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Stanbic Bank Graduate Programme excites Universities 

By
Our Reporter
-
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
-

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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Two President-Generals in one Cabinet, will it work this time?

By
Guest Writer
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DP President Norbert Mao

On the afternoon of July 21, 2022, I got a rare international phone call from Deutche Welle (The Voice of Germany/Sauti Ya Ujerumani) Swahili Service for an interview regarding the rare cooperation agreement that was signed between DP’s President General – Norbert Mao and General Yoweri Museveni. In his (Mao’s) speech after the agreement at the State House, his particular phrase aroused my attention. He said that he is coming in to contribute towards the transition without bloodshed, which I profoundly advise that it is populist attitude and a pretty idle fret since he cannot have the capacity, because he should have done this during the Lord’s Resistance Army bloody war in his Acholi sub region in the late 80s and 90s.

I knew Chairman Mao as one of Uganda’s legal high flyers while at Radio One’s Ekimeeza, at Club Obliggato, Old Port Bell road, Kampala in the early 2000s with the then Uganda other Greats namely: David Pulkol, Ekullo Epak, Ben Wacha, Prof. Latigo, Reagan Okumu, Richard Todwong, Betty Kamya Turomwe, Monica Amoding and others. Mao used to refer to himself as a hard-nosed negotiator. I was therefore not surprised by the mixed reactions to his appointment from the opposition to the Cabinet of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday, July 22, 2022.  

What can only be surprising to me is that the same DP President General, Mao when Museveni appointed some DP members to his Cabinet in 2016, Mao said “as the Igbo (a tribe in Nigeria) say no one gets a mouthful of food by picking between another person’s teeth”. His Vice President General, Mr. Mukasa Mbidde commended Museveni for appointing the opposition into his cabinet, but he sought that there should have been a prior dialogue between Museveni and the opposition leaders before “Cherry-picking” candidates.

I then concluded that politics surely reduces the minds of brilliant men to mediocrity and corrupts the integrity of upright men and women. I didn’t agree with these arguments because residential appointments (selections) are always shrouded in confidentiality, so having a dialogue as suggested by Mbidde then was out of the question.

I have been appalled by the negative reactions towards Mr. Mao’s appointment because I believe General Yoweri Museveni is again trying to embrace political harmony in his government especially after the demise of Late Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah, who was a unifier in Northern Uganda more particularly in the Acholi region. The appointing authority is attempting as much as possible to coalesce the support base from diminishing after the gap left by the Late Speaker. For me, given the president’s history with the opposition especially in the recent elections that indicated that the former won elections narrowly because of the newfound love with Acholi people and wants to continue balancing the equation after Buganda and Busoga reneged on his support in the 2021 elections. In spite of all the negativity, there has also been some positive feedback.

The president attempted or demonstrated the same spirit after the 2016 elections by bringing the then Uganda Federal Alliance’s (UFA) Betty Kamya who was appointed Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority, who excitedly commended that she was happy about being the opportunity to serve Uganda and help in the development of Kampala on top of Jimmy Akena’s spouse Betty Amongi who was then appointed as Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, then DP’s Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi as State Minister for Youths. This was seen as a step towards political amalgamation as they like chairman Mao all unfortunately promised to contribute towards the fast development of the country of Uganda but left without doing much.          

I conclude that politics surely reduces the minds of brilliant men to mediocrity and corrupts the integrity of upright men and women.

NABENDEH WAMOTO S.P. (0776-658433/0752-658433)

Email: simonwamoto@yahoo.co.uk

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WHO donates 2,400 monkeypox test kits to Uganda

By
Our Reporter
-

The World Health Organization-WHO has donated PCR kits to test 2,400 samples for Monkeypox in Uganda.

Receiving the test kits in Kampala on Tuesday, the Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the donation from WHO will strengthen the monkeypox testing in the country.

“I would like to appreciate WHO for this generous contribution. We don’t have any case of Monkeypox in Uganda. However, as the country boarders DRC, we need to be prepared, strengthen our surveillance system and make sure cases are urgently identified and treated,” Aceng said.

“This is a good step in preventing the disease in the country after Monkeypox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, 2022.”

WHO Representative to Uganda, Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, said; “This PCR kits we are donating today will strengthen Uganda’s capacity to test for Monkeypox in the country. WHO is committed to providing ongoing technical assistance to strengthen surveillance, risk communication, lab capacity, and training of Health workers.”

To-date, the country has carried out 70 tests which all turned negative.

WHO also accredited three labs to carry out the testing. These include the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), National Health Laboratory Services, and the Department of Defence of the US government (in the country).

Previously, Uganda was sending samples to South Africa for monkeypox testing because of the lack of reagents.

Monkeypox starts manifesting with flu-like symptoms, fever, headache and shortness of breath. After around two weeks, the skin rash appears on some parts of the body, usually the head and hands. The rash eventually turns into blisters filled with pus, according to information from the WHO.

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Cheptegei doubtful for Commonwealth Games

By
Our Reporter
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Joshua Cheptegei in the 5000m Olympics race

Ugandan long distance runner and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei remains a serious doubt to take part in the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after sustaining an injury in the 5000m final in Oregon on Monday morning.

Cheptegei swept to gold in 10,000m at the just-concluded 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon but finished in ninth position in the 5,000m final race where Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo came third, winning bronze.

His coach Benjamin Njia suggested the athlete was beset by a troublesome tendon during the race; however, the UAF statement stated that the injury was not as grave.

At the 2018 Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Cheptegei won the 5000m gold during the finals.

With no official communication yet, The-SportsNation reports that Cheptegei has opted to take a rest instead and may not be able to defend his 5000m crown. It adds that he feels his body is not ready to perform in Birmingham and hence needs more rest ahead of a big schedule ahead.

In addition, three Uganda athletes – Halimah Nakaayi, Winnie Nanyondo and Tarsis Orogot – may miss the games due to Visa Issues.

Uganda will be represented in eleven disciplines including athletics, boxing, netball, rugby, badminton, wrestling, squash, table tennis, swimming and cycling.

The commonwealth games start tomorrow Thursday 28th of July to the 8th of August 2022 in Birmingham City, UK.

Uganda’s Athletics team in Birmingham:

Men: Abu Mayanja Salim (1500m), Haron Adoli (400m), Victor Kiplangat (Marathon), Tom Dradriga (800m), Jacob Kiplimo (5000m, 10,000m) and Emmanuel Otim (1500m)

Women: Linet Chebet Toroitich (Marathon), Sarah Chelangat (5000m), Peruth Chemutai (3000m Steeplechase), Stella Chesang (5000m, 10,000m), Jacent Nyamahunge (100m, 200m), Shida Leni (400m), Scovia Ayikoru (200m, 400m), and Rachael Zena Chebet (5000m, 10,000m).

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U.S. Representative to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield to visit Uganda next week

By
Our Reporter
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Linda Thomas-Greenfield

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Uganda between August 4th to 6th.

The U.S. mission to UN said in statement; “The U.S. Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Uganda and Ghana August 4-6 to discuss the U.S. and global response to the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on global food security, as well as other regional and bilateral priorities.”

In Uganda, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will continue discussions with government and civil society leaders about the importance of strong and inclusive democratic institutions, respect for human rights, and the promotion of peace, stability, and economic growth.

She will also discuss bilateral and regional security issues, and Uganda’s commitment to welcoming and supporting refugees.

Her visit to Uganda comes just days after Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov visited the country and held talks with President Museveni.

In Ghana, a key partner in the UN Security Council, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will meet with government and civil society leaders to discuss bilateral and regional security and political dynamics. She will visit the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center to highlight the role of peacekeepers in international security.

Additionally, the Ambassador will meet with peacebuilders and traditional leaders working to strengthen community resilience, build social cohesion, and counter terrorism and violent extremism.  

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield will also deliver a speech in Ghana on the global food security crisis, and she will meet with farmers and civil society representatives who are contributing to food security and inclusive economic growth.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield is an American diplomat who is the United States ambassador to the United Nations under President Joe Biden. She served as the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2013 to 2017.

President Biden nominated her to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and she was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23, 2021. She took office after presenting her credentials on February 25, 2021.

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Mother, son arrested over husband’s murder

By
Our Reporter
-

Police in Ntungamo District with the help of K9 Unit, has arrested a woman and her son for the murder of her husband.

The deceased has been identified as Tiwangye Appolo, a resident of the same area.

According to the Rwizi Region police spokesperson, Kasasira Samson, upon receiving the report, a team of officers from Homicide with the help of the K9 unit responded and cordoned off the scene.

“The team introduced the police sniffer dog jaguar which picked the scent and tracked for a distance of one kilometre on a hill and led the officers to the home of the deceased’s second wife identified as Arinaitwe Agnes.”

“A search was instituted and the phone belonging to the deceased was recovered with blood stains,” Kasasira said.

It has been established that the couple had a long-standing domestic wrangle. Arinaitwe and her son were arrested to help with investigations.

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UBL commissions ablution block, Luzira community facility worth Shs191m

By
Our Reporter
-

Uganda Breweries has handed over a kitchen facility to traders in the Portbell shopping centre and a modern ablution block for residents of Kamwanyi village both in Luzira.

The ablution block will be serving approximately 2,000 people in the Kamwanyi community while the Kitchen has a capacity of 24 stoves, 24 cabinets and 24 concrete slabs. Construction of these facilities commenced in May 2022.

Uganda Breweries’ society 2030 sustainability action plan charts aim towards a sustainable and inclusive world by 2030, creating a purpose-driven business. Part of the initiatives under the action is ‘Water of Life,’ that covers UBL’s work in replenishing and enhancing access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in communities in Uganda.

The ablution facility that aims at improving access to water and sanitation among the residents of Kamwanyi contains toilets with water supply, a hand washing area as well as a bathroom that the community members will readily access 24/7. It comprises of a urinal section, 2 male toilets, 1 bathroom, 1 male seat-toilet for disabled persons, 2 female toilets, 1 bathroom and lastly 1 female seat-toilet for disabled persons.

Speaking during the commissioning of the ablution block, Uganda Breweries Supply Chain Director, Alfred Balikagira expressed the brewery’s pleasure and commitment to continue giving back to various communities in different parts of Uganda that are in dire need of proper toilets and bathrooms.

“As a good corporate citizen, we always find ways to share value and benefits with the communities in which we operate,” Alfred said. “After engaging with the leaders here and the community at large, we established a need to improve access to clean water and sanitation, and we decided to fund it.”

The chief guest Hon. Minsa Kabanda, Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, thanked UBL for the continuous support in improving the levels of sanitation in various areas around the suburbs of Kampala and beyond.

“We laud UBL for demonstrating consistent progress in building thriving communities through the sustainability and corporate social responsibility work.” Kabanda said.
She urged traders at the market to ensure that they take good care of the new kitchen facility they’ve acquired and also strive to make sure that it remains clean.

“People want to eat food that has been cooked from a modern and clean kitchen. It is therefore our responsibility as the traders to ensure that you maintain good hygiene of the kitchen facility as well as the market in general. I also urge the community members that received the toilet facility to maintain good hygiene standards in order to avoid outbreak of diseases.” Kabanda added.

Alfred thanked the leadership from the district local government and Kampala metropolitan ministry that always helps them in identifying the communities in need. He also thanked the local leaders of the area who engaged their communities to form ‘User Committees’ that consist of at least 50% representation of women, whose role is to support project implementation and, importantly, sustainably manage the project after it has been handed over.

“I must say that it is always a joy for us as Uganda Breweries to bring such impact like access to safe and clean water, sanitation and hygiene in the city. These developments are aligned with our Society 2030 goals which partly is to deliver significantly improved water availability and quality in our local communities. I also thank the local leadership in this area for giving their time to serve the people in this community and also working closely with the team from Uganda Breweries. We look forward to more of these partnerships in the future,” Balikagira said.

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