Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
24.3 C
Kampala
Stanbic Bank
Stanbic Bank
Home Blog Page 981

Fahad Bayo signs for FC Ashdod in Israel

fahad bayo (9) of vipers during the Pilsner 8 final

Uganda Cranes forward Fahad Bayo has completed his transfer to Israeli Premier League side FC Ashdod from Vipers SC on a four-year contract.

He becomes the second Ugandan at the club, joining former KCCA FC defender Timothy Awanyi.

According to a statement released by FC Ashdod, the 22-year-old is expected to arrive in the country together with another foreign striker after completing Covid-19 compliance.

“Aziz Bayo and Svetkovich will soon arrive in Israel to join their new friends immediately after completing their isolation duty upon entering the country,” reads part of the statement.

Bayo has also featured for Proline FC and Zambian outfit Buildcon FC.

He helped Vipers win the 2019/2020 league title after scoring 12 goals in the Uganda Premier League season.

He was part of the Cranes side that won the 2019 CECAFA Challenge Cup in Kampala and scored the second goal against Malawi last year in a 2-0 victory during a Nations Cup qualifier.

Stories Continues after ad

Airtel Money, Game Stores launch Airtel Money Pay to ease payment for customers

Airtel Uganda has launched a partnership with Game Stores that will see Airtel Money subscribers pay for their purchases using Airtel Money Pay.

Airtel Money Pay is a service that enables Airtel Money subscribers to pay for goods and services using Airtel Money instead of exchanging cash for such purchases. The service enables both parties to immediately confirm these proximity payments via text message (e-receipt) that is sent to both subscriber and seller of the goods/service.

Commenting about this partnership, Airtel Money Head Merchant Portfolio Mr. Godfrey Muhindo noted that this new partnership will bring the highest level of convenience to Airtel subscribers who shop at Game stores.

“This payment method is going to ease the lives of our subscribers. Customers no longer have to carry cash or withdraw money, then pay when they are shopping here at Game,” he noted.

Muhindo also noted that the Airtel Money Pay innovation is timely as it is giving Ugandans an alternative and safe payment method in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on behalf of Game Stores, Frederick Olwit, the Game Store Manager, welcomed Airtel Money Pay onboard and thanked Airtel Uganda for the partnership.

“Our clients can now transact conveniently and securely from their Airtel accounts and pay for their shopping without hassle,” he said.

“As merchants, once we receive the money on our Airtel account, we can use it to make other transactions like payments or transfer it to the bank.”

Mr William Kaye, the Managing Director of Universal Tracking Systems and a customer at Game Stores who has used the service confirms the effectiveness of the product.

“After shopping, I came to the till and made my payment via Airtel Money Pay. The till attendant immediately confirmed payment and in less than a minute, I was done. The service is indeed very fast and did not require me to pay an extra fee,” Mr Kaye said.

At the launch, a lucky draw was held for members of the media and three lucky journalists each received cash sent directly to their Airtel Money accounts to do shopping at the store.

To use Airtel Money Pay, Airtel subscribers use the *185*9# code to initiate payments to the merchant by dialing the said code, which prompts them to input the merchant number/ ID, Amount and eventually a PIN to complete a payment. The subscriber can also put in the other transaction reference details like invoice number or purpose of payment.

Alternatively, the merchant can also initiate a transaction on their SIM menu and the subscriber will only input their PIN to complete the payment process.

The service can also be accessed at: Javas, C&A pharmacy, Jumia, Fraine Supermarket, City Oil, First pharmacy, Viva hardware, Kafiika Feeds, Ugachick, The Alchemist among other outlets.

Stories Continues after ad

Deo Mutabazi, Ali Mwebe named on Africa Beach Soccer Union leadership committee

Mutabazi-Deo

Uganda Beach Soccer Association (UBSA) chairman Deo Mutabazi and FUFA Football Development Director, Ali Mwebe have been appointed on Africa Beach Soccer Union (ABSU) interim leadership committee.

Mutabazi and Mwebe were on Sunday appointed first Vice Chairperson and member of technical committee respectively, fufa confirmed on its website.

Muhmud Hadejia from Nigeria was unanimously named the chairman of the new committee set up, he went ahead to nominate Mutabazi as his first assistant and also a representative of the East African region alongside Jonathan Kassano from Tanzania.

Mutabazi believes this is a good opportunity for beach soccer in Uganda given the fact that he has a wider platform to discuss the game.

“I thank God for the opportunity to serve the game at that level. Definitely it is a big chance for us as a country to benefit from and help to develop beach soccer in Uganda and Africa at large,” Mutabazi said.

“We were very eager to host the AFCON Beach Soccer Finals and anxiously to welcome Africa to the Pearl of Africa but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising water levels where the facilities are couldn’t allow us,” He added.

The main role of the newly set up committee is to collectively lobby for and facilitate a conscious development of beach soccer across the African continent.

Mwebe and Ntokozo Bhengu from South Africa were appointed on the secretariat to head technical matters.

Stories Continues after ad

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago joins FDC

Erias Lukwago

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has officially joined the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

The mayor, accompanied by his wife, were welcomed by the FDC Party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat at the party’s headquarters in Najjanakumbi.

Lukwago has been tipped to contest as the FDC Presidential flag-bearer for 2021 general elections.

Lukwago has closely been working with the FDC since the 2010 general elections. He was appointed the deputy president of the controversial people’s government headed by Rtd Col Kizza Besigye. Besigye’s government was formed three years after the FDC Party had lost to the incumbent president Museveni.

Speaking at Party headquarters, Lukwago said the decision to join FDCpeddled at cementing his bond with charismatic and influential leaders to build the force and prosperous society.

“We have been members of the same family but with different colors. I applaud Democratic Party (DP) for their contribution to the growth of my career right from Uganda young democrats (UYD) at Makerere University in 1990,” he said

“I am at peace with my conscience, my heart and my soul. In good and bad times, sickness and health, swallowing teargas and watermelon, we shall always be together.” He said

He expressed his dismay over some charlatans that are ill bent on maligning him. “I am a seasoned politician but not a seasonal one. I have taken this decision to join FDC as a seasoned politician but not a seasonal one.”

Lukwago said the gun is responsible for the crisis that the country is facing today and this was described by Dr. Byesige in his book as the unfinished business and it is our responsibility to finish that business.

“I am convinced beyond all sheds of doubt that now is the time for me to move on and open a new chapter in my political career. I am not here because I have come to scheme anything. I have not come to FDC as a fortune hunter. I have not come here for a meal card.”

He said whoever asks about to the life DP membership card that was given to him way back in 2004, Lukwago said that is a memento

Stories Continues after ad

Police summons Baba FM presenter

SWENGERE

Baba FM presenter and comedian, Hussein Ibanda aka Swengere has been summoned to appear before Jinja central police station (CPS) over charges of disobeying lawful orders and inciting violence.

Last week police arrested the programs director of Baba FM Twahir Ddamulira and five others and detained them at Nalufenya police post.

According to Swengere, they are accused of hosting Bobi Wine and supporting the People Power movement. He said police hinted on arresting more Baba FM presenters. The presenters who face arrest include; Kalyowa Atanansi, Hussein Ibanda aka Swengere, Kasolo Alton and Namulondo Zakia aka Mama Kalibbala.

Swengere revealed that Mama Kalibbala is wanted because Bobi Wine mentioned her name during the show.

He assumes that Kalyowa Atanansi is wanted for hosting Bobi Wine, Hassan Muwanga for sitting in the studio when Bobi Wine is being hosted, Kasolo Alton for standing for the Jinja City mayor on support of Bobi Wine and People Power, Swengere for driving Bobi Wine after the show and Ayub Khan for supporting Bobi Wine.

Stories Continues after ad

Police suspend operations against boda-boda riders accessing the city center

Boda-boda riders

Police have suspended operations against boda-boda riders who were accessing the city Center.

Last week, Cabinet approved the Boda Boda Free Zone where all riders were prohibited from entering/accessing. The reforms peddled at streamlining and regulating the operations of motorcycles in the City

The Boda Boda Free Zone runs along the following boundaries; Wampewo Roundabout- Jinja Road to Kitgum House junction – Access Road – Mukwano Road to Clock Tower –Kafumbe Mukasa Road –Kisenyi Road –Mackay Road- Kyaggwe Road- Watoto Church-Bombo Road – Wandegeya – Hajji Musa Kasule  Road- Mulago roundabout- Kamwokya junction – Sturrock Road – Prince Charles Drive- Lugogo Bypass–Jinja Road- Wampewo Roundabout.

Speaking earlier today, the police spokesperson Fred Enanga said boda-boda are now free to ride to any part of Kampala as long as they follow the anti-#Covid-19 guidelines.

“Upon the guidance from the Ministry of Works and Transport, the operation on the implantation of the boda-boda free zone has temporarily been suspended to allow for the creation of out stages out of the gazette zone and signage. Boda-boda riders and the passengers had not been briefed,”

Enanga urged Boda Boda Operators to comply with all the directives and strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as issued by the government.

According to the resolutions, all Boda-Boda operators must be registered at any of the gazetted stages and this shall be their address to enable contact tracing in case of #Covid19 infection. Boda-Boda operators are free to register at any gazetted stage of their choice.

All Boda-Boda App companies and associations shall share the register of all their members (after registering every member to a gazetted stage).

All Boda-Bodas who do not operate or belong to the App. Companies/associations shall register with KCCA through their stage leadership. Forms can be downloaded from KCCA website or picked from Ward Administrators at every KCCA Division.

No Boda-Boda operator shall pay any fees to anybody to register on any gazetted stage of choice. Anybody soliciting a bribe should be reported to the relevant authorities.

Stories Continues after ad

#COVID-19: Uganda gets Shs 116.7b loan from African Development Fund

Covid-19 testing kits

Uganda has acquired Shs116.7 billion ($31.6 million) from African Development Bank (ADB). The funds which were approved by the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund will be used to support the government’s response to the #Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds are designed as budget support within the framework of the Bank Group’s #Covid-19 Crisis Response Facility.

The objective of the operation is to support Uganda’s efforts to contain the human cost of #Covid-19, mitigate its social and economic impact, and support economic recovery. The proposed operation seeks to achieve three short-term and medium-term outcomes: enhanced capacity to test and treat #Covid-19 patients to reduce risk of infection and morbidity; ease the impact of the lockdown and other #Covid-19 related measures on the poorest; and, mitigate risk to medium-term macroeconomic stabilization and economic resilience.

The #Covid-19 pandemic has hit the Ugandan economy hard, both directly and indirectly, through global, regional and domestic transmission channels, with the hospitality, tourism, trading and manufacturing industries particularly badly affected.

Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development projects a decline in growth to 3.1 per cent for 2019/20 from 6.5 per cent in 2018/19.

Uganda confirmed its first case of #Covid-19 on 21 March 2020. This number had increased to 1,075 confirmed cases on July 22. Uganda’s overburdened health system does not have adequate resources to face this health emergency.

Uganda is currently facing an additional challenge of a deadly invasion of desert locusts, which is posing a threat to food security and exacerbating the country’s vulnerability during this pandemic.

“The Government of Uganda has responded to the crisis with a broad financial package aimed at tackling the #Covid-19 health emergency and supporting economic activity. The Government allocated resources to the health sector, expand social safety net programs, and provide targeted support to the impacted economic sectors,” the Bank’s Country Manager for Uganda, Kennedy Mbekeani, said following the Board approval.

Bank support through the #Covid-19 Crisis Response Support Program will provide financing to the budget for targeted spending, aimed at containing and mitigating the health and economic impact of the #Covid-19 pandemic. The authorities are committed to full accountability on crisis-related spending including through ex-post audits of #Covid-19 related spending”.

Stories Continues after ad

#COVID-19: Uganda’s active cases rise to 146

Coronavirus testing kits

The number of Ugandans who are still receiving treatment for #Covid-19 has risen to 146, after 13 new cases were registered yesterday.

According to results released by the ministry of health this morning, the 13 new cases were part of 1,812 samples that were tested yesterday.

Five are truck drivers who entered through the Malaba, Mutukula and Goli points of entry, while seven are contacts to previous confirmed cases while one is an alert from Kampala.

With an increase in deaths and community cases, the health epidemiologists on the #Covid-19 ministerial scientific task-force now want the government to concentrate testing in communities.

Dr. Misaki Wayengera, an epidemiologist and the head of the  #Covid-19 ministerial committee says that with deaths being reported in communities, government needs to change the focus of testing.

“We have been concentrating most of our testing on truck drivers but we need to move to other groups now. We need to move our testing to the community because we have cases like those who have succumbed to the disease that could be tested or even admitted early on time. This shows us that we need to shift our testing strategy,” says Dr. Wayengera.

“We need to focus more on testing in the communities because that is where the problem is now. Truck drivers are no longer our biggest threat,” says Dr. Monica Musenero, an epidemiologist and also a senior presidential advisor.

Last week, the health ministry launched the second rapid assessment survey that is supposed to gauge the extent to which community transmission has spread in the country.

While epidemiologists are hopeful that the assessment will help guide the direction testing will take, previous assessments carried out showed that there were no community transmissions in the country.

Stories Continues after ad

Boda-Boda riders struggle to maintain SOPs on day one

A safe boda rider in Kamwokya taking a female passenger who had no mask and the boda rider had no sanitizer.

A number of Boda-Boda riders are struggling to implement the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Boda bodas resumed their operations this morning following the relaxation of the nationwide lockdown announced in March to contain the spread of the #Covid19.

Last week, President, Yoweri Museveni allowed Boda-Boda riders to resume their operations under strict guidelines.

He said each of the riders would be required to wear a helmet, mask, provide sanitizer to sanitize their passengers, seat and register the details of all passengers.

This morning, our reporter moved around Kampala to see how the riders were complying with the Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs but found only a handful of the riders complying with the SOPs.

Some of the Boda-Boda riders in the areas of Maganjo, Kawempe, Bwaise Kalerwe, Mpererwe, Ntinda, Bukoto and Kamwokya had sanitizers, helmets and wore masks.

The riders were not taking records of the passengers.

Moses Ssentongo, a Boda boda rider who had just dropped a passenger told us that he tried asking for the telephone number and names of his customers in vain.

Johnson Mugomba, a safe boda rider in Ntinda, told Eagle Online that they might try to fulfill other requirements apart from recording the details of a customer. He explains how his first customer refused to provide her details adding that she told him that she has no phone contact and national identity card.

Martin Muganga chairperson of King of Kings boda stage in Kamwokya notes that the two customers he has already got have refused to provide their details. He says that according to him, it is hard to practically implement the SOPs because even customers are difficult to handle.

Female passengers that this reporter talked to argue that as ladies, providing their details to boda boda riders might put them in danger and Brenda Komugisha who used a boda from bwaise to acacia mall explains that if they insist, she has to provide wrong details.

She explains that even boda riders are not implementing these SOPs they were instructed by the president.

Emily Natasha, a passenger from Bukoto, notes that it has been a hustle for her to travel to work every day since she’s used to using boda bodas. She has been using a taxi to town which she says the taxis have been overcharging them.

She however says that it will be very hard for her to give out her details to a boda boda rider, arguing that her number is her private identity and that she has a right to determine who should have it or not.

However, David Lubega, another motorcyclist says so far he has carried twelve passengers and he has been successful in getting the names and contacts though he has failed on getting the NIN numbers.

Stories Continues after ad

Veteran journalist Basajja Mivule arrested

Basajja-mivule

Police have arrested veteran journalist Basajja Mivule over yet to be known reasons.

The plain-clothed security personnel picked Mivule from Baba TV offices in Kampala where he was hosting a morning show called Fumintiriza.

The former NBS TV talk show panelist is known for speaking against President Museveni’s leadership. His arrest follows a series of arrests in recent times that include those of Bisonto.

Before being arrested, Basajja-Mivule said in a recorded video clip that he received a call directing him to appear before one Brig. Damulira working with crime intelligence in Uganda police force.

He is accused of sectarianism and inciting violence when he recorded a video asking why all top security officials heading various security organs come from one region.

“All Ugandans are seeking answers for the same questions, aren’t there other qualified security individuals from the rest of the regions making up Uganda. Isn’t this tribalism or nepotism. The minister of security, Head of CMI, chief of defense forces (CDF), head of internal security organization (ISO), commissioner general of prisons, they all come from one region. I need answers for that question” he said

He pledged to continue speaking against president Museveni’s leadership every time they make a mistake. He said answerer to the raised question is not to intimidate him, arrest, torture him rather to come up and explain.

Mivule said that he seen leaders who have mistreated, torture and killed Ugandans but time came and they had to hang-up their political boots.

Stories Continues after ad