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Kenya’s Supreme Court kicks off proceedings on presidential election petition

The Supreme Court of Kenya has kicked off proceedings on the presidential poll petition challenging the election of Dr. William Ruto.

On August 16, 2022, Wafula Chebukati, chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared William Samoei Arap Ruto as the winner of a keenly contested election in Kenya.

 “In accordance with the law, I …hereby declare that Ruto William Samoei has been duly elected as the president,” he announced.

Ruto won the election by a narrow margin, garnering 50.49 per cent of the votes to his closest challenger Raila Odinga’s 48.85 per cent.

Chebukati’s announcement came within an hour after his deputy Juliana Cherera led three other commissioners out of the tallying centre to proclaim their dissent elsewhere in Nairobi.

“We are not at Bomas [tallying centre] because we cannot take ownership of the results that are going to be announced,” Cherera said at a press conference before the results were made public.

Raila Odinga contested the election results and later petitioned court claiming that there were just over 140,000 votes that were cast but were not included in the final tally, according to an extract from the legal documents.

Mr Odinga described the result as a “travesty”, adding that the election should be declared “null and void”.

In 2017, the veteran politician successfully challenged the result of that year’s presidential election, which he lost to Uhuru Kenyatta, and the Supreme Court ordered a re-run. The case highlighted logistical issues in the way the results were collated.

This time the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) tried to make the results process as transparent as possible by publishing the polling station tallies as soon as they were available.

An independent Kenyan monitoring group said the IEBC’s final result was in line with its own projection.

According to Anne Amadi, the Supreme Court Registrar there are roughly 20 petitions where petitioners seek various orders. She said the ruling will be delivered electronically to all the petitioners.

“We expect all the seven judges of the supreme court to participate in this matter. Last election cycle we had six judges. We have observers who are also judges from CommonWealth Countries led by Tanzania’s retired chief justice Mohammed Chande Othman,” she said.

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Over 500 Teen Mothers to receive Vocational Skills and Financial Literacy Training

Over 500 teenage mothers and women from the Central, West Nile and Albertine regions of the country are set to be trained on financial literacy and other skills necessary for their getting employed or starting businesses.

Under the bank’s Women’s Network Forum (WNF), the staff members of Absa Bank Uganda will hand over 25 laptops that will enable the recipients in the various centres to sign up for and benefit from the bank’s Ready to Work programme, which will help them develop Work, People, Money and Entrepreneurial Skills.

The beneficiaries  who will also receive training in gardening, baking, crocheting and knitting, and financial literacy  are drawn from Wakisa Ministries Uganda in Wakiso, The Association for the Rehabilitation and Re-orientation of Women for Development (TERREWODE) in Soroti and Integrated Efforts for Youth and Women Empowerment Uganda (IEYAWE Uganda) in Kyegegwa, Western Uganda.

Speaking during a ceremony where laptops, foodstuffs and clothing items were handed over to Wakisa Ministries Uganda in Wakiso, Irene Mutyaba – Absa’s Corporate Banking Director and Patron of the WNF – said, “For a majority of teenage mothers, having a baby more often than not leaves few options for self-sufficiency, with many dropping out of school, opting for early marriages or other vices as safety nets. Through this intervention, we will empower these ladies to continue their journey of education and obtain the skills they need to navigate the world of work and build a life for their families.”

According to the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) fact sheet on teenage pregnancy for 2021 , a total of 290,219 teenage pregnancies were recorded in Uganda from January to September 2021, translating to over 32,000 monthly. The body – quoting data from the District Health Information System (DHIS-2) – also says there was a 17 per cent spike in teenage pregnancies between March 2020 and June 2021. 

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2020 National Survey on Violence in Uganda indicated that limited support is given to teenage mothers to stay in or return to school, and due to the stigma attached to teenage pregnancy, some young girls opt for marriage over returning to school .

Mrs Vivian Kityo, the Director of Wakisa Ministries  a charity that offers temporary shelter, educational opportunities and counselling support to pre-teen and teenage girls with unwanted pregnancies, said, “Education and skills development are integral to empowering teenage mothers. I appreciate Absa for this support because by educating these ladies, they will get to be part of a productive community after the stigma they face in society and also get the opportunity to learn skills that will help them develop income-generating activities to help them provide for their families.”

She added that it would take an intentional and concerted effort by multiple stakeholders to help Uganda’s teenage mothers escape the shackles of poverty, illiteracy and misery that follow unwanted pregnancies.

Absa Bank Uganda staff have collectively raised Shs 10 million, which will go towards the purchase of dry foods to supplement the dietary needs of the mothers and their children.

Absa’s Mutyaba added, “We believe that for Uganda and Africa to truly develop, education and skills development will be key to helping our young population get the skills needed to support their employability and self-employability. This is part of our commitment to being a force for good in the communities within which we operate.”

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FUFA throws out Kyetume’s appeal, relegate them to regional league

UPL logo

The FUFA Appeals Committee has upheld a decision for newly promoted Uganda Premier League side Kyetume FC to play the third division of Buganda Regional League next season.

This comes after the club’s failure to meet the set deadlines for submitting the minimum requirements for the application for a club license to participate in the FUFA organised competitions for the 2022/23 season.

Kyetume were given until Friday August 12, 2022 to make amends but failed, and by August 18 deadline, their readiness for the new season was ‘not satisfactory’ according to FUFA. The Club went on to appeal the decision, which has been rejected on Monday.

“FUFA appreciates your effort to fulfil Club Licensing requirements to participate in the first division 2022/23. Your request has been considered by FUFA Club Licensing Committee,” reads part of the letter by FUFA Deputy CEO Decolas Kizza.

“The Committee noted that your club had no players on the dashboard in the FUFA Connect System as no player was uploaded onto the system by deadline (August 10 2022) as a minimum Club Licensing requirement.

“The decision of the club licensing Committee is therefore upheld.

“FUFA wishes to advise that Kyetume FC undertakes to fulfil requirements for the third division Buganda Region season 2022/23

“It is our sincere hope that the club will understand the sporting intentions of this decision.”

As it stands, next season’s league might be played with 15 teams or Kyetume may be replaced with Kataka FC, a side that came fourth on the table in the FUFA Big League last season, but this awaits official communication.

The Uganda Premier League will kick off on September 30, and fixtures are expected to be released next week.

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UPDF partners with TPDF to treat hundreds in Zanzibar

UPDF’s Col Dr.Ambrose Oiko (C) inspects drugs for use at Mpendae II Hospital,Zanzibar town, Tanzania

Medical teams from both the UPDF and Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces (TPDF) pitched camp at Mpendae Hospital, in the coastal town of Zanzibar to offer free outreach medical services; ranging from free eye and dental care, treatment of malaria, free HIV/AIDS treatment and counselling to minor surgeries.

Speaking at the launch of the medical camp, Mr. Idris Kitwala Mustafa, the Regional Commissioner (RC) for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, thanked the President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President YK Museveni of Uganda for building brotherly and professional forces.

“I thank and laud their Excellencies, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi for their visionary and focused leadership that has moved the EAC region to greater heights,” remarked Mr. Idris.

He mentioned that the creation of such regional mechanisms has made EAC Partner States build professional forces that work together to create a positive impact on their respective communities.

The RC added that the good gestures offered by EAC Armies enhance good health for the population of the region.

“I urge the people of Zanzibar to fully utilize the medical services for their good health,” he said.

The UPDF Chief of Civil-Military Cooperation (C/CIMIC) Brig Gen Emmanuel Rwashande, expressed gratitude for participating in the 4th EAC Army CIMIC Day activities in accordance with the Defence Sector Calendar of Activities.

“We are glad to participate in EAC Army Forces CIMIC week to foster cooperation between the people of the region and their Defence Forces,” Brig Gen Rwashande observed.

He narrated that conducting such activities offers a good platform for sharing best practices and enhances joint operations for the benefit of the East African people.

The 101 Brigade Commander of Zanzibar, Brig Gen Said Hassan Saidi reiterated that the three days free medical outreach will culminate into activities to mark the TPDF army day main celebrations, on 1st September 2022.

“We are blessed that the UPDF was given Zanzibar as an area of responsibility for this EAC exercise. These CIMIC activities are meant to bring the armed forces closer to the people as opposed to before,” said Brig Saidi.

The 4th EAC CIMIC Activities are being conducted, following the decisions of the EAC Summit of Heads of States and Heads of Defence Forces, as directed by the Sectoral Council, that CIMIC activities be organized and held prior to partner States Armed Forces Day on annually and on rotational basis.

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Mother arrested for gruesome murder of her three children

A mother has been arrested by police in Hoima for murder by hacking of her three children, aged 5, 3 and 11 months.

The suspect identified as Agaba Omuhereza, a 33-year-old, house wife and mother of 3, left her home in Kibaale on the 20th August 2022 and returned to her parents’ home in Kiziga LC1, Kinogonzi Parish, Buhimba Sub-county in Kikuube for treatment of her mental illness.

Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said Agaba stayed with her 3 children at her fathers’ home until the 24th August 2022, when she shifted and occupied her brother Kasangaki Omuhereza’s home. “The following day of 25th August, she picked a panga and hacked all her 3 children, instantly killing Ahumuza Praise, a 5-year-old, male juvenile. The other two children namely; Wemigisha Faith, a 3-year-old female juvenile and Tumukugise Peace an 11-month-old male juvenile, were rushed to Hoima Referral Hospital, in critical condition, where they eventually died.”

The killer mother was immediately arrested by her father, who took her to Hoima Police Station for custody. The blood stained panga was recovered from the scene and exhibited and post-mortem for the 3 deceased children conducted.

“The suspected was interviewed and gave a very clear account of how she murdered her 3 children. She was further examined on medical grounds and found to be fully conscious, oriented but with abnormal behaviour. The psychiatric forensic report is pending,” Enanga said.

“The facts of the case are disturbing simply because, children should be surrounded by love and not violence. It is therefore, the responsibility of society to stand-up and protect children when their parents and guardians have abdicated that responsibility. The 3 children should not have suffered the horror of being attacked and hacked to death by their mother who was supposed to do everything within her means, to keep her children safe.”

The gruesome incident has raised concerns about the mental health of people in communities, and increased calls for counselling, especially for persons under conditions of stress, depression, sadness, fear, anxiety or other mental health impacts.

“The police counsellors under the Child and Family Protection Unit, can also provide immediate listening ears without judgement, offer emotional needs and other immediate needs for victims, once they are consulted,” Enanga urged.

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ZTE reports double-digit gains in revenue and profit in H1 achieving sound growth with its second-curve business

ZTE

ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a major international provider of telecommunications, enterprise and consumer technology solutions for the mobile internet, today has posted its financial results for the first half of 2022.

According to the results, for the six months ended 30 June 2022, ZTE achieved operating revenue of RMB 59.82 billion, 12.7% higher than a year earlier. During the period, net profit attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company reached RMB 4.57 billion, an increase of 12.0%, and net profit after extraordinary items attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company amounted to RMB 3.73 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 65.8%. Basic earnings per share was RMB 0.96.

In the first half of 2022, ZTE, despite the challenges of the pandemic and complex external environment, has ensured the security and stability of its own supply chain, realized continuous delivery to its global customers and continuously improved the company’s operational quality and efficiency, leveraging its advantages of being an ultimate cloud company, rich experience in digital transformation, mature business continuity system, and its own self-developed cloud platform that can support tens of thousands of people across the globe to work online.

ZTE has been committed to strengthening its end-to-end R&D investment and innovations. In the first half of 2022, the company’s R&D spending reached RMB 10.15 billion, accounting for 17.0% of its total operating revenue.

From January to June of 2022, ZTE’s operating revenue in both domestic and international markets and its three major businesses (carriers’ networks, government and enterprise, and consumer business) all achieved double-digit increase year on year. For the domestic market, the operating revenue reached RMB 40.60 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, accounting for 67.9% of the total operating revenue, while for the international market, the operating revenue amounted to RMB 19.22 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%, covering 32.1% of the total operating revenue.

In terms of carriers’ networks, ZTE achieved an operating revenue of RMB 38.72 billion yuan, an increase of 10.5%, compared with a year earlier. In the operators’ traditional network market, ZTE proactively participated in the global 5G constructions including 5G network, Gigabit fiber network and 5G transport network,and continuously strengthened the competitiveness of its products and solutions, building excellent cost-effective networks for its customers and optimizing the market structure accordingly.

To date, ZTE has entered into 5G cooperation with over 110 operators across the globe, covering major markets including Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the company has actively seized the opportunity of domestic operators’ cloud-network transformation, and deeply integrated its own capabilities with their requirements while providing its well-matched products and solutions. ZTE has secured the domestic operators’ centralized procurements for multiple years.

In terms of government and corporate business, ZTE’s operating revenue increased by 18.3% year on year to RMB 6.71 billion during the period. Focusing on the internet, finance, electric power, transportation, government affairs and the industry, and relying on its “Precision Cloud Network” and “Digital Nebula”, the company has deeply cultivated the digital transformation of the industry, promoted the deep integration of 5G and the industry, and fully participated in major projects such as the east-data-west-computing project in China. In addition, ZTE’s core products and solutions such as server and storage, data center, enterprise network, video conference, cloud computer and distributed database were widely applied in the government and corporate markets, gradually forming a good cloud network ecosystem.

In consumer business, ZTE harvested revenue of RMB 14.39 billion, a year-on-year increase of 16.5% in the first half of 2022. ZTE, committed to offering its global users a seamless digital lifestyle in all scenarios, continued to make efforts in branding, products and channels to promote the sales of personal and household products.

During the period, ZTE, while consolidating the businesses in the first curve represented by wireless and wired products, has been rapidly expanding its businesses in the second curve, including server and storage products, terminals, 5G industry applications, automotive electronics, and digital energy. In H1, the company has achieved around 40% increase year on year in terms of the operating revenue from its second curve business.

Moving forward, ZTE, adhering to the positioning of “a driver of digital economy”, will keep continuously promoting its own digital transformation. The company will stay committed to building a highly resilient organization and implementing the “dual-carbon” strategy to achieve sustainable development. In addition, the company will actively strengthen cooperation with its customers, industries and ecological partners to jointly advance the development of the global digital economy.

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South Sudanese civil society activist wins international award

Edmund Yakani

South Sudanese activist Edmund Yakani has been selected as one of the outstanding professionals for this year’s Africa’s Outstanding Professionals Awards (AFOPA).

Yakani was recognised by The Business Executive Limited (TBE) as part of “an elite group of Africa’s professionals” who accomplished a lot in society.

The African Outstanding Professionals Awards is a new pan continental awards which was designed to identify and publicly recognise extraordinarily capable and accomplished professionals across various delineated fields of activity.

“This prestigious international award which indelibly confirms your status as a member of an elite group of Africa’s professionals gives you the opportunity to be publicly recognized for being accomplished in your field of profession and to network with other top business executives,” reads part of statement from the organisers to Yakani.

The accolade, organisers said in a statement, is open to both indigenous Africans and foreign nationals domiciled and professionally active in the African continent.

“The awards aim to encourage and promote professionalism in socio-economic activity all around the continent with a view to supporting wider efforts to make Africa most competitive within the emergent global economy and society; and to directly identify professionals who are world class in their activities and therefore most deserving of taking part in international supply/value chains and socio-economic programmes, events, initiatives and projects,” reads the statement.

The award will be in the form of a plaque, certificate, bronze and metal at a ‘cream de la cream’ red carpet Gala award night, scheduled to take place in Ethiopia at the Hyatt Regency hotel on the 3rd of November, 2022.

Yakani, in a statement said the award was collective initiative. “I got this [award] because of collective efforts all staff of CEPO [Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation] and other partners that we have been working with and the various communities living in South Sudan,” he explained.

Yakani, winner of the 2017 Civil Rights Defenders award, dedicated this award to persons living with disabilities, stressing that they for long “demanded and called for the protection and promotion of the right to equal treatment in South Sudan”.

TBE is a Ghana-based Pan-African media and events firm, with a track record of successfully organizing awards schemes, summits and other corporate events.

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Uganda welcomes India’s Spiritual Leader His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishakar

Uganda welcomes India's Spiritual Leader His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishakar

His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a globally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader in India, has expressed interest to invest in the country. He said: “I have found Uganda is a very good place to be, with welcoming people, very good climate.”

During his visit to Uganda, His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was engaged in a number of activities with government officials, diplomats, and members of the private and climaxed his visit with a special dinner at the home of Mr Miraj Harsad Barot in Kampala. Barot is a businessman running Tirupati Group Limited dealing in real estate and agriculture.

While in Uganda, His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar expressed a desire to invest in Uganda.

“I am so happy that you have IT people but we can bring in experts from India to train these young people for between three to six months. As you know India is the hub of knowledge. So we have people who can come here and train our young people for about six months. We need a place here to operate. We request for a place for us, and then 50 to 200 youths can come and train the ones here and who will, in turn, employ themselves,” Gurudev said.

His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar thanked Mr Miraj Barot, the Managing Director of Tirupati Group Ltd and his family for giving him a warm reception at his home. Miraj Barot applauded His Holiness for accepting to come to Uganda and bless them.

The dinner at the Barot residence was attended by Uganda’s former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda who asked His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to encourage people from all over the world to come and invest in Uganda.

“The policy is simple, you come to Uganda, you have little or no money, within a few years, and you make a lot of money. Of course, we are encouraging those who are coming to invest to come with money that will accelerate the rate of becoming richer. So in a nutshell, if you want to make money, come to Uganda.”

While in Uganda, His Holiness Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar addressed a conference of business leaders and entrepreneurs at Serena Hotel, met with the Indian High Commissioner to Uganda H.E A. Ajay Kumar, and the Indian community in Uganda, and addressed a series of media.

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Uganda Securities Exchange admits Chipper Technologies as a stockbroker

Chairman Board of the Exchange Mr. Richard Byarugaba

Uganda’s principal stock exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange (USE), has today 29th August 2022 announced the admission of Chipper Technologies Uganda Limited (“Chipper”) as a new Trading Participant/stockbroker on its market and as a USE Securities Central Depository Agent (SCDA).

As a trading participant, Chipper’s core mandate is to enable existing and potential investors execute transactions in relation to shares and bonds listed on USE by providing stock brokerage services in line with the rules of the Exchange, the Capital Markets Act and regulations thereunder.

“Having acquired a stockbrokerage license from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and having satisfied the eligibility requirements to be a stockbroker of the USE in all material respects, it is our pleasure to welcome Chipper as a new trading participant in the market,” commented Paul Bwiso, CEO of the Uganda Securities Exchange.

“To-date, we have a diverse range of over 130,000 investors on the market and we are continuously working to ensure an improved experience for the investor as they undertake their investment journey. We look forward to working with Chipper to deliver efficient investment services in the market as we pursue a common market goal of empowering investors through promoting safe, convenient and sustainable investments,” Mr. Bwiso added.

Representatives from the Board and management of Chipper Technologies rang the market open bell to signify its inaugural day of trading as broker in the market. Chipper has also been approved as a USE Securities Central Depository Agent (SCDA).

The Chairman Board of the Exchange Mr. Richard Byarugaba stated; “Over the past year the Exchange has significantly enhanced its digital capabilities, directly and through strategic partnerships in a bid to further democratize the Uganda stock market. We want to reiterate our commitment to growing an inclusive market. In addition to service efficiency, we hope that Chipper, leveraging its fintech business model, will boost our current efforts to drive the financial inclusion agenda in the market.”

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Uganda signs MoU with National Forensics Science University of India

Uganda signs MoU with National Forensics Science University of India

The Government of Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Forensics science university (NDSU) in Gandhinagar Gujarat India on Sunday.

The MoU was signed by the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Vincent Ssempijja on behalf of Uganda while professor JM Vyas the vice chancellor of the NFSU signed on behalf of the Indian Government.

The MoU is expected to among other things lead to the establishment of the National Forensics Science University campus in Uganda to provide specialized training to security and law enforcement agencies as well as other sectors of Government.

The ceremony was attended by among other dignitaries Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to India MS Magret Kyogire, commandant NDC-U Maj Gen Okello and UPDF Chief of Training and Recruitment Brig Gen Mathew Gureme.

The NFSU is a premium university with world class training capabilities in criminalistics, cybercrime and forensics among other areas.

According to the global crime index report of 2021, about 80% of the world population live in countries affected by crime with criminals reported to be continuing to perfect their art through more loose networks leveraging new technologies.

In addition to the Indian training team at the Senior Command and Staff College in Kimaka, His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni has been keen to retool and modernize the investigative capacity of security and intelligence services in the Country in order to enhance National security.

The establishment of the NFSU campus in Uganda will greatly improve on the efficiency of security agencies not only in Uganda but the region at large.

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