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Mt. Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise joins the ROOTs Campaign in restoration of national forests

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Mt. Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise joins the ROOTs Campaign in restoration of national forests

The Ministry of Water and Environment and Uganda Breweries Ltd have embarked on Running Out Of Trees (ROOTs) Campaign in Mt. Elgon region.

ROOTs Campaign was innovated to implement a broad National Greening Campaign which was launched in 2020 out of the need to rally every Ugandan to make a contribution to the national forest restoration aspirations through increased public awareness and participation with a target of planting 40million trees per year.

Speaking at Mt. Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) Project Offices in Mbale, Mr. Alfred Okidi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment said that the campaign is built around engaging local stakeholders in attaining national restoration goals, through increased public awareness and participation

“The aim is to rally Ugandans especially the private sector into action in the conservation and protection of indigenous tree species to address ongoing loss and conversion of primary and secondary natural forest.” she said

The campaign approach involves adopting restoration strategies to fit local social, economic and ecological contexts and a wide range of eligible technical strategies for restoring a mosaic canopy of trees on the national landscape by making a contribution to relevant national aspirations.

The campaign also aims at fast tracking national restoration goals and commitments that include but not limited to the pledge to restore 2.5million hectares of degraded forest landscapes by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge, Vision 2040 aimed at restoring forest cover of total land area to 24% and Uganda’s Green Growth Strategy.

The campaign involves a series of calendar activities including a Run to raise awareness followed by a National Tree Planting Day where every Ugandan is expected to plant a tree.

The 2021 Edition of the Run was launched virtually on March 21, 2021 by the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, in observance of the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to run virtually until May 31, 2021 via a mobile App dubbed ROOTs App Uganda to raise awareness and mobilize funds needed to procure, plant and maintain the 40million trees across the country.

The peak event for the Campaign will be the National Tree Planting Day slated for August, 2021 pending approval by Cabinet with the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is expected to be the Chief Planter.

Mr. Okidi noted that the tree planting is already ongoing following the rainfall calendar across the country.

“Trees will systematically be mapped for species, GPS location and planter to ease monitoring, maintenance, transparency and most importantly accountability. The planted trees will be mapped and that information relayed and stored to our central portal to enable real-time reporting and technical support teams to periodically follow up and support the maintenance .The planting has been spread to limit mass gatherings but the trees planted will be counted as part of the national tree planting celebrations” he added.

Since the ROOTs campaign is mainly anchored around private sector joining development partners in supplementing government efforts on the conservation and protection of mainly indigenous tree species being lost to different human activities, the campaign has received wide acceptance by some of Uganda’s biggest brands as we shall continue to unveil them in due course.

He said the ROOTs campaign provides a clear opportunity to document one’s aspirations towards Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction by enhancing carbon stocks through tree planting, while improving livelihoods as source of income and nutrition diversity; climate change resilience by mitigating against adverse weather elements likes storms, landslides, floods and lightning incidents; improving the water cycle; among others. The campaign is estimated to sequester about 15.7million metric tons of Carbon dioxide over the next 10years.

Mr. Okidi welcomed Mt. Elgon Tree Growing Enterprise (METGE) onboard and also thanked the Welsh Government and Size of Wale, a charity in particular the United Kingdom, the main donors behind METGE. The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment is committed to sustaining this collaboration.

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NIRA closes Kololo offices ahead of Museveni’s inauguration

By
Our Reporter
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nira

The National Information and Registration Authority (NIRA) has suspended its operations at Kololo head offices for two days to enable the smooth preparations ahead of President Museveni’s swearing-in.

“The management of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) informs the general public that the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds (Kololo Airstrip) will on Wednesday 12 May 2021 be the venue for the swearing in ceremony of the President Elect, H. E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” NIRA said in a statement.

“In consideration of the importance of the event at national level, it has been considered prudent that NIRA suspends its operations, on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th May 2021 to allow for smooth preparations and management of the event.”

However clients shall continue to access National Identification services including registration and issuance of cards normally through other offices in the respective divisions of Kampala.

All other services that can only be accessed at the NIRA head offices at Kololo offices shall be suspended but will resume on Thursday 13th May 2021.

Museveni will be sworn in for his sixth term on Wednesday, May 12 at Kololo ceremonial grounds with over 4,000 guests expected at the function.

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Where is Betting in Uganda Headed?

By
Our Reporter
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These S1 laptops are as slim and light as the Mac Air. A better substitute for the Ugandan market.

Uganda plays home to a rich betting culture, with a landscape that is loaded with over 2000 different gambling and betting operators. But where is this culture headed? What is the product of this immensely populated betting and gambling industry?

 

It is well known that the Pearl of Africa, Uganda’s affectionate nickname, was a protectorate of the british empire since 1984, but with the move to independence in 1962, led by Milton Obote, came a refreshed and more local framework to regulate and oversee gambling. 

 

The fact that the practice has been overseen for over 6 decades means that Uganda has a richer and longer legal betting history than one of Africa’s front running gambling hubs, South Africa, where betting sites only began becoming legal in 1994. 

 

This long and steady gambling history reaches past the nation’s inception as an independent state, with reports suggesting that a game by the name of Omweso had been extremely popular amongst both young and old. 

 

Now that we have a better idea of where Uganda has been in terms of betting and gambling, where is the nation headed with this activity? Reports suggest that the country is in dire need of an intervention, as this long standing gambling culture has begun to turn sour. 

 

Today, with the advancements of the betting and gambling industries, which have closely tailed the revolution of technology have played a massive role in the story of betting in Uganda. 

 

Factors such as mobile penetration and gambling product availability have begun having adverse effects on many Ugandans. 

 

For nearly a decade now, local media have been relaying a sad, and shocking message to the people of one of Africa’s most beautiful nations; problem gambling has unfortunately infected a once pure and enjoyment filled gambling space. 

 

Reports of alarming numbers of youthful Ugandans experiencing serious social issues related to problem gambling have occupied local media stories to such an extent that many have started to wonder what could be done to solve the problem. 

 

The severity of the situation became such that president Yoweri Kugata Museveni announced a ban on sports betting in 2019, further declaring that  no new licenses would be provided to operators, and no licenses would be renewed for already licensed operators. 

 

Naturally, the reason for this drastic measure was informed by the many stories of problem gambling, especially in youth, that populate Uganda. It is reported that problem gambling plays a role in a growing unemployment bracket, which is especially harming young people in Uganda.

 

But is banning sports betting the right call? In other nations where sports betting and online gambling have been banned, users still engage in these activities through illegal means, putting themselves and their money at greater risk. 

 

Again, to cite South Africa as an example, online gambling portals such as Springbok Casino remain illegal, but this platform is still used by thousands of players every month. 

 

Some may argue that a possible solution to this multifaceted problem is educating users, and establishing a heavier focus on support for those with gambling addictions, but nobody is at liberty to know of a possible solution to solve this problem. 

 

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Uganda chokes on debts amid excessive borrowing

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija displays a briefcase carrying national budget document

Uganda is choking on debts amid excessive borrowings to fund local development projects, financial year budgets.

As of December 2020, Ministry of Finance reported that the country’s total debt stock stood at USD 17.96 billion (Shs 65.83 trillion) indicating an increase from USD 13.3 billion (Shs 49.0 trillion) as at end of December 2019.

“Out of the total public debt stock, External debt constitutes a share of 64.98 percent equivalent to USD 11.67 billion (Shs 42.6 trillion) whereas domestic debt constituted 35.02 percent equivalent to USD 6.29 billion (Shs 22.9 trillion),” Finance ministry reported earlier today.

The Shs65.83 trillion public debts indicate that creditors owe each Ugandan (42 million people) not less than Shs 1.2million.

The rise is public debt is also hinged on increased external and domestic borrowing to address the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 and mitigate the negative effects of the economy.

Uganda is currently seeking $900 million (Shs 3.2 trillion) in a three-year International Monetary Fund program for its budget amid rising spending due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A look at Debt to GDP (nominal)ratio for other countries (2020) show Kenya at 69 percent,Rwanda at 60 percent,Burundi at 69 percent,Tanzania at 38 percent,Ethiopia at 55 percent,South Africa at 77 percent,United Kingdom at 85 percent and United States of America at 98 percent.

Uganda’s flagship projects that account for increase in debt include: Karuma hydropower project, Isimba dam, Oil roads, expansion of Entebbe international airport, Meter and Standard gauge railway, Development of Kampala industrial park etc.

Public debt which stood at 47.2 percent of GDP at end of December 2020 is projected to remain sustainable.

The ministry reported that the Public debt is projected to rise to 51.9 percent to GDP in FY 2021/22 on account of borrowing to finance key infrastructure projects especially in transport, oil and gas sectors.

Debt is projected to decline thereafter on account of increased domestic revenue as government implements the domestic revenue mobilisation strategy which targets to increase domestic revenue to GDP by 0.5 percent points per annum.

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Makerere University e-voting staggered by poor network connection

By
Simon Kabayo
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Students casting their votes physically

The long awaited Makerere guild elections commenced today at around 11:00am having been disrupted by the heavy morning rains. The voting as described by the students’ committee was to be both physical and online using the students’ portal.

The physical voting is meant for finalist students of third and fourth years and then the e-voting for continuing students. However, the network since morning has been so poor which has affected most students. The whole university is calm as the finalists are physically voting though the turn up has been so low.

“It is unfortunate that the network is down and I am worried whether I will go through. I have employed a few students from the College of Computing and Information Studies to aid my voters but all in vain,” an aspirant at School veterinary said.

He added that the only a few students who had logged in earlier on the system managed to vote but the others are patiently waiting for the network upgrade.

The EC Chairperson Mr. Twijukye Jackson says they are working upon the network system to have the smooth running of the elections at the Ivory Tower.

“We did not expect the network to be slow but the University technical team is working upon the system for a better service,” Mr. Twijukye said.

So far the race is still tight between Aaron Oguttu and Ssempijja Ivan.

More updates on the results to come after declaration.

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Suraj Karavadra appointed Lady Cricket Cranes head coach

By
Our Reporter
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Suraj Karavadra (kneeling)

The Uganda Cricket Association-UCA has announced the appointment of Suraj Karavadra as the Lady Cricket Cranes Head Coach.

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Suraj Karavadra as the Head Coach of the Lady Cricket Cranes. As an organization, it has been our mission to make sure that we raise the level of our ladies’ team to make sure that they are given the best opportunity to compete on the global stage. We are confident that Suraj will help take our ladies to the next level,” UCA said in statement.

The priority for the lady cricket cranes will be the T20 World Cup qualifiers due in September in Botswana and, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The team started training two months ago under the guidance of UCA Development Manager Davis Turinawe taking charge of the group in Kampala while Ivan Kakande took charge of the group in Soroti.

UCA’s CEO Martin Ondeko had this say about Suraj’s appointment; “We are happy to appoint Suraj for the position of Head Coach for the women. He has a lot of experience in working with women. He also has experience in working in different countries and we believe he has the right expertise to make the women’s team a force to reckon with.”

Suraj Karavadra brings a wealth of experience to Uganda Cricket having worked with various organizations in the same role. His experience will not only benefit the lady cricket cranes but influence the whole ecosystem for women’s cricket in Uganda.

Suraj is no stranger to Uganda. He is a fourth-generation Ugandan tracing his roots in the eastern town of Jinja where his great grandfather settled to do business. This is, therefore, more than an assignment for him rather than an opportunity for him to make a contribution to his motherland.

“I am very excited to be working with a group of very talented cricketers. My passion has always been for Women’s Cricket, helping them cross boundaries, become stronger, and reach new heights. I want the team to feel inspired, to push boundaries further than ever, and as a team, reach a whole new level of success. I can’t wait to get started, to get to know the team, to dive into the culture, to apply my knowledge and experience, and to continue the incredible legacy that The Lady Cricket Cranes have already created,” Suraj said.

He is expected to start his assignment next week when he arrives from his base in the UK.

Previous Experience:

2011: Porbandar District Cricket Association, India – U16 Head Coach

2013 – 2015: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club – Community Cricket Coach Assisted EPP Programmes, U17 Nottinghamshire Girls, U14 Nottinghamshire Boys, and Sub- County U13.

2014: Porbandar District Cricket Association, India – Head Coach Men’s Team

2015-2017: Buckinghamshire Cricket Board – Cricket Development Officer. Coached throughout County Pathway (U11 – U17), Head Coach U15 Buckinghamshire Girls, Lead EPP Wicket Keeping.

2017-2020: ICC Academy, Dubai – High Performance and Development Coach. Coach throughout the Development Pathway and Performance Pathway, Created and led the Women and Girls Program, Led Masterclasses in Batting/Bowling/Fielding/ WK, Lecturer on the ICC Coach Education Courses and Wicket Keeping Modules. 1:1 Sessions with County players and International Players.

2018-2019 – UAE Cricket: Working with UAE Men’s, Women’s, U19, and Women’s development. UAE U19 Wicket Keeping Coach – Preparing Wicket Keepers for U19 Asia Cup.

2020 – Leicestershire County Cricket Club – Assistant Women’s Head Coach, Lead Coach on Batting and Fielding, Working with U18 Girls and Women’s Team.

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Parliament orders for arrest and prosecution of Brian White

By
Our Reporter
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Brian White

Parliament has ordered for the immediate arrest and prosecution of city businessman, Brian Kirumira also known as Brian White on charges of trafficking in persons.

The directive follows an inquiry by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, whose findings indicate that Kirumira sexually harassed a number of girls, physically tortured them and unlawfully confined them in his home.

On 14 May 2020, the Committee was directed by Parliament to consider a matter raised by Hon Henry Kibalya (NRM Bugabula South) about the sexual abuse and violation of rights of a one, Stella Nandawula and other women by Kirumira. The concern arose out of a televised programme highlighting the abuse.

The Committee report presented to Parliament during the Thursday, 6 May 2021 sitting indicates that Kirumira raped female ushers who worked at his Brian White Foundation, denied them access to their families and treated them with brutality.

“One of the victims, Vivian Mutanda told the committee that Kirumira treated girls as his property. He took their mobile phones; he would have sex with each one of them as he wanted without protection and did not allow them to contact their families,” said Hon. Agnes Taaka, the vice committee chairperson of the committee.

Taaka added that the security agencies were not of help to the girls and the rescue operation often protecting Kirumira.

“When Nandawula was being rescued, the Assistant Superintendent of Police, made a desperate call to the Assistant Inspector General of Police [AIGP] informing him that there is a car with armed policemen that followed the rescue party.  The AIGP asked them to divert their route twice but they were followed and thus the AIGP directed them to drive towards the police headquarters in Naguru where Nandawula was finally picked and taken to the shelter,” read the report in part.

This infuriated MPs who accused the Uganda Police Force and its sister agencies for misusing their mandate in defending a perpetuator while denying victims justice.

“When Police is on the side of the culprit and the culprit is enjoying impunity, it is absurd. Brian is treated as a VIP in this country but when I look at the order of precedence I don’t see him on the list’” said Hon Michael Timuzigu (NRM, Kajara County).

Mitooma District Woman MP, Hon Jovah Kamateeka said the security situation in the country was appalling as those mandated with protecting the citizens side with the criminals.

“Our hearts break seeing these young girls that are being taken advantage of, and having police looking on.Who knows how many people Kirumira has raped?” Kamateeka said.

Kamateeka added that this investigation should be an eye opener to government that such crimes are happening in the country “We have been advocating for shelters because when such victims report to police, they cannot go back home,” said Kamateeka.

Parliament was informed that some security agencies guarding Kirumira include the Presidential Police Guard and Special Forces Command (SFC) which legislators said was damaging to the image of the President.

“I consider the SFC to be a preserve of the Fountain of Honour – the Head of State, why are you desecrating the image?” Speaker Rebecca Kadaga asked.

Parliament wants government to empower the NGO Bureau to monitor the operations of the NGOs in order to crack down those carrying out illegal activities such as the Brian White Foundation which has diverted from its original mandate of caring for children’s welfare.

Parliament urged the Police to issue restraining orders to prevent Kirumira from contacting the girls and their families whose rights were allegedly violated by him.

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UNAIDS condemns sexual offenses law criminalizing people living with HIV

By
Our Reporter
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UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has condemned Uganda’s Parliament for passing the Sexual Offences Bill 2019, which includes provisions that further criminalizes people living with HIV.

The bill extends the criminalization of sex work and imposes mandatory testing for HIV and harsher sentences on people living with HIV than the general population accused of some similar crimes.

Although UNAIDS welcomed some aspects of the bill, such as the extension of protection from sexual harassment, violence and sexual exploitation to groups of people such as people in detention and migrant workers, it urged parliamentarians to reconsider the provisions that discriminate against some people.

“I am deeply troubled by the Ugandan parliament’s adoption of portions of this bill that further criminalize and marginalize vulnerable groups of fellow citizens and deny them their human rights, including their right to health,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.

“Targeting people living with HIV, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and sex workers increases stigma and discrimination and undermines the HIV response by preventing people from receiving the HIV treatment, prevention and care services that they so urgently need,” she said.

The number of AIDS-related deaths has fallen by 60% since 2010, with 1.2 million people out of 1.5 million people living with HIV on medicines to keep them alive and well in Uganda. In addition, the number of new HIV infections has fallen by 43% since 2010.

UNAIDS urges Uganda to join the growing number of countries in Africa and globally that are removing unjust laws from their penal codes. The Ugandan parliament’s adoption of the new laws comes just weeks before the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, which will take place from 8th to 10th June 2021.

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NMS on spot over inflated prices of health supplies

By
Our Reporter
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National-Medical-Stores-vehicle

Lawmakers have pinned the National Medical Stores (NMS) over mismanagement of procurements and distribution of health supplies and drugs.

As a result, the Committee on Public Accounts Committee (PAC)- Central Government has recommended that the NMS monopoly should be stopped because it is over charging hospitals and health units.

This was contained in the committee’s report on the report of the Auditor General on the Health Sector for year ended 30 June 2018.

The Chairperson of the committee, Hon Nathan Nandala-Mafabi said it was found that hospitals prefer buying drugs from Joint Medical Stores because they are cheaper.“Prices charged by NMS are beyond the market price. Even in the President’s letter dated 16 May 2020, he called NMS as anti-Ugandan operation,” Nandala-Mafabi said.

He said that indicative prices of medicine should be given to the users to assist them to determine the usage of their vote allocation.

“Budgeting should be done when the users know the prices and this would be the transparent way of determining that NMS is providing the essential medicine and health supplies at the market price,” he said.

Nandala-Mafabi added that the committee also discovered that Ministry of Health contracted NMS to procure uniforms for health workers which was not done.

“All the funds deposited by MoH were diverted as follows; the deposit for 2016/2017 was shs4 billion but no uniform was delivered. This cash was all withdrawn by NMS as soon as the money hit the account,” said Nandala-Mafabi.

He added that the deposit of 2017/2018 was shs5 billion and only shs3.1 billion was spent despite the inflated prices of uniforms, with no evidence to show that the balance of the money was still in the account.

According to Nandala-Mafabi, the committee also discovered that the deposit of 2018/2019 was shs4.35 billion but delivered uniforms worth Shs5.24 billion because PAC had raised the issue.

“Therefore by 30 June 2019, MoH had deposited Shs13.35 billion and yet the deliveries were only Shs8.3billion. The claimed usage of the shs8.37 billion was not verified because there was no accountability,” said Nandala-Mafabi adding that that, ‘shs4.9 billion was unaccounted for by 30h June 2019’.He said the committee recommended that procurement of uniforms should be reverted back to Ministry of Health since NMS has mismanaged the process, adding that a forensic audit should be carried out to establish the supply of uniform by NMS totaling to shs13.3 billion.

Hon Agnes Taaka (NRM, Bugiri District) said that NMS should be the first government entity that should be merged under MoH. “They need close supervision;let MoH deal directly with industries that manufacture drugs to avoid lengthy processes which have brought inefficiencies and corruption,” she said.

Kajara County MP, Hon Michael Timuzigu Kamugisha blamed the drug stock-outs in health facilities on the monopoly of NMS. “We do not have medical supplies and drugs in hospitals. Why are we making our people suffer? We are the representatives of the people, if they suffer, we also suffer,” he said.

Hon Robert Centenary (FDC, Kasese Municipality) said that health facilities should be given the mandate to procure their own drugs and medical supplies, as opposed to NMS

“NMs should just be a stockist like any other pharmacy and hospitals are allowed to procure their own drugs,” said Centenary.

The State Minster for Energy, Hon Sarah Opendi, disagreed with the recommendation to revert procurement of uniforms for health workers back to MoH. “NMS was given the mandate because MoH faced challenges with handling the procurement and distribution of uniforms,” Opendi said.

Responding to the drug stock outs in health facilities, Opendi accused health workers of stealing the drugs and stocking their private drug stores and clinics. She defended NMS, saying that the body sends drugs to health facilities quarterly.

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President Museveni gifts Onyango with brand new car

By
Our Reporter
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Car gifted to Onyango

President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni have gifted ex-Cranes captain and goalkeeper Denis Masinde Onyango with a brand new luxurious 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vehicle for his remarkable 16-year national team career.

The car was delivered to Onyango by the President in a ceremony at State House, Entebbe on Thursday evening. FUFA President Moses Magogo and FUFA CEO Edgar Watson attended the handover ceremony.

State Ministers Hamson Obua (Sports), Nakiwala Kiyingi (Youth and Children Affairs), National Council of Sports (NCS), and Uganda Olympics Committee (UOC) chairman Donald Rukare were also present.

Onyango also received a souvenir frame fitted with his Cranes shirt.

Onyango made his Cranes debut against Cape Verde in 2005 and retires with 79 caps for the national team. He was named Cranes captain in April 2017 following the retirement of veteran striker Geoffrey Massa.

The custodian features for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and in 2016, he was named Africa-based Player of the Year by CAF.

Museveni has in recent years offered luxurious cars to Stephen Kiprotich, Joshua Cheptegei, and Stella Chesang for their impressive performances.

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