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Sanitation week: WaterAid hands over sanitation facilities to Nansana Health center III

By
Geoffery Serugo
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WaterAid hands over sanitation facilities to Nansana Health center III

As part of harnessing access to clean and safe water in communities, Water Aid, has handed over sanitation facilities to Nansana Health center III ahead of the international water day celebrations.

The sanitation facilities which included a waterborne toilet, drinking water and water harvesting tank were received by the mayor of Nansana Municipality Mrs Regina Bakitte and the members of WASH Forum in parliament. A 14 stance waterborne toilet has been put up, which caters for persons with disabilities. It is designed with a foot pedal flush.

The facilities are aimed at helping mothers who faced a challenge of water scarcity during and after the delivery of babies, people with disability and other patients who visit the health facility for medical care.

 “The organisation brings together people in health and education and puts taps and toilets at the heart of hospitals and schools. To make an even bigger impact, they work with citizens, particularly women and girls, and build their abilities to hold service providers accountable.”

Speaking at the health facility, the Country director of Wateraid Jane Sembuche Mselle said for 30 years, water aid partnered with Ugandan local community organisations, helping them take ownership of sustainable projects that meet their needs and put them in control of their own futures.

She said the organisation is working with the Ugandan Government towards the achievement of their ambitious goal of reaching everyone with clean water by 2040.

Kumi Municipality MP Silas Aogon who also represented the members of WASH forum said applauded Water Aid for setting up sanitation facilities and relieving some of the burden off government’s should and vowed to spearhead the campaign for revisiting policies to cut down costs of water.

Mayor Bakitte implored her fellow leaders to ensure that resources are availed in the municipality budget to ensure the maintenance of the facility.

“The community needs continuous sensitization on proper usage of the WASH facility to maintain its purpose,” said the In Charge at Nabweru Health Center III Mwanja Hussein.

He said 90-130 deliveries happen at the Health Center each month yet the facility lacked a bathroom for the mothers in postnatal care.

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TRIBUTE: Magufuli defied all odds to raise to the top

By
Guest Writer
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RIP President Magufuli

 

 

My tribute to HE Dr JPAM. Dr Magufuli passed away last night after terminal heart failure. It is well known he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and had an ICD in situ. Dr Magufuli had collapsed several times before.He was a strong Catholic and really a down to earth man.

Dr Magufuli defied all odds to raise from being a secondary school teacher with only a diploma in education (Mathematics and chemistry) to earn a doctorate in chemistry. He represents a true son of Africa who despite a very tough background works so hard to make it in life. Dr Magufuli would later go on to become an MP at the age of only 35. Despite leading for only five years, Dr Magufuli achieved the following for his country:

1. Started an ambitious and the longest SGR in Africa. This will be the first electric railway system in EAC.

2. Tanzania is building the largest Power dam in Africa at R.Rufiji. This dam will generate 2GW of electricity.

3. He has modernised the infrastructure in Dar es slam. The city is now the fasted growing city in Africa.

4. He negotiated an oil pipeline with Uganda that will earn his country billions in revenue for the next 30 years.

5. Nationalised the mining sector making all mines to be owned by the government.

6. Refurbished education institutions. Dar es Saalam University now has the largest library in East and Central Africa.

7. Eliminated any forms of corruption in Tanzania.

8. Promoted Kiswahili as the official language for all government business in Tz. You can argue a case at the Supreme Court in Kiswahili today.

9. He defied imperialists from forcing his country to support same sex marriages and protected his country’s resources. While this attracted backlash, this is what Tanzanians believe in.

10.Dr Magufuli only visited two countries while in office. Rwanda and Kenya. At all times, he was negotiating multi-billion projects. Not visiting!

11.He initiated the construction of a port at Lake Tanganyika and another near Dar. He also reconstructed the Dar es Salam port making it very competitive. The port will soon become Ugandans preferred access to the sea.

12. Constructed the largest children cancer centre at Muhimbili.

13. Started the construction of LPG mining. This project like all projects in TZ is 100 per cent owned by the government.

He did all these in five years. Magufuli was a true son of Africa. He was a nationalist and loved his country. RIP HE Dr John Amos Pombe Magufuli. To all my Tanzania  friends, poleni sana.

Dathan Byonanebye, A PanAfrinist.

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Equator monument goes green as Irish mark St Patrick’s Day in Uganda

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Equator

The Embassy of Ireland in Uganda, in partnership with Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) have illuminated the Equator Monument along Masaka road greenin celebration of Ireland’s national day, St Patrick’s Day, which takes place annually on 17th March.

This marks the seventh year that Uganda has participated in the Global Greening initiative, an event that sees over 300 famous landmarks and iconic sites across the world go green for 17th March. In the past, these have included the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids in Egypt, Table Mountain in South Africa and the Equator Monument in Uganda, The Jinja Nile Bridge among others.

The Equator monument was chosen as a unique symbol of a meeting point of two nations committed to promoting collaboration and tourism. The greening event is a boost to both Uganda and Ireland’s tourism as images of the activity are shared across the world.

Second Secretary Cormac Shine shared “We are very excited to be partnering with UTB once again on the Global Greening and as well to green the Equator for the second time. “The Equator is one of Uganda’s iconic monuments and tourism landmarks and it’s an honor and privilege to shed a light on this as our sign of continued commitment towards supporting tourism in Uganda.”

Lilly Ajarova, UTB Chief Executive Officer welcomed the partnership with the Embassy of Ireland, noting “Uganda’s participation in this Irish greening initiative is part of our long working relationship with the Embassy of Ireland. The greening initiative has supported us to showcase our unique tourism attractions to the whole world. We are delighted that the Equator will once again take center stage in this greening initiative.” She added, “We wish the Irish a great St. Patrick’s Day.”

The eagerness of cities and countries worldwide to take part in the ‘Global Greening’ initiative underlines the strength of the deep connection that people all over the world feel to Ireland. More than 70 million people around the world claim links to the island of Ireland and St Patrick’s Day is a truly unique opportunity to connect these people, and others worldwide, with Irish culture and heritage.

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Housing Finance Bank, Enwealth Financial Services urge people to acquire mortgage through retirement benefits schemes

By
Our Reporter
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Housing Finance Bank Executive Director Ms. Peace Kabunga

Housing Finance Bank and Enwealth Financial Services have called on people in the formal sector to acquire Mortgage through Retirement Benefits Schemes.

The clarion call was made during two days training which covered a number of topics that included the mortgages housing model, selecting a mortgage provider and many other key topics to assist Ugandans in learning about and taking the necessary steps to own property through mortgage financing.

“Financiers are an important part of the housing value chain.” These were remarks made by Housing Finance Bank Executive Director Ms. Peace Kabunga, during a training on mortgages held at Kabira Country Club in partnership with Enwealth Financial Services.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the current housing deficit in Uganda is estimated at 2.1 million units, with the deficit at its highest in Kampala. In order to curtail this deficit, Housing Finance Bank has put in place interventions including 100% financing to enable the purchase or completion of residential property, partnership with low-cost housing developers, flexible loan repayments and Incremental housing which enables construction in phases as well as use of untitled land. The Bank is also actively facilitating housing support services including loans for solar and water connection.

Speaking at the training, Ms. Kabunga quoted the Center for Affordable Housing Finance (CAHF) report that stated that Uganda is largely driven by private sector-led housing development, which is unable to meet the growing demand for affordable housing. There is thus a widening deficit of housing, estimated at 200 000 units a year.

She further noted that 61% of working class live in rented houses and that 90% of households live in a rented apartment for up to 3 years and then shift. Additionally, most Ugandans build in phases for an average of 4 years as it is difficult to get money in a lumpsum. Unfortunately, most retirement packages do not support completion of a house at retirement.

On selecting a mortgage provider, Kabunga advised Ugandans to always do their due diligence to ensure that the selected provider has experience in the mortgage business, the financial strength to suit their needs and can provide an all-inclusive cost for the mortgage.

Over the past few months, Housing Finance Bank has entered into partnerships with the strategic objective of reducing the housing deficit in Uganda. Innovations such as the partnership with Bulooka App allow for Ugandans to open accounts, look for properties to buy and even pre-apply for a mortgage without additional fees.

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Museveni mourns death of Tanzania’s President John Magufuli

By
Our Reporter
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Museveni with Magufuli

President Yoweri Museveni has mourned the death of Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli.

Museveni in a tweet extended condolences to the people of Tanzania over the death of the 61-year-old president who succumbed to a heart attack.

He described Magufuli as a pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans.

“I have, with great sadness, learnt of the death of His Excellency John Pombe Magufuli. He was a pragmatic leader who believed in and worked for the economic empowerment of East Africans. We join Tanzania in mourning the passing of a great son of Africa. May his soul rest in peace,” Museveni tweeted.

Magufuli died of a heart attack at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam which he had been treating for the last ten years. Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu confirmed in a televised statement.

According to Tanzania’s constitution, the Vice President will now be sworn in as the new president and will serve the remainder of Magufuli’s five-year team which he began last year.

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Education Ministry clears Victoria University to open for physical learning

By
Our Reporter
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The Victoria University main campus in Kampala

The Ministry of Education and Sports has cleared Victoria University to start holding physical classes with compliance to guidelines and measures put in place to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor Victoria University, from Dr. Jane Egau Okou on behalf of the Permanent secretary for Ministry of Education and Sports, the institution has been ordered to ensure adequacy of space for classes and strict implementation of SOPs in all areas by the students.

“It is well noted that the university has adequately addressed itself to the matter of compliance to guidelines and measures put in place to fight Covid-19 pandemic. The University therefore proposes opening for physical learning,” part of the letter reads.

“The purpose of this letter, is to emphasize that there should never be any crowding to endanger staff and students. As per the guidance of the HE President, you should ensure adequacy of space for class and strict implementation of SOPs in all areas around the institution by all students. If you have adequate space and can keep all students effectively timetabled in a staggered manner, you should seek the approval of your Governing Council and implement as guided.”

The University has been holding online teaching classes for all its students and will now move to the physical bit after being cleared.

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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BoU deputy governor rejects constitutional amendment on Central Bank’s board composition

By
Our Reporter
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Deputy Governor, Dr Michael Atingo-Ego

Bank of Uganda has rejected proposals contained in a Constitutional Amendment bill seeking to separate the powers and office of the Governor from the Management of the Central Bank.

BoU officials led by Deputy Governor, Michael Atingi-Ego Tuesday appeared before Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee that is scrutunising the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020 tabled by Igara East MP, Michael Mawanda in May 2020.

The Bill is intended to remove the Governor and Deputy Governor from being chairperson and deputy chairperson of BoU’s Board of Directors respectively. The Bill wants the Governor to act as the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Bank.

MP Wawanda defended his move saying the constitutional amendment was intended to ensure that the Central Bank Board remains independent of the management so that it can carry out supervision without interference and conflict of interest.

However, BoU wants to status-quo to remain for the sake of Uganda’s financial sector stability.

Atingi-Ego told the Committee that the Governor has key targets to achieve especially in relation to monetary policy, price stability and if the current law is tampered with, it would be difficult achieve those targets in case of a conflict between Governor and Board Chairperson.

He argued that the case isn’t unique in Uganda and that 86 Central Banks around the world have the Governor as the Board Chairperson.

“The risk of conflict, especially for a board with public policy formulation roles is minimized by fusing the chairmanship of the board with Governorship and Chairmanship board held by the same person,” Atingi-Ego said.

BoU also rejected the proposal to exclude Deputy Governor from holding a seat on the Board.

However, MPs on the Committee rejected BoU’s argument, saying that the current status quo is what has created conflicts within the Central Bank. The MPs say the proposed amendment is intended to restore sanity within the Central Bank and there is need to end this fusion.

Bugweri County MP, Abdu Katuntu rejected the protest from the Central Bank not to separate Board from Management, saying the current mode is ancient and there is need to run the Central Bank in accordance with current corporate governance structures.

“Which office in this country that supervises the Governor and the Deputy Governor? None. Because we can’t have a vacuum where you have a Governor and Deputy Governor who are unsupervised. You even don’t have performance reports or evaluation of the Governor and Deputy Governor,” said Katuntu.

He added: “They are actually a law out of themselves. Because the Board that would have carried out such functions, he is actually the boss. I still think, we need to sort this problem out. When you look at what we call corporate governance, this issue of fusion of management and the board has since been abandoned.”

Mwenge South MP, Aston Kajara said that currently, the Governor as the Chief Executive of the Bank and the Board Chairperson, acts as the accountant, audits himself and also the cashier is all intertwined.

“Even in the bible, there is what we call the trinity, the powers aren’t so fused and in case of the Bank, it is all in one. The Governor can’t be omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. This marriage between the Board and Management is what we think isn’t proper,” said Kajara.

Atingi-Ego also rejected the proposal to end the practice of Board to approve the budget of the Central Bank and bring it back to Parliament, saying the current practice is based on international best practices and majority of Central Banks have their budgets approved by their Boards.

He added that the approach is intended to preserve central bank financial and functionality autonomy when taking decisions especially those regarding monetary policy and financial stability.

“The proposal effectively introduces a requirement for an external body to determine which monetary policy operations are justifiable, at what cost they should be conducted. Such an approach would ultimately raise questions on exactly which entity is accountable for monetary policy since the central bank would cease to be fully in charge of the choice on what is appropriate,” Atingi-Ego said.

He added that there is no need for Parliament to poke its nose into the Central Bank’s budget because if it was the case of separation of powers, there is already an Audit and Governance Committee of the Board that checks on management and its resolutions are final and binding on the Board and management.

However, MPs led by Bugiri Municipality, Asuman Basalirwa rejected his argument saying the body was established in contravention of the constitution that places overall powers of the Central Bank in the Board.

“How is this charter constituted? What is its legal efficacy? Where is it derived either from the Act or constitution that its resolutions should be binding? Who constitutes it? How is it funded? And how do you guard against its compromise?” Basalirwa said.

Mawanda drafted and tabled the constitutional amendment following the failure by Government to table amendments to restore sanity in management of Bank of Uganda as recommended by Parliament’s Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) after investigations into the controversial closure of seven commercial banks.

Parliament’s report had recommended for the separation of the offices of Governor and Deputy Governor from management so as to improve efficiency in the running of the Central Bank.

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Champions League ‘last eight’ confirmed

By
Our Reporter
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UCL draw balls

Bayern and Chelsea have joined Dortmund, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris, Porto and Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Chelsea made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after defeating La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid 3-0 on aggregate. Olivier Giroud put The Blues ahead in the first leg and Hakim Ziyech doubled Chelsea’s lead in the second leg before Emerson Palmieri sealed it all.

Liverpool and Manchester City also secured safe passage to the quarters after defeating RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach respectively with a similar score line 4-0.

Defending champions eased past Italy’s Lazio with a 6-2 aggregate win while 13-time record-winners Real Madrid eliminated Atalanta 4-1 on aggregate.

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) knocked out Barcelona to qualify for the quarterfinals with  a 5-2 win on aggregate while Dortmund knocked out Sevilla 5-4 on aggregate in a close encounter.

The draw takes place on Friday 19 March at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. It will feature match-ups for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

There are also no seeding, group or country restrictions as is the case in the Last 16 draw, meaning any team would be able to face any of the other teams in the draw.

Quarter-finals

First legs: 6/7 April

Second legs: 13/14 April

Semi-finals

First legs: 27/28 April

Second legs: 4/5 May

Final

Saturday 29 May (Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul)

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Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli is dead

By
Geoffery Serugo
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RIP: John Pombe Magufuli.

Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli is dead. He was aged 62 years.

Tanzanian Vice President Samia Suluhu has just announced in a televised statement

The Vice President said Magufuli died of heart attack which has been treating for the last ten years.

She said the heart attack  hit him on March 17, 2021, at about 6pm at Mzena Hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was admitted on March 14.

It’s been more than two weeks since Tanzanians last saw Magufuli in public. Last year, Tanzania lost its former President Benjamin Mkapa died of similar incidence. However, the public said he had died from #Covid-19.

Magafuli becomes the second president to die from ‘heart complications’ from East Africa after former Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza.

 

 

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Five arrested in Kawempe for alleged robberies

By
Our Reporter
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One of the suspects

The territorial Police in Kawempe have arrested five suspects on allegations of participating in a spate of robberies in Kawempe and its surrounding areas.

According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigire, Police officers who were on routine patrol in the area intercepted a motor vehicle registration number UBH 295F Passo that was driven by Michael Yiga, 28, a mechanic. On the vehicle’s dashboard was a UPDF cap.

When the vehicle occupant was tasked to explain how he got into possession of the cap, he intimated that it belonged to the owner of the vehicle. The mechanic led the officers to the owner of the vehicle identified as Ronald Ssenyonjo.

Ssenyonjo denied owning the UPDF cap, but he said he often hires his vehicle to two suspected soldiers, whom he suspects to have forgotten the cap in the car. He named the two suspected soldiers.

Luckily, the two suspected soldiers; Kanyehamye Kakistone, who was later found out to be a deserter in the UPDF, and Juma Kaya, a civilian, had visited Kanyanya Police Station to stand surety for another suspect in detention.

The suspect in detention had been arrested on offences of aggravated robbery of Shs1m and an Infinix mobile phone.

In an interaction with Kanyehamye and Kaya, police officers discovered that they are the suspects’ accomplices. They were also arrested and a search at their homes ordered.

During a search, detectives recovered a number of suspected stolen items and military uniforms.

It should be noted that police has in the past recorded and investigated cases where people allegedly in Uniforms belonging to security have stopped persons and motorcycle riders robbing them of their items and motorcycles and we highly suspect this is the same group.

Owoyesigire said the suspects are being held on offences of aggravated robbery and being possession of government stores and they will be arraigned in courts of law as soon as investigations are complete.

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