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Gov’t urged to fast-track laws that shield consumers from unfair trade practices

By
Simon Kabayo
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officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives led by State Minister for Industries, Hon David Bahati

Legislators on the Committee of Trade, Tourism and Industry have urged government to draft Consumer Protection and Competition bills to shield consumers and traders from deceptive and unfair trade practices.

While meeting officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives led by State Minister for Industries, Hon David Bahati and State Minister for Cooperatives, Hon Frederick Ngobi Gume over the Budget Framework Paper for FY 2022/23 on Wednesday, 19 January 2022, the MPs tasked the Ministry to fast-track the two critical bills to protect consumers from substandard products and facilitate smooth trade by protecting traders or companies from an unnecessary competition.

The Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon Francis Mwijukye demanded that the Ministry of Trade speeds up the process of drafting the two trade bills. He however, expressed fears that good laws are passed but not implemented despite the line ministers providing certificates of financial implication.

“What happened to the Consumer Protection Bill? We now have many fake products on the market some of which are certified by UNBS. We need to push for this legislation to protect our people from consuming harmful products,” Mwijukye said.

Minister Bahati concurred on the need to prioritise the consumer protection and competition bills. He promised to bring the two bills to Parliament as soon as possible.

“We are going to move very fast to ensure that we sort out this issue of the consumer protection law. But also, we want to bring new regulations and laws that will rejuvenate the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” Bahati said adding that, “supply of substandard goods and non-value added products is the reason Uganda’s exports are struggling to access international markets”.

Hon. David Mugole Mauku (NRM, Kabweri County) committed to bring a private member’s bill for the same if government does not speed up the process.

The Executive Director, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), David Livingstone Ebiru welcomed the proposal to introduce the two bills and pledged total support.

“The competition bill is equally important because there is an unfair competition within sectors and we have been encouraging UMA to organise manufacturers into associations to encourage voluntary compliance. We should be each neighbours’ guardian otherwise there will be unfair competition,” Ebiru said.

He rallied the committee to support their request of Shs12 billion in 2022/23 to the regulatory body to recruit additional 200 staff to among others monitor and enforce quality standards in markets and factory outlets and also man borders.

The trade and industry sector has been allocated a budget ceiling of Shs154.4 billion which according to Bahati is substantially low to enable the realisation of the sector’s mandate. The Ministry wants an additional funding of Shs498.3 billion to spur the country to rapid development.

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AS Kigali unveil Mike Mutebi as their Head Coach

By
Our Reporter
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Mike Mutebi (centre)

Former KCCA FC head coach Mike Hillary Mutebi has been unveiled as the new manager at Rwandan side AS Kigali on a two year contract.

He will be assisted by his compatriot Jackson Mayanja.

“We are delighted to announce Mike Mutebi as our new Head coach from Today. The experienced Ugandan coach will be assisted by his compatriot Jackson Mayanja in next two years,” a statement from AS Kigali read.

Prior to their unveiling, the pair attended the club’s league game against Bugesera FC on the very evening which ended 1-2 in AS Kigali’s favor.

Mutebi replaces Jimmy Mulisa who has been in charge of the side on interim basis.

The club is currently 3rd on the 16-team log of the Rwanda National Football League with 23 points after 13 games played.

Mutebi won four StarTimes Uganda Premier League titles, the Stanbic Uganda Cup twice plus the CECAFA Kagame Cup in 2020 before he was relieved of his duties in March 2021.

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UNAIDS Director of Innovation receives prestigious Social Innovators of the Year award

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Pradeep Kakkattil

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has announced that the Director of Innovation at UNAIDS, Pradeep Kakkattil, has been awarded a 2022 Social Innovators of the Year award. Mr Kakkattil received the prestigious award for his work in creating the Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), a platform that links innovators, governments and investors and finds solutions to global health-care problems, from COVID-19 diagnosis to the cost of medicines.

“Today, one in every two people around the world don’t have access to basic health care, which is why social innovations and technologies are so critical to scale up services and address the ever-widening inequalities in access to health care,” said Mr Kakkattil.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, innovators and communities have demonstrated the potential of human ingenuity in responding to health challenges. By bringing health system actors to work closely with innovators and communities, HIEx has been able to fast-track the adoption of innovations and facilitate investments for scaling up innovations that particularly address the needs of the most vulnerable.

“HIV and COVID-19 have shown the price the world has to pay if we ignore investing in resilient health systems,” added Mr Kakkattil. “HIEx contributes to build trust between the public and private sectors to help identify challenges and rapidly implement proven technologies and innovations to maximize health impact.”

The announcement was made on the second day of the World Economic Forum’s Davos Agenda 2022, a virtual forum bringing global leaders together to focus on shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Mr Kakkattil was among 15 Social Innovators of the Year awardees, who included a Brazilian entrepreneur using hip-hop to turn favela youth away from crime, a Dutch nurse revolutionizing home health care and a park ranger turned tech founder using Minecraft to revive Australia’s indigenous culture.

“The Social Innovators of the Year 2022 represent a new ecosystem of leaders who are driving change and shifting organizations and systems towards a more just, inclusive, sustainable future,” said Hilde Schwab, co-founder and Chairperson of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

The foundation was created in 1998 by Klaus and Hilde Schwab to support a new model for social change, combining the values of mission, compassion and dedication with the best business principles to serve the most disadvantaged and build a better society. For the past 20 years, the foundation has supported the world’s leading social entrepreneurs in their efforts to create a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

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UDB appoints Francis Mwesigye as its Chief Economist

By
Simon Kabayo
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Francis Mwesigye

The Uganda Development Bank (UDB) has appointed Dr. Francis Mwesigye as its Chief Economist.

“Join us as we welcome Dr. Francis Mwesigye to the Uganda Development Bank Limited family,” UDB tweeted on Thursday, 20 January 2022.

Prior to his appointment, Dr Mwesigye has been a Senior Research Fellow at Economic Policy Research Centre.

As the Chief Economist of UDB, he is tasked with coordinating and/or generation of knowledge, research and analytical works to inform operational and public policy. He will be responsible for policy dialogues with various policy organs on behalf of the Bank.

UDB is a Development Finance Institution (DFI) focused on accelerating socio-economic development through sustainable financial interventions in line with the country’s development priorities. This is through providing innovative financial solutions with emphasis on value chain development in different sectors.

Dr Mwesigye holds a PhD and Master’s Degree in Policy Analysis, specialising in Development Economics, from National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan; and B.A. in Economics from Makerere University.

He has experience in development impact evaluation, policy engagement and dialogue among others. Dr Mwesigye has led research teams and undertaken collaborative projects and works with researchers and policy practitioners in Uganda and internationally. His research has been published in international peer reviewed journals and presented in high level Fora.

Dr Mwesigye is member of Uganda National Young Academy —where he serves on the executive committee, Uganda Economics Association (UEA), African Growth and Development Policy Modelling Consortium (AGRODEP), African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), and Network of Excellence on Land Governance (NELGA), among others.

He is also a Global Fellow at the Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO), and has consulted for a number of organizations such as the World Bank, UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), UNWOMEN, and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), among others.

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UBL announces Shs2.1 billion for bars ahead of full reopening of the economy

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has announced Shs 2.1 billion as a stimulus package for bars ahead of the full reopening of the economy. The funds are geared towards the purchase of materials for space enhancement.

The support, phased over two years, is being extended under the auspices of the Raising the Bar program, an initiative championed by flagship brand, Bell Lager.

The UBL Acting Managing Director, Eunice Waweru said that as a business, they applaud and support the government’s preparedness and response efforts to COVID-19 thus far.

She said that the Raising the Bar initiative is the Brewery’s effort to work in tandem with the government to support efforts to raise the capacity of bars and enable them to adapt new practices to operate safely following the decision to fully reopen the economy.

“Many bar businesses are in distress following the prolonged period of closure as a result of COVID-19 containment measures. We find it imperative to come in to ease the burden of yet another unprecedented financial shock through Raising the Bar, a program through which we are extending support to enable the safe reopening of bar businesses once Government restrictions are lifted,” she said.

A total of 1,600 bars from Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono have been selected to benefit from the program and will benefit from funding covering space and hygiene enhancement support, provision of awareness training for bars, recreational facilities and similar establishment personnel in the requisite knowledge, social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures that are important in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission in establishments that carry Uganda Breweries Products.

“We are going to fund and equip bars in preparation to welcome customers back to the bar safely. This will be done through funding the provision of physical sanitizing points, mobile bars and additional outdoor seating to allow for the desired social distancing and sensitize bar owners and staff on how to adapt their operations to the current times post pandemic. We have the utmost confidence that this program will help bars reopen safely and minimize risk of infection to customers and staff,” said Emmy Hashakimana, Marketing and Innovations Director, Uganda Breweries.

In addition, Uganda Breweries in partnership with Ministry of Health and Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA), is also organizing a mass COVID-19 vaccination drive targeted at bar staff, consumers and the general public at various bars and hospitality venues spread across Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.

“Whereas there has been a fair uptake of COVID-19 vaccines resulting in over 12 million doses being administered countrywide, many people still have not received their second dose or are due for booster shots. We call upon bar staff and consumers to turn up in large numbers and get vaccinated to create a safe environment ahead of reopening,” Ms. Waweru said.

Uganda Breweries last year championed efforts to scale up accessibility to vaccines for the general population by extending vaccination to hospitality venues and mass vaccination events bringing on-board various partners from the private sector and cultural institutions including the Buganda Kingdom.

“We appreciate Uganda Breweries for strengthening the national health response to the pandemic in a strong way through mass vaccination drives last year which received an overwhelming response from the public. These vaccination venues will improve access to vaccines bringing services closer to the people. I encourage the public to get vaccinated as a sure way to contain the pandemic,” said Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health.

The vaccination drive kicked off at Legends bar and restaurant and will run for 14 days. The exercise will be open to everyone receiving first, second and booster shots, however bar staff and patrons are strongly encouraged to participate. Venues will be announced in due course.

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Capital Markets Authority’s Shs6.4bn budget approved

By
Our Reporter
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Keith Kalyegira CEO of CMA

MPs on the finance committee have approved the Shs6.4 billion budget for the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) for the Financial Year 2022/2023.

Led by the Minister of State Finance (Planning), Hon Amos Lugoloobi, the CMA leadership appeared before the committee on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 to present the authority’s budget priorities for the Financial Year 2022/2023.

The authority cited a budget shortfall of Shs963 million, arising from underfunded priorities including; investor and issuer outreach programmes which requires an additional Shs583 million. 

The authority further requested additional funding of Shs220 million for nationwide media campaigns and Shs160 million for stakeholder engagements.  

Committee vice chairperson, Hon Jane Pacuto, called on her counterparts to support the authority’s plea to ensure that government covers the underfunded priorities, especially public education programmes. 

She argued that public education as a mandate of the authority is key to its success. 

“CMA is not a simple subject and we need to be educated and when we are educated and aware, then we shall appreciate and make their work easy. This committee should avail funds for them to do much more than they are doing now,” said Pacuto. 

She also encouraged the authority to attract listings from more companies, saying that this will ensure the availability of more resources for both the private and public sectors. 

“We need to reduce on external borrowing which has become more commercial to save this country,” Pacuto said. 

Hon Paul Omara (Indep. Otuke County) said that the CMA’s performance in the last financial year is remarkable and it justifies the budget request, but advised the authority to focus on mobilising corporate bonds to enable the private sector to access equity funding. 

“Government is borrowing a lot of money from commercial banks at very high rates. You should mobilise some of these funds, so that we can rely on domestic savings,” Omara said. 

Bungokho Central MP, Hon Richard Wanda,  urged the authority to develop strategies aimed at countrywide awareness of its mandate. 

“Many Ugandans might be interested in engaging with the authority but they do not understand what you do. The public education is only concentrated in the capital city – this should spread to all parts of the country,” he said. 

The CMA Executive Director, Keith Kalyegira, said that the authority requires Shs167 million to conduct public education activities. 

“The authority needs funding to move around the country and sensitise people through radio and television programmes on the opportunities available in the capital markets for both potential investors and potential issuers,” he said. 

He added that the public education outreaches will help grow the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) and Assets Under Management to Shs2 trillion. 

“CMA will popularise the use of CIS as a viable saving option for the population. A significant pool of CIS assets will provide an alternative pool of savings for government borrowing, freeing up banks to focus on lending to the real economy,” Kalyegira said. 

He added that CMA expects to collect Shs1.2 billion of Non-Tax Revenue in the Financial Year 2022/2023, which will primarily be on account of the increased trading attributed to the new listings. 

“We expect Airtel telecommunications to list on the securities exchange in the next financial year,” said Kalyegira.

He revealed that the listing of MTN telecommunications has doubled the domestic market capitalisation at the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) by Shs4.6 trillion, following the 06 December 2021 commencement of trading of the company’s shares on the Uganda bourse.

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PPDA instructs Makerere University to cancel bidding for main building

By
Our Reporter
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ivory tower burnt

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) has instructed Makerere University to cancel bidding for the restoration and construction of the main building, Ivory Tower.

“In accordance with Section 89 (5) of the PPDA (Amendment) Act 2021 and Regulations 17 and 18 of the PPDA (Tribunal) (Procedure) Regult-ttions, 2016, YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO SUSPEND ANY FURTHER ACTION ON THIS PROCUREMENT PROCESS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EXTENSION OF BID VALIDITY AND SECURITIES where required,” a letter from PPDA reads.

The Tribunal received an application for Administrative Review from VCON CONSTRUCTION (U) LTD.

“This is to request you to submit to the Tribunal, not later than January 19, 2022 the entire procurement action file, which should include the following documents for review: The invitation for bids to the various bidders, Bid proposals submitted by the bidders, Copy of the detailed bidding document issued to the bidders, Record of issue and receipt of bids, All forms related to this procurement, The evaluation report and minutes of the Evaluation Committee, Contracts Committee minutes for this procurement and All correspondence and any other documentation related to this,” it adds.

Fire gutted the Ivory Tower around 11:30 pm on September 19th, 2020. It was suspected that it started from Room 315 which was also the University Bursar’s office.

Upon construction, the management of the university was tasked to ensure that all CCTV cameras in the building are fully functional and monitored from the central surveillance room at all times.

According to the new plan, the main hall which was not affected by the fire will remain. However, it will be refurbished and equipped with modern technologies.

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Shot traffic police officer’s leg amputated

By
Geoffery Serugo
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A Police Constable (PC) Robert Mukebezi, a traffic officer who was shot at by a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Corporal Babangida Bashir Mango has been amputated.

The Police officer was amputated yesterday at UMC Victoria hospital after it emerged that the bullets shattered his major artery.

“We have tried open surgery, or less-invasive options, such as sealing the ruptured artery from within the blood vessel but it was captured by the bullets,” a doctor told a local news outlet.

According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the traffic officer was shot at on 16th January 2020 while on duty at Kira road division. The officers had responded to a traffic incident involving a military vehicle under reg. number H4DF 1391, that veered off the road and rammed into a sign post.

During the process of transferring the accident motor vehicle to the police for further inspection, a military response team also approached the scene in another vehicle, under registration number, H4DF 922, that was commanded by Major Okua Alpha.

Unfortunately, one of his officers, identified as Corporal Babangida Bashir Mango, drew out his gun then shot and injured the traffic officer. The suspect eventually abandoned his gun at Bukasa village and is on the run.

He is however, wanted on charges of attempted murder and obstruction of an officer on lawful duty.

“We are jointly searching for him with the military police and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). We do strongly condemn such acts of impunity and abuse of authority, because there was no justification at all for the use of a firearm. We wish to remind all security officers that our strength and integrity is derived from our degree of individual excellence, Enanga Said.

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Muruli Mukasa named Acting Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Public Service Minister, Muruli Mukasa.

The Minister for Public Service Muruli Mukasa has been appointed the Acting Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. According to the letter 13th January 2021, Mr. Mukasa was named by President Yoweri Museveni.

According to the Cabinet list released last year, the president didn’t appoint the minister for justice and constitutional affairs, a position which was last occupied by Ephraim Kamuntu.

“You Know I have not appointed substantive Minister for justice and Constitutional Affairs. Therefore by the powers given to president by article 98 (1)  and 99 (1) of the constitution, I assign Muruli Mukasa to be the Acting minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs in addition to his role as minter for Public Service,” Museveni said in a letter to the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.

Wilson Muruli Mukasa has been Cabinet Minister of Public Service in the Ugandan Cabinet since 6 June 2016. He previously served as Cabinet Minister of Gender and Social Issues from 1 March 2015, until 6 June 2016.

He served as Minister of Security from 27 May 2011 until 1 March 2015. Muruli Mukasa also served as the Member of Parliament for Budyebo County in Nakasongola District.

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Gov’t on the spot over failure to stock national oil reserves amid escalating fuel crisis

By
Simon Kabayo
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Members of Parliament have quizzed officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over the skyrocketing fuel prices in the country.

Members of Parliament have quizzed officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development over the skyrocketing fuel prices in the country.

The MPs on the Committee of Finance believe that the ongoing fuel crisis would have been averted if the county’s oil reserves were full.

Apparently, the Oil and Gas sector is among the unfunded priorities in Financial Year 2022/23 and the Finance Ministry is seeking additional funding of Shs48 billion to capitalize Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) to execute its mandate as an investment arm of government in oil and gas industry.

“The economy is partially open but the fuel prices are shooting up. In other places, fuel goes for Shs6000 to Shs7000 and in the oil city [Hoima] things are worse,” said Mbale Industrial Division MP, Hon Karim Masaba.

He added that, ’this is so because the Ministry of Finance has not prioritised filling up its oil reserves and we are now feeling the effect of high fuel prices’.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Hon Keefa Kiwanuka said that one of the officials from UNOC recently told the Committee that Uganda’s oil reserves are empty. He said that refilling the country’s oil reserves could solve the ongoing spike in fuel prices.

Officials from the Finance Ministry led by State Minister for General Duties, Hon Henry Musasizi were on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 presenting their Budget Framework Paper for 2022/23. The Ministry is requesting for Shs15.4 trillion for treasury operations.

The Minister of State for Planning, Hon Amos Lugoloobi assured the Committee that the Government is handling the challenge of fuel in the country that arose from a policy to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“This problem is at the heart of the Government. Yesterday, it was heavily discussed and today we expect a final position on this matter. It’s just a disruption about the entry of trucks from the border but once those trucks are released and the current policy problem is addressed, then fuel will flow,” Lugoloobi said.

Hon Anthony Akol (FDC, Kilak North County) questioned the Government’s capacity to handle this fuel crisis if it persisted for long.

“Our concern isn’t just about the disruption. Our concern is the country’s preparedness to handle a crisis for just a few days. What if the crisis went on for months? Why are we failing to handle the oil reserves so that in future we do not have such a crisis? Akol wondered.

Lugoloobi reassured the Committee of UNOC’s plans to construct more oil tanks to reserve oil, a move that incensed Hon Masaba who wondered why the Government wants to build more oil reserves yet the current reserves are empty.

Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi (NUP, Butambala County) criticised the Finance Ministry for failing to align the country’s priorities.

“As a leading ministry, how can you fail to budget for the oil sector which is a key game changer in the economy? You are waiting to come to Parliament at any given time with a supplementary to blackmail us. Oil is a priority and you have not funded it. Are we serious about oil? Kivumbi asked.

The Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi argued that whereas they are committed to fully operationalise the oil and gas sector, they are majorly constrained by the resource envelope.

“As a budgeting ministry, we want oil out of the ground but we are constrained with time, resources and physical space to do everything. We stated clearly that our intention was to increase allocation remittances and to define priorities,” he said adding that, ’our overall priorities are to kick start the full monetization of the economy by encouraging every Ugandan to be part of the economy,” Ggoobi said.

Ggoobi appealed to Parliament to help the Finance Ministry to re-purpose and realign budgetary priorities to ensure that all votes are budgeted in such a way that their activities are achievable.

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