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M/S Giant Company Ltd Managing Director arrested for causing Shs5b loss to gov’t

By
Our Reporter
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Handcuffs

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, arrested the Managing Director M/S Giant Company Ltd, Opua Alex Emongas for causing government a financial loss of over Shs5 billion.

According to the IG press statement, during Financial Year 2014/2015 to 2017/ 2018, Opua received Shs5,214,489,845 from National Agricultural and Advisory Services (NAADS) for supply of tea seedlings to Nebbi and Zombo districts whereas not, knowing or having reason to believe that his actions would cause financial loss to the Government of Uganda and indeed caused financial loss.

In the alternative, the IG alleges that Opua fraudulently and without any claim of right stole Shs 5,214,489,845.

Opua was arrested at the Inspectorate of Government Offices and is expected to appear at the Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday July 28, 2022.

The IG charge sheet shows that Opua will be charged with two counts of causing financial loss and theft.

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Museveni commissions Armoured Vehicle Plant in Nakasongola

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Our Reporter
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Armoured Vehicle Plant in Nakasongola commissioned

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has commissioned NEC-Streit, an Armoured Vehicle manufacturing and assembling plant in Nakasongola.

President Museveni congratulated the team from Streit Group for fulfilling their idea of setting up the plant in Uganda and thanked the Managing Director of NEC, Lt Gen James Mugira for helping the team get all the required resources and support to set up the plant.

Museveni further said the vehicles will solve many problems; the rich who want to armour their cars, banks which need to carry money safely as a way of ruling out imports by using the capacity in Uganda.

He congratulated the National Enterprise Corporation for heeding to the advice of creating capacity for Uganda’s defence industry. “Gradually, NEC has gone into other areas of defence needs including research and development. They have used the method of joint partnerships to create additional capacity,” said the President.

The President promised to direct the Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Gen Edward Katumba Wamala to link up with companies which are constructing roads in the areas of Hoima to come and work on the roads in Nakasongola, where the various factories are located.

Earlier on, Museveni commissioned a 500-Kilowatt solar power under the Southgate Renewable energy project, surgical medical masks production facility, oxygen and nitrogen production plant and the Veba wood working machinery for making machine tools which he said is an important step in autonomy.

The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Wilson Mbadi while speaking at the ceremony thanked the President and calling the factory a milestone in the Defence technology project. “I want to thank you for your astute guidance in defence capability and capacity development for self-reliance which is a very important virtue of professionalism,” said Gen Mbadi.

Gen Mbadi added that one of the UPDF’s functions is to be a productive force to contribute to national development by building a robust self-reliant defence industry as part of the journey to continue building a modern, professional, effective, efficient and accountable force capable of securing Uganda to support the growth of the economy.

The Chairman Streit Group, Guerman Guotorov expressed commitment towards working with Uganda in developing and improving the security capacity of the country in different areas. “All the products which are going to be produced I can proudly say are made in Uganda,” said Guerman.

Lt Gen James Mugira, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Enterprise Corporation in his remarks said various stakeholders such as the Uganda Police, Bank of Uganda, Private Security Organizations, VIPs and members of the business community will benefit from the services of NEC-Streit services and urged government to come up with a policy requiring public institutions to buy from the plant as long as the vehicles meet the required standards.

 Lt Gen Mugira further said the entire factory was constructed by the NEC-Construction Works and Engineering Company utilizing the engineers of the UPDF. “I want to thank the NEC construction team led by Engineer Brian Buhanda and the UPDF team of young engineers led by Lt Bright Ruzindana, they did a commendable job in a very short time,” added Lt Gen Mugira.

Present at the function were; Cabinet and State Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs, Generals and UPDF Officers, members of sister security agencies, dignitaries from partner States, Management and Staff of Streit group.

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Court orders William Ruto’s running mate to surrender Ke shs200m corruption money to gov’t

By
Agencies
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Rigathi Gachagua

William Ruto’s running mate Rigathi Gachagua has been ordered to forfeit the KeShs200 million to the State.

Milimani law courts judge Esther Maina on Thursday said she is satisfied that the funds in question are proceeds of crime and are subject for forfeiture to the State.

Gachagua had admitted to receiving the funds from government agencies and entities through the award of contracts.

But the court said there was nothing to show he had any contract with the State.

Gachagua, according to the court, only produced a letter dated February 9, 2015 from a government ministry indicating Wamunyoro Investments Ltd had been awarded a tender.

But he did not provide anything to show that the tender was executed.

The court also dismissed claims that the funds were in a fixed deposit account.

“There was an argument that the funds were in a fixed deposit account but that is not the position,” the Judge said.

The funds, at Rafiki Micro Finance Bank, are held in four accounts. One holds KeShs165 million, the other account holds KeShs35 million and another holds KeSh773,228. All three accounts are registered in Gachagua’s name.

A fourth account, holding KeShs1,138,142, is registered in the name of Jenne Enterprises, Gachaguas’s business associate.

The Assets Recovery Authority wanted the funds forfeited to the State on grounds that they are proceeds of crime.

The Agency dismissed claims that the KeShs200 million it wants forfeited by Gachagua and his business associate was from a tender they won seven years ago.

It had argued that Jenne Enterprises business entity and account was used as a channel for money laundering by Rigathi.

“The allegation that the duo are doing legitimate business and the funds in issue are obtained from legitimate businesses is incorrect, deceitful and a ploy to disguise, conceal and hide the source of the said funds. It’s a classical scheme of money laundering,” ARA argued.

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NEMA, Speke Hotel finally agree on measures for sustainable implementation of the Kitubulu Resort project

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Our Reporter
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Kitubulu Resort project

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has finally agreed with Speke Hotel (1996) Limited on measures for safeguarding the ecological integrity of Lake Victoria while implementing the Speke Resort project at Kitubulu, Katabi sub-county, Wakiso District.

This followed the conclusion to NEMA’s satisfaction of the project design review and adjustments by the developer under the guidance of NEMA, to address all issues that would compromise the integrity of Lake Victoria and the surrounding environment.

On 10th December 2021, NEMA issued a stop notice to the developer over breach of conditions in the Environment and Social Impact Assessment Certificate No. NEMA/EIA/11651 earlier issued to the developer by NEMA in 2020. The developer had commenced work without obtaining a lake shore user permit which is a legal requirement, and there were also concerns of siltation of Lake Victoria by soil from the site.

On 15th December 2021, NEMA had a meeting with the management of Speke Hotel (1996) Limited to guide the developer on how to sustainably undertake the project. A number of subsequent engagements have since been undertaken including inspections and site visits by the NEMA Board, Environmental inspectors, the Environmental Police and the area Local Government.

On 29th April 2022, following NEMA guidelines to the developer for final review and readjustments in the project design to secure the lake from any potential negative impacts of the project, the developer submitted adjusted designs and revised project implementation modalities. NEMA has reviewed and finally endorsed the revised master plan and implementation modalities for the Speke Hotel Resort at Kitubulu.

In addition to the revised masterplan, NEMA agreed to the project with strict conditions that Speke Hotel (1996) Limited must adhere to going forward.

NEMA says there will be no permanent structure erected within 20 meters of the water line to protect the shoreline from potential siltation and there shall be no dumping of soil or other waste whatsoever into the lake during construction phase and implementation phase.

All waste must be treated on site in a cyclical manner. There will also be no waste discharged into the lake even after treatment of effluent. The water treatment plant must be relocated as far back as possible in tandem with the coordinates provided by NEMA.

The environment authority adds that community shall not be barred from access to the beachside of the Resort.

Speke Hotel (1996) Limited must also install beach/shore line protection gabions before construction to prevent soil and debris from being deposited into the lake by surface water runoff during the construction phase under technical guidance of the Directorate of Water Resources.

No dredging of the lake is permitted under the first phase of the construction. The Marina establishment phase will undertake more in-depth studies to guide any decisions in that respect.

The land taken up by increasing water levels remains protected as part of the lake and no reclamation of the same should be done. Such land can be used as beach area in case of water recession and no infrastructure should be established in such area since it is needed for water fluctuation movements according to NEMA.

Under Regulation 23 of the National Environment (Wetlands, River Banks and Lake Shores Management) Regulations, No. 3/2000, developments within 200 meters of the lakeshore require a Lakeshore user permit issued by NEMA. Such permits are only issued for sustainable and compatible tourism and recreation activities including resorts, beaches, marinas among others.

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Eng Silver Mugisha reappointed UBTEB board chairman

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Our Reporter
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NWSC MD Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha (m) with John Chrysestom Muyingo

Eng. Silver Mugisha has been reappointed as the board chairperson of Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) by the Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.

Mugisha will lead the board for another three years; 2022 – 2025.

He will lead a team of 15 Board Members in line with the Statutory Instrument 2009 No.9 that established UBTEB. The event was officiated by the State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysestom Muyingo.

Mugisha, who is the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Managing Director, took over as the board chair from Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba in 2019.

Together with the outgoing Board members, Mugisha achieved the following during the 2019- 2022 leadership years; Technical and Vocational Education and Training-TVET policy 2019 and Reforms, The Board transited from a subvention under the Ministry of Education and Sports to a Vote Function effective 1st July 2021.

The Board launched a Strategic Plan 2021- 2025 anchored to the NDPIII (National Development Plan), Manifesto among other policies, Staff Enhancement from 37.1 per cent to 47.3 per cent, Steady positive increase in resource allocation to UBTEB over the three years from Shs28.56 billion to Shs31.875 billion for F/Y ending 30th June 2022 and Shs33.733 billion this Financial Year.

They also unveiled plans for the construction of the UBTEB Assessment Center at Kyambogo, an increment in the accredited assessment centers and candidature from 15,903 candidates from 184 accredited examination centers to now 615 centers and 92,223 candidates.

There was partnership with the world of work and professional bodies/assemblies, Passing of the Board Policies and Documents, ISO 9001:2015 certification and as well Celebrated 10 years of existence in Uganda among other achievements.

UBTEB is a statutory national assessment body established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to streamline, regulate, coordinate and conduct credible national examinations and award Certificates and Diplomas in the Business, Technical and Vocational professions in Uganda.

UBTEB Board Members 2022- 2025

1. Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha- Managing Director, NWSC – Board chairperson

2. Dr. Umar Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)

3. Prof Maud Kamatenesi-Mugisha- Vice Chancellor, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara

4. Mr. Deus Mutesigensi Faida- Principal, Uganda College of Commerce, Pakwach

5. Ms. Nakyobe Safinah- Ag Deputy Director/Qualification Standards, Directorate id Industrial Training.

6. Mr. David Ochieng- Assistant Commissioner, Selection Systems, Public Service Commission

7. Mr. David Mubiru Luyima-  Principal Education Officer Technical/BTVET

8. Mr. Richard Musafiri- Principal Industrial Officer  Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives

9. Mr. Simon Amuku- Senior Staff Surveyor, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

10. Eng John V Twinomujuni- Commissioner Urban Water and Sewerage Services, Ministry of Water and Environment.

11. Mr. Micheal Ocero- Assistant Commissioner/ Information Technology, Ministry of Information Communications Technology and National Guidance

12. Mr. Francis Bongonyinge- Assistant Printery Manager, UNEB

13. Mr. John Habiyaremye- Manager Human Resource and Administration, National Curriculum Development Center.

14. Mr. Joshua Lukaye- Ag Assistant Commissioner, Exploration Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

15. Ms. Oyuru Jennifer- Assistant Commissioner Agriculture Extension Skills Management, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries

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Police invades Anna Adeke’s home, nabs Amuriat, Robert Centenary and Mayor Soroti East Division

By
Geoffery Serugo
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FDC president Patrick Oboi Amuriat

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party President Amuriat Patrick, former Kasese MP Robert Centenary and Omerou Paul the Mayor Soroti East Division have been arrested ahead of the by-election for Soroti East Constituency.

According to Soroti city Woman, Anna Adeke, the group was arrested from her home in Akisim.

“Police in Soroti have broken into my house in Akisim. They have beaten; pepper sprayed and arrested all my people. They started this at 11.30 pm until 00:51 Am,” she tweeted.

The election exercise kicked off earlier today at all the 63 polling stations despite the arrests of opposition bigwigs.

Yesterday, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Justice Simon Byabakama appealed to candidates, their agents and supporters to conduct themselves in accordance with the Law, and the guidelines issued by the Commission for these by-elections.

“The Electoral Commission has established a Complaints Desk at the Main Hall, Soroti University, Soroti, for purposes of receiving and handling any complaints that may arise during the Soroti East By-Election. The Complaints Desk will operate on polling day, from 7am up to 4pm,” he said.

The EC encouraged each political party or independent candidates to appoint an official agent to sit with the (Commission) officials at this desk, to ease handling of any query and or complaint that may arise.

A total of 36,442 registered voters are expected to participate in the election process at the 63 polling stations in the Constituency.

The by-election follows the nullification of the election of Attan Moses on grounds that the Electoral Commission failed to conduct free and fair elections. Following his election, a voter petitioned court challenging the annexation and transfer of Opiyai and Aloet wards from Soroti East to Soroti West after the nomination of the candidates.

The voter contended that the annexation led to disenfranchising of over 4,560 voters the right to vote for the leader of their choice.

On May 24th, 2022, the Court of Appeal ruled that at the time of voter verification, the people of Opiyai and Aloet wards were verified and confirmed to fall under Soroti East thus the sudden change left voters at a loss and confused as to where they belong and whom to vote for as they were presented with ballot papers of strange candidates than the ones they expected to see and were known to them.

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Stanbic Bank Graduate Programme excites Universities 

By
Our Reporter
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Rodney Rugyema

Stanbic Bank Uganda has announced it will hire and mentor young, ambitious, and brilliant university students who graduate at the top of their classes in a new initiative dubbed “Stanbic Uganda Graduate Programme.”

Launched on Wednesday, the programme has been lauded by University administrators and student leadership representatives as “the kind of opportunity that we have been longing for and a noble cause that will nurture the next generation of leaders.’

Speaking at the launch, Anne Juuko, the Stanbic Bank Uganda Chief Executive dubbed the programme as ‘the autobahn to your career dreams.’

“We have designed the programme to be an autobahn that will challenge participants to explore their full creative and innovative potential with the objective of turning them into business leaders of tomorrow in their respective career paths,” she said.

One of the perks, besides gaining actual work experience with top professionals, is that this will be a fully paid graduate program with successful candidates receiving a competitive salary and full benefits during the 12-month programme,” Juuko added.

Juuko added, “from shadowing senior colleagues to working on projects that make a difference, our Graduate Programme fellows will build the skills, gain the experience, and enjoy the freedom they need to create a brighter future not only for themselves but also contribute to our purpose—driving Uganda’s growth.”

Who is eligible?

David Mutaka, the Executive Head for People and Culture at Stanbic Bank said the selection process will be a fair and transparent one and will also be deliberate about being inclusive of all Ugandans who genuinely qualify and have the potential to solve problems facing humanity today.

Eligible candidates must be young Ugandans who completed an undergraduate programme between 2020 and 2023. However, for those graduating in 2023, they must have completed school by September 2022 and awaiting graduation.

Candidates must also have graduated with a 4.0 GPA or above, (First Class and High Second upper) and if applicable have less than two years’ work experience. Preferred applicants are those in any field of study related to the bank’s business units. 

The programme will also encourage special needs graduates to apply in line with the bank’s inclusion policy.

For the inaugural intake, successful applicants will be attached to roles that require ‘future ready skills’ in functions such as global markets, data Science, credit, risk, relationship banking, finance, information technology, Salesforce administration and human resource management, according to Mutaka.

Universities, students excited 

Rodney Rugyema, attached to the Makerere University’s Dean of Students office lauded the programme noting that it goes beyond what graduates often get from internship placements where some places reduce them to tea boys or girls, denying them the opportunity to learn during those opportunities.

Shamim Nambasa, Makerere University outgoing Guild President said, “I am glad that Stanbic Bank has started a graduate programme because internships don’t give us enough time to learn more.  However, this program, which is available for a year, gives us plenty of time to learn while earning at the same time. What is even more exciting is the fact that no work experience is required.” 

Other Universities in represented at the launch included Makerere University Business School MUBS, Victoria University, Cavendish University, Ndejje University, and Uganda Christian University. 

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Public Service to streamline teachers’ salaries by 2027

By
Our Reporter
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Teachers of arts subjects in secondary schools will earn the same salary as science teachers by 2027, the Ministry of Public service has said.

Recently, Government announced that science teachers with degrees will start earning Shs4 million and diploma holders Shs3 million starting in July 2023 while their counterparts the art teachers remained at shs900,000.

The move caused public uproar with many saying that it would divide the teachers and demoralize the arts teachers.

While appearing before the Human Rights Committee chaired by Fox Odoi on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, the Ministry of Public Service led by Minister Muruuli Mukasa and Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate said that it is in their mid-term plan to enhance the salaries of arts teachers to make it at par with that of the science teachers.

According to Bitarakwate, the key issue of contention is the fact that they started the process of the enhancement of salaries of science teachers compared to having them all improved at the same time.

She said that they do have plans in the medium term of about five years to ensure that art teachers earn the same as science teachers.

“At the end of the implementation of that plan, there will be no disparity; the disparity is brought about by current priorities and the strategic interventions, Bitarakwate said.

She says that although this is a discomfort to the art teachers, it is purely momentary and not a permanent situation.

Muruli Mukasa said that whereas the total amount of money needed to enhance salaries is shs800 billion, they currently have only Shs200 billion.

Terego District Woman MP Rose Obiga said that there is a lot of corruption in the country because of salary disparities.

“People are demoralized; they are seeing their plates with a lot of bones while others have a lot of meat. This is a human rights violation; we need to do this salary enhancement for everyone instead of saying this class this year and the other class next year,” Obiga said.

Meanwhile, members of the committee also tasked the ministry with the establishment of the Salary Review Commission.

Nakaseke Central MP Allan Ssebunya tasked the ministry on when the commission will be set up adding that by saying ’soon’ the ministry was not communicating.

Muruli Mukasa said that by the end of the calendar year, the Salary Review Commission will have been set up.

Bitarakwate said the salaries commission is now at the stage of the regulatory impact assessment which is one of the last stages before the policy paper is prepared.

She said that they expect that it will go before the Cabinet for approval by the second quarter of this year before the drafting can be done.

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MPs want inmates who offer labour paid better

By
Our Reporter
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Prisons officials before the Parliament committee on Human Rights

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Human Rights are concerned about the way inmates are paid after they have offered manual labour outside the prisons.

The legislators raised the concerns while meeting officials from the Uganda Prison Service. The meeting on Tuesday, 26 July 2022 and chaired by Fox Odoi Oywelowo was meant to discuss the recommendations in the reports from the Uganda Human Rights Commission for the years 2018-2020.

In one of the recommendations, the commission recommended that the prisons authorities revise the payment to the prisoners as stipulated in the Prisons Regulations.

The Prisons Regulations 2020 provide that, ‘a prisoner on earning scheme shall be paid gratuity at the rate of Shs8,386 for the first month worked and thereafter, Shs2,795 per month or part of it’.

Busongora North Member of Parliament, Sowedi Kitanywa wondered how the money prisoners earn by offering labour to private farms, is handled.

“If someone is remanded and he does work on private farm, do these funds go to the prisons authorities or given to the prisoners? Where do the funds go?”  Kitanywa said.

Kibaale District Woman MP Noeline Kisembo Basemera asked how the money made by prisoners is distributed.

“How much do you charge the clients who are taking the prisoners so that we know how much the prison services take?” Basemera asked.

The Assistant Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Service Samuel Akena said that the rates are not standard but vary from place to place.

“If you asked for Shs10, 000 in Karamoja, no one will be able to give it to you but if you asked the same in Kampala, people are willing to even pay more,” he said adding that,’whatever rate it is, there is a fraction that goes to the prisoners, the staff who escort the prisoners and the other portion for the general administration of the prisons’.

Fox Odoi Oywelowo asked Akena why they were paying prisoners a lower rate than the market price. He recommended that for clients who were willing to pay shs10,000 and above, the fraction that goes to the prisoner should be revised accordingly.
 
However, Ibanda Municipality MP Tarsis Rwaburindore said that the prisoners who do the actual work earn less than what they should be getting. “I have been hiring prisoners for Shs5500. Then people who escort them getShs20,000 per head; the ‘katikiros’ get a  packet of cigarettes and an extra Shs5,000, he said.

MPs suggested the money earned should be paid directly to the prisons bank account for better accountability and systematic follow up.  

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Uganda runs out of HIV drugs

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) addressing the media

The life-saving HIV medicine has run out of stock in Uganda. The revelation was made by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Ministry of Health.

Uganda has 1.5 million people living with HIV according to the 2021 UNAIDS report. At least 1.3 million are aware of their HIV status while 1.2 million are on treatment.

According to the Kuraish Mubiru, the Executive Director of Uganda Young Positives, over the last six to nine months, the monitoring of quality and accessibility of the HIV response carried out by the people living with HIV and other directly impacted communities has exposed chronic shortage of HIV treatment at facilities across the country.  

Since November 2021, Uganda has been grappling with the limited supply of HIV medication particularly for the third line medicines such as Raltegravir and darunavir drugs. The treatment shortages of the third line medicines are deadly especially when it is known that beyond that there is no available option for the affected persons.

“The treatment experienced by HIV positive people are more likely to be immunocompromised and are at great risk of HIV progression. Pregnant mothers are likely to give birth to HIV positive babies and HIV transmission rate is scheduled to increase if the problem is not solved,” he said.

He claimed that Uganda, PEPFAR and the Global Fund have not responded to the stock out of HIV drugs in the country yet they were notified.

He said the ministry of health confirmed to them that in the recent quarter stock report indicates that there were low stock levels of Raltegravir 400 mg and Raltegravir 100mg and Darunavir 75mg. The pipeline of Darunavir 600 mg is short dated.

Atim Salom, a Human Rights Activist and the chairperson of the program oversight Committee of Global Country Coordinating Mechanism said uninterrupted and adequate supplies of life saving antiretroviral treatment are essential to achieving Uganda’s goal of defeating HIV and achieving 95-95-95 target of 95 percent of people with HIV knowing their HIV status, 95 percent on treatment and 95 percent having durably suppresses viral load.

“All babies, Children and adults living with HIV need to access antiretroviral treatment that suppresses their viral load and keeps them healthy. But universal access to treatment is becoming mirage for people living with HIV,” she said.

The CSOs recommend that Uganda implement the 15 per cent Abuja declaration as a signatory and ensure that each health sector, including HIV, has clear-cut expenses for all areas of intervention, including commodities Government of Uganda, in situations of such crisis, speak out and inform the affected population with clear guidance on how service providers will manage the clients throughout such crisis.

They asked the National Medical Stores (NMS) to deliver medicines with longer shelf life which will reduce the volume of expiry, strengthen inventory management practices, and optimize supply chain management of medical and pharmaceutical products for commodity security with minimal stakeouts of essential products.

They also asked the Global Fund to step up with an emergency procurement of medicines for third-line treatment, doubling current investments to ensure all people with HIV on the third line of continuous access to highly active therapy.

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