Money Markets were liquid during the week with overnight yields between the nine percent to 10.50 percent levels. Bank of Uganda was in the market with short term Repos to mop up the excess liquidity during the week. Bank of Uganda held a Treasury Bill auction during the week and yields in the 91-day, 182-day and 364-day tenors cleared at averages of 9.310%, 11.830% and 14.002% respectively. Bank of Uganda will hold a Shs 550 Billion 5-year and 20-year Treasury bond auction on Wednesday 7th September 2022.

“The Kenya shilling continued to slide due to increased demand and limited supply keeping the unit within the 120.00 or 127.00 trading range. The Supreme Court verdict on the election petition is expected on Monday 5th September 2022,” she said.

Positive US Manufacturing PMI data at 52.8 and jobless claims data below market expectations kept the dollar strong during the week coupled with a likely rate hike by the Fed. Non-Farm Payroll data is expected.

She said the Euro remained on the back foot with the continued energy crisis and geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine as the dollar strengthened. It ended Thursday’s session at $0.9944 (Shs3807).

The Pound was also weak due to soaring inflation and unstable energy prices closing Thursday’s session at $1.1542 (Shs 4419).

Oil prices rose marginally as OPEC discusses output cuts with looming concern about the continued increase in covid-19 cases and lockdowns in China that are likely to impact demand. Brent Crude traded at $95.01 (Shs 363,779) a barrel and West Texas intermediate at $89.12 (Shs 341,228) a barrel. Gold traded at $1704.76 (Shs 6,527,287).

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