Forum for Democratic Change Parliamentary candidate for Bugweri who doubles as city Advocate Julius Galisonga has been shot at by police.
Galisonga who is as well an advocate for the FDC party, was part of the party faithful who escorted the party president and FDC flag bearer Eng. Patrick Oboi Amuriat to Soroti.
However, Galisonga was unwounded as the bullet didn’t harm him but destroyed his cross-country Benz.
National honors and awards Act No. 14 enacted in 2001 and accented to by the President in 2005. Its commencement date was on 1st Aug. 2007.
Not much information is available on the history of Honors and Awards but the earliest record I have ever known is that of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte. It’s the Highest Decoration in France established in 1804, it was Napoleon’s wish to commend Civilians and Combatants alike. Every country or organization has its own system of recognizing and rewarding outstanding contributions and achievements of their citizens (staff).
Prominent examples of awards are, the Academy Award (Oscars), Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Awards, Nobel Prize Awards, Olympic Champion Awards, International Footballer Awards.
Recently it took over three weeks for the world’s Athletic Vetting and confirming of one of our own Joshua Cheptegei’s new record!!. Equally religious organizations like Churches beautify their persons and award titles like Monsignor, Canon, Archbishop etcetera. The Academia likewise confers many titles like Professor, Honorary Professor, Senator.
The corporate sector also hands out awards like the Employee of the year or sales person of the month awards. Such recognition puts on record public appreciation for the sacrifice and or contributions of persons who have distinguished themselves in service of the country or the institution. The importance of awards include: they are instruments for inspiring Citizens to strive for excellence, they are a motivation to contribute more actively towards promoting the nation’s value systems, they are an indication of the kind of behavior desired above and beyond the normal and instill a sense of patriotism and nationalism in society.
Awards in the form of Orders, Medals and Decorations exist almost everywhere in society. Governments and Non-government organizations all give awards in Sports, the Civil, Military, Media, Culture among others.
Much of my teenager life was spent in Kenya, where their awards and honors are formatted and designed in a way that their medal initials form part of the recipient’s signature block e.g. Elder of the Golden Heart of Kenya (Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni – EGH), Elder of the Burning Spear (Gen. Mugisha Muntu- EBS), Chief of the Golden Heart of Kenya (Nabendeh Wamoto Simon – CGH), Chief of the Golden Heart of Kenya (Dr. Col. Kiiza Besigye – CGH) and so on and so forth. By the year 2004 my Kenyan OBs and OGs at Kenya Utalii College who were working and State House – Nairobi had been awarded Elder of the Burning Spear due to their sensitive appointments and were surprised that I had not been awarded yet I was in the middle of a more sensitive assignment feeding not one but hundreds of the region’s Army Generals!!.
Uganda awards Nalubale medal, Kagera medal, Luweero Triangle medal, National Independence medal, Damu medal, Distinguished Order of the Crested Crane and the Distinguished Order of the Nile but the identification and vetting of recipients especially by the Resident District Commissioners, Presidential Awards Committee (PAC) and secretary to the Chancery is up to now not understandable.
Nabendeh Wamoto S.P (0776-658433)
Email: simonwamoto@yahoo.co.uk
The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has hailed the female staff of Parliament for pursuing the corporate social responsibility agenda of the Institution on voluntary basis.
Kadaga expressed gratitude towards her staff on learning that they mobilised over Shs 6 million in June 2020 to support the outsourced cleaners of Parliament who had to trek long distances to work during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Speaker was further moved on discovering that they have also been involved in mobilising relief items for the victims of the mudslides in Bududa district – a practice, she said, should be entrenched in the culture of Parliament.
“I thank you for your corporate social responsibility. I think we should have a regular plan to support people who are in need – we could perhaps arrange to collect items every three months, such that we support those who are less fortunate,” said Kadaga.
Kadaga made the remarks at the annual get together of the Parliament Women Staff Forum at Mestil Hotel in Kampala on Friday, 6 November 2020.
She was enthralled by the rate at which women in Parliament are rising in rank. “On the recent promotions within Parliament, I have been told that women took 20 percent, I hope that in the future, we shall get 60 percent. I hope the situation will change and the true position of women will be given to them,” said Kadaga.
The forum’s chairperson and also Assistant Director for Communication and Public Affairs, Helen Kawesa, said the forum has provided a platform for building their member’s capabilities to aspire for higher positions.
“Last year we trained women on how to prepare for interviews. There were 50 posts which were advertised and at the very best, women ordinarily get 10 posts. I am here to announce that of the 50 posts, the ladies scooped 20,” said Kawesa.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan tipped the women staff to use their forum and plan for retirement. “As politicians we have plan for a fallback position. When we retire, we should not be vulnerable – this is the forum where you can share about such,” counselled Ocan.
Formed in 2013, the forum is a platform whose objective is to encourage, challenge, impact and bond its members.
The draws for the both the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup are set to take place in Cairo on Monday, 09 November 2020.
Reigning Uganda Premier League champions Vipers Sports Club will learn their opponents when the draw for the preliminary and last-32 rounds of the 2020/21 Caf Champions League is held.
The first leg of the preliminary rounds of the competitions is scheduled to be played between 20-22 November while the second leg will be played between 27-29 November.
Last time out in 2018, Vipers got past the preliminary stage defeating Sudan’s El Merriekh but lost to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien in the next round and settled for the Caf Confederation Cup. They also lost to Algeria’s CS Constantine and missed out on the group stages.
KCCA FC, who will represent Uganda in the Caf Confederations Cup have been exempted from the 2020/2021 CAF inter-club preliminary rounds thanks to their continental rankings. They will find out who they could potentially face in the next round.
Egyptian clubs; Al Ahly and Zamalek, will contest in the 2020 CAF Champions League final on November 27.
Banking group I&M Holdings will pay USD 33.6m (Shs112 billion) to acquire a 90 per cent stake in Uganda’s Orient Bank, according to disclosures in a circular to shareholders.
The shares will be bought from Hemlata Karia, Jay Karia, Morka Holdings Limited, Zhong Shuang Quan, Cornerstone M8 Limited and the bank’s founder Ketan Morjaria.
Dr Morjaria, who currently holds a 7.91 percent stake, will only sell part of his shares and will retain a 5.5 percent equity in what will become I&M’s subsidiary.
Mr Alemayehu Fisseha is not selling his holdings and will also retain a 4.5 percent interest in the bank.
“I&M is required to effect payment of the purchase consideration for Orient’s shares by way of an amount in $33.6 million (Sh112 billion),” the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed lender said in the circular.
I&M added that the purchase price is subject to further adjustments on account of several factors including exchange rate fluctuations and the amounts raised from the sale of the Ugandan bank’s property in Kampala (Orient Plaza).
The deal will add to I&M’s regional banking operations comprising Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Mauritius.
The lender had been eyeing the Ugandan market as early as 2014 in pursuit of growth and regional diversification strategy that is also seen among rivals like KCB Group, Equity Group and DTB Group.
“The combined group will be better able to serve the needs of regional and global customers, and in turn promote regional trade flows,” I&M said of the Orient Bank buyout.
“In its regional expansion strategy, I&M Bank Group seeks to follow its customers in order to support their business and banking needs. This will be fulfilled by its presence in Uganda.”
Orient Bank reported a net loss equivalent to Sh30.9 million in the year ended December 2019 when its shareholder funds or book value stood at Sh3.3 billion.
Dr Morjaria is also a founder and significant shareholder in Kenya’s Credit Bank that recently unsuccessfully tried to raise Sh1 billion of new capital from private equity firm Oikocredit International.
He has a 9.8 percent stake in Credit Bank.
I&M currently runs a corporate finance advisory business, I&M Burbidge Capital, in Uganda and acquisition of the bank will expand its operations in that market.
I&M’s move underlines the growing quest among local lenders for a bigger presence in the regional market where uptake of financial services is lower than Kenya.
This signals significant growth opportunities in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi that have fewer banks compared to Kenya’s 38 lenders. There are 24 banks operating in Uganda, including subsidiaries of KCB , Equity , and DTB .
The official campaigning period for all nominated presidential, parliamentary and local government council candidates begins today across the country.
The campaigns will run for 64 days and end on January 12th, 2021 according to the Electoral Commission.
The electoral body warned all of the nominated candidates to desist from using ethnic, religious or divisive language that could create tension and possible violence during their campaigns.
EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama called upon the nominated candidates to continue observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the Ministry of Health throughout their campaigns to curb the spread of Covid-19 and also the guidelines issued by EC throughout the campaign period.
Last week, the commission nominated 11 candidates for the 2021 presidential race. They are; the incumbent Yoweri Museveni of NRM, NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, FDC’c Patrick Oboi Amuriat, DP’s Nobert Mao and ANT’s Mugisha Muntu.
Gen Henry Tumuknde is running independently just like John Katumba, Fred Mwesigye, Willy Mayambala and Joseph Kabuleta. Nancy Linda Kalembe, also running on independent ticket, is the only female candidate in next year’s presidential race.
Museveni is expected to kick off his campaign in Luweero while Bobi wine will start in Arua. Gen Tumukunde will kick off his campaign on Tuesday in Rukungiri, Fred Mwesigye starts off in Kampala, Nancy kalembe in Jinja while Joseph Kabuleta will be in Gulu.
Ugandans will go to the polls to elect their Members of Parliament (MPs) and President on January 14th, 2021.
Eng. Dr. Ben Manyindo has retired from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) as the Executive Director.
According to a statement issued by UNBS communications office, Dr. Manyindo retired from UNBS Service with effect from 1st November, 2020.
“The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) wishes to inform the General Public and all Stakeholders that its long serving Executive Director, Eng. Dr. Ben Manyindo has retired from UNBS Service with effect from 1st November, 2020,” reads part of the statement.
Manyindo leaves the service after serving for twenty-two years since 1998. He became the bureau’s executive director in 2012.
“The Bureau acknowledges the great contribution made by Dr. Manyindo towards its growth in terms of infrastructure and service delivery during his tenure of service. He joined the Bureau in 1998 as the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Technical Operations before assuming the position of the Executive Director in 2012 where he has been at the helm for last 8 years,” the statement further reads.
Accordingly, Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru who is the Deputy Executive Director in charge of Management and Financial Services at the Bureau has been appointed as the Acting Executive Director until the process of recruiting the substantive Executive Director is concluded.
UNBS says it is committed to continue performing its critical mandate of developing, promoting and enforcing national standards in order to protect the safety and health of consumers and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.
It will be held at the indoor stadium of the DaeguAthletics Promotion Center for about three weeks starting from the 16th to the 11th of next month.
4,000 people will participate, including 1,700 who participated in the first and second rounds.
□ The Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (President Lee Man-hee, hereinafter referred to as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus) announced that the 3rd group plasma donation which is the scale of 4,000 people for about three weeks from the 16th to the 11th of next month for the development of Covid 19 treatment.
□ Last month, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention asked Shincheonji Church of Jesus for cooperation in plasma donation, saying, “With the continuous outbreak of Covid 19 at home and abroad and no effective treatment, it is necessary to develop a faster blood plasma treatment system through group plasma donation.”
I□ Shincheonji Church of Jesus conducted tworounds of the group plasma donations in July and September. So far, 2,030 people have beenreported to have completed plasma donation to develop a vaccine. And among them 1,700 people are the congregation members of Shincheonji church of Jesus and 312 people did this more than 2 times.
□ Kwon Joon-wook, The deputy director of the Central Anti-Disaster Headquarters, said in a regular press briefing that was held on the 3rd, “About 4,000 plasma donors from Shincheonji church of Jesus will donate the plasma in Daegufor three weeks from the 16th,” and added saying,“We are grateful for Shincheonji’s active participation and cooperation from DaeguMetropolitan City and the Korean Red Cross.”
□ The third group plasma donation will be held at the indoor stadium of the Daegu Athletics Promotion Center, and volunteers (of the Shincheonji church) will also be supported for smooth operation. In addition, as it was in the first and second rounds, the donors from Shincheonji will not receive the transport fee which is about 200~ 300 US dollars (around 200,000~300,000 Korean won) to reduce the burden on taxpayers’ money.
□ An official from Shincheonji Church of Jesussaid, “We were happy and grateful to hear on the news that the plasma treatment (CG Green Cross) was being used in the medical field. “It’s the most valuable thing we can do (as a recovery),” he said. “Through the experience of plasma donation, all the congregation members have realized that the power to overcome Covid 19 lies in engagement, love and unity. We will do our best to help the Republic of Korea overcome Covid 19 with the plasma treatment,” he said.
□ “We know that there are voices of concern as church facilities are ordered to be closed down by region,” he added. “Regardless of the order to shut down facilities and lift the ban, the National Shincheonji Church of Jesus will maintain its online service until Covid 19 enters a stable state for the protection of its members and for the sake ofthe health and safety of the community. So you don’t have to worry.”
The Ministry of Health has received three ambulances procured with support from United Nations Children’s Fund – UNICEF and financial assistance from the Government of Sweden. The ambulances will be deployed in Pakwach, Madi-Okollo and Obongi District Local Governments in the West Nile Region, to support timely referral and transportation of women and children with complications to health facilities.
Complications due to pregnancy and childbirth and during the neonatal period remain the leading causes of maternal and newborn deaths in Uganda. Nevertheless, communities especially those in hard-to-reach areas continue to experience delays in accessing health facilities in a timely manner, putting at risk more mothers and their babies.
Many of the delays are due to lack of transportation, lack of funds to pay for transport, poor road infrastructure and poor communication networks. In the three youngest districts of West Nile – Pakwach, Madi-Okollo and Obongi, the situation is not different.
“Strong referral systems are critical if we are to reach every child and mother with health care services,” said Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. “There is no doubt that with the ambulances we have received today, we will reach many more mothers and children in need of health care services and with complications to save their lives.” Dr Atwine further appreciated the timely support from UNICEF and the Government of Sweden in improving health service delivery.
The support will therefore, significantly address delays in accessing transport for mothers and children, with complications and residing in remote places to ensure they access health facilities in time, as well as support inter-facility referrals for emergency cases.
Improving referral systems, linkages between communities and facilities and timely transfer between the different levels of health facilities is a key priority for the Government of Uganda, an area partners like the Government of Sweden and UNICEF are investing in.
“As we collectively work towards improving the quality of services that these facilities provide, it is extremely important that the most vulnerable populations – pregnant women and sick children – can easily access services when they most need them and that we collectively commit to maintaining functionality and proper use of the resources we have,” said Ola Hällgren, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden.
“Supporting access to quality essential health services also means continuous capacity building for frontline health workers, ensuring that medicines, supplies and basic equipment are available, and that service delivery is routinely monitored for timely redress of challenges. That is why we in July increased our support to UNICEF with US$ 4.4 million, to support Uganda’s #Covid-19 response and mitigation efforts towards the continued delivery of essential health services for pregnant and breastfeeding women, newborns, young children, and adolescents. Sweden remains committed to supporting reproductive, maternal and child health in Uganda, especially during the current challenges faced by vulnerable populations brought about by the #Covid-19 pandemic.,” Mr. Hällgren added.
UNICEF continues to focus on improving the quality of services at health facilities and supporting physical access to essential health services especially for mothers and children by addressing the barriers, including the prohibitive transportation costs of reaching health facilities for deliveries and when complications happen. The interventions will address the major delays that prevent timely access of health care services by the mothers, newborns and children.
The Acting UNICEF Representative in Uganda Mr. Shadrack Omolo, thanked Sweden for their support.
Mr. Shadrack emphasized that “the focus to address transport barriers, especially in the context of #Covid-19 is timely. We can help save lives by making sure that every pregnant mother and child receives the support they need to reach the facility before it is too late.”
UNICEF has partnered with the Embassy of Sweden since 2017, focusing primarily on improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in West Nile.
The funding provided to West Nile through UNICEF is being invested at facility and community levels, in maternal, newborn, and child health services and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene infrastructure and has contributed to the ability of health facilities and hospitals across West Nile to comprehensively manage pregnancy-related and newborn complications.
In July 2020, Sweden supplemented the RMNCAH programme by providing an additional US$ 4.4 million to support the Ministry of Health in its response to #Covid-19, including for Personal Protective Equipment for health workers, Oxygen Therapy, improvements of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in health facilities and establishment of High Dependency Units for maternal health.
The quarterly bank lending survey conducted by the Statistics Department of Bank of Uganda indicates that Commercial banks will maintain their price terms and conditions with a bias towards easing for average loans and prime borrowers and tightening for riskier loans in the quarter to December 2020.
The survey which was conducted in 24 commercial banks and nine non bank deposit-taking financial institutions in Uganda indicate that majority of the banks (77.0%) expect their lending rates to remain largely unchanged, 23.0 per cent expect the rates to decrease, while no bank expects the rates to increase over the next quarter to December 2020.
“The lending rate is anticipated to decrease on average by 0.25 percentage points, over the quarter to December 2020. Banks that anticipated their lending rates to decrease attributed it to the continued low CBR, reduction in the cost of funding, and the need to lower prime rates due to competition among financial institutions for prime borrowers.” the survey indicated
The demand for loans by enterprises and households is expected to increase in the quarter to December 2020 than was anticipated in the previous survey results, due to higher demand for loans from SME and households.
As regards non-price terms and conditions, banks expect to keep non-interest rate charges and maturity period largely unchanged with a bias towards easing for non-interest rate charges and tightening for maturity period
“Price terms and conditions for consumer credit are expected to tighten on a net basis for riskier loans, but ease for average loans and prime borrowers over the next three months to December 2020. Majority of the non-price terms and conditions are expected to remain unchanged with a bias towards tightening on a net basis, except for non-interest rate charges that are anticipated to ease.”
On a net basis, banks expect the default rate on loans to both enterprises and households to increase in the three months to December 2020.
According to the survey, default rate on loans to enterprises and households is expected increase due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business activities, employment and incomes of firms and households.
