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Standard Chartered Bank donates Shs37 million to YouBelong Uganda

By
Our Reporter
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YBH team member explains the prescribed medication to the main carer of a returned family member

Standard Chartered has donated Shs 37 million to YouBelong Uganda to implement “PROJECT 500”. The team consists of social workers, psychiatric nurses, and occupational therapists.

PROJECT 500 is aimed at reducing the number of patients admitted in the National Mental Hospital by 500 to reduce congestion/overcrowding and ensure that the hospital’s health workforce has enough beds and equipment to cope adequately with the COVID19 pandemic.

As part of the donation, YouBelong Uganda will procure essential mental health medicines to support the treatment of 500 patients in their homes, train health workers at primary health centers for ongoing and sustainable support of the returned persons, in their mental health recovery and the assistance will also provide upkeep and travel assistance for YouBelong Uganda’ s team of social workers, occupational therapists and psychiatric nurses who provide psychosocial support services to affected individuals and their families.

Regina Mukiri, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited while handing over the donation said; “Our commitment to support various disadvantaged groups in our community is steadfast and it is also a testament to our Brand promise here for good. This latest donation we are making to the National Mental Hospital through YouBelong Uganda will provide short term relief and longer term assistance to persons who are receiving treatment for severe mental illness, to alleviate their struggle and protect them from being adversely impacted by the pandemic.”

“We are delighted to extend a COVID relief donation to persons with mental health challenges as this is a widespread challenge in our community that is often not prioritized yet the impact is far reaching, affecting several lives. We are confident that YouBelong Uganda, our partner NGO implementing “Project 500” has an impeccable track record and we look forward to achieving our objective with them, to alleviate the further spread of COVID 19 in the National Mental Hospital. As Standard Chartered we commit to not only stop at making this donation but actively participate through volunteering to support the successful implementation of PROJECT 500,” she said.

Mr. Byamah Mutamba, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of YouBelong Uganda said: “We are grateful to Standard Chartered Bank for the $10,000 donation towards PROJECT 500 and for entrusting us with the responsibility to support the National Mental Hospital to curb the spread of COVID 19 in that community. As you might be aware, there are nearly 1,000 patients in this hospital with a 550-bed capacity.”

“We are therefore working hard to move the 500 people out of the hospital as quickly as possible and resettle them back with their families and local communities and minimize relapse and readmissions. We are very aware that COVID19 can bring the work of the hospital to a standstill if it moves through the overcrowded wards so we will do everything we can to ensure we urgently decongest the hospital,” he concluded.

Some patients in the National Mental Hospital were diagnosed with COVID19 and were quickly isolated, and the quarantine worked effectively to curb further spread, however, effort is being made to decongest the hospital to prevent high impact should COVID19 intensify in future.

YouBelong Uganda has adapted a four week pre-discharge assessment process, a 12 week post discharge empowerment plan to a five week pre and post discharge intervention for those without complex needs. For those with more complex needs, the16-week process will continue to apply. All efforts are being made to ensure that data is collected and analyzed for future research purposes.

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VISA extends ‘Sasuza’ campaign into festive season

By
Our Reporter
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Visa

Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, has announced an extension of their Sasuza Visa consumer education campaign that aims to eliminate the practice of surcharging, where merchants levy extra charges on payments made using debit or credit cards at a Point of Sale (POS).

The campaign aims at changing consumer behavior to adopt cards as a form of payment by providing consumer education on the use of Visa cards at point of sale and online. VISA has partnered with Uganda Bankers Association to increase awareness about no merchant surcharging as Ugandans continue to pay with Visa.

‘Sasuza Visa’ now in its second phase, was first launched a few months back at a time when the country had just started battling with the novel Coronavirus pandemic with an aim of encouraging Ugandans to protect themselves by practicing cashless payments, physical distancing and good hygiene practices.

Commenting about the campaign extension, Visa Uganda Country Lead Salma Ingabire expressed her excitement at partnering with these credible entities to amplify the no merchant surcharging message while giving back to VISA users in Uganda.

“Our partners connect more than 61 million merchant locations across the globe and with them, we have been able to positively impact businesses across the country and the globe. I am honored to add Game Stores and Uganda Bankers Association to this list of partners as we continue to help businesses recover after the pandemic,” she noted.

“As we extend the Sasuza Visa campaign, we call upon Ugandans to remember to transact using Visa and not incur any additional charges,” Ingabire added.

Ms. Patricia Amito, the Head Communications and Corporate Affairs at Uganda Bankers Association welcomed the extension of the Sasuza Visa campaign.

“Uganda Bankers Association is happy to work with Visa as we continue to foster financial inclusion and deepen the financial infrastructure in Uganda. Through this campaign, we will continue to teach consumers about the benefits of transacting using their cards and eliminating the assumption that it is more expensive,” she noted.

Approximately a year ago, Bank of Uganda announced that extra charges were illegal and traders should stop levying them. According to the Central Bank, no business owner should set a minimum or maximum amount as a condition to using electronic card payments.

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Police officers equipped with retirement survival skills

By
Our Reporter
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Police officers equipped with retirement survival skills

Over 100 officers nearing retirement have been equipped with skills on how to live a better life after their service in the Uganda Police Force.

Drawn from the Kampala metropolitan policing area, the one day workshop ran under the theme “Demystifying the fear of life after retirement from active service” at CID headquarters Kibuli.

While opening the workshop, the deputy Director Human Resource Administration, SCP Musana Godfrey, urged the officers to take retirement as normal.

“Retirement is normal and is a must for all of us regardless of what age you are now. You need to plan at your own in your private life. Do not spend extravagantly what you are earning, make it a habit to save and invest it wisely as that is the only way that will make you live a meaningful life after retirement,” said Musana.

The workshop was organized to help participants understand and plan for life after retirement, understand the concept of retirement, explain the existing retirement policy in the Public service and equip participants with skills and techniques of coping up with retirement demands.

The participants benefited from privately sourced investment experts who guided the nearing retirement officers on the sustainable investments that can make them live comfortably as if they are still working.

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MUBS students to finalize semester with online studies

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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MUBS main building

Continuing students of Makerere University Business School-MUBS are set to complete their semester two academic year 2019/2020, studying and learning using online platforms.

According to Eldred Kyomuhangi-Manyindo, the school registrar in the letter dated 8th December to heads of departments, faculty deans, regional campus directors and continuing students. Students will resume online studies on 14th December and end on 22 December and the examinations will be done in January 2021.

The registrar said there will be an one hour training session for academic staff on how to use the MUBS e-learning platforms on 10th and 11th December 2020. She adds that students who will not be able to access the online lectures will be allowed to access a recorded version of the lectures.

According to the time table, the second year examination will commence on 4th January and end on 12th January 2021 and first year examination will be offered on 18th and end on 25th January 2021. The semester will end on 29th January 2021.

Kyomuhangi explains that whereas all lectures will be online, examinations will be offered in the typical classroom setting.

According to the National Council for higher education-NCHE, higher institutions of learning are allowed to open up for continuing students, as long as students are able to use open distance E-Learning -ODel which will help them deliver academic services to students without putting them at risk of contracting Covid-19.

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Judiciary prepares staff for retirement

By
Our Reporter
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Judiciary Prepares Staff for Retirement

More than 45 administrative staff of different ranks, who are due for retirement, were on Wednesday taken through a one-day pre-retirement workshop.

The training which took place at the Judicial Training Institute in Nakawa was organised by the Human Resources Department and JTI with the objective of guiding on the process of retirement.

The Executive Director of JTI, Justice Damalie N. Lwanga explained the need for the workshop. “The training will equip you with knowledge on how to plan for retirement, retirement-related financial management, exit management and how to keep active and healthy after retirement,” she said.

Justice Lwanga further observed that it was important for one to prepare for retirement as they approach the mandatory retirement age of 60 years as provided for in the Pensions Act.

She reassured the participants that retirement does not mean that one ceases to work or live a productive life but rather switch from active public service to other work and schedules.

Justice Lwanga urged the participants to mentor others to ensure continuity. “As you approach retirement, you need to continue working diligently and think of what legacy you will leave behind. You therefore have a duty to mentor other staff so that when time comes for you to retire, work can continue as you take on new responsibilities outside the formal work environment.”

She thanked the Judiciary Administration for facilitating the training, and JTI as well as the Human Resource Department for coordinating the workshop.

The Principal Human Resource Officer, Ms. Sandra Jackline Ongom, commended the participants for their diligent service.  “We are grateful for your services and that is why we are preparing you for the exit,” she said.

Ms. Ongom urged the participants to keep in touch with the Human Resource Department as there are many processes to be carried out especially when it comes to preparing for benefits.

She also encouraged the participants to share experiences and ideas so as to get knowledge on how well to plan for their retirement.

The participants were taken through several topics including demystifying retirement, exit management in the public service, management of personal finances and business, will writing and retirement planning.

The workshop was facilitated by Mr Bwire Simon (Principal HR Officer Public Service), Mr Bua Victor Leku (Commissioner Compensation Public Service), Mr Charles Ocici (Executive Director, Enterprise Uganda) and HW Moses Gabriel Angualia (Moderator).

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AWAC calls for decriminalization of sex workers

By
Geoffery Serugo
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AWAC

The Civil society Organisation, Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) has urged legislators to address the legal frameworks which have continued to detriment the rights of sex workers in the country.

Sex workers have since faced higher levels of violence and discrimination and his has hindered them from accessing inclusive health, justice and equal treatment enshrined in article 22, 24, 33 and 44 of the constitution of Uganda and Article 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which calls for Free and equal treatment, Freedom from discrimination, Right to life, Right to recognition before the law, Right to equality before the law, and Access to justice.

Speaking earlier today, the executive director of AWAC Macklean Kyomya said government should apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched, systematic, and intergenerational inequalities, exclusion and discrimination against sex workers.

“The existing plight has been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is associated with isolation, disrupted routines and diminished services have greatly impacted the lives including mental health of Female Sex Workers. They are faced with cultural, social, legal and language barriers to accessing services and information. This consequently compounds their vulnerability thus exposure to violence and exploitation,” she said.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions, sex workers faced increased harassment, arrests, detention, blackmail, and violence from the police and were denied food aid in many districts.

“Sex workers and their children were going hungry and struggling to access condoms, PEP, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Some were reported to have been thrown out of their housing. Young people in particular found it hard to access sexual and reproductive health services, and there was an increase in teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and gender-based violence,” she said.

She said Female Sex Workers living with HIV/TB, physical and mental disabilities including substance induced mental illness and their children emerged as the most vulnerable amongst the vulnerable during this pandemic, bearing the brunt of the inequalities and injustices faced by women and girls on the edges of society.

Female Sex Workers living with HIV have been constrained to discontinue their ARV treatment due to lack of food with which they take their medications causing malnutrition and the loss of lives or incapacitation.

On the same day to mark the international day for human rights, AWAC with the support of our partners in the promotion and protection of human rights launched Sex Workers’ Feminist Advocacy Agenda (SWoFAA). The launch was graced by Sarah Nakku, the community and networking advisor at UNAIDS.

The Agenda seeks to strengthen advocacy on decriminalization of sex work profession and to expand spaces for female sex workers to enhance their rights for Social protection and the promotion. It also intends to accelerated access to integrated universal health care services among female sex workers and other marginalized groups.

Nakku urged them to continue using condoms noting that AIDS is still a threat to our lives.

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2021 Elections to determine investor sentiment and pace of Uganda’s post #Covid-19 recovery

By
Guest Writer
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Razia Khan

The year 2021 is likely to be a pivotal year for the economy, with the Final Investment Decision (FID) on oil expected by June. Prior to the FID, elections brought forward by one month to mid-January are likely to determine investor sentiment and the pace of Uganda’s post-#Covid-19 recovery. Political risk is seen as elevated.

Protests following the arrest of opposition leader Bobi Wine in 2020 (accused of flouting #Covid-19 restrictions on the size of political rallies) drew a heavy-handed response from police, with scores killed. A post-election calming of sentiment would likely lend itself to a faster growth recovery.

Ongoing political volatility poses further downside risks to our 4.0 per cent GDP forecast for 2021 (revised from 5.0 per cent prior). We also lower our 2020 GDP forecast to -0.3 per cent (from 3.0 per cent) to reflect the deep contraction in Q2-2020, when a lockdown was imposed. Oil-related developments will guide medium-term prospects.

A positive FID would also see construction on an oil pipeline to Tanzania begin, potentially lifting 2022 GDP growth to 6.0% (5.2 per cent prior).

The COVID crisis will leave Uganda with an elevated debt ratio; public debt is forecast to reach 48 per cent of GDP in FY21 (ends 30 June), from c.40.8 per cent at end-FY20.

While Q1-FY21 revenue beat revised targets, a supplementary budget to cover Covid-19 related spending will cause the full-year deficit to widen. In line with the authorities’ guidance, we revise our FY20 deficit forecast to 7.7 per cent of GDP (from 7.5 per cent) and expect it to widen further to 10.4 per cent (9.0 per cent) in FY21, which covers the election period.

Authorities will seek additional multilateral financing to fund the deficit, alongside increasing the domestic borrowing requirement to Shs4.3 trillion (from Shs3.6 trillion) in FY21. Given closer engagement with the IMF, the FY22 budget (presented in June), will likely focus more on revenue mobilisation. However, we now see a more gradual narrowing of the deficit to 6.8 per cent in FY22 (6.0 per cent prior).

We expect the Bank of Uganda (BoU) to tighten its policy rate gradually post-election, having cut the central bank rate to a record-low 7.0 per cent amid the #Covid-19 crisis.

Although core inflation is likely to remain elevated as economic activity normalises, the Bank of Uganda is likely to look through current strength given the absence of demand-related pressures. We lower our headline inflation forecasts to 3.9 per cent for 2020 (from 4.2 per cent) and 5.7 per cent in 2021 (6.0 per cent). We expect policy tightening to resume around April 2021, but ongoing economic weakness would pose risks to the timing. We now expect only 200bps of tightening in 2021, to 9.0 per cent (250bps prior).

By Razia Khan (Chief Economist for Africa and Middle East, Standard Chartered Bank)

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FDC dismisses Ingrid Turinawe, two others from party

By
Our Reporter
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Ingrid Turinawe.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has dismissed Ingrid Turinawe, Winnie Babihuga, and Darius Tweyambe from the political party after they defied the party constitution and stood as independent candidates after losing out in the primaries.

In a letter copied to the FDC party president, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission and all flag bearers, the party Secretary General Nandala Mafabi states that as per Article 12(d) on Cessation, it states that; if a member joins another party or in an election stands as an independent ceases to be a member of FDC.

“The entire public is hereby informed that these independent candidates are not members of FDC and have no moral authority to act on behalf of FDC,” Mafabi stated.

Nandala also ordered that FDC structures in Rukungiri must only be used to solicit support for FDC and warned that any other party members who campaigns for an independent candidate or otherwise shall be dismissed from the party.

He further told the three members to immediately stop using the FDC sign and colors or otherwise they shall advise the Electoral Commission to disqualify them.

“Any member of the party who campaigns for an independent or otherwise shall be dismissed from the party,” Mafabi warned.

The party also confirmed its Rukungiri flag bearers as Tumwine (Rukungiri Municipality), Betty Muzanira (Woman MP Rukungiri), Charles Maharu (Mayor Rukungiri Municipality), Fred Turyamuhweza (Rujumbura Constituency) and Naboth Namanya (Rubabo County).

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Errant Generals must be rebuked by the Commander in Chief

By
Guest Writer
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Brig. Deus Sande

Electoral Commission Chairman and Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama, the country appreciates receipt of the initial badge of our electoral materials in a record time. However “cgs”, “ndc”, “psc”, initialled generals world over must be familiar with operational art, mission command, organization of command, mission analysis and exercise of command yet some are threatening to disapprove the outcome of the electoral process in breach of the army and national law. If so why don’t we abandon the general election altogether and adopt a LOTTERY to pick lucky leaders, to assist save the hundreds of Billions of shillings and Dollars, avoid chaos and resultant blood bath such as what is taking place in the country during this political season?.

This system worked for a poor young American boy many years ago who had lived single (alone) for some time and wished to get married but no girl would accept the boy’s proposal because of the moneyless condition he was in and certainly could not be able to support both himself and a wife. It is a situation in which many young men including the church goers (faithful) often find themselves. So in spite of all that the young lad could do, he was entirely unsuccessful in his hunt for someone to share life with. He had two problems; one how to secure sufficient income and two to convince the girl to marry him. The young man designed a plan to advertise in such a way that he could soon have a needed money to enable him get a girl to marry. So one morning his advertisement appeared in Georgian (USA) newspaper with catch words;

“A young man of a good figure and manners but not rich wishes to get married as soon as possible and needs money for this purpose. He therefore proposes the following strategy”. “Six Hundred serial numbered TICKETS shall be printed and each shall be sold for 50 (Fifty) US Dollars. The buyers of the tickets shall be restricted to only girls and or women under the age of 32. After all the tickets are sold, one lucky number shall be drawn and the owner of the ticket with that number shall be THE WINNER. The proposed price to be won by the lucky girl/woman shall be the young bachelor himself together with 50 per cent share of the 30,000 dollars   

We do not need to be prominent or influential to be good thinkers!!. For starters, I have read compelling and consistent regime stories and accepted the old normal is that every regime has destructive arrivists (the we’re going nowhere) and the Twakowa (we’re fed up) camps. Arrivists normally include civilian opportunists and armed personnel who tend to be intimidating, powerful, ambitious and dominant.

General Idi Amin Dada’s generation birthed Hussein Malera, Butabika, Isaac Maliyamungu, Nassur Abdallah, Hussein Mawa, Noparking extra but one would also find highly professional soldiers (Officers) such as Gen. Francis Nyangweso, Moses Ali, Hussein Ada. The Obote 2 Government produced the likes of Major Ageta, Basilio Olara Okello, Kakata Namiti and many others. It can therefore be dangerously abnormal to see LACK OF THE SAME CAMPS IN OUR CURRENT GOVERNMENT, BUT DISCIPLINE THEM.

 

Nabendeh Wamoto S.P (0776 658433)

simonwamoto@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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UEFA Champions League round of 16 line-up complete

By
Agencies
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UCL draw balls

The line-up for the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League round of 16 knockout stage is complete.

The 16 teams will be put into two pots – one for the seeded teams, who are the eight group winners, and one for the unseeded teams, who are the eight runners up.

Teams from the same national association/country cannot be drawn against each other.

English teams; Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City join defending champions Bayern Munich and 12 other teams from across Europe in the knockout stage.

The trio all won their respective groups to progress, with Manchester United the only side from the Premier League to suffer an early exit.

Spanish giants Barcelona and current La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid are two potential opponents for the English teams in the early knockout phase.

The seeded teams ahead of the draw are; Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid.

The unseeded are; Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Borussia Monchengladbach, Lazio, Porto, RB Leipzig, Sevilla.

The first legs will take place on 16, 17, 23 and 24 February, while the second legs will be played on 9, 10, 16, 17 March.

Seeded teams will play away for the first leg before being at home for the return matches.

The draw takes place on Monday, 14th December. It will be held at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

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