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Uganda’s coffee exports hit 6.26 million bags

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Farmer picks coffee

Coffee exports for 12 months (Financial year 2021/22) totaled 6.26 million bags worth US$ 862.28 million compared to 6.08 million bags worth US$ 559.16 million the previous year (Financial year 2020/21). This represents an increase of 3 per cent and 54 per cent in both quantity and value respectively, the UCDA June Coffee Report reveals.

Uganda’s coffee exports for the month of June amounted to 530,365 60-kilo bags of coffee valued at US$ 83.79 million. This comprised 444,197 bags of Robusta valued at US $60.98 million and 86,168 bags of Arabica valued at US$ 22.82. This was a decrease of 14 per cent in quantity but an increase of 43 per cent in value compared to the same month last year.

Farm-gate prices for Robusta Kiboko averaged Shs 2,600 per kilo; FAQ Shs 6,450 per kilo, Arabica parchment Shs 10,500 per kilo and Drugar Shs 9,500 per kilo.

Robusta exports accounted for 84 per cent of total exports higher than 77 per cent in May 2022. By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last Coffee Year (June 2021), Robusta decreased by 21.44 per cent in quantity but increased by 21.37 per cent in value. The decrease in Robusta exports was mainly attributed to lower yields this year that were characterized by drought in most regions. This led to a shorter main harvest season in Central and Eastern regions and reduced harvests from Greater Masaka and South Western regions whose peak is expected in July 2022.

Arabica exports increased by 62.77 per cent and 174.46 per cent in quantity and value respectively due to an on-year cycle characteristic of Arabica coffee production. Arabica fetched an average price of US$ 4.41 per kilo. Okoro CP/B from West Nile sold at the highest price of US$ 7.23 per kilo.

Ten exporters out of 55 companies which performed during June exported 74 per cent of the total volume.

Italy maintained the highest market share of 40.25 per cent followed by Germany 11.34 per cent, Sudan 10.35 per cent (10.74 per cent) India 7.42 per cent (7.27 per cent) and Morocco 4.82 per cent (1.95 per cent). Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 109,506 bags, a market share of 21 per cent compared to 70,782 bags (16 per cent) the previous month.

Coffee exports for July are projected to be 600,000 bags.

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Commonwealth Games: She Cranes head coach Mugerwa names the final 12 to Birmingham

By
Our Reporter
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She Cranes Head Coach, Ssalongo Mugerwa Fred Tabale

With two weeks to the start of 2022 commonwealth games in Birmingham England, She Cranes Head Coach, Ssalongo Mugerwa Fred Tabale has officially announced the final twelve that will represent the nation in games.

The team has not changed much from that won the 2021 Pent Series and finished second in Africa Netball championships hosted in Nambia the same year. The team has only added two international players, that’s the captain Peace Proscovia and Mary Nuba Cholhok.

“We came up with the list, we selected the players based on their performance and the coordination they had in the training, we believe they are going to give us the best, as you see, the majority of the players are the one we had in pent series an Africa Netball championship apart from the two professionals,” Coach Mugerwa Fred said.

“We entered residential training on Monday and we are doing well, the purpose of having this residential is the players to continue bond together, concentrate on one thing, trying them at different positions, trying different combinations and that’s what we are going to concentrate on the most in this few remaining days.”

The team is camping at Nakirebe where there is a stadium with a playing surface equivalent to that of Birmingham.

Joan Nampugu assistant captain, Stella Oyella and Hanisha Muhameed nakaate expressed their excitement to be among the 12 to represent the nation at a top level competition.

“I am happy that I am going to commonwealth for my second time, as players we are in good shape, some we have played against the teams in our group, so we are going to use the experience we have to make our nation proud and lift the flag high,” said Joan Nampungu the She Cranes assistant captain.

“Yes we didn’t get international build up games like our opponents did but again we got enough from our coaches. Then it we as players to do our best, as a player I want to see that we improve on our ranking, at least we go to fifth or fourth position,” Stella Oyella said.

Hanisha Muhammeed said “I am excited that I am going to commonwealth for the first time and as a goalkeeper, at this high level of competition I am looking to display my A game whenever I will get a chance to step on court, I am going to represent my country but again to challenge myself and learn more.”

The team is expected to fly to Birmingham on 20th July 2022.

Uganda is in group B with the hosts, England, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Northern Ireland and Malawi.

The Final traveling squad:

Peace Proscovia (captain) (GS/GA)

Mary Cholhok Nuba (GS)

Nampungu Joan (Assistant Captain one)GD/WD

Achan Jesca (assistant captain two) WA/C/WD

Nalwanja Shaffie (GK/WD)

Oyella Stella (GS/GA/WA)

Lunkuse Norah WA

Baagala Margaret C/WA

Nambirige Sandra Ruth GD/WD

Nassanga Shadia GS/GA

Eyaru Irene GS/GA/WA

Hanisha Muhameed GK


Reserve

Asingo Viola WD/GK

Kadondi Falidah GK

Wasagali Alice WA

Nakanyike Shakira WA/WD

Birungi Desire C/WA

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Brig Robert Mugabe named Chairman of General Court Martial

By
Our Reporter
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Brig Robert Freeman Mugabe

President Yoweri Museveni who doubles as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has appointed Brig Robert Freeman Mugabe as the Chairman of General Court Martial (GCM).

Brig Mugabe replaces Gen. Andrew Guti who has been at the helm of the court since 2016. He superintended several high profile cases which involved Gen. Kale Kaihura, ardent Supporters of the National Unity Platform and others.

Mugabe, who was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier in April 2021, is the Adjutant General at UPDF forces headquarters in Bombo. He served as the Air Defense Division Administrative Officer and Division Operations and Training Officer in the same Unit prior to his appointment as Adjutant General.

He will work along with the committee members who include; Col Joseph Ecelare Okalebo, Lt Col Sam Ntungura, Maj Angella Catherine Laker, Capt Lucy Nicole Etoroi, Capt Abdu Basajjabala, and Warrant Officer One, Oyar Boris Mark.

The reserve team includes;  Brig Gen Ronald Solomon Bigirwa, Col Benard Tumwesigyire, Col David Emmanuel Muhanguzi, Col David Ociti Kidega, Lt Col Patrick Matovu, Lt Col Sebastian Bossa, Lt Col David Baguma, Maj Stephen Etumidde, Maj Cyprian Sande Magezi, Maj Jubilee Omax Denis, Capt Grace Mbabazi, Capt Christine Sayuni and Warrant Officer One Robert Nyarare.

Those maintained from the previous team include; Col John Bizimana, who returns as the Secretary/Registrar to the Court, while Lt Col Raphael Mugisha and Capt Ambrose Guma have been maintained as Prosecutors and Maj Silas Kamanda Mutungi as Defence Counsel. Also maintained in his position is Col Richard Tukacungurwa as the Judge Advocate.

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Energy, Trade Ministries faulted for failure to stabilise fuel prices

By
Our Reporter
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Motorcycle operators queue for fuel at a petrol station

The Government Assurance and Implementation Committee has questioned the Ministries of Energy and Trade over their failure curb the skyrocketing fuel prices.

The committee whose role is to scrutinise the assurances, promises and undertakings by the government was on Wednesday, 13 July 2022 meeting officials from the two ministries over their pledge to stabilize fuel prices.

The committee members tasked officials from the two ministries to explain the failure to implement a promise they made in the House on high fuel prices in February this year.

While presenting a statement on the high fuel prices in April 2022 both the State Minister for Industry, David Bahati and the State Minister for Minerals, Peter Lokeris said that government would take punitive action including revocation of trade licenses against dealers found hoarding fuel and taking advantage to increase prices.

The Government also pledged to organise the dealers and stakeholders in the petroleum industry to discuss a way forward on the high costs by forming an association.

However, when tasked by the committee chaired by Joseph Ssewungu to explain if they had issued any punitive measures, the Ministry of Energy officials led by Lokeris, and Permanent Secretary Pauline Batebe went silent.

The State Minister for Trade, Harriet Ntabazi said it was not her decision to make.

“You said if pump prices were escalated by the dealers, you will close them.  How many have you closed so far? ”You did not even help the fuel dealers form associations to stabilize the fuel prices as you promised,” Ssewungu added.

Ntabazi said that the proposal to shut down fuel stations or revoke their licenses which was communicated in the House was arrived at after a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Prime Minister and that the final decision would  still come from there.

Members of Parliament said that different fuel stations were hoarding fuel while others had excessively increased fuel prices.

According to Connie Galiwango, the Mbale City Woman MP, the fuel prices are different almost in all districts while in other places people are hoarding fuel.

“In Tanzania, when you go to a petrol station in Mwanza, it has the same price as you go to Dar-es-Salaam. However in Uganda, everybody has their price, are we in charge? How will we stop the exploitation of Ugandans,” she asked.

Ssewungu added that some big petrol dealers are reselling fuel to the small ones and people are making a lot of money.

“Fuel increases every month and it is almost Shs1,000 every month; by December, it could go to Shs12,000,” Ssewungu added.

Agago District Woman MP, Beatrice Akello Akori said countries like South Sudan and DRC Congo which also import fuel from the same inlets as Uganda have cheaper fuel prices and yet they have longer routes compared to Uganda.

This was in response to a statement by the officials from the Ministry of Energy that transport costs of bringing fuel to Uganda and subsidies in other countries make the cost of fuel look high.

Florence Kabugho, the Kasese District Woman Representative questioned why Ministry officials were saying fuel supply is stable and yet prices remain high.

The Permanent Secretary, Pauline Batebe said that their focus is to ensure a steady flow of fuel since the worst situation could be a total absence of fuel in the country.

According to Batebe, the Uganda National Oil Company has ordered for eight million litres using trade finance instruments with support from the finance ministry.

This is meant to support the industry efforts to have sufficient stocks in the country ahead of the upcoming Kenyan elections.

Uganda consumes about six million litres of fuel daily.

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Parliament okays Shs265 billion for Heart Institute

By
Our Reporter
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Officials from the Uganda Heart Institute appearing before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee

A request by the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) for a US$70 million (about Shs265 billion) loan for infrastructure development has received a nod from MPs on the Committee of Health.

UHI was allocated 10 acres of land at the upscale Naguru-Nakawa estate to establish a centre of cardiac excellence. The institute is currently located in Mulago hospital, where it occupies a single block.

The Executive Director, UHI, Dr John Omagino, interfaced with lawmakers on Wednesday, 13 July 2022 to justify the loan request and revealed that cardiovascular deaths are on the increase, hence the need for improved super specialised services.

“One in every four adults and an estimated 16,000 children every year has a heart related disease. Therefore, the demand for cardiovascular care is expected to grow,” said Omagino.

He added that out of the 16,000 children with heart-related diseases yearly, 400 stay on a waiting list, a challenge he said can be addressed if the new facility is developed.

“Worst scenario is when a mother calls at 3:00am and says the child who has been on that waiting list has passed away,” Omagino said.

According to Omagino, the institute has capacity to handle only 80 open heart surgeries yearly, but it is projected that with the new establishment, 500 open heart surgeries will be handled.

“There are only two committees standing in the way of approval of this loan, the health committee and Committee on National Economy. I doubt if other MPs will oppose this loan request,” he said.

Omagino also called for approval and operationalisation of a new human resource structure for the institute by September 2022, to enable UHI to attract and retain the super specialists in cardiology.

“Human resource remains at only 129 staff as approved 15 years ago. UHI has approved a structure which needs 700 staff. Public service Permanent secretary said no to our request and wrote back the most rude letter which to us, borders criminality,” said Omagino.

Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Dr Charles Ayume, assured the institute of the committee’s support, saying that the request will be delivered by the end of this year.

“Once the loan is approved, it is important to work in tandem with other stakeholders. We build hospitals and later realise that there is no electricity. We have seen this with Kawempe hospital. You need to start engaging the Ministry of Energy plus that of Water and Environment,” Ayume said.

Hon. Margaret Ayebare (NRM, Mbarara district) cited that the biggest challenge faced by UHI is the shortage of equipment and limited space, which can be addressed with the establishment of the new facility.

“What has brought the MPs here is to approve this loan that is what I want us to support as a committee. We need to take this more seriously. What is in the institute is bad – patients compete for beds – it is not that doctors cannot handle the patients,” she said.

Hon. Michael Bayiga (DP, Buikwe South) however warned against mismanagement of the loan, saying that Parliament has approved several loans which have not been properly utilised.

“We appreciate the need for the loan but the committee needs to be certain that the funds will be utilised,” he said.

Maracha East County MP, Hon. Ruth Lematia, said that the proposed centre of excellence will not only serve as a centre of excellence, but will also be the country’s souvenir.

“We are ready to approve the loan. I however request that emphasis is put on high standards of cleanliness are maintained at the Institute to avoid infections,” she said.

According to the project’s architectural work, the first phase of the construction is targeting 250 beds, and in five to seven years, the beds are expected to increase to 500, and subsequently to 1,000. 

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Court orders arrest of Shumuk

By
Our Reporter
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Shumuk

The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala has issued a warrant of arrest against businessman Shukla Shumuk Mukesh for failing to pay over Shs73 million in election petition costs to Nakawa West Member of Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi.

According to the warrant arrest issued on Wednesday July 13th by the court’s deputy registrar, every officer of the Uganda Police Force has been directed to ensure that Mr. Mukesh’s “arrest is done in a peaceful and lawful manner”.

“Whereas Mukeshi Shukla Babubhai was adjudged by the order of this court and ordered by a decree in election petition No. 009 of 2021 & MA 340 $ MA 561 of 2021 to pay the decree holder costs of the petition and the applications as sum of Shs 73,050,000, being the costs of the petition in execution,” reads part of the warrant.

“This is to direct you (Uganda Police) to arrest and bring the judgment debtor before this court with all convenience and speed unless the said sum is paid.”

“You are further commanded to return this warrant by 30th August 2022 with an endorsement certifying the day on which and the manner in which it has been executed or the reason why it has not been executed,” the arrest warrant adds.

It should be remembered that Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Justice Stephen Musota and Justice Christopher Gashirabake ordered Mukesh to pay the two respondents (EC and Ssenyonyi) half of their costs after losing his Appeal where he wanted Ssenyonyi’s victory canceled.

Justice Isaac Muwata of the High Court had earlier dismissed Mukesh’s petition at the High Court noting that even if he won the 8 polling stations where he claims that Ssenyonyi and the EC committed a lot of electoral offences, he wouldn’t have won the race.

Mukesh dragged Ssenyonyi to court after losing the Nakawa West Parliamentary elections on January 14th, 2021. Ssenyonyi who ran on NUP ticket won the polls with 30,847 votes. Mukesh came sixth after polling 806 votes.

Mukesh accused the respondents of committing offences of ballot stuffing by changing the electoral results and failing to sign the declaration of results forms with support from the Electoral Commission.

During the process of hearing his petition, Mukesh filed a number of applications which were also dismissed with costs.

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Mbire buys Shs2bn worth of shares in Bank of Baroda

By
Our Reporter
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Mr Charles Mbire

Telecommunications mogul Charles Mbire has acquired a huge stake in Bank of Baroda through a single purchase of 23,529,400 shares worth over Shs2 billion.

Mbire now adds banking to his long list of investments which include Telecommunications (MTN) which is currently trading on the Uganda Securities Exchange where he boasts of a 4 per cent share value worth over $55 million.

“To a man like Mbire, the acquisition of such a significant stake in Bank of Baroda can only be done after a careful evaluation of the global business trends. With that kind of shares, Mbire is probably the biggest individual shareholder at the Bank of Baroda,” an official at Uganda Securities Exchange who preferred anonymity said.

Mbire’s other investments include Logistics (FF), Revenue Assurance- Invesco, Oil services- (INVESCO), Tech, Real Estate and oil exploration.

Bank of Baroda Uganda is initially wholly owned by Bank of India. It is one of the most robust commercial banks in Uganda.

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Bobi Wine flags off 5000kgs of relief food items to Karamoja region

By
Our Reporter
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Bobi Wine flags off 5000kgs of relief food

The President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine has flagged off a consignment of 2500kgs of maize flour and 2500kgs of beans to Karamoja.

The flagging off of food items follows an outcry by the Karamoja region MPs over deaths of their constituents. The deaths are alluded to the hunger which came as a result of bad weather that has failed agriculture creating a food crisis.

“We have kick-started efforts to extend food relief to the people of Karamoja who are starving to death. We all know that millions of Ugandans are right now starving to death, although Karamoja is the worst hit so far. Gen. Museveni’s regime is only concerned about its survival and enrichment and not the welfare of the people,” Bobi Wine said.

“In a few weeks’ time, there will be reports that even the little money they are allocating to this relief has been stolen or diverted. That is why I want to encourage the people of Uganda to support these efforts in every small or big way to extend support to our people there. Let’s each do the little we can to save lives,” he added.

Faith Nakut, the Napak District Woman MP said although there have been responses by the Office of the Prime Minister to give food, more needs to be done.

“Unfortunately the quantity supplied was not reasonable to feed a family for a week. Each family got a kilogramme of beans and about three of posho. As we speak, there are thousands of people at risk.  It is shameful for an agriculture-rich country to have people dying because of a lack of food,” Nakut said.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja revealed that the government has provided Shs135 billion for food in Karamoja for three months.

“I want to assure you colleagues that over 200 metric tons of food has gone to Karamoja and we want to see how to secure Karamoja because as it stands now, Karamoja is still insecure,” she said.

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Sri Lanka president flees country amid political, economic crisis

By
Agencies
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Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled the country, hours before his promised resignation amid widespread protests over his handling of the country’s worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.

Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards flew on a Sri Lankan Air Force plane to Male, the capital of the Maldives, the Sri Lankan Air Force confirmed in a statement on Wednesday.

“Under the provisions of the Constitution and on a request by the government, the Sri Lanka Air Force provided a plane early today to fly the president, his wife and two security officials to the Maldives,” the statement said.

News agencies earlier reported the president’s departure for Male, citing unnamed government and immigration officials.

The president had said he would resign on Wednesday to make way for a unity government after tens of thousands of protesters stormed his official residence on Saturday, demanding he step down.

Rajapaksa, who helped end the country’s long-running civil war as defence secretary during his elder brother’s administration more than a decade ago, was elected president in 2019 promising security and stability.

But moves to cut taxes depleted government revenues and the country began running out of fuel, food and medicines because it could no longer afford to import them.

The president was accused of economic incompetence, and public opinion turned against both Gotabaya and the wider Rajapaksa family, who have dominated Sri Lankan politics for nearly 20 years. Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister in May after mass protests that began in March turned violent.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, accused of war crimes and other human rights abuses, had immunity from arrest while in office and had not been seen in public since Friday.

It is believed he wanted to go abroad before stepping down to avoid the possibility of being detained. The local branch of anti-corruption group Transparency International had filed a legal case to bar Gotabaya and five others, including his brother and former finance minister Basil, from leaving the country. It is due to be heard on July 14.

“It was a matter of time before the net closed in,” said Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez, who is in the capital Colombo. “Gotabaya Rajapaksa had tried all avenues [to leave] – the ports, airports – and was facing a push back from the people with reports even immigration officials were refusing to stamp passports.”

Sri Lanka’s parliament is due to hold a vote on choosing a new president on July 20, but on Tuesday was struggling to decide on a candidate for prime minister and who should be in the new government.

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Tourism, hospitality students to benefit under Students’ Loan Scheme

By
Our Reporter
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Students

Government under the Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) has opened up the Students’ Loan Scheme to students pursuing tourism and hospitality courses with effect from the 2022/2023 Academic Year.

“At the 30th meeting of the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) that sat on 31st March 2022, tourism and hospitality programmes were approved by the board to be supported under the Students’ Loan Scheme,” Michael O. Wanyama, the Executive Director of HESFB said.

At the same meeting, the Uganda hotel and tourism training institute, Jinja was approved to participate in the scheme.

The tourism and hospitality sector has been identified by the successive National Development plans including the current NDP3 and Vision 2040, as one of the fundamental pillars of Uganda’s economy and key growth drivers with the greatest multiplier effect. In the pre-pandemic season, the sector growth had hit as much as 7.3 per cent of GDP and 6.3 per cent of total employment.

Since inception, the board has been supporting mainly science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programmes, except for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who can undertake any programme of their choice under affirmative action. These include 3,606 Health and Medical professionals, over 3,600 in engineering and technology, 2,252 in science education, over 1000 in agriculture and over 2000 in other natural sciences.

The board has also been offering other humanities programmes targeting PWDs including Bachelors of Speech and Language Therapy, Bachelors of Education (Special Needs Education) and Bachelors of Teachers Education with Special Needs under affirmative action.

“We hope that with the support to training in the Tourism and Hospitality sector, Uganda as a country will be able to achieve the target contribution of tourism to total employment from 667,600 to 1,100,000 people as anticipated by the NDP3,” Wanyama explained.

“Following this release, Tourism and Hospitality programmes will be among the listed programmes in the oncoming call for Loan Applications to the AY2022/23.”

HESFB was established in February 2014 by an Act of Parliament HESFB Act No. 2 of 2014, with a mandate to provide Loans and Scholarships to Ugandan students to pursue Higher Education.

The board is intended to provide loans and scholarships to Ugandan students who have qualified to pursue accredited courses of study or programmes in the recognized Higher Education Institutions in Uganda but are unable to support themselves financially. HESFB implements the Students Loan Scheme.

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