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Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle consecrated as the 3rd Bishop of Nebbi Diocese

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle

The Rt. Rev. Pons Ozelle was yesterday consecrated and enthroned as the 3rd Bishop of Nebbi Diocese at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Goli.

The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba presided over the service and thousands of Christians flocked to Goli, as well as many local and international partners.

Bishop Ozelle replaces Rt. Rev. Alphonse Watho-Kudi who died on January 10, 2021 in Arua Regional Referral Hospital. Archbishop Kaziimba dedicated the cathedral and prayed for the completion of the new Cathedral so the new Bishop could be seated there in the new cathedral (Bishop’s Chair).

The Rt. Rev. Professor Alfred Olwa, Bishop of Lango Diocese, preached from Isaiah 61:1-8. He declared that the Spirit of the Lord had called and anointed Bishop Pons to preach the good news of Jesus at this time in history, especially in Nebbi.

The newly consecrated Bishop Pons Ozelle based his Charge on the same passage from Isaiah 61, summarized as “Restoration through Jesus Christ from whom tangible healing, repair, and hope will come.”

In light of the challenges Bishop Pons pledged to see that all churches in the diocese get Land titles, promote SACCOs and tree planting at both household and institutional levels, education, especially retaining Primary Teacher Training Colleges in the Diocese and upgrading clergy education and finish the Cathedral.

The Vice President of Uganda, Jessica Aluppa, represented His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda. She pledged the support of the government as a development partner and presented a new car to the Bishop to facilitate his movements in the Diocese.

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Ethiopia’s Abiy has ashamed Africa

By
Guest Writer
-
Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed

The Executive Board
World Health Orgarnization
Geneva

DR. ABIY AHMED’S LETTER AGAINST DR.TEDROS ADHAMON IS VERY MALICIOUS AND ANTI-HUMAN AND ANTI-AFRICAN.

Pan Africa Forum (UK) Ltd on behalf of millions of silent majority in Africa and the entire world wishes to state that Ethiopian Government led by Dr.Ahmed Abiy has embarrassed us in this new era of global affairs . call upon Dr.Abiy Ahmed to immediately withdraw his letter to Executive Board of WHO within 7 days from today or we shall initiate a SERIES of law suits in Old Bailey and other unspecified lobby campaign against him as an individual including taking a legal route in Britain against his extra judicial killings he has overnighted upon in Ethiopia.

Today on behalf of my organisation I want to address Dr. Abiy Ahmed from the highest rostrum of Pan-Africanism, the same podium that the most valiant scions of Africa stood as they impelled the indefatigable winds of independence and crushed the evil and diabolic shackles of colonialism.

I will not take to the pews of conformity when Africa is being embarrassed at the international stage, it will be immoral to do so. This same activists of George Soros brand that created a war in a country that had good GDP inbthe region must be exposed as an ethnic bigot who killed the dream of our founding fathers.

In the happenstance of his sordid letter dated 13th January 2022 (which copy I have) I believe Menelik II, Haile Selassie, Kwame Nkurumah, Ahmed Sékou Touré, Mwalimu Dr.Obote , Nasser Julius Nyerere and many other gallant sons of Africa could be turning in their graves with spasms of shame, ignominy and repugnance at the sight of it and its inglorious call on the World Health Organization to dismiss Dr. Tedros Adhanom.

Dr. Abiy Ahmed might have had acrimony with Dr. Tedros Adhanom, that’s normal for brothers. But to turn to the cheapjack tactic of clamouring for Dr. Tedros sacking at WHO was a new low for a man of his stature. It shows how he invited Eritrean troops from another mad man of Africa to kill Tigray people .

What Dr Abiy Ahmed has done is more of a terrorist act not if a civilised Noble Prize winner . Didn’t Ngugí Wa Thíong’o in his books warn us Africans that, “The old oil skin of the house is not to be smeared on the back of strangers.” Dr. Abiy should have sought amicable ways to settle his scores with Dr. Tedros as ab Ethiopian , within personal confines.

I want to candidly tell,Dr. Abiy Ahmed that if it is the hatred because of the war in Tigray he should have realised what it has taken Africans and Ethiopians plus the entire region to be where we are today,at all costs, peace must not be derailed.

I will implore the words of Sun Tzu,in the book ‘Art Of War’, that greatest victory is that which requires no battle and that there is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare. Ethiopia needs to heal and walk down the road of reconstruction.

As Africans at large, we have to realize that the position Dr. Tedros holds is of privilege to the continent if only could be explored accordingly. They say a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Currently, the closer we have come to the UN High table is through a non- permanent, rotational UNSC slot.

Therefore, Let’s cherish and protect what we have, we cannot afford to pull down our brothers from the international stage. It’s uncouth and Un-African to do so.

I believe that thevGeorge Soros type of activism has destroyed the reasoning capacity of Dr.Abiy .The crab story is what I want to use here . Most fishermen know that if you catch crabs, you do not need to cover the basket, container or basin where you put them if they’re more than one. Just leave the basket open because once one of them starts to climb out, the others will drag it back down.

Dr.Abiy has behaved like in the story of a crab in a basket. The biggest let down in Africa is the crab Mentality which simply refers to the behaviour of crabs in the basket. The crabs could easily escape one after another but they pull down each other and prevent anyone from escaping and in the process collectively continue to suffer and ultimately get eaten.

In Africa, this has been a norm entrenched in all strata of society. The loathsome behavior of pulling down those who have ascended the ladder of success, unless we move away from the retrogressive Crab Mentality, Africa cannot progress.

As I hit the homestretch, I would like to call upon the African Union (AU ) and the entire African leaders to denounce the letter and call upon all Africans to condemn such anti -African behaviour.

I also remind PM Dr.Abiy Ahmed that the dusts of Ethiopian- Tigray war are yet to settle. Trying to scratch on the wounds that could reignite the conflict is a perilous path, he must desist from cherry picking on prominent Tigrayans.

I happen to know Dr.Tedros Adhanom from London in 80’s and early 90s when we worked together with the late Zenawi in Ethiopian Relief organisation that was based in London supported by the British Government. I was the Vice -Chairman of the London based UCRA , (Uganda Community Relief Assocciation).I can without fear that Dr.Tedros Adhanom is a Pan African and the Executive Board of WHO should not listen to the tribal bigotry of Dr.Abiy .

Lastly I want to tell Dr.Abiy that he should rethink his actions and recall the letter and allow the other African to work in the position of WHO. What Dr.Abiy must know that what he has done is a gnarly path that might implode the entire nation, just like Chinua Achebe once said,”He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.”

Let Ethiopia urgently withdraw the letter.

GOD BLESS AFRICA

Dr.David Nyekorach -Matsanga

Founder/Chairman

PAN AFRICAN FORUM (UK)LTD

DATED 15th January 2022

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Government to resume licensing of new external labour exporters

By
Our Reporter
-
Migrant workers

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has said processing of new recruitment licenses will resume on 1st February 2022.

The government imposed a moratorium on licensing of new companies in April of 2019 in order to address some of the challenges in the externalization of labour programe.

Since then a number of measures have been undertaken to address some of the gaps.

Among them they has been the revision of the law culminating in to the Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan migrant workers) Regulations, 2021, statutory instrument No. 47 of 2021, which came into effect on 13th August 2021.

“During the cabinet meeting which approved the lifting of the suspension of issuance of licenses for new companies, the ministry was advised to consider establishment of shelters to enable us handle cases of Ugandans in distress or who have had their rights violated and also institute effective monitoring measures, especially in Saudi Arabia and UAE to curb persistent outery from Ugandans in those countries. This is in progress,” the ministry’s Permanent secretary, Aggrey David Kibenge said.

“Using resources from the non-tax revenues generated, we intend to deploy up to three labour attachès to reinforce our embassies in destination countries and ensure that our migrants are safe, more and better jobs secured, and those in distress are provided the necessary support they need,” he said.

The ministry embarked on the signing and/or review of the Bilateral Labour Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding on manpower supply with countries of destination.

In December 2021, the minister visited her counterpart in UAE with the aim of operationalizing the MoU, which was signed in 2019. In January 2022, the minister will visit Qatar to sign the MoU which was negotiated in 2017 as well as Saudi Arabia to review the MoU signed in 2017. Negotiating of agreements with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey and Jordan is at various stages.

The migrant workers are mostly deployed in the Middle East countries of the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar.

The ministry has to date licensed 216 private external labour recruitment companies and over 300,000 Ugandans have been formally externalized to work abroad since 2005.

The new regulations have introduced a number of measures that can be found on the website www.mglsd.go.ug

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Completion of road projects hang in balance over funds, Minister tells MPs

By
Our Reporter
-
Works and Transport Minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala.

The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has told Members of Parliament that unless the budget shortfalls of the ministry are addressed, projects under the works sub-sector in the National Development Plan (NDP) III will not be timely implemented.

“It will be difficult to start new projects before completing the ones that were started,” he said.

Katumba Wamala was appearing before the Committee on Physical Infrastructure on Thursday, 13 January 2022 to respond to issues raised in Budget Framework Paper (BFP) for Financial Year 2022/2023.

He said that majority of the running projects are being undertaken in arrears, saying that some projects have suffered major budget cuts.

“We are not paying contractors. If we continue like that, it will be difficult to meet our targets,” he said.

The minister informed the lawmakers that government is losing approximately Shs123 million weekly in loan interest payments.

“There are some contracts which we committed to Uganda National Roads Authority and we even scheduled some because we were promised money but we have not seen the money. If this is how we are going to proceed, even this BFP or whatever plans we have will not help,” the minister said.

In the 2021/2022 budget, UNRA was allocated Shs3.1 trillion, which Katumba Wamala said was not sufficient to enable the roads authority meet the set targets.

“UNRA undertakes huge projects and I need us to understand this so that we know where we are going,” he said.

He said that whilst the Minister of State of Finance, Amos Lugoolobi recently blamed the budget shortfalls on the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the economy for close to two years, Parliament should prioritise the road sector.

“We are happy that the economy is going to be re-opened fully and we hope that this will lead to the recovery of the economy,” said Katumba Wamala.

Hon Nathan Byanyima (NRM, Bukanga North) advised the ministry to prioritise construction and maintenance of roads that have a direct impact on the traffic jam in Kampala City.

“MPs need to allocate funds adequately to address the recurring problem of traffic jam. It is disastrous to continue having many un-done roads which have the potential to decongest the city,” he said.

Byanyima added the ministry should conclusively deal with the issue of motorcycle riders in the city, saying that they are contributing to the traffic jam, to which the minister responded that the ministry is working with Kampala Capital City Authority to re-organise the operations of cyclists.

Hon Sarah Opendi (NRM, Tororo district) blamed the poor state of roads on the delay in formulation of regulations for the operationalisation of the Uganda Road Fund Act to ensure implementation of the Act.

“Some of the challenges we are facing is because the Ministry of Finance has failed to do its work as provided for in the Road Fund. The fund was created to ensure periodic road maintenance,” she said.

Opendi added that delayed maintenance contributes to the poor state of roads countrywide.

“People are dying not only because of reckless drivers but because of bad roads. The issue of the Road Fund must be addressed by this committee,” she said.

Hon Elijah Okupa (Ind. Kasilo County) wondered why the Ministry of Works and Transport continuously cites budget shortfalls as the biggest challenge and yet majority of the projects are donor-funded.

“What does the ministry do with all the donor funds,” he wondered.

He also asked the minister to clarify the category of motorists exempted from paying the road toll at the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, after the Government started charging the road toll on 8 January 2022. 

“There is a video that went viral showing officers at the toll gates in a scuffle with police officers in a patrol car. Should security personnel be charged road tolls,” he asked.

In response, the minister clarified that the law is clear on the category of those exempted from paying the road tolls, and security officers on duty fall in that category.

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Foreign Affairs wants 2007 CHOGM vehicle fleet replaced

By
Our Reporter
-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, far right, meeting the committee

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has told Members of Parliament that its vehicle fleet used for transporting dignitaries is obsolete. 

The officials led by Gen. Jeje Odongo, the minister, were on Thursday, 13 January 2022 appearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the sector’s Budget Framework Paper for the Financial Year 2022/23.

Vincent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry told the committee that the vehicle fleet that they are using is from the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

“We have written to the Ministry of Finance about this. There was a situation where we were transporting a guest and the car broke down. It was an embarrassment for our VIP. This is not business as usual – Foreign Affairs needs its fleet to take care of dignitaries,” Bagiire said.

Bagiire revealed to the committee that they are still awaiting a response from the ministry.

Hon Lucy Akello, the Amuru Woman MP asked if the team has been raising this matter since 2007 to the Ministry of Works and Transport.

“As you continuously use these vehicles, do you send complaints to the Ministry of Works and Transport saying this is long overdue so that we also know that you have taken it very seriously?” Akello asked.

Hon Richard Lumu (DP, Mityana County South) questioned why the ministry does not have its own fleet.

“Why don’t we budget that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs acquires its fleet since they are the ones that manage these dignitaries?” Lumu said.

During the interaction with the committee, the minister, Gen. Jeje Odongo told MPs that classifying the Ministry as a consumptive one has led to continued budget cuts which is prohibiting a lot of work. 

He says that they are discussing with the National Planning Authority (NPA) and the Ministry of Finance to change this as it is affecting the work of the Ministry. 

“All along we have been complaining of inadequate resources, and yet in this budget circular, there is a deduction further of the resources we have been complaining about not being sufficient. This is because of the erroneous understanding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as classified by NPA is a consumptive Ministry,” he said.

Gen. Odongo demonstrated that they are not simply consumptive but also do generate income for the country by their coordinating role.

“As a result of our coordination, we have enabled entities in Uganda to reach agreements, sign contracts amounting to US$2 billion,” he said.

He says as a result, travel for staff at the headquarters and embassies has been cut by up to Shs 16.1 billion which has impacted on their travel to engage in diplomacy, a core of their mandate.

Hon Fred Opolot the Pingire County MP said classifying the ministry as consumptive has been going on for a long time. “As a committee, we see this as a serious matter,” he said. 

The chairperson of the Committee, Hon Norah Bigirwa (NRM, Buliisa District Woman) said they will take up the matter and engage with NPA and the ministry.

Bigirwa advised that Parliament supports the Ministry to acquire a US$2.5 million building in Canberra, Australia, housing the Uganda High Commission, which is up for sale.

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Busoga Kingdom infights: Royal Council unseats William Gabula, names Muloki as the new Kyabazinga

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Gabula

The Royal Council of Busoga Kingdom has dismissed His Royal Highness Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV and declared Edward Columbus Wambuzi Muloki as the newly elected Kyabazinga.

According to Robert Luba Mukajjanga, the Secretary to Busoga Hereditary Royal Saza Chiefs Council on 3rd January 2022 interdicted Nadiope IV as the seating Kyabazinga of Busoga.

“The chief royal council in accordance with the Article 8 Clause 2 (f) of Obwa Kyabazinga Bwa Busoga unanimously with a quorum of eight hereditary Royal Saza Chiefs moved a vote of confidence in His Royal Highness Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV there by removing him as the seating Kyabazinga,” Mr. Mukajjanga said.

He Said, Article 8 Clause (6) of the constitution of Kingdom, the royal Chiefs retains the affairs of running the cultural institution and upon that they named his Royal Highness Columbus as the Kyabazinga.

“In the best interest of the Kingdom at all times have a reigning Kyabazinga, elected by Royal Council form 11 chiefdoms. The Council therefore upon the removal of His Royal Highness Wilberforce Nadiope IV as the seating Kyabazinga, unanimously reaffirmed and declared Edward Columbus Wambuzi Muloki, the Zibondo of Bulamogi as the elected Kyabazinga as it was in 2008,” he said.

Speaking about the development, the Katuukiro of Busoga Kingdom Joseph Muvawala disregarded reports of the dismissal of the Kyabazinga William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV referring to them as false, illegal and misleading.

“Obwa Kyabazinga assures the general public that these temporary developments just like several others before shall be dealt with and managed  and encourages everyone to observe law and order,” Muvawala said.

Gabula Nadiope was unanimously elected by the 10 Busoga Royal Chiefs who convened at Bugembe on 23 August 2014 for the purpose of electing a new Kyabazinga. Prince Edward Columbus Wambuzi, the 11th Busoga Royal Chief, who was also contesting for the throne, did not attend the meeting.

Gabula was approved by the Busoga Lukiko on 25 September 2014. Following an unsuccessful last-minute court challenge, Prince William Gabula was crowned as the 4th Kyabazinga of Busoga at Bugembe on Saturday, 13 September 2014.

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Victoria University conducts successful online Guild elections

By
Our Reporter
-
Victoria University

Victoria University Kampala, Uganda’s leading technologically-based university has registered another landmark achievement under its Virtual Campus (VClass) after holding successful online Guild elections.

“We developed a very interactive Learning Management System called VClass to support all students learning from the comfort of their home across the globe. Our student population comes from almost 41 countries who have continued learning without interruption for the past two years using out online Learning Management system and they have successfully completed their examination using VClass,” the University said.

“We have the pleasure to inform you that; using the same Learning Management portal, a one-stop Centre for our students’ campus life, they have managed to elect their leaders electronically, the process is affordable, allows candidates and their voters to monitor their results in real time. It widens accessibility at the comfort of your geographical location. Therefore, we are so graceful to the new technology and the entire students’ community for embracing this portal.”

“As the custom is, there are always rules, to ensure the right candidates are vetted to run for various offices that support the students’’ community. These processes are very well documented within the guild constitution of Victoria University. The university electoral commission vetted twenty contestants on 20th December 2021 and ten were nominated.”

All vetted candidates were given enough time to campaign before students using all social media platforms. To make the guild elections more lively and informative to the electorates, debates were organizes and these were broadcasted live on TV. This was done to empower the students with leadership skills, communication skills and to develop self-esteem while articulating important issues.

“We are proud to be the first technologically driven university in Uganda and urge the public to be part of this revolution by joining in our March 2022 intake,” the University added.

Victoria University, is one of the best universities in Uganda, and stands out as a centre of academic excellence. It offers a fresh and intellectually stimulating environment that nurtures critical thinkers.

The university was opened in August 2010 and has the capacity, the facilities and determination to revitalize higher education in Uganda and in the region. It is committed to playing a leading role in bringing and developing high quality, student–centered learning opportunities based on standards of excellence that are unique, innovative and difficult to match.

It is centrally located in the heart of Kampala City and on the main public transportation routes coupled with ample parking space.

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UAC urge gov’t to increase HIV/AIDS funding

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
The Director General for UAC, Dr Nelson Musoba

The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has appealed to the government to increase its funding towards the fight against HIV/AIDs. The UAC wants the government to shoulder at least half of the financial burden in a bid to reduce donor dependence.

The Director General for UAC, Dr Nelson Musoba, said that currently the government contributes only 12 per cent towards HIV/AIDS programmes leaving the rest to donors and the private sector.

“HIV/AIDs still remains predominantly funded externally. As a Commission, we would like to see the government increase it’s funding to HIV/AIDs by at least a half such that in case donors drop out, we are able to absorb the shock,” Musoba said.

He cited funding for Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) where the government contributes only shs 150 billion loading the biggest part of sustaining 1400,000 patients on treatment to donors. This he said puts the health of such patients at risk in case donors drop out.

Musoba said this while appearing before the Presidential Affairs Committee on Thursday, 13 January 2022.

He said that the government should additionally operationalise the long awaited AIDS Trust Fund which he said would ensure stable funding for HIV/AIDs programmes.

The Fund would then be financed by the proposed two per cent tax revenue from alcohol and soft drinks and contributions from donors as provided for in the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2014.

“The law has several provisions on sources of funding; it says charge two per cent on levy for drinks. The other provision is that there can be contributions from donors and individuals, and donors are actually waiting for it to operationalise,” said Musoba.

Legislators encouraged Musoba to interest the Minister in charge of the Presidency who oversees UAC to push for financing of the Fund, saying it will be a relief to the sector.

“We actually started this discussion in the Eighth Parliament after visiting Zimbabwe where it was working; in case it is operational, it will be of a great help to you and the sector,” said Naome Kabasharira, Vice-chairperson of the Presidential Affairs Committee.

Bukwo District Woman MP, Evelyn Chemutai said she had participated in previous engagements regarding the Trust Fund and that the fund was partially delayed by a disagreement on the account where the money would be disbursed.

“There was an argument that the Ministry of Finance wants the money to go to the Consolidated account and then be distributed, but we insist that the Fund should have its own account but managed by the Ministry of Finance,” said Chemutai.

UAC submitted their request of Shs 10.680 billion for the next financial year, which in addition to external funding will focus on reducing the new HIV infections currently at 38,000 and the HIV prevalence rate of 5.4 per cent.

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Dokolo South MP Felix Okot survives nasty accident

By
Our Reporter
-
Accident

Dokolo South MP, Felix Okot Ogong has been admitted to Lira-based Medical Centre after he was involved in an accident in Agwata, Dokolo along Lira – Soroti highway.

The legislator, his driver and the body guard were traveling in a Toyota Prado registration Number UBB 972S.

Two unidentified people are reported to have died in the accident.

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Standard Chartered offers a repayment holiday on loan amounts of up to Shs250m

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Money

Standard Chartered Bank Uganda has unveiled its annual Repayment Holiday campaign aimed at encouraging its clients to take personal loans. The customers will be accorded a repayment holiday of up to 75 days on loan amounts of up to Shs 250 million before their first installment is recovered.

In tandem, the campaign is peddled at alleviating the burden and stress of back to school by making it easier on parents and guardians who could be financially constrained amidst the pandemic.

The Bank revealed that loans are at a discounted Interest rate of 16% for new customers, 17% for existing customers and 7% on USD. The Bank guaranteed its clients a response within 24 hours or pay Shs 500,000.

Mr. Moses Rutahigwa, the Head Consumer, Private and Business Banking said: “Coming from the festive season to paying school fees while meeting other obligations coupled with dealing with the shocks of the pandemic has taken a toll on all of us and businesses alike. To support our clients, we decided to simplify borrowing and give them a break, to repay later.  We pride ourselves on being a responsible lender that responds to the unique needs of our clients in a timely manner with innovative and practical solutions. I therefore appeal to everyone to take advantage of this offer as it gives them financial flexibility.”

Standard Chartered Bank has run the Repayment Holiday campaign over the past Eight years every year after the festive period to help its clients go through the first few months after the festive season comfortably. With this offer, clients are able remain afloat with some liquidity to pay school fees while meeting the various obligations they may have.

 “Since we run this campaign annually, forward looking customers can actually ask for up to two repayment holidays every 12 months. Therefore, taking a repayment holiday offers financial relief and enables an individual to achieve their objectives in a relaxed, stress-free and planned manner,” he said.

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