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Emirates global network increases to 92, African routes rise to 19

By
Our Reporter
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Fly Emirates plane

Emirates has announced it will resume flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban in South Africa; Harare in Zimbabwe and Mauritius.

The addition of the five points will expand the Emirates’ global network to 92 destinations, as the airline gradually resumes its operations while prioritising the safety of its customers, crew and the communities it serves around the world. Emirates’ African network will also now extend to 19 cities.

Customers flying in and out of Emirates’ three South African gateways can safely connect to Dubai and to an array of onwards connections to Europe, the Far East, Middle East, West Asia and Australasia. Flight schedules for Emirates’ South African destinations will be available on emirates.com later this week.

Emirates will operate to Harare with two weekly flights linked to its Lusaka service. The linked services will connect Zambia and Zimbabwe to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, the Americas, Australasia and West Asia with one convenient stop in Dubai.

Flights from Dubai to Mauritius will initially operate once a week on Saturdays, supporting the Mauritian government’s repatriation efforts to bring its citizens home, and enabling the recovery of the country’s tourism industry by safely connecting leisure travellers from Europe, the Far East and the Middle East to the popular Indian Ocean island destination.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents.

Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai is one of the most popular global destinations. In 2019, the city welcomed 16.7 million visitors and hosted over hundreds of global meetings and exhibitions, as well as sports and entertainment events. Dubai was one of the world’s first cities to obtain a Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)  which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

Emirates’ booking policies offer customers flexibility and confidence to plan their travel. Customers who purchase an Emirates ticket by 30 September 2020 for travel on or before 30 March 2021, can enjoy generous rebooking terms and options, if they have to change their travel plans due to unexpected flight or travel restrictions relating to COVID-19, or when they book a Flex or Flex plus fare.

Emirates customers who require a COVID-19 PCR test certificate prior to departure from Dubai, can avail of special rates at the American Hospital and their satellite clinics across Dubai by simply presenting their ticket or boarding pass. Home or office testing is also available, with results in 48 hours.

Customers can now travel with confidence, as Emirates has committed to cover COVID-19 related medical expenses, free of cost, should they be diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel while they are away from home. This cover is immediately effective for customers flying on Emirates until 31 December 2020, and is valid for 31 days from the moment they fly the first sector of their journey. This means Emirates customers can continue to benefit from the added assurance of this cover, even if they travel onwards to another city after arriving at their Emirates destination.

Emirates has implemented a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees on the ground and in the air, including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers.

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Kibalama on tenterhooks, contradicts self as court cross-examines him over NUP Party

By
Geoffery Serugo
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kibalama in court

The founder of the National Unity Reconciliation and Development Party (NURDP) that has since evolved into the National Unity Platform (NUP), Mzee Nkonge Kibalama is set to face criminal charges for filing false documents to the independent electoral commission for change of Party name.

Kibalama was appearing before Court to pronounce himself about changing his affidavits in the case brought against him. Kibalama and former party secretary had sworn and signed affidavits that the party leadership and the name were changed after delegates’ conference which occurred in Kakiri.

In 2019, Kibalama and other party members applied to the Electoral commission to have NURP change to NUP and the application was objected. It was revealed that in 2012 and 2013, they attempted to change the party name to Independent National Unity Party however their application was declined.

During cross examination, Mzee Nkonge first objected to filing right documents to have NURP changed to NUP however in turn he contracted himself saying the documents were false and he made a mistake.

According to section 15 (3) of the political party and organisations act, section 15 (3) of the political party and organisations act, section 15 (3) of the political party and organisations act, any person who furnishes information knowing that it is false,  commits an offence and liable on conviction and sentence not exceeding two years.

In the first affidavit prepared by Anthony Wameli and company advocates and signed on 14 September 2020, Mr. Kibalama said the party leadership and name were changed after a delegates conference attended by 41 delegates in Kakiri.

On 17th September, he signed another affidavit drafted by the Bayingana Barungi and company advocates, Nkonge informed the court that he is retracting the first one. He said they didn’t have a delegates conference however sat with nine people and changed the party name and leadership.

“What prompted you to change the affidavit?” Sseggona asked. In his response, Kibalama said he was denied a role in NUP that is why he wants to reclaim the party. NUP lawyers however told the court that Kibalama is the head of elders and advisory committee in the party.

When asked who the party president is, Kibalama who failed to identify his lawyers said he is the Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi however says that the party leadership was not changed in conformity with the law.

Earlier this month, Kibalama was filmed saying that Bobi Wine promised him $5million to hand over party to him however when he appeared before Court, he denied making such a statement and respondents lawyer Lubega Medard Sseggona promised to avail video recording of him.

He also asked the court to help him regain his freedom adding that it is in public domain that his friends have been looking for him and they  could not locate him and all his numbers were off until Uganda peoples Defence forces (UPDF) came out to clarify that it is availing him security. “I would like do like my family to visit me unfortunately, they are not in Uganda,” he said.

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Absence of sign language interpreters slows nomination for PWDs

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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A group of PWDs at Rubaga Division EC offices who showed up for Nominations(photo by Ronard Shabomwe)

Persons with Disabilities especially those with hearing impairments are failing to communicate effectively because of lack of sign language interpreters at the nomination center. They are requested to write down in order to know what they are saying which is slowing the process.

This is observed at various nomination centers in Kampala, where there are no sign language interpreters to help attend persons with hearing impairment.

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are part of Special interest groups (SIGs) that are going through the process of nomination at various electoral commission division/district offices in the country.

Whereas persons with various disability conditions are encountering challenges in the process like inaccessibility to the offices and voter’s information among others, it is more challenging to deaf persons due to lack of interpreters.

At various EC offices where the nominations are happening like Rubaga, Makindye, Kawempe, Kampala central, Nakawa divisions among other places. The reporter observed that there were no sign language interpreters, yet they expected the blind to appear for nominations.

Ezra Ongaria, the returning officer of Rubaga division told this reporter off the record that it is slowing the process since a person has to first write. Adding that they have to bear with the situation because they have no sign language interpreters in place.

A source at Kampala central EC offices on the condition of anonymity says, they are also going through the same challenge. Noting that it takes them an hour to nominate a deaf person and they had already received 3 blind persons so far.

According to the Commissioner, Disability and Elderly-Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Emilly Ajiambo there are few sign language interpreters in Uganda, and it is hard to have them at division level.

Ajiambo says that even those few who are available are always engaged adding that it is also difficult to hire them either on a daily basis or as permanent employees. She notes that, on a daily basis, it costs between shillings 100,000 and shillings 150,000.

While addressing the media at the media center early this week, the state minister for disability and elderly in the ministry of gender, Labour and social development, Sarah Kanyike says that if a PWD is not catered for, you do not expect them to participate effectively in election processes.

Kanyike notes that “most of these things especially the deaf is to do with sign language interpreters, once you deny them interpreters, then they will not be able to participate in each and every activity. This is the mandate of the ministry and this is what we have to advocate for.

In an interview with Joseph Mbulamwana Executive Director of Uganda national association of the deaf (UNAD) who is also a person hearing impairment, he asserts that lack of sign language interpreters in government programs has affected them most.

Uganda will be commemorating the international deaf awareness week this Friday in Masaka, which Mbulamwana says, the goal will be to create awareness about deafness and deaf persons with the aim of promoting inclusion of deaf persons in their communities hence providing access to services offered there.

“We also expect this to increase solidarity among deaf persons and stimulate efforts to promote their human rights,” he notes.

According to the last national population census of 2014, 12.4% is the percentage of the population of Ugandans that live with disabilities and 3.1 percent is Persons with hearing impairment/deaf.

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Aspirants, Seconders cautioned against putting on party colours

By
Ronard Shabomwe
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Some aspirants waiting to be worked on at Rubaga Division EC offices.

Ezra Ongaria, the Rubaga Division Returning Officer has warned the aspirants and their seconders against wearing colours and symbols representing political parties during nominations.

Ongaria’s call comes in after many people started appearing for nominations putting on shirts, red berets and masks that show the parties where they belong.

Most of these people who were appearing in party colors belong to political parties like National Resistance Movement-NRM, Forum for Democratic Change-FDC, Democratic party-DP and National Unity Platform- NUP.

Ongaria calls this one way of campaigning at electoral offices which is not good. Adding that electoral commission is a neutral commission.

“Caution therefore goes out to whoever appears here for nomination to do away with political colors or symbols, they should wait for campaigning time,” Ongaria said.

He notes that if people insist on putting on those colors, they will be denied access and allow those with neutral colors, adding that they do not want to politicize the nomination process.

However, most of the aspirants disputed Ongaria’s caution, saying that they have a right to put on any type of a cloth as long as they are decently dressed up.

Robert Kiiza the LC3 aspiring councilor Busega Kigwanya Rubaga division who appeared in National Resistance Movement attires reacts that they should be left free to put on the party symbols.

Andreas Mukalazi a male youth council Rubaga division claims that his people power badge on his shirt has no problem because it is not a party.

What you are seeing on my shirt will not appear in the electoral commission, it is only NUP that will appear in their papers.

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How a whistleblower led to the exposure of Equal Opportunities Commission boss Sylvia Ntambi

By
Geoffery Serugo
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Sylvia Muwebwa

The Chairperson of Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi was on Monday charged with Corruption at the Anti-corruption Court in Kololo.

Ms Ntambi is accused of superintending over unethical practices that have seen staff polarized along tribal lines, which created a toxic working environment.

The charging of Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi follows the lunging of complaints to President Yoweri Museveni calling for his intervention. According to a petition dated 22nd May 2019, the whistle blower accused her of causing financial loss of over 200 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 whistle blower said Mrs Ntambi has unfairly dismissed over 11 staff, terminated over 10 staff contracts, 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 Shs 100million 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 whistle blower 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. It is averred that she is using these two departments to siphon money from the commission.

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Is businessman Ham fearing an independent audit?

By
Our Reporter
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Businessman Hamis Kiggundu.

 

Recently, businessman Hamis Kiggundu through his company of Ham Enterprise, asked the head of the Commercial Division of the High Court, Justice Henry Peter Adonyo to halt the auditing process that would determine liability of either him or Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).

The request by the businessman, raises queries on why he is now opting out of the audit process since he had earlier said he had his own audit into the multi billion loan dispute case he is battling out with the bank.

Legal observers believe, this is one of the delaying tactics by Mr Kiggundu.

According to the businessman, he wants court to halt the auditing process, awaiting the determination of yet another application, in which he is seeking to strike out defence statements filed by Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) Limited.

On August 31, Justice Adonyo directed the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) to appoint an auditor, to look into the loan statements presented by both parties as exhibits to establish who owes the other.

“This is to direct ICPAU to appoint an accountant to carry out a reconciliation and report back to court. Each party shall pay 50 per cent of the cost for the accounts reconciliation,” Justice Adonyo ordered in late August.

The judge went on to state that the appointed auditors would come up with a report that would assist court in determination of this multi-billion loan dispute between Mr Kiggundu and DTB.

The matter resumes on October 5 for a preliminary ruling.

This legal battle arose in January this year after Mr Kiggundu and his companies, Ham Enterprises and Kiggs International U Ltd, sued Diamond Trust Bank Uganda and Diamond Trust Bank (Kenya), for alleged breach of contract in disputed huge loans.

Mr Kiggundu claims to have provided several prime properties at Kyadondo, Kawuku, Victoria Crescent II Kyadondo and Makerere Hill Road as security for the loans.

The businessman avers that along the way, while repaying the loans, he realised that the banks had not remitted some of the agreed amount of the money, and in turn unlawfully deducted the money from his accounts without his consent.

The loans in question were obtained by Mr Kiggundu between February 2011 and September 2016 through his two companies for construction, development and completion of some of his commercial properties.

Subsequently, the businessman is seeking recovery of Shs34 billion and $23 million from the bank, which he claims was irregularly deducted from his accounts. However, the bank insists says in its record, Ham has never had such amount oh is account.

But in their defense, the banks deny the breach of contract but concede that the businessman and his two companies on various dates, took various loans of $6.6m, Shs1.5 billion, Shs1 billion, $4 million and $500,000.

Further in their defence, the financial institutions claim the collateral securities provided by Ham Enterprises, were freely and willingly presented in order to secure the credit facilities.

Uganda Bankers Association has previously slammed businessmen like Ham who after getting money from financial institutions in form of loans turn around to blackmail banks in the guise of fighting bad banking policies.

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Cheptegei rewarded with Shs123m for new world record in Monaco

By
Our Reporter
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cheptegei rewarded. (photo via mtnug twitter)

Long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei has been rewarded with Shs123 million by MTN Uganda for breaking a 16-year-old 5,000m world record at the Monaco Diamond League in August.

Cheptegei set a new 5000m world record of 12:35.36 at the season-opening Monaco Diamond League breaking Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele’s world record of 12:37.35 set in 2004 in Hengelo.

He also received a telecommunication package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months. According to MTN Uganda, the offer symbolizes the new 12.35.36 world record time. at Mbale Resort Hotel.

Mr Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda CEO, handed over the prizes to Cheptegei in a brief function at Mbale Resort Hotel.

“In recognition of this milestone, MTN Uganda has offered a cash prize of Shs123, 536,000 and a telecommunication package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months. Both prizes symbolize the new 12.35.36 world record time,” Wim Vanhelleputte said.

In February, Cheptegei also broke the 5-kilometer road mark in Monaco and in 13 days, he will be going for the 10,000m record when he returns to the same series in Valencia, Spain.

He was a candidate for the 2019 world athlete of the year but lost to Kenya’s marathon star Eliud Kipchoge.

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NSSF member contributions increase by 5%

By
Geoffery Serugo
-
Richard Byarugaba.

The Managing Director of the National social Security Fund (NSSF) Richard Byarugaba has revealed that member contributions increased by only five per cent from Shs1.22 trillion to Shs1.28 trillion.

According to Mr. Byarugaba, the marginal growth is attributed to the amnesty they offered to businesses that were affected by #Covid-19 pandemic.

“The fund’s operations were impacted by the economic slowdown, occasioned mostly by the pandemic. Economic slowdown also had a ripple effect on the fund’s business, and contributions were affected. Contributions grew at 5.2 per cent,” he said.

“I am glad to report that the fund is resilient as exemplified by the generally good performance we registered. As the economy rallies to recovery, the fund will shake off effects of the pandemic in the medium term.”

Despite the outbreak of covid-19, Byarugaba said Uganda Shilling remained resilient against the USD and Kenya Shilling. The Kenyan and Uganda shillings cross closed at 35.02 in June 2020 compared to 36.10 in June 2019, a depreciation of three per cent. The Tanzania Shs cross closed at 1.6108 in June 2020 compared to 1.6065 in June 2019.

The money paid in benefits to qualifying members increased by eight percent from Shs 450 billion in 2018/2019 to Shs 486 billion in 2019/20.

According to Fund’s performance for the Financial Year 2019/2020, in the previous year, Total Revenue reduced by 44 per cent to Shs891 billion in 2019 from Shs1.6 trillion in 2018, affected foreign exchange and equity positions value reduction of a reduction of Shs 402 billion.

Dividend income reduced by 19 per cent from Shs 77 billion as at June 30, 2019 to Shs62 billion as at June 30, 2020 due to cancellation of dividend payouts by commercial banks.

Total Revenue increased by 17 per cent from Shs1.25 trillion in 2018/19 to Shs1.47 trillion as at June 30, 2020, driven by growth in interest income as a result of exposure to high yielding fixed income investments and rental income.

“In the previous year, Assets under Management increased by 13.1 per cent from Shs9.98 trillion to Shs11.3 trillion at 30th June 2019,” he said.

Equity Markets suffered significant loss of value, the Uganda Stock Exchange lost 9.8 per cent, the Nairobi Exchange lost 8.0 per cent, and Rwanda Stock Exchange lost 10.4 per cent, only the Tanzania stock market gained 5.6 per cent. This has affected the Fund’s equity holdings across the region.

“If you have been paying attention to Uganda’s skyline, it has been changing because of the rising Pension Towers. Our projects were not affected much by the lockdown.”

Assets under management increased by 17 per cent from Shs11.3 trillion to Shs13.38 trillion as at June 30, 2020, mainly driven by increased contributions and interest income. The performance was influenced by the economic downturn in Uganda and East Africa due to the impact of the #Covid-19 Pandemic Lock Down, it is therefore unlikely to pay members a double-digit interest rate.

“We will endeavor to keep our promise made to our members when we launched our 10-year Strategic Plan; which is to pay at least the 10-year average rate of inflation + 2 percentage points,” he said.

 

Click on the link below to read the statement.

2019-20 Performance Press Release final

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Super Cup: Bayern Munich v Sevilla will see return of fans

By
Agencies
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fans in stadium

The Hungarian government insists it is “safe” for fans to attend Thursday’s Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Sevilla despite opposition saying they will be “experimental rabbits”.

Champions League winners Bayern face Europe League victors Sevilla at Budapest’s Puskas Arena.

The 67,000-capacity stadium can be a third full with strict hygiene measures in place for those attending the game.

It is the first major European match to feature fans since the Covid-19 crisis.

Both Bayern and Sevilla have been allocated 3,000 tickets for the match but far fewer of their fans will attend, with the majority coming from Hungary.

European football’s governing body Uefa say fans will be instructed to keep a distance of 1.5m from each other, wear masks and wash and disinfect their hands wherever possible.

They also have to undergo body temperature checks at the stadium and anyone over 37.8C will be refused entry.

Those supporters arriving from abroad will have to present a ticket and proof of a negative Covid-19 test which must have been conducted in the previous three days and they can only stay in the country for up to 72 hours.

The chief of staff for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the match will be “safer than almost any other gathering” with the measures that are in place but others are not convinced.

“This experiment is unacceptable,” said opposition Socialist deputy Ildiko Borbely.

“They use 14,000 compatriots as experimental rabbits to see how the coronavirus spreads at mass gatherings. We reject exposing Hungary to such danger.”

Epidemiologist Andras Csilek, who advises the Hungarian Medical Chamber, said the match carried unnecessary risk adding: “The Chamber also considers it wrong. It is a feel-good story, but I don’t think it should be allowed.”

Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder urged Bayern fans not to travel, saying the match could turn into a hotbed for Covid-19 to spread and also warned they could face quarantine on their return to Germany.

Both teams go into the match in tremendous form – Treble winners Bayern are unbeaten in 31 matches, while Sevilla have not suffered defeat in 21 games.

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Uganda establishes first public free zone

By
Our Reporter
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Uganda Free Zone Authority (UFZA)

Uganda Free Zone Authority (UFZA), has handed over the site of five acres of land to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), to embark on the initial phase of construction of the first Public Free Zone in Uganda.

UFZA acquired the land from Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) for development of the Free Zone at the Entebbe International Airport.

The Zone development is projected to cost about Shs 48 Billion. Government allocated UGX 12.5 Billion for the first phase of the project to kickoff. Upon completion, the Free Zone will house seven production units and a Trade house that will host offices of UFZA, URA and other Government offices to facilitate smooth flow of business in the Zone.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Eng. Dr. Feredrick Kiwanuka said that the proposed sectors for the project include; food processing (agro-processing), mineral processing, warehousing, storage, simple assembly, etc. All Operators in this Public Free Zone will process their products for onward export through Entebbe International Airport.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director UFZA, Mr. Hez Kimoomi Alinda said that the Free Zone is expected to create at least 240 direct jobs and significantly contribute to an increase in Uganda’s exports. It will also directly contribute cargo volumes to recently revived Uganda Airlines thereby boosting its business as the company secures more routes.

UFZA is required to establish strategically located Public Free Zones equipped with all required infrastructure to afford Operators ‘plug and play’ facilities to enable them seamlessly undertake the business of manufacturing, value addition of products for onward export without the hustle to develop their own Zones.

The Chairman urged NEC  the contractor and Oubuntu Consults Limited the supervisor to fast track the completion of the works to pave way for the second phase of the Zone implementation.

The Authority is mandated to spearhead and oversee the establishment, development, management, marketing, maintenance, supervision and control of Free Zones and other related matters.

Free Zones are customs-controlled areas where goods introduced into the designated area are generally regarded so far as import duties are concerned as being outside the Customs territory. The Free Zones are schemes set up by the Government to boost export-oriented investment.

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