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#Covid-19: Former Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo tests positive

RIP Former Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo

The Former Makindye West Member of Parliament Hussein Kyanjo has tested positive of #Covid-19.

According to Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, Kyanjo’s #Covid-19 status was established after he went for his routine checkup at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) where patients are subjected to mandatory testing.

The outspoken Kyanjo, who served in the eighth and ninth Parliaments is currently at Entebbe Grade B Hospital where he will receive #Covid-19 related treatment.

“The samples were taken to Entebbe as a must. Though he has #Covid-19 patient, he is feeling well,” Ssewanyana said.

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Joyce Bagala resigns from NBS TV

Joyce Bagala

Celebrated journalist, Joyce Bagala has resigned from her job as the Chief News Editor at Next Media services to participate in elective politics.

Joyce will be contesting on NUP ticket, against NRM’s Judith Nabakooba for Mityana Woman MP. Dalton Espial Kaweesa is the new Chief News Editor, Next Media Services.

She joined NBS TV in 2016 and has been the flagship anchor of Amasengejje, the 7pm Luganda news broadcast. She also worked at Radio One and Akaboozi.

Bagala worked as a news reader in English at Beat FM, Buddu FM and Sanyu FM. She started anchoring Luganda news, at Sanyu FM.

In 2019, Bagala was one of the News managers suspended from work, on the directives of the Uganda Communications Commission for giving coverage to Presidential Hopefiul, and Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine protests.

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You Need To Know To Become A Human Resource Director In 2020

 

The Department of Human Resource is one of the most critical departments in a company since it is responsible for an organization’s overall development.

As a Human Resource Director, you are also responsible for multiple activities, not overseen by any other working staff.

However, if you like people and want to work with them, manage and guide them through difficulties, and work under a company with a common goal, the HR’s job role is tailor-made for you.

In addition to knowing your job, you also need to have the proper skills to make you suitable for the role. This blog gives you a brief idea about the different skills you require to become a full-fledged Human Resource Director.

The Top-9 Skills Required for Human Resource Director in 2020

1. Communication

The harsh truth is, if you do not have decent communication skills, you are not cut out for the job as a Human Resource Director.

While communication is the key to working together in other departments, it is painfully apparent that it is the very foundation of human resource management.

 

You need to have good communication skills, both in written and oral formats since you have to address many issues. You must be tactful while communicating with others since you are the advocator of the organization’s people, but the company’s benefit is also the sole aim. Hence, you must be an effective negotiator as well.

In 2020, there is a shift to technology. Hence, you need to know how to arrange meetings over the internet and address the entire office over text about new changes.

2. Multi-Tasking

The job role of a human resources administrator is massive.

Recruitment, staffing, training, looking after finances and legal issues, documentation, looking after health and benefits of employees, and even taking care of emergencies – everything comes under the HR’s jurisdiction.

Hence, you need to multi-task and keep switching from one to another task based on their urgency.

For example, even if you are doing some severe documentation, you need to rush to the aid of an employee who might have faced an accident or sign essential papers that require your approval.

3. Human Resource Development Skills

HR needs to recruit new individuals through an interview process, enlist them for training, and develop them into useful assets for the company.

The most crucial skill of HR is to find and recruit good talented people to the organization. As an HR, you also need to terminate an employee from the organization when they have tactfully served their purpose.

You are responsible for the overall development of the employees’ skills, behavior, and physical and mental condition to be in peak form while at work.

Without proper training and providing development opportunities, you can upgrade your employees to take up responsibility and learn and master new skills, thus boosting your workforce capabilities. Organizing sessions on leadership and teamwork can benefit the organization immensely.

4. Compassion

Since you hold the position of an HR, people will often come to you to resolve their issues.

You must take the time to listen to their problems and try to offer reasonable solutions if possible. Compassion is one of the critical elements of being an excellent HR Director.

If you look after your employees, they will also stay free from stressors and provide the organization with a better quality of work. However, you must also pay attention that they do not try to take advantage of your compassionate side.

5. Decision Making

As an HR administrator, you need to make a ton of decisions, ranging from recruiting people, granting someone leaves or an early day-off, and even terminating someone.

You need to be a good decision-maker and have the skill to make on the spot decisions to resolve general problems within the workforce. Moreover, you also need to possess the ability to forecast the usefulness of a specific plan.

 

When it comes to decision making as an HR administrator, it is also good to learn some organizational psychology.

In 2020, the technology has advanced, and many HR directors use software to aid them with the decision making processes through previous statistics and data metrics.

6. Organizational Skills

As an HR administrator, you need to make sure that you have the details about everyone.

You also need to make sure that you have a built-in process for handling different standard processes within the organization.

In the current day, Human Resource Information Systems software like SAP, or Oracle, help make the organizational job of HR a lot easier. It can store essential details about every single employee, such as their employment details, time of joining, work and health benefits, attendance, performance, payroll, and even their pension details.

Moreover, you can retrieve and access the server’s data whenever required and make modifications to the same. Furthermore, it also handles a lot of your accounting needs.

7. Knowledge of Legal Issues and Health Insurance

As an HR director, you need to be aware of all the legislation and compliance rules, and make sure that your company follows them.

You should also upgrade your activities to new regulations of the governing bodies. You also need to be aware and understand the basic employment laws to make on the spot decisions about hiring or firing an individual, and how to go about the process.

The employees in the company will look up to you for compensation and health benefits. While the health insurance companies will assist, you need to be aware of the various rules and regulations and analyze how different plans can help your employees, and choose the best one available.

8. Advice and Teamwork

There are many times when you need to arrange meetings between groups to resolve mutual differences between groups of people and promote teamwork.

 

You can also take the role of a guide for employees and help them by providing valuable advice. Sometimes, all you need to do is motivate your employees to complete the job.

As an HR, you also help conduct essential meetings, brainstorm ideas, and collect data from people to use in your metrics.

9. Discretion

An excellent HR Director knows how to keep a company’s confidential details.

Since you will be working in a top position in the company, you will be privy to many secrets and confidential documents. You must have the ability to keep them tightly shut and not let this critical information slip into casual conversation.

Competitors are always on the lookout for information about your company. Hence, an HR director who cannot keep secrets will bring the company down.

Conclusion

The job scope of a Human Resources Director is massive and challenging. However, if you have the right skills, you can become a worthy HR director. It is a bonus if you like to be surrounded by people, work for them, and grab a top position in the company.

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Tooro Kingdom partner with Coca-Cola Beverages Africa to Save River Mpanga

MOU Signing

Rwenzori Bottling Company a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa has signed a conservation partnership with the Tooro Kingdom to Save River Mpanga.

The conservation partnership, signed at the Coca-Cola Platform at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, Kampala, will involve clean-up activities to rid River Mpanga of plastic waste, and mobilization and sensitization of the people of Tooro about the dangers of irresponsible waste management.

The partnership will promote environmental conservation and protection of the 120km River Mpanga. Between October and December this year, the Kingdom of Tooro will run campaigns among residents of the best environmental practices in the community and responsible plastic waste management to promote recycling. Coca-Cola Beverages Africa has contributed Shs 20million to fund the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of Omukama, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV Joan Else Adyeeri, Tooro Minister of Tourism, said His Majesty is focused on the environment, youth, agriculture, tourism and, most of all, the environment.

“He wants to see Tooro become green again, it’s not just a touch of a button, we have to work for it and he is doing it. You will find him cleaning river Mpanga, planting trees and preaching the gospel of planting trees in the kingdom,” Adyeeri said.

“The campaign to ‘save River Mpanga’ was launched three years ago. We have done many activities including a fundraising dinner which was just a drop in the ocean because, if we don’t wake-up today, we are losing it. River Mpanga is important to all of us. It doesn’t serve only Coca-Cola, it supports the businesses and also provides water for domestic consumption, not only that, it boosts our tourism in Fort portal District. So it’s important that we all do our share to save River Mpanga,” she added.

“There are many things we can learn to live with, you can also learn to live with plastics. We can’t say don’t produce plastics, but you as a citizen, what you do with that plastic matters. So what do you do with it? This is the sensitization we want to carry out so that the message is inculcated from the youngest to the oldest,” she said.

Mr. Melkamu Abebe, General Manager of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa entities in Uganda in a message delivered by Kaheru Simon, Public Affairs and Communications Director of the company said: “The solution that the kingdom came-up with captured our attention because, the kingdom has decided to do three things; one, conduct clean-up activities at River Mpanga which involves removing all inorganic garbage from the river. That objective is in total synchronization with our objective to remove all plastic waste from the environment especially from the water,” he stated.

The company has established a recycling plant operating in Nakawa, whose main purpose is not only to recycle plastic but also an equal system that makes people take away plastic from the environment. The Coca-Cola Company in 2018, launched an initiative dubbed ‘World without Waste’ which includes the ambitious goal of collecting and recycling the equivalent of every bottle or can the company sells globally by 2030.

Since launching the initiative, the company has underwritten and implemented new recycling campaigns, as well as reinvented existing ones while adhering to the values of a closed-loop circular economy: a system in which all of the plastic packaging the company produces is designed to be recycled, kept in the economy, and reused in food and beverages.

“The other aspect is sensitization of people on proper plastic disposal- especially the river itself. This is very important to us as it creates sustainability.

We can’t throw money at the problem but instead, we need to change the mindset of the people so that going forward, they can enjoy this refreshing drinks but bring the bottle for recycling and keep the environment clean,” he said

“If river Mpanga is clean, our replenishment objective as a company is met. Water is the first ingredient in most of our beverages. It’s central to the long-term success of our business and the health of our communities. We have a responsibility to respect and protect water resources. Our Mbarara plant gets its water from River Rwizi, which is connected to river Mpanga. It doesn’t matter where we conduct our river cleaning activity, our environmental conservation initiatives are aimed at making sure the water we use is clean. This is for the benefit of all Ugandans who consume quality products,” he said.

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I am the only hope for the Kampala Woman MP seat-Namaganda

 

Agnes Namaganda who is aspiring for the Kampala Woman Member of Parliament  seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) party ticket has emphatically appealed to voters to send her to Parliament because she understands the unique needs of this constituency that are different from those of those from other districts.

She explained that the high cost of living in Kampala juxtaposed against the desire to live a financially comfortable life is a troubling reality for most residents. Kampala constituents are so hardworking the reason many of them sleep outside Kampala yet they spend all their waking hours in the city eking out a living.

“These people work a lot to support extended families. They pay heavy dues in rent and taxes yet they soldier on courageously hoping for a better tomorrow. So when a Kampala voter is choosing a leader, they are not doing so haphazardly. They are hoping for excellent representation so their plight can be noticed and addressed. Voters in Kampala get really hurt when they get a raw deal from the leaders who should be fighting for them. That’s what I have come to address. I want voters to feel that they can connect with me as we exchange ideas on how best we can address the unique challenges they face. The Kampala voter needs to know that I am the kind that will move heaven and hell to make sure they needs are given due attention,” Namaganda vowed.

Namaganda says she’s confident she’ll be considered for the NUP ticket after she picked and returned her Expression of Interest forms from NUP offices about three weeks ago.

“I am only waiting for the Electoral Commission at NUP to announce me as flag bearer because I have strong presence, a key criterion in determining the flag bearer,” she said.

About choosing to represent Kampala in particular, she explains that this district is a unique constituency. “Kampala is the think-tank of the nation and the Kampala Woman MP should accurately reflect this attribute. However, Kampala’s voters have not been receiving the excellent representation they deserve because of the quality of legislators they send to Parliament. We usually choose leaders that seek to ride on the wave of the moment to draw sympathy but we need to examine their ability to engage different opinions while carefully projecting and resonating with the feelings of the majority.

“Kampala deserves the best because we offer the best in terms of revenue and ideas to the nation. We need entirely pothole-free roads, excellent services and visible consideration of their ideas and suggestions in the face of challenges. Kampala people are hard workers so they want ideas on how they can earn more and make their lives better financially. This is exactly what I will be offering Kampala, she finishes off.

Namaganda says she left her job at Makerere University School of Public Health where she’s been heading the Communications and PR docket, to join politics.

She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Education majoring in Physics and Mathematics. Right out of university, she taught at Makerere High School-Migadde, Kololo High School, and Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Matugga. She then left the teaching profession and joined the Daily Monitor as a Features’ Writer for five years. Thereafter, she worked briefly with Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) before she joined Buganda Land Board where she rose through the ranks to become the Team Leader of Communications and Public Relations. It was from here that she joined Makerere University. At the moment, Namaganda is pursuing a Master in Public Health at Makerere University.

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You aren’t above the law: Anti-Corruption Court issues criminal summons against EOC boss Sylvia Muwebwa

The Anti-Corruption Court has issued criminal summons against the Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Commission Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi after she failed to appear before the magistrate.

She was summoned by chief magistrate, Pamela Lamunu Ocaya following a request for an extension by prosecution led by Harriet Ongom.

According to summons, is required to pronounce herself before court on 7th October to answer several charges of causing financial loss, embezzlement, corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud.

The charging of Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi and nine others follows the lunging of complaints to President Yoweri Museveni calling for his intervention. According to a petition dated 22nd May 2019, the whistleblower accused her of causing financial loss of over Shs200 million through termination of workers contracts and forcing workers to resign and replace them with her relatives and friends.

Since she took over the chairperson-ship of the commission, the whistleblower said Mrs Ntambi has unfairly dismissed over 11 staff, terminated over 10 staff contracts, and four contracts have not been renewed. In 2017/ 2018, the Auditor General advised the commission to employ people on permanent contracts however the chairperson declined and this has since led to financial losses.

They accused her of directing the collection of Shs100 million which they had approved in the commission meeting and the said money was to be used as kickbacks for individuals who worked hard for passing of the commission budget in 2018/19.

“It was paid and collected through individual bank accounts. It was collected and handed over to her at Kampala International University (KIU), Kansanga on 7th March 2019,” the whistle blower said. Despite being chairperson of the commission, Mrs Ntambi is averred to have forced her secretaries to pay her as consultant in production of various reports.

“The money was paid to Prof. Sunday Nicholas Olwor (Shs 14M), Kamahoro Enid (Shs 13M), Nassanga Sarah (Shs 5M), Atukunda Susan (Shs 6M), Mugisha James (Shs 12M), Kwesiga Ronnie (Shs 12M), Kwesiga Ronnie (Shs 10.55M), Sarah Nassanga (Shs 9M), Kwihangana Manasseh(Shs 13M), Prof. Sunday Nicholas Olwor (Shs 9.8M), Kwesiga Ronnie (Shs 9M) and sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi (Shs 13M),” payment slips indicate.

She is also accused of irregular approval of allowances of various members of the commission, using commission vehicle for doing private businesses, irregular recruitment of staff without embracing commission procedures. It is said that she illegally recruited Betty Namazzi, Juma Waira and Petau Isabirye Babirye.

The whistleblower also revealed that the Ag commissioner Jjemba Evans holds two offices as the head of department of compliance and enforcement and research, monitoring and evaluation.

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Stop internal fights – Kamuli NRM politicians told

Trevor Baleke (with money) as he campaigned for party youth flag bearers in Kamuli Municipality.

 

 

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Administrative Secretary for Kamuli District, Trevor Baleke, has warned the party members in the district against internal fights if the party is to continue being strong in Kamuli.

Baleke admitted that it was true NRM was choking on infighting and rumour mongering a thing he warned would reduce the strength of party with time if not worked on on time.

He was addressing reporters who found him at Kamuli Municipal Council grounds delivering logistical support and campaigning for the party flag bearers for Municipality Special Interest Groups Council elections minutes to polls.

Baleke who is also the NRM sub-county chairman of Wankole said during a period like now when the party is being challenged by the opposition, it is unnecessary for its own members to again engage in bickering and infighting.

He was responding to concern raised by one of the reporters who said the party support in the district was split because of its leaders.

The reporter was referring to political fighting between the district NRM chairperson Samuel Bamwole and the Admin.

“There is no fighting between me and my chairman. If there is any war then, I am not aware. What I only think is that we should not accept to mix personal misunderstandings with party business. A chairman is elected while an Admin is appointed by the Secretariat to do administrative work which is complementary to the political duties of the chairman and his executive. Why then should we fight when we are scoring in the same goal?

If there is anyone fighting me as I hear, then such persons should change. They should know we are here for the same purpose – ensuring that we as a party remain on the top,” said Baleke.

During the recently concluded party primaries, Baleke was out of office following an incident in which he was removed from office by some members of the district executive of NRM led by Bamwole on the eve of parliamentary primaries.

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Former Makerere University lecturer sentenced for sexually molesting female student

Rachel Njoroge

The former Makerere University Senior Administrative Assistant Edward Kisuze has been sentenced to a fine of Shs4 million or face two years in prison for sexually molesting Rachel Njoroge.

Kisuze was convicted of indecent assault and sentenced by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Miriam Akello.

“The judgement based on evidence adduced by prosecution. All ingredients of indecent assault were proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution witnesses. The accused is hereby sentenced to a fine of Shs4 million or in default serve two years in jail,” Akello ruled.

Mr. Kisuze was arrested in April 2018 following a photo that went viral on social media, with him allegedly sexually molesting Rachel Njoroge, a student who graduated in January 2018 and had reportedly gone to have her academic credentials certified.

Through his lawyer Kenneth Munungu, Kisuze applied for bail and fled on Shs2 million cash bail as his sureties Dickson Ndaga (his brother) Robert Semanda, Steven Semugela, Jonathan Muyingo were instructed to pay Shs20 million non-cash.

Prosecution averred that Ms. Njoroge was on April 13, 2018 forced into illicit act after she had gone to pick her transcript.

The accused is said to have locked the office and suddenly started harassing her in the due process Njoroge picked out her phone and started taking pictures after realizing that there were no cameras in the office.

Thereafter she reported the case to university administration and recorded a statement with university police leading to suspension of the Kisuze from carrying out university related activities and accessing senate building for stepped-up investigations to thrive.

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East African Court dismisses Male Mabirizi’s petition challenging presidential age limit

Lawyer Male Mabirizi

The East African Court of Justice ( EACJ ) has dismissed the presidential age limit petition filed by lawyer Male Mabirizi.

In May last year, Mabirizi petitioned EACJ to invalidate Constitutional Amendment Act 2018 which endorsed presidential age limit removal in the Constitution.

The petition followed the Supreme Court pronouncement in which majority justices (4:3) dismissed Mabirizi’s appeal, on the premise that minor omissions had no meaningful effect on the process of the entire enactment of the Act.

The then Chief Justice Bart Katureebe, Stella Arach Amoko, Rubby Opio Aweri, and Jotham Tumwesigye upheld the earlier Constitutional Court verdict. The dissenters were Eldad Mwangusya, Lilian Tibatemwa- Ekirikubinza, and Paul Mugamba.

Mabirizi contends that the actions of Parliament, Executive and the Judiciary, contravene provisions of the Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community (EAC). He wanted the article 102 (b) reinstated.

On July 14th 2020, five judges at the Arusha-based court in Tanzania, through video-link, heard the final submissions from Mabirizi and Uganda Attorney General (AG) William Byaruhanga.

According to the judgement delivered by EACJ Principal Judge Monica Mugenyi, the court dismissed the matter and ordered each party to bear its costs.

Court ruled that when the parliament of Uganda passes the law despite irregularities and president assents to it, it becomes binding.

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2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage draw preview

UCL draw balls

The 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage draw is scheduled to take place tomorrow on Thursday 1st October at the RTS studios in Geneva, Switzerland.

The annual draw for the group stages will take place after the last remaining play-off round ties are decided on Wednesday.

As always, there will be 32 teams to be drawn into eight groups of four, with the restriction that teams from the same association or country cannot be drawn against each other.

Bayern return to the 2020/21 competition as holders having beaten Paris in the final in Lisbon to become European champions for a sixth time.

The UEFA Executive Committee decided on 24 September that five substitutions will be allowed for the remainder of the season. Consequently, the number of players allowed on the match sheet will be increased to 23.

Apart from the UCL draw, UEFA will also be using the ceremony to announce the 2019/20 UEFA Best Player in Europe.

Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski is up against teammate Manuel Neuer and Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne for the top award.

UEFA will also award the Goalkeeper of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season, Defender of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season, Midfielder of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season and Forward of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season.

Pots

Pot 1: Bayern, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Porto.

Pot 2: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Ajax.

Pot 3: Dynamo Kyiv (UKR), Salzburg (AUT), RB Leipzig (GER), Internazionale Milano (ITA), Olympiacos (GRE), Lazio (ITA), Krasnodar (RUS), Atalanta (ITA)

Pot 4: Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS), Marseille (FRA), Club Brugge (BEL), Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER), İstanbul Başakşehir (TUR), Midtjylland (DEN), Rennes (FRA), Ferencváros (HUN)

The group stages get underway in the week of October 19, with six rounds of group games running through to mid-December.

Matchday 1: October 20/21

Matchday 2: October 27/28

Matchday 3: November 3/4

Matchday 4: November 24/25

Matchday 5: December 1/2

Matchday 6: December 8/9

This season’s final will be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul.

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