Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
18.2 C
Kampala
Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
Home Blog Page 939

Col. Rtd Shaban Bantariza laid to rest

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
RIP Col-Shaban Bantariza

The Deputy government Spokesperson Col. Rdt Shaban Bantariza has been laid to rest at his ancestral home Kagorogoro village, Mitooma District.

According to government Spokesman Ofwono Opondo, the deceased was accorded full military honors of 24 gun salute each of the eight firing shot three bullets in a calibrated pattern.

Bantariza died at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he was admitted over hypertension and eventually #Covid-19. Remarking at Mulago hospital, Opondo said his deputy has always been complaining of chest pain, low blood pressure and cough.

Col. Rtd Shaban was first admitted to Mbuya military hospital, from where he was taken to Victoria clinic before being transferred to Mulago after they had suspected he could have contracted #Covid-19. Upon testing at Mulago and medical verification, it was confirmed that the deceased had contracted #Covid-19.

Batanzira was born in Mitooma District in Uganda’s Western Region, circa 1963. He attended St. Leo’s College, Kyegobe, in Fort Portal, Kabarole District for his O-Level studies. He then joined the Catholic brotherhood, where he trained as an elementary school teacher.

Col. Shaban Bantariza laid to rest

While pursuing a course at Makerere University in 1985, he abandoned his studies and joined the National Resistance Army, led by Yoweri Museveni. He attended guerrilla bootcamp in the Kabarore area, in foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. He also attended and graduated from the Uganda Senior Command and Staff College, having studied the senior command course offered annually at the college.

Bantariza served as the UPDF Spokesperson from 2000 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2006. For a period of time, prior to February 2009, Batanzira, at the rank of lieutenant colonel, served as the commander of the Oliver Tambo Leadership School in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District. On  February 26, 2009, he was appointed commandant of the National Leadership Institute (NALI), in Kyankwanzi, Kyankwanzi District. He served in that capacity until he was relieved of his duties on October 7, 2011.

In June 2013, he was appointed as Deputy Executive Director of the National Media Centre. On July 2, 2013, at the rank of colonel, he was arrested, charged with embezzlement and remanded to Makindye Military prison by the General Court Martial on charges of alleged fraud. After proceedings that lasted nearly three years, the Court Martial, chaired by Major General Levi Karuhanga, acquitted Colonel Bantariza due to lack of evidence against him, on April 14, 2015.

On June 24, 2015, following his acquittal by the general court martial, he resumed work at the Uganda Media Centre, the president of Uganda having directed in writing that Bantariza resumes work.

Stories Continues after ad

Standard Chartered PLC registers losses in third quarter of the year 2020

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Bill Winter, CEO Standard Chartered Bank

Standard Chartered PLC has registered losses in the third quarter of the year 2020. The losses are alluded to the challenging situation caused by Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the third quarter of 2020 results, income declined 12% impacted by lower interest rates and expenses including continued investment were one per cent lower compared to third quarter of 2019. Credit impairment increased 27% but reduced for the second consecutive quarter despite the extraordinary external environment. Underlying profit declined 40% reflecting higher impairments and a 38 basis point decline in net interest margin.

The Operating income declined 12% and was down 10% on a constant currency basis and excluding a $36 million negative movement in the debit valuation adjustment (DVA). The impact of lower interest rates was partially offset by strong performances in Wealth Management and Financial Markets.

“Customer accounts of $418 billion decreased one per cent since 30 June 2020 with an increase in operating account balances within Retail Banking current accounts more than offset by a reduction in Corporate and Retail Banking time deposits,” reports indicated.

It shows that the net interest income decreased 16% with increased volumes more than offset by a 24 % decline in net interest margin. Other income decreased seven per cent, or five per cent excluding the negative impact of movements in DVA, with a strong performance in Wealth Management and Financial Markets offset by a $157 million reduction in Treasury. On a statutory basis, fees and commissions have increased three per cent.

Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, said: “Our transformation is allowing us to weather the macroeconomic storm in good shape. Our Wealth Management and Financial Markets businesses have good momentum, we are controlling costs to fund innovation, and we believe we are well provided against credit impairment. Lower interest rates continue to impact income but we remain well-positioned to meet our financial targets, albeit with some delay. We are further streamlining our organisations to sharpen focus on our retail business, more effectively leverage our unique network, and drive efficiencies.”

The Group delivered a resilient performance in challenging conditions in the third quarter of 2020, with lower interest rates partially offset by strong underlying performances in several products and markets, good cost control and an encouraging sequential improvement in credit impairment.

The report indicates that Loans and advances to customers increased two per cent since 30 June 2020 to $281 billion driven mainly by growth in Retail Mortgages within Greater China and North Asia and Corporate Lending which in part benefited from a temporary increase in balances relating to upcoming initial public offerings in Hong Kong

Other assets increased two per cent since 30 June 2020 driven by increased balances at central banks and reverse repurchase agreements. Other liabilities increased 7 per cent from increased repurchase agreements and issued debt securities

Group Chief Financial Officer Andy Halford said; “In this protracted low interest rate environment, we will continue to optimise the drivers of our net interest income and are increasingly focusing on generating more fee-based income, particularly from our Financial Markets and Wealth Management businesses that have good momentum. We will continue to reduce operating expenses wherever possible so that we can maximise our investment in digital capabilities; as previously guided we expect expenses to be below $10 billion in both 2020 and 2021.”

“Our third quarter credit impairment outcome reinforces our previous view that our impairment costs should be lower in the second half of 2020 than in the first half. The expected economic recovery next year would support asset quality improvement, although we anticipate some sectors and markets will face continuing challenges,” he said.

Stories Continues after ad

Police raids NUP offices in Jinja

By
Isaiah Mwebaze
-
nup offices in jinja raided

Today morning, the offices of National Unity Platform (NUP) were raided by armed police men in Jinja district. The raid that took place in the early hours of Thursday is said to have been an operation launched to recover a number of clothing attires that were gazetted for only official army use.

The particular clothing under contestation involves: the infamous red berets, red t-shirts, overalls and any other piece of clothing that might have any resemble to the official army and police uniforms. This is not the first time police has raided NUP offices under such claims although the party claim that it is a ploy to deter their aspirations for the presidential seat.

A number of individuals have found themselves spending the night in a cold cellar for even donning any type of red clothing let alone a beret. This has sparked a number of reactions from the community who feel that the police plays a partisan role in elections.

“But honestly speaking if these guys are confiscating even red T-shirts they are worse than Obote. How can you do such a stupid thing in the 21st Century? I am not a NUP supporter but I will start wearing red from today, this is not only illegal but immoral, wicked as well,” said a one Maato Robertson.

Although the Police force maintains that its non-partisan, a number of NRM supporters continue to walk free and un-checked despite donning military fatigue and bypassing various electoral guidelines and sops such as mass mobilization.

However all hope has not been lost as NUP finally won its case against a one Moses Kibalama who had dragged the party court, claiming it had been illegally taken over by the President, Robert kyagulyani and his comrades without his consent.

Stories Continues after ad

EOC boss Sylvia Muwebwa appears before Anti-Corruption Court, pleads not guilty

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
EOC boss Sylvia Muwebwa

The Chairperson of Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi has appeared before Kololo Anti-Corruption Court over corruption charges brought against her.

Earlier this month, the Anti-Corruption Court chief magistrate, Pamela Lamunu Ocaya issued criminal summons against Mrs. Ntambi to pronounce herself over several charges of causing financial loss, embezzlement, corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud.

Despite the issuance of criminal summons against her, Mrs. Ntambi has occasionally skipped court due to, among others, sickness.

Appearing before Justice Lamunu, Mrs. Ntambi pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against her.

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.

Stories Continues after ad

Uganda learn opponents for Afcon U-17, U-20 qualifiers

By
Our Reporter
-
Uganda u20

Two Uganda National Junior football teams U20 –Hippos and U17-Cubs have today known their opponents after the draws were conducted via zoom with the main event at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The CECAFA (Central East Zone Qualifiers) will determine the teams that make it to the AFCON U20 and AFCON U17 Finals in Mauritania and Morocco respectively.

The Uganda U20 was drawn in group B alongside Burundi, Eritrea and South Sudan. The Regional Qualifiers tournament will be held in Tanzania from 22nd November to 6th December 2020.

The U17 side will take on Ethiopia and Kenya in Group B at a tournament to be hosted by Rwanda from 13th to 28th December 2020.

Uganda are the defending champions of the CECAFA U17 tournament after defeated Ethiopia 3-1 in the final in 2018 in Tanzania to storm the 2019 U17 AFCON tournament.

 

CECAFA U20 Groups

Group A: Tanzania (Host), Rwanda, Somalia

Group B: Burundi, Eritrea, South Sudan, Uganda

Group C: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan

 

CECAFA U17 Groups

Group A: Rwanda (Host), Eritrea, South Sudan

Group B: Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya

Group C: Sudan, Djibouti, Tanzania

Stories Continues after ad

Senegal’s president dissolves government

By
Agencies
-
Senegal president Macky-Sall

Senegalese President Macky Sall has dissolved his government, according to a statement from the presidency.

President Sall has signed four decrees to that effect.

No reason was given for the move or when the new cabinet is likely to be formed. The dissolved government had 32 ministers and three state secretaries.

“While awaiting the putting in place of a new government, outgoing ministers and secretaries of state are charged with carrying out their ongoing affairs,” the statement read.

In a separate decree Wednesday, Sall abolished the functions of the secretary-general to the presidency Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dione, previously his prime minister and a longtime close associate.

President Sall won a second term of five years in March 2019, but opponents accused him of preventing some of his main rivals from running.

Stories Continues after ad

Education Ministry warns schools against inflating registration fees

By
Ronard Shabomwe
-
Alex Kakooza the parmanent Secretary MOE and Sports.(photo by Ronard Shabomwe)

The Ministry of Education and Sports has warned schools against inflating examination fees.

While addressing the media on Wednesday at the Media Centre in Kampala, Alex Kakooza the permanent Secretary Education ministry, warned that the registration fees had not been increased at all.

The Permanent Secretary equally called upon parents of the candidates to be vigilant and not allow them to be exploited and that they should take the responsibility of making sure that their children are registered.

He said that whenever the time for doing exams reaches, there are children who miss out on examinations simply because the school authorities eat money and fail to register them.

Kakooza said that parents should go beyond paying school fees and go find out the information concerning the registration of their children and if they sense any danger, they should report to the ministry for the intervention.

Ismail Mulindwa, the director for basic and secondary education says that they have received reports that private schools were inflating UNEB fees and that some selfish directors have become a burden to the parents by charging illegal UNEB fees.

Mulindwa remarked that if they find any school doing so, its license will be cancelled and for government schools, the head teachers will be put to task to explain.

According to the new calendar, the candidates will sit for their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) starting 1 March 2021, Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) on March 30 and 31 while the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) will start 12 April 2021.

The registration of candidates started Thursday 22 October 2020 and according to Kakooza, it will run for five weeks and all schools must ensure that they register their candidates as there will be no extension.

Rose Nabukenya Mukasa, the UNEB Principal Examination Officer, says that the penalty for the schools that inflates fees is embedded within the UNEB Act.

The approved UNEB/ Registration Fees Structure is as follows; PLE is shillings 34,000 (Thirty four thousand shillings), UCE is shillings 164,000 (One hundred and sixty four thousand shillings) and UACE is 186,000 (One hundred and eighty six thousand shillings)

Nabukenya says that the ministry has added more 157 new centers for PLE and 100 centers for UCE and UACE where candidates can be registered. This is intended to help candidates get registered with no disruptions of congestions.

For the schools that did not meet the ministry of health SOP requirements, Nabukenya notes that they were told to prepare and inform them for the second supervision. And that when they went back, most of them qualified and few that did not, were advised to take candidates to neighboring schools for registration.

Stories Continues after ad

EOC boss Sylvia Muwebwa to appear before anti-corruption court tomorrow

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Sylvia Muwebwa

The Chairperson of Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi is tomorrow expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrates after skipping Court due to sickness.

Earlier this month, the Anti-Corruption Court chief magistrate, Pamela Lamunu Ocaya issued criminal summons for the last time against Mrs. Ntambi to pronounce herself over several charges of causing financial loss, embezzlement, corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud.

Through her lawyers led by McDusman Kabega, Mrs. Ntambi adduced medical forms indicating that she is sick and therefore she couldn’t attend Court proceedings. She further presented a letter from her doctor at Medik Hospital Kawempe confirming that she is suffering from hypertensive crisis.

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.

Stories Continues after ad

U.S warns of electoral violence ahead of 2021 elections

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
EC-Voting-ballot-box

The United States has warned political parties, candidates, and supporters who intend to instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the 2021 elections.

The warning comes a few weeks after police and other security agencies raided the offices of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and arrested scores of supporters. The supporters were later produced before City Hall magistrate over charges of donning security related attire.

Uganda will in 2021 go to the polls to elect a president, Members of Parliament and local council leaders. The United States government reaffirmed that they don’t support any specific candidate or party in Uganda’s upcoming elections.

“The United States supports the democratic process itself.  As Secretary Pompeo recently stated, we are committed to supporting free, fair, inclusive elections. This includes ensuring the safety of all candidates, respect for the rule of law, and the impartiality of the authorities in charge of managing the elections,” the embassy said.

According to a statement released by the US Embassy in Uganda, they will not hesitate to consider consequences for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

“Delivering a free, fair, inclusive, and peaceful election is vital to Uganda’s democracy and international reputation as a strong and stable regional leader.  We call on all political parties, candidates, and supporters to promote a peaceful and transparent electoral process. We support those working to achieve that goal,” the statement reads in part.

“The United States, along with other democratic countries, will pay close attention to actions of individuals and organizations who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections.  We will not hesitate to consider consequences for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.”

They reaffirmed their commitment to working in partnership with Uganda to strengthen its democratic institutions, ensure freedom of expression, and promote an open political environment.

Stories Continues after ad

EC clears Bobi Wine for presidential nomination

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
bobi wine poster

The party president of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert aka Bobi Wine has finally been verified and cleared for presidential nominations scheduled for next week.

The MP was cleared by the Electoral Commission (EC) after the verification of his supporter’s signatures, a requirement for nomination of presidential candidates.

Bobi Wine will be nominated on 3rd November.

He joins a list of nine other cleared presidential aspirants who include the incumbent and the chairman of the ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM) Yoweri Museveni, Henry Tumukunde, Nancy Linda Nakalembe and Fred Mwesigye.

Others include; Willy Mayambala, Joseph Kabuleta, John Kalumba, the Alliance for National Transformation’S (ANT)  Gregory Mugisha Muntu and FDC’s Patrick Obi Amuriat.

According to spokesperson of the electoral commission, Paul Bukenya, they are verifying signatures of several other presidential aspirants.

“Nominations will be conducted in accordance with the measures and guidelines put in place by the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Electoral Commission to prevent and combat person-to-person, person-to-object and object-to-person spread of the COVID-19,” the chairperson of the electoral body Justice Simon Byabakama said last week.

Ahead of the 2021 elections, candidates will be allowed to organize or hold campaign meetings, in a regulated manner, preferably outdoors, with limited attendance of a maximum of seventy (70) persons, to enable the observance of the two meters social distancing rule for the persons attending the meeting.

Stories Continues after ad
1...938939940...2,400Page 939 of 2,400

© Eagle Online. All rights reserved.

About Us

Popular Category

Editor Picks