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Former URA boss Doris Akol named Technical Assistance Advisor at IMF

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Our Reporter
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Former URA Commissioner General Doris Akol

The former Executive Director of Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Doris Akol has been named Technical Assistance Advisor International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The appointment was confirmed by the former Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Jennifer Musisi Ssemakula.

“Congratulations to one of Africa’s most brilliant tax administrators and legal professionals on your ascension to Technical Assistance Advisor International Monetary Fund Doris Akol they’ve grabbed a gem!,” Jennifer tweeted

Doris Akol is a Ugandan lawyer and administrator.  She is a Partner at the Dentons’ Kampala office. She is also a former Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

 She was appointed to that position by Maria Kiwanuka, the then Ugandan Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, on Monday, 27 October 2014. She replaced Allen Kagina, who retired after two consecutive five-year terms at the helm of the URA.

Akol holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB), obtained in 1993, from Makerere University, Uganda’s oldest and largest public university. She also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Law Practice (Dip.Law.Pract.), obtained from the Law Development Centre, in Kampala. Her Diploma in Financial Management (Dip.Fin.Mngmt.) was obtained from the Uganda Management Institute.

She holds the degree of Master of Laws (LLM), obtained from Makerere University. Her second degree of Master of Laws was obtained from McGill University in Canada in 2001. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).

Akol joined URA, as a Legal Officer. From 2012 until 2014, Doris Akol was the Commissioner for Legal Affairs and Board Matters at the URA. In that capacity, she also served as the Company’s Legal Secretary. In October 2014, she was appointed Commissioner General at URA. She assumed office on 30 October 2014. On 29 March 2020, Akol was relieved of her duties at URA and John Musinguzi Rujoki was named as her replacement.

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Dr. Alex Mubiru named Acting Director General at ADB

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Dr. Alex Mubiru

The African Development Bank (ADB) Group has announced the appointment of Dr. Alex Mubiru as Acting Director General, Cabinet Office of the President, effective from December 17, 2021.

Dr. Mubiru, a citizen of Uganda, will hold this position until further notice, given the appointment of the Director General of the Office of the President, Yacine Fal, as Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery. In addition to his role as Acting Director General, he will retain his position as Director in the Office of the President.

He worked as a Research Associate, International Economics Program, at the Thailand Development Research Institute (1994-1995) and later on as Project Economist for the World Bank, Thailand Office (1999-2001). He was Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore (2001-2008) and Assistant Professor of Social Science, Singapore Management University (2008-2009).

He joined the African Development Bank as a Principal Research Economist (2009-2010); then served as Principal Country Economist, Tanzania Country Office (2010-2012); Lead Strategy Advisor, Strategy and Operations Policy Department (2012-2014) as part of the core group that coordinated the development of the Bank’s 2013-2022 Ten-Year Strategy; and as Task Manager for the development of the Bank’s 2013-2017 Private Sector Strategy.

He was appointed Manager, Resource Mobilization Department (2014-2018). In June 2018, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina appointed him as Country Manager, Tanzania Country Office, where he managed a portfolio of more than $2.3 billion. He was appointed as Director (Strategy and Delivery) in the Office of the President in November 2020.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Mubiru said: “I am grateful to President Adesina for the confidence and trust in me to serve in this role as Acting Director General, Cabinet Office of the President. We have a great and effective team in the Office of the President and we have been very fortunate to have Ms. Yacine Fal as our Director General. I will do my best to uphold the leadership and the high standard she has set and ensure smooth and effective coordination of the work and activities of the Cabinet Office of the President during her call to duty to serve the Bank in another capacity as Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery.”

Dr. Mubiru holds a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics from Macalester College, USA (1992); a Master’s in Public Affairs (1996) and a PhD in Public Affairs (2000) both from Princeton University, USA.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Adesina said: “Alex is a well-rounded professional with the maturity and experience suitable for the role. He has deep institutional knowledge, and a track record of performance. His experience as part of the senior leadership team in the Cabinet Office of the President will allow him to effectively support the President and the Office of the President during this transition period, as the Director General of the Cabinet Office of the President, Ms. Yacine Fal, takes on the role of Acting Vice President, Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery.”

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URSB gives back to Bakateyamba Home for the Vulnerable

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Our Reporter
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Registrar General, Mercy Kainobwisho (C), Sister Mary Lawrence Nakiwu (5th R) pose for a group photo with URSB Staff after the CSR Donation at the Bakateyamba Home for the Elderly

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has donated various items to the Mapeera Bakateyamba home for vulnerable people in Kampala. The donations included sugar, rice, posho, salt, soap, flour, eggs, toilet paper and beans.

Handing over the items, URSB Registrar General Mercy K.Kainobwisho said the donation was in line with the organisation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy and promised that the Bureau will continue to support the needy.

“We care about the communities in which we operate. As such, we try as much as possible to look out for their needs and make our contribution, however small it is,” Kainobwisho said. “Many of these elderly persons were once useful to the country, but because they have grown and do not have money and ability to look after themselves, our support is highly needed and these items will help in keeping them healthy and functional,” she said.

The elderly home accommodates over 100 people elderly and sick young people was started by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga with the aim of providing shelter for less advantaged elderly people.

Sister Mary Lawrence Nakiwu, the Administrator, Mapeera Bakateyamba Home, says the donated items will go a long in helping improve the lives of the people in the home. Mapeera Bakateyamba Home is currently residence to needy people from all walks of life.

“We have our farm in Mukono from which we get food to feed our beneficiaries. However, we have a very old small pick-up that breaks down most of the times. We are therefore facing challenges of collecting fresh organic food. We appeal to the Bureau to look into it so that we take care of these elders,” Nakiwu said.

The oldest being in his 90’s while the youngest is just barely two years- old. According to Sister Nakiwu, the home whose monthly budget is in millions of shillings runs on donations from various people.

Vincent Katutsi, Chairman URSB CSR Committee said they would continue to place priority on vulnerable people while making donations. “URSB is interested in making a contribution to lessening community challenges. As the Bureau, we appreciate the services provided by Mapeera Bakateyamba’s Home of the Elderly and recognize the challenges the administration faces in caring for the home. This is the reason we chose to donate these items here,” he said.

Founded by the late Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga in 1978, the Mapeera Bakateyamba home is run by the Good Samaritan Sisters under the patronage of Kampala Catholic Archdiocese. Located at Nalukolongo, along the Kampala-Masaka road, the home has a hostel with capacity for 300 people. Currently, there are disabled, elderly, destitute and otherwise vulnerable persons at the facility.

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UPDF soldier injured in DR Congo operation

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Our Reporter
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UPDF spokesperson Brig. Flavia Byekwaso

One UPDF soldier sustained injuries in a deadly gun battle with Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) insurgents in North Kivu, Eastern DRC.

In a joint statement by DRC armed forces and UPDF, the incident occurred on Monday as the forces attacked an ADF splinter force South West of Kambi Ya Yua, killing two terrorists and capturing one PK machine gun with 300 rounds of live ammunition.

“Unfortunately, one UPDF soldier got injured, has stabilized, and is out of danger,” the statement reads in part. The soldier is the first reported UPDF casualty since DRC and Uganda launched military strikes against the IS-linked fighters on November 30.

Another operation was carried out in Ituri province and the joint forces destroyed the ADF strongholds in Madina 3, Bantonga, Kitumba and Mulangu.

The two Forces are currently engaged in road construction and rehabilitation works to facilitate and further secure the movement of soldiers and the displaced civilian population, particularly on Mbau- Kamango and Mobili axes, Kamango-Semuliki- Beni.

Last month the two Forces launched joint air and artillery strikes against ADF camps. The attacking of ADF camps follows three terror attacks which claimed four lives and scores injured. According to police the first explosive occurred at Digida Pork joint in Komamboga, Lungala along Kampala Masaka Highway, Parliamentary Avenue and Kampala Central Police Station (CPS).

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Three Tanzanians arrested for murder by beating

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Our Reporter
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Handcuffs

Police in Kassanda is actively investigating a murder by beating of Emmanuel Deus, a cashier at GEM James Gold Processing Company in Bukuya, by a group of 6 Tanzanian Nationals.

According to the Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the facts indicate that on the 18th December, the victim found the group of Tanzanian Nationals dealing in gold, who were drinking at Bukuya Town Council in Kassanda district. The victim and the suspects who knew each other got into a heated argument that resulted into a serious beating by the suspects, who left him lying downunconscious.

The victim was rushed to  Bukuya clinic and immediately after, transferred to Mityana Referral Hospital by his friends. He was pronounced dead upon arrival, as results of an internal bleeding in the head.

Three suspects all Tanzanians Nationals who include; Lubolo Erican, David Malingita and Peter Matunganjo were arrested.

“Such random acts of violence, assaults and physical alternations, do remind us of the risks people face during violent alterations like this. We hope that the arrest of the suspects will bring some relief to the family of the deceased.” Enanga said.

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BoU maintains CBR rate at 6.5%

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Late Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has maintained the Central Bank Rate (CBR) to meet the inflation target of 5 per cent in the medium term period of 2-3 years ahead.

In tandem, the Governor of BoU, Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile, maintained at +/-2 percentage points on the CBR and the margins on the rediscount rate and bank rate at 3 and 4 percentage points on the CBR, respectively.  Consequently, the rediscount rate and the bank rate have been maintained at 9.5 per cent and 10.5 per cent, respectively.

The Governor said the high-frequency indicators of economic activity for October and November 2021 suggest that the economy had considerable momentum into the fourth quarter.

“The economic growth momentum is still expected to improve, supported by expansion in global demand, higher private sector expenditure and continued policy support. If the economy is fully opened in 2022, as currently being projected, this will release some of the pent-up domestic demand from the past two years that should stimulate economic activity,” he said.

Risks to the growth outlook, however, remain tilted to the downside, consisting of weaker than-expected global economic growth due to supply-chain disruptions and the Omicron variant that has injected renewed uncertainty to the global economic picture. Persisting global supply chain disruptions could spawn into the domestic industry, which could weigh on the economic performance.

The BoU revealed that a third wave of COVID-19 outbreak could trigger a need for more stringent and protracted containment measures that would drag growth down. Some contact-intensive sectors, especially education and hospitality that faced the brunt of the pandemic continue to face challenges. Import growth is expected to outpace export growth due to recovery in import-intensive household consumption and private investment. As a result, the contribution of net exports to GDP growth will be negative for an extended period.

“Although the fiscal thrust remains positive in FY2021/22, its contribution to GDP growth is lower than last financial year owing to the limited fiscal space to support further increases in government expenditure,” BoU said.

Annual headline inflation and annual core inflation each rose to 2.6 percent in November 2021, from 1.9 percent and 2.1 percent in October 2021, respectively. The upturn has largely been driven by rapidly rising energy and food crop prices. Energy, fuel, and utilities (EFU).

Inflation rose to 2 percent in November 2021 from minus 0.2 percent in October 2021, food crops and related items inflation rose to 3.6 percent from 1.7 percent in the same period. Inflation forecasts in the near term amid high uncertainty, suggest that inflation will likely continue to rise as the economy recovers further and spare capacity is gradually absorbed.

The rise in inflation will also reflect strong producer price inflation domestically and abroad and import prices. In the medium-term (2-3 years ahead), as demand recovers with the full reopening of the economy and the release of pent-up demand, inflation is forecast to rise but stabilize around the 5 percent target, contingent on the evolution of the pandemic and the efficacy of vaccines.

“The BoU will continue with interventions for those sectors that remain under lockdown. Furthermore, BoU will maintain the COVID-19 Liquidity Assistance program (CLAP) to ensure financial stability until the economic situation normalises,” he said.

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Uganda to face Ghana in FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier

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Our Reporter
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Uganda will face Ghana in the fourth round of the U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Ugandan youngsters eliminated South Africa with a 1-0 win on aggregate following a goalless draw in the return leg at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg.

Hadijah Nandago’s goal in the first leg at St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende on 3rd December was enough to send the team to the next round.

Coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi was full praise of his charges, indicating they played according to script and hopes that the World Cup will be realized.

“I’m so happy that we have managed to eliminate South Africa. I thank my players for the commitment showed today and making sure we pick a good result. We only hope to keep the same attitude at the next round and achieve our ultimate target of qualifying to the World Cup,” he said.

The game against Ghana due next year will be the final phase of the qualifiers for the global tournament that will be hosted in Costa Rica 2022.

Ghana eliminated Zambia after a 1-0 win.

Africa will have only two representatives at the final tournament.

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Deputy Speaker flags off construction of Shs71bn irrigation scheme

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Our Reporter
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Deputy Speaker Anita Among and Minister Frank Tumwebaze flag off the construction of Acomai Irrigation Scheme

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has broken ground for the construction of Shs71billion Acomai irrigation scheme in Kamutur Sub-county in Bukedea District.

The project, which is under the Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, is also expected to be constructed in Bulambuli District. It aims at improving access to water for agricultural production, thus increasing agricultural productivity, improve post-harvest handling, agro-processing and value addition and market access among others.

While officiating at the groundbreaking event on Saturday, 18 December 2021, the Deputy Speaker, who is also the Woman MP for Bukedea District was enthralled that the irrigation scheme that was once a dream is now a reality. She tasked the Ministry of Agriculture to closely monitor its implementation to ensure that the multibillion project is not mismanaged.

“I am glad that the dream that started in 2016 has finally come to reality. My people here know how long this journey has been and how much we need this project,” Among said.

“I don’t want you [the Ministry of Agriculture] to leave this baby in the hands of people who will mismanage it. On behalf of the people of Bukedea, I am interested in the success of this project and I will therefore monitor it myself,” Among said.

The Deputy Speaker also tasked the contractor, Dott Services, to make sure that the project is completed on time and further requested them to construct a technical school in Kamutur as part of their corporate social responsibility. The contractor welcomed the proposal and promised to have the school built within six months to the delight of the community.

Among’s urgent need for a technical school is premised on the several school dropouts as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. She advised parents to take parenting very seriously as government plans to reopen schools in January 2022.

“Covid-19 has affected our children; some of them got pregnant and they are now suffering from stigma, so it’s our responsibility to counsel our children. We also need to ensure that they are fully vaccinated before returning to schools,” she said.

The Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze, pledged to speed up the compensation process to ensure timely implementation of the project, saying government has earmarked Shs1bn for project affected persons.

State Minister for Economic Monitoring, Peter Ogwang, tasked the contractor, to share the Projects’ Bills of Quantities with the District for proper accountability and transparency during the implementation process.

The proposed irrigation schemes in Bukedea and Bulambuli will cover a whopping 2,200 hectares of land and will come with additional infrastructure such as administration block, two drying yards, warehouse, workshop, bridge and 58kms of access roads.

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Emirates SkyCargo transports 600 million doses of #Covid-19 vaccines with more than 27M doses to Uganda

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Our Reporter
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Emirates Skycargo

Emirates SkyCargo has announced that it has crossed a major milestone in the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines with 600 million doses flown on its flights, including more than 27 million doses transported to Uganda. Since October 2020, the carrier has transported more than 2.8 million kilograms of COVID-19 vaccines from 35 origins to over 80 destinations.

“Emirates SkyCargo remains committed to the rapid distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable communities around the world. When we formulated our COVID-19 distribution strategy in 2020, Emirates SkyCargo prioritized the movement of COVID-19 vaccines through our Dubai hub to developing countries. I’m happy to announce that nearly two thirds of the total vaccines we transported were headed to destinations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. With our extensive reach across six continents, our wide-body capacity and expertise in cool chain logistics, Emirates SkyCargo will continue to be a reliable partner for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the months to come,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.

With the increasing roll-out of vaccination and booster campaigns across global markets, Emirates SkyCargo witnessed a steady increase in the demand for transportation of COVID-19 vaccines in the second half of 2021. In October and November 2021 alone, Emirates SkyCargo moved more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, almost one third of the total COVID-19 vaccines transported by the carrier since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emirates SkyCargo has been a key global player in the air distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and other relief materials and essential commodities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The air cargo carrier offers sophisticated cool chain solutions for pharmaceutical cargo with Emirates Pharma- a specialized three-tiered air transportation product designed for temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals and backed by Emirates’ state of the art GDP certified pharma infrastructure at its cargo hub in Dubai.

 In June 2021, Emirates SkyCargo expanded its pharma cool chain infrastructure at Dubai International Airport, allowing it to store an additional estimated 60-90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Emirates SkyCargo offers cargo capacity on more than 2,800 weekly flights connecting more than 140 destinations across six continents.

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CNOOC Uganda to kick off construction works in kingfisher development area

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Our Reporter
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CNOOC Uganda to kick off construction works in kingfisher development area

Last week, a group of journalists from Kampala and Bunyoro region were taken for a tour to Kingfisher Development Area (KFDA) which is located at Buhuka Parish, Kyangwali Sub County, Buhaguzi County, Kikuube District (approximately 100Kms from Hoima Town). The KFDA is operated by the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) Uganda Limited and it operates in three Sub counties, five parishes and 29 villages.

In an exercise which was led by the CNOOC Head of Corporate Affairs Zakaria Lubega, reporters were taken through numerous projects including the overview of the project, proposed Oil well areas, ongoing construction of houses for Project Affected Persons (PAPs) among others. Lubega noted that the majority of the processes like compensation of the PAPs had been made and soon real constructions would kick off.

He also noted that CNOOC never delayed the announcement of the Final Investment Decision (FID) because it is not an event but rather a process which has been ongoing across the board for all partners where one needs to acquire the land, have the environment and Social Impact Assessment Study undertaken and approved, as well as go through procurement processes.

Lubega noted that big contracts take a lot of time and resources, you need enabling laws from the government to ensure that there is proper legislation under which you will be operating and some of the legislations are as new as one to two weeks ago and some have not been approved.

“We were going through that process to ensure that when we make an announcement of FID, nothing is going to stop us and now that everything seems to be ready, we are one leg into FID and the other leg is closely following,” he added

In regards to the environment update on the oil spill contingency plan for Kingfisher oil field and feeder pipeline, Nicholas Kiiza the CNOOC Environment Supervisor said that CNOOC Uganda has undertaken the implementation of the flood hazard and flood assessment study for Lake Albert shore of Kingfisher oil field to prepare for any oil spills in case they happen in future.

“We are undertaking a number of studies like the Meta Ocean Study, studying the behavior of the lake, we have undertaken hydrological study for Lake Albert and other water bodies that are catchments to Lake Albert,” Kiiza added.

Under the Livestock and Agriculture Livelihood Restoration Program (LRP), PAPs in the region have received both agricultural and livestock inputs to boost their income. The ongoing Agriculture and Livestock projects for PAPS in Kyangwali Sub County are targeting over 250 households where PAPs have received crop inputs: maize and beans Livestock inputs: Boran bulls, goats, chicken and pigs among others.

There is also ongoing construction of resettlement houses for PAPs across 3 Sub Counties Kyangwali, Kabwoya and Buseruka. Since May 2021, CNOOC brought onboard two contractors to work at the different sites and construction work is still ongoing.

Lubega also noted that CNOOC Uganda Ltd has also conducted numerous engagements with Ugandans to support the National Content. “We held the Q3 Quarterly Supplier development engagement with suppliers and potential suppliers on 30 September 2021, completed the Enterprise Development online training program 2021 that trained over 150 SMEs from Albertine and Kampala regions and the Training and Licensing of 70 Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers (2020 cohort),” he added.

In regards to Social Performance Progress, CNOOC in 2021 has organized successful gender and HIV sensitization, road Safety Awareness, design and feasibility for a Landing site at Buhuka Status and implementation has commenced Meeting Point Hoima Implementation has commenced CFT issued Better World Uganda.

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