Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has brushed off criticisms and calls that were made for her reshuffle. Speaking at Bujumbura Catholic Cathedral during Palm Sunday celebrations in Hoima District, Nabbanja addressed concerns over her leadership tenure and expressed gratitude for her reappointment by President Museveni, citing it as a vote of confidence. “Some individuals, whom I won’t name, went to the extent of lobbying the president to have me dropped from my position,” Nabbanja saud. “However, my reappointment signifies the president’s trust in me, and I am committed to fulfilling my duties to the best of my ability.” Joined by State Minister for Public Service Grace Mary Mugasa, Nabbanja emphasised the importance of unity and encouraged citizens to embrace government initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, such as the Emyooga and Parish Development Model programmes. “Our focus remains on serving our country, and I urge leaders in Hoima to promote participation in government programs that uplift communities,” Nabbanja reiterated. Additionally, Nabbanja pledged fifty million shillings towards the construction of a Catholic church-founded Women and Children Specialized Hospital. She reassured the community that President Museveni’s pledge of three hundred million shillings would be fulfilled in due time. The Bishop of Hoima Diocese, Rt Rev Vincent Kirabo, urged Christians to continue their altruistic deeds beyond Lent and reminded politicians of their responsibility to the people. “Let us not forget our duty to serve and uplift our communities,” Bishop Kirabo emphasized. Source: Nile Post
UTB Wants UGX 5 Billion To Promote Uganda’s Tourism Sector In Foreign Media
The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has requested for UGX 5 billion to advertise Uganda’s tourism attractions in international media and also allay fears of prospective tourists over security concerns. Concerning security, UTB wants to use international media to show that the National Parks in Uganda are secure despite the recent alert issued by the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) over an infiltration by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels into Uganda. As a result of this alert, it is revealed that many tourists had started canceling their bookings. The revelation was made by Lilly Ajarova, UTB’s Chief Executive Officer who urged legislators on the Committee on Trade and Tourism to support the budget to engage international media in the 2024/25 financial year. She said this would help to avert the negativity that was occasioned by the army’s pronouncement. Engagement of international media; we need to do a lot more, yes we prioritise the UGX 1.2 billion that we put in, but that is very little, and we would appreciate it if we could get another Shs4Bn to add onto that because there is a lot of back and forth. I don’t know if you saw the press release from UPDF. It has caused a scare for the destination, Uganda. The number of phone calls that UTB and even me have received is overwhelming because the press release is basically saying Uganda is unsafe, she said. On 18th March 2024, Col. Deo Akiki, Deputy Spokesperson of UPDF, released a public warning, urging the populace to remain vigilant against possible terror attacks orchestrated by ADF militants following intelligence reports indicating a fresh infiltration of the terrorists into Ugandan territory. The ADF terrorists operate in the eastern part of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and were responsible for a spate of attacks in Uganda last year. So now, we have to counter that, and that means, from that press release, we are going to get more negative travel advisories that will come up, so we must be able to counter that by bringing more international media people who can be able to verify that it is safe and then they are able to report back, added Ajorova as she presented UTB’s budget estimates for 2024/25. Committee Chairperson Mwine Mpaka tasked UTB to provide a breakdown of how the UGX 1.2 billion that has been approved for engagement with international media will be spent, to which Ajorova said most of the funds will be spent on air tickets and travel inland for the team of journalists that will take part in this project. Other efforts Ajorova also highlighted that the Board would carry out several activities, including product promotion and investment for the new cities like Arua, Gulu and Mbalein 2024/25, having completed a similar profile of Jinja City; thus, the need to expand this venture and cover some cities that will cost UGX 210 million. UTB is also seeking funds to conduct a census of accommodation facilities in Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja. We continue to register, inspect and license different facilities, but we still have a challenge in knowing, for example, in Kampala, exactly what the total number of facilities that we have, so the database we have is incomplete so we would like to have it complete by doing a census and the concentration we know is high in the landscape of Entebbe, Kampala and Jinja. Once we finish this, then we will be able to go to other parts of the country, added Ajarova. MPs on cane rats While interfacing with the same Committee, officials from Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) led by Robert Baluku, Principal for the Uganda Research and Training Institute were asked by Mpaaka to enumerate lawmakers on cane rats domestication plans. Cane rats are wild animals that are sometimes called Grasscutter or Omusu (among Bantu-speaking people) and behave like rabbits. Many national parks have been subject to poaching because they are a delicacy. The MPs wanted to know how far the Kasese-based institute has reached by conducting research on how to domesticate these animals. In response, Baluku told the Committee that research had been carried out in the Rwenzori region, northern region, and eastern region, with positive results. We wanted to see whether Cane rats can be accepted by the communities. So, we did it in the Rwenzori, Northern, and Eastern regions, and the results showed that cane rat meat can be accepted. So, we are going into details of how we can domesticate the Cane rat because this is one area where you find someone has been arrested in the National Park for just hunting it, and we feel if we can give the communities these kinds of projects, the stress on the National Parks can be reduced, said Baluku. When contacted by this website, Baluku revealed that Cane rats have been domesticated in Nigeria and Cameroon, adding that there are a lot of success stories from west African countries. He said that under the Uganda Wildlife Act, someone caught poaching a cane rat is penalised the same way as one killing a lion, elephant, or buffalo, yet the small animal can be domesticated. We saw it as one area that we can hanace through domestication and be able to get the parent stock that we can give to the communities. So, people can breed them like rabbits and guinea pigs, added Baluku. He said that the study so far recommends experimental trials, adding that cane rats can be a source of income since, in the DRC, poachers sell one animal between UGX 50000 and UGX 70000 after illegally killing them from Virunga National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Source: Parliamentary Watch
Uganda To Lose Property In DRC Over Defaulting UGX 1.6 Billion Rental Tax
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire, has revealed that Uganda risks losing a prime property in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Uganda (DRC) over the failure to pay US$433,582 (UGX 1.679 billion) in rental taxes, despite several warnings issued by the host nation. Though Uganda owns a commercial building in Kinshasa where there is a Mission that serves DRC and the Republic of Congo, among others, money collected as Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) is remitted to the Consolidated Fund back in Kampala. However, according to Bagiire, there is now an appropriation to the Mission budget to pay the rental tax to the Kinshasa government. There are rental taxes which the Mission hasn’t been paying for a considerable period of time and this is to a tune of US$433,582 (UGX 1.679 billion). The country risks losing this particular property [because] the Authorities have written to us and we have written to the Secretary to the Treasury. I have had a number of meetings with the Secretary to Treasury in this particular regard and these resources haven’t been released, said Bagiire. Bagiire sounded the alarm while appearing before Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, where the Ministry was defending its 2024/25 national budget estimates. He decried the bureaucracies involved in addressing emergencies that arise in Missions when most of the revenue raised is sent to Kampala, leaving Missions grappling with such challenges. Perhaps [there should be] an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act because we have structures that have been condemned, yet these structures collect Non-Tax Revenue. Our mission in London is to rent premises to the Embassy of Burundi. At times, the lift is down, but Burundi has paid its rent, and the rent has come to Kampala, and then we have serious challenges. We need to revisit those sections of the Public Finance Management Act, added Bagiire. Foreign dues John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said that the continued accumulation of arrears in subscription fees to international organisations is making Uganda look ugly on the international scene, and all this goes against Uganda’s foreign policy principles. The issues of arrears contradict the principles that govern our foreign policy. The principles which hold our international policy include respect for international law and treaties. It is these international laws that build institutions to which Uganda belongs, and when we fail to pay subscriptions year in and year out and are denied a forum to participate, Uganda loses opportunities. We look so ugly, and it has become a disease. I would like you to indulge the Ministry of Finance on this matter as it contradicts, the Minister stated. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the financial year 2024/25 national budget estimates, annual subscriptions to international organisations has a funding gap of UGX 19.4 billion and this is occasioned by the UGX 6.1 billion consistent allocations. Ministry officials say such are meagre resources, leading to outstanding subscription fees of up to UGX 41.87 billion. Committee Chairperson, Norah Bugirwa wondered why the issue of arrears in subscription fees still persists when the three Ministers of Foreign Affairs attend Cabinet meetings where President Museveni sits every Monday. But all three of you Ministers of Foreign Affairs appear in the Cabinet every Monday with the Head of State who is the overall Minister of Finance and this country’s overall senior diplomat. Is there something we don’t understand as a Committee that Foreign Affairs and Finance can’t be able to sit and agree on the interests that this country has and the priorities of this country and this docket? Does the Ministry of Finance understand your ministry mandate? And therefore, our Missions abroad? asked Bigirwa. Noah Wanzala, MP for Nakasongola County wondered why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs isn’t considering the possibility of ending membership in some of the international organisations. Why doesn’t our country look into this matter and rank them? They might all be relevant but you can rank them and say, ‘we can’t afford to pay all the UGX 41 billion, let us remain in these organisations and forego others’ than our delegates going there and they are forced out, that becomes an embarrassment to our country, he said. The Ministry also asked the Committee to ensure that its budget for Travel abroad worth UGX 4.55 billion is reinstated in the national budget because the funds are required to support the core functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bagiire also called for the need to have additional funds to a tune of UGX 3 billion to cater for the post Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit and G77+China summit that Uganda hosted in January 2024. We committed ourselves as a country to chair NAM and G77 as a country; much of the meetings are neither in Kampala nor in New York. These meetings are in different capitals, and the Ministry must be represented because, being chair, we champion the voice and the issues of G77. We have the Non-Aligned Movement post-summit activities, and for the Ministry, we have a deficit of UGX 1 billion for NAM and UGX 2 billion for G77 to cater for post-summit activities for the next three years, pleaded Bagiire. The Ministry also indicated that in the coming financial year, there will be several development projects that will be undertaken including the construction of chancellery building and staff apartments in Mombasa and Dodoma as well as acquiring rental premises for the Mission in the United Arab Emirates.
INTER-AGENCY MEETING
On March 22, 2024, the different stakeholders in the mining sector in Karamoja gathered at Yellowstone Hotel in Moroto for the Inter-agency coordination and advocacy meeting to address emerging human rights and resource governance advocacy messages raised by indigenous pastoral communities regarding mineral resource governance and benefits sharing. In the vast and rugged landscapes of Karamoja, where indigenous pastoral communities had long coexisted with the land, the management of mineral resources posed both opportunities and challenges. Despite the wealth beneath their feet, equitable benefits sharing mechanisms remained elusive, hindering the full participation of these communities in the region’s mineral extractive industry. Many factors contributed to this disconnect. Limited awareness of rights and responsibilities, coupled with a lack of knowledge about legal provisions governing mineral resource governance, left indigenous pastoral communities at a disadvantage. Furthermore, opportunities for meaningful engagement between communities, mining companies, and duty bearers had been scant, made worse by weak organizational and leadership structures within Community Land Associations (CLAs). Recognizing the urgent need to bridge these gaps, AFLI with support from USAID/CSSA through the PACED project embarked on a mission to empower indigenous pastoral communities. Through capacity-building initiatives, awareness creation, and facilitation of engagements between stakeholders, the project aimed to strengthen community governance structures and foster a conducive environment for equitable benefits sharing. As a culmination of these efforts, the Inter-agency Stakeholders Meeting served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and collective action towards advancing the interests of the mining sector in Karamoja by focusing on critical aspects such as promoting harmony, evaluating progress, and renewing commitments towards benefit-sharing obligations. The Minister of State for Minerals, Hon. Peter Lokeris, was the guest of honor, underscoring the government’s commitment to the development of the mining sector in Karamoja. The meeting sought to address key challenges by providing a forum for stakeholders to share best practices, brainstorm solutions, and assess the then-current status of the mining industry in Karamoja. Community leaders and investment companies alike had the opportunity to express their views, highlighting successes, challenges, and perspectives on community engagement. Crucially, the meeting reviewed benefit-sharing commitments outlined in Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements, assessing progress and identifying any outstanding issues. By renewing commitments and establishing mechanisms for monitoring compliance, stakeholders aimed to ensure that the benefits of mineral extraction were equitably shared among all parties involved. In conclusion, the Inter-agency Stakeholders Meeting showed a significant step towards promoting harmony, fostering cooperation, and advancing the interests of the mining sector in Karamoja. By prioritizing community involvement, transparent communication, and adherence to benefit-sharing commitments, stakeholders had paved the way for sustainable development and mutual prosperity in the region.
Ssenyonyi challenges Speaker Among on hefty per diem expenditure exposed on social media
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has tasked Speaker Anita Among to respond to all the corruption allegations raised against Parliament if the institution is to live true to its vision of being people-centred as she has always claimed. Chris Obore, Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Parliament of Uganda immediately rubished this call by the Opposition saying the Parliament does not account through the press. Following weeks of social media allegations based on the ongoing “Uganda Parliament Exhibition”, the House has been thrown into public scrutiny over the way the top leadership, especially the Speaker’s Office and that of the Clerk to Parliament, spends money. The Parliamentary Commission has allocated almost a billion shillings in the 2024/25 financial year budget, and there is a public outcry that, if not checked, would abuse taxpayers’ money. The Shadow Cabinet sitting on Monday resolved that the LOP write to the Speaker to come out in a week’s time to explain to the public the alleged corruption, nepotism, and abuse of office. Parliament of Uganda, this institution gets to unequivocally explain to the people of Uganda all these various allegations of staff recruitments that are irregular, monies that are spent in manners that aren’t understandable, that as an institution, we get to see a proper explanation to the public. We are accountable to the people of Uganda, and no one should say it isn’t the business of the public; this is their money, so how do you say it isn’t their business? If we are to be a people-centred Parliament, we must account, Ssenyonyi explained. Responding to this, Obore, the Parliament’s mouthpiece said what the Opposition are demanding in regard to recalling the House from recess is a case of playing politics. As regards recalling of Parliament, which I have heard when Parliament is adjourned Sine Die, it means the House can resume when the presiding officer deems so. I am sure the Speaker will at the appropriate time, convene the House. Again, the ultimatum becomes political, and if it is politics, politics has a way of sorting itself. I cannot speak for politics, I speak for the institution that the Speaker has the powers given to her per the Rules of Procedure. So, when the House will be reconvened will be determined depending on the nature of the business available, said Obore. The LOP also responded to criticism over his silence after some people accused the Opposition of being in cohorts with top leadership in Parliament, aiding in covering the corruption and abuse of office in Parliament. Ssenyonyi told Journalists at Parliament on Monday that his silence was deliberate to allow him to gather all the information and respond to it, hence thanking the public for coming out to demand for accountability from Parliament. We have been watching, and we have been deliberate about our silence so that we see all that unfolds and be able to capture everything that Ugandans are saying. Then, we get to speak out after we have captured all these things. The allegations range from things like travel per diem; we have been seeing figures fly around as the Speaker flies, and the per diem isn’t explainable. The Speaker’s per diem is $990, but the figures out there show the per diem is beyond $4000, it doesn’t make sense, he added. Ssenyonyi also said that the Shadow Cabinet agreed to write to Speaker Among, to immediately convene a meeting with the Parliamentary Commission to address the allegations raised in public and this was after the Leader of Opposition, admitted that he has never been invited to any Commission meeting ever since he took over office as Leader of Opposition. As a Shadow Cabinet, we agreed that I write to the Speaker asking her to convene a Commission meeting because there hasn’t been any Commission meeting, not one that I am aware of, at least since I got to office, so it is important that the Commission gets to sit, we get answers to all these various expenditures, plenty of money which can’t be explained legally or morally. And that Commission meeting gets to happen urgently within this week because the Commission okays all these expenditures, said Ssenyonyi. The Opposition highlighted several allegations that Parliament needs to respond to including the billions of shillings that have been put on accounts of some staff of Parliament as payment for community outreach and donations by the Speaker. Ssenyonyi said that there is need for Parliament to explain this practice saying that after a multi-billion corruption scandal that bit the office of the Prime Minister, the Government issued new guidelines barring any public institution from transferring more than Shs5M to accounts of civil servants. We are seeing plenty of money. Being put on accounts of different members of the Speaker’s staff. It is important that there is an explanation about this money. What exactly did it do? How come it is being transmitted through accounts of staff members? noted Ssenyonyi. According to the LOP, there is a need for the Parliamentary Commission to explain the criteria used to award members of the Commission service awards saying his predecessor, Mathias Mpuuga was asked about this matter at the National Unity Platform (NUP) senior leaders’ meeting , he attributed his award to his negotiation skills. When we were asking our colleague Mpuuga and we asked how exactly this happen, what happens to whoever becomes LoP after you?, and the response was every LOP gets to negotiate their own benefit, that is problematic. Assuming a new LoP and behaving well, does it mean I can ask for Shs2Bn? It isn’t right, said Ssenyonyi. Obore said that the Speaker will not issue a statement on the expenditures in Parliament based on the ultimatum issued by Ssenyonyi, adding that even the exhibitors on X are not providing evidence to back up their allegations. On the issue of money, in fact, I think the exhibitors are becoming uncomfortable that the Speaker is not speaking,
RUPA COMMUNITY STRIKES GOLD
Karamoja presents a mesmerizing tableau of rugged semi-arid plains interspersed with mountain ranges that gracefully meld into the horizon. Despite the land’s reluctance to yield to agriculture due to its challenging soil and climate, beneath its picturesque hills and sprawling plains lie abundant deposits of various minerals, including marble, gold, limestone, and other precious stones. Unfortunately, the indigenous Karamojong communities have seen minimal benefits from these resources over the years, resulting in the region languishing as one of the poorest in the country. Much of the mining activity has been dominated by foreign companies, leaving the local populace with little influence over the governance of mineral resources. “However, everything changed when USAID/CSSA supported us in establishing the Rupa Community Development Trust,” notes Paul Aleper Kaluwat, a board member of the trust. In a concerted effort to promote equitable benefits sharing among indigenous pastoral communities, USAID/Uganda Civil Society Strengthening Activity (CSSA) collaborates with Africa Leadership Institute (AFLI) to organize, train, and empower these communities. The aim is to provide platforms for engagement with both the government and mining companies to influence mineral management policies and practices. David Pulkol, Executive Director of AFLI, underscores the transformative power of converting traditional clans into Communal Land Associations. These associations, once registered as legal entities, hold land in trust for all their members, empowering them with legal recognition and collective bargaining power. Through biannual Inter-agency meetings facilitated by USAID/CSSA, community associations convene with mining companies and government representatives, actively participating in discussions and negotiations regarding mineral resources. Remarkably, these engagements have yielded promising outcomes. Following support from USAID/CSSA in establishing and legally registering the Rupa Community Development Trust, members underwent leadership and advocacy training to effectively represent community interests in negotiations with mining companies. USAID/CSSA not only facilitates dialogues but also empowers communities to advocate for comprehensive development initiatives beyond financial aid, as Paul emphasizes. Through skilled negotiation and advocacy, the Rupa community secured commitments from Sunbird, including drilling 24 boreholes, constructing a fully equipped health center, providing an ambulance, establishing a tertiary institution, and sponsoring 10 university students annually for 49 years. “The arrival of USAID/CSSA marks a pivotal moment in our educational landscape. Rupa was once severely lacking in educational opportunities,” Paul reflects gratefully. “Their intervention has been nothing short of a blessing. We could not have achieved these milestones alone.”
Opendi wants Surrogacy restricted to infertility as she finally moves Bill
The Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Opendi, is proposing to have surrogacy in Uganda to be restricted to only individuals facing fertility challenges or those with health challenges that affect their ability to have children. Universally, surrogacy is defined as an arrangement, often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman agrees to deliver/labour on behalf of another couple or person, who will become the child’s parent(s) after birth. Opendi’s proposal is contained in The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill,2023 that she tabled in Parliament on tuesday. The former State Minister for Health (General duties) finally tabled the private member’s Bill after being granted leave in July 2022. This is a Bill intended to regulate the various fertility clinics that are operating and increasing in this country without any piece of legislation. We have consulted all the stakeholders widely, and to our surprise, many African countries that actually started these services 30 years ago don’t even have any legislation. So, Uganda will be one of the few countries where other countries will benchmark if this bill is passed, said Opendi while tabling the Bill. In Clause 21 of the Bill, Open proposes conditions for intending parent to opt for surrogacy where a registered medical practitioner has, upon examination of the intending parent, established that; “(a) the intending parent suffers primary or secondary infertility, or(b) the intending parent suffers health challenges which affect the intending parent’s ability to reproduce.” Infertility is defined in the Bill as a condition characterised by the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after twelve months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse or due to a health challenge which affects a man or woman’s capacity to reproduce. The Case for the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill,2023 According to Opendi, The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill,2023 is intended to regulate the use of human assisted reproductive technology; to designate the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council as the body responsible for the administration of this Act. It is also intended to, if passed into law, provide for the establishment of sperm, oocyte and embryo banks within fertility centres as well as to regulate the donation and storage of gametes or embryos. She added that the Bill is intended to provide for the rights and duties of persons involved in human assisted reproductive technology and rights of children born through human assisted reproductive technology; and, to provide for a register for information collected on human assisted reproductive technology under this Act and to provide for designation of health units as fertility centres. The lawmaker also defended the need to enact the law, noting that over time, there has been an increase in the number of people opting for human-assisted reproductive technology through various fertility solutions, including the use of In Vitro Fertilisation treatment, commonly known as “IVF” and intrauterine insemination. She also said that the increasing demand for the use of human-assisted reproductive technology has been necessitated by the growing cases of primary and secondary infertility and other health-related challenges among persons seeking to have children. The intention of the Bill is to address the gaps caused by the absence of a legal framework on human-assisted reproductive technology in Uganda. The Bill, therefore, seeks to regulate human-assisted reproductive technology in Uganda, provide for the designation of health units as fertility centres, provide for the establishment of sperm, oocyte and embryo banks within fertility centres, and rights and duties of persons involved in human assisted reproductive technology and donation and storage of gametes and embryos. The Bill further seeks to protect the rights of a child born through human-assisted reproductive technology,” added Opendi. The Bill at a glance In clause 30, Opendi has proposed imprisonment for life to be imposed on medical practitioners who use their own gamete or embryo without consent while providing human-assisted reproductive technology services to the person. While in clause 31, the Bill has proposed to bar a registered medical practitioner from implanting a human admixed embryo or any other embryo that is not a human embryo into a woman’s uterus, with the registered medical practitioner found acting in contravention of this provision to be convicted to imprisonment for life. A human admixed embryo is an embryo created by replacing the nucleus of an animal egg, cell, or two animal pronuclei, with two human pronuclei, one nucleus of a human gamete or of any other human cell; or one human gamete or other human cells where any other embryo created by using human gametes and animal gametes; or one human pronucleus and one animal pronucleus, a human embryo that has been altered by the introduction of any sequence of nuclear or mitochondrial DNA of an animal into one or more cells of an embryo; Opendi in clause 22 proposes conditions for the surrogate mother where she is proposing to have (l) A fertility centre or registered medical practitioner shall, before providing human assisted reproductive technology services to a surrogate mother, ascertain a number of requirements are met, including ensuring that the surrogate mother is; aged eighteen years and above, has entered into a surrogacy agreement under Clause 23 with an intending parent. The lawmaker also proposed in clause 22(2) for any registered medical practitioner who contravenes the above provision to be held liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred currency points (UGX 10 million) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both, while a fertility centre found to have contravened the same provision, would be fined five thousand currency points (UGX 100 million). In clause 17 of the Bill, Opendi has proposed for surrogacy to be conducted by people above 18 years and any registered medical practitioner who contravenes this provision will have committed an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding UGX 200 million or for a jail term not exceeding 10 years, or both. The Bill in clause 11 is seeking to limit the practice of Human assisted reproductive technology services to be
Museveni launches new women entrepreneurship project billed as magic bullet
President Museveni has launched a new women entrepreneurship project that he says, if taken serious, will not only uplift women but also help leverage their ability to tap from other government programmes. The World Bank-funded Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises Uganda project, that is being promoted locally under the acronym GROW, is designed to increase access to entrepreneurial services that enable female entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises in targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. The President launched GROW, which by the World Bank and local officials appears is the magic bullet to socioeconomic empowerment of women, in Katakwi District during the International Women’s Day. The initiative, started on June 17, 2022, and declared effective on January 20, 2023, is poised to drive significant economic transformation by empowering women entrepreneurs across the country. With a project cost of $217 million (Shs846bn), including $40 million (Shs146bn) earmarked for refugees and host communities, the GROW project is a testament to the government’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD), with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda as an implementing entity, the project aims to increase access to entrepreneurial services for women-owned enterprises in targeted locations. According to Dr Ruth Biyinzika Kasolo, deputy national GROW coordinator, the project’s development objective is clear, to facilitate access to entrepreneurial services that enable female entrepreneurs to expand their enterprises, with a particular focus on host and refugee districts. Over 60,000 female-owned enterprises, including 3,000 refugee-owned businesses, are set to benefit from the project, Katakwi inclusive impacting the lives of 280,000 women entrepreneurs and employees, including 42,000 refugees, 14,000 host community members, and 1.6 million indirect beneficiaries. The project has an extensive awareness campaign design that targets key stakeholders, including Members of Parliament and district leaders, have been successfully conducted across all sub-regions. Strengthening Women Entrepreneurs Platforms (WEPs) has been prioritized, with the assessment and engagement of 522 such platforms underway. Access to skills for enterprise development forms a cornerstone of the project’s strategy. Technical and trade-specific skills training, provided by prequalified firms in thirteen districts, will equip women entrepreneurs with the tools needed to thrive in their respective sectors. The launch of these training activities, scheduled for the second week of March 2024, represents a significant milestone in the project’s implementation. Partnerships with various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) further underscore the government’s commitment to supporting women’s entrepreneurship. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with entities such as the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), and Dairy Development Authority (DDA) aim to enhance the capacity and competitiveness of women entrepreneurs across various sectors. Access to finance remains a critical component of the project, with initiatives such as business grants competitions and facilitation of credit aimed at enabling women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses. The announcement of interest rates capped at 10% per annum by his Excellency The President on International Women’s Day underscores the government’s resolve to address financial barriers faced by women entrepreneurs. Investments in infrastructure and facilities, including multipurpose service and production centers and common user production facilities, aim to provide women entrepreneurs with the resources needed to scale their businesses. The construction and equipping of these facilities, scheduled to commence in August 2024, will further enhance the enabling environment for women’s entrepreneurship. As the GROW Project gains momentum, it holds the promise of unlocking the full potential of women entrepreneurs across Uganda. With a firm foundation laid and a clear roadmap ahead, the project represents a beacon of hope for inclusive economic growth and empowerment in the years to come.
Today in Parliament | 30th January 2024
This is an update from the Parliament of Uganda marking the 3rd Sitting of the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 11th Parliament. This Sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa. In his communication, Speaker Tayebwa Speaker Tayebwa thanked MPs for standing together to ensure the fallen legislator Hon. Cecilia Ogwal gets a decent sendoff on Saturday. “Thank you for turning up in big numbers in Alito for burial”, he said. Reacting to the Speaker’s Communication, Hon. Opendi Sarah Achieng (DWR, Tororo District, NRM) said “You excused yourself from the burial and indicated that you had an official function to attend. The Vice President while giving her speech informed the mourners that you left to go and attend a wedding. I felt extremely disappointed and embarrassed and I don’t know how to describe it, whether that isn’t a scandal because ideally, the host of this whole arrangement was Parliament” In response Tayebwa said “What has surprised me is that Hon.Opendi was with me today, she never indicated such an issue to me. I wrote a chit to the Vice President, informing her of the issues I have, and seeking her guidance. I was born in a way that I respect people, if she took it that way, I am sorry. We buried our colleague in peace and I don’t want the burial of our colleague who taught us to be humble to be overridden by whatever individual who has issues. I will personally look for the Vice President and explain it to her. I am sorry about this”. However, several MPs including Hon. Ssemujju Nganda (MP, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, FDC) and Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi (MP, Butambala County, Butambala District, NUP) expressed dissatisfaction with the way Opendi handled the matter and demanded to have her malicious remarks to be expunged from the Hansard. “I find the statements by Hon. Opendi malicious. As much as politics is a game of the beast, we must give it the level of decency that it deserves. There isn’t anywhere in our Rules of Procedure that a Speaker can’t leave a function. For one to come and use this platform and impute the wrong motive is a statement that should be expunged from the record”. said Muwanga. The Deputy Speaker also asked the Clerk to Parliament to expunge remarks by Geoffrey Macho (MP, Busia Municipality) who accused the National Unity Platform of tribalism, after he alleged that most of the MPs appointed in the latest Opposition Leadership are from Buganda. “I tend to agree these aren’t issues to do with Parliament. Parliament should be for issues to do with Parliament, how a Political Party chooses its people, is its issue. Please expunge this from the records. Parliament doesn’t have any role it plays in the appointment of the Shadow Cabinet, they don’t come here for approval, they don’t justify to us whom they have appointed and why, so please spare us that”, Tayebwa said. The Deputy Speaker’s decision followed a request made by Aisha Kabanda (DWR, Butambala District, NUP) who asked to have Macho’s remarks expunged on grounds that they were malicious. “Macho has made a statement that is extremely malicious and ill-intentioned. I am the Deputy Secretary General of NUP and I find it extremely unfitting for me to continue speaking when someone speaks very maliciously and walks out as though he simply came to make a malicious statement and walk away. When you look at our front bench, it is well-balanced. I pray that you find it befitting to expunge this statement because I find it to be very malicious and only playing a tribal card to malign the Opposition”. Kabanda said. Raising on matters of national importance, Hon. Okupa Elijah (MP, Kasilo County, Serere District, INDP) expressed concern about the government’s delayed takeover of some schools, as approved in this running budget. “It is now 7 months, no teacher has been recruited in those schools and they have also not been coded”. In response, the State Minister of Higher Education, Hon. John Muyingo said the matter was presented to the cabinet & they have been directed to look for money to ensure that “each and every Ugandan child of school-going age is enabled to go to school until he or she completes the cycle. On the same note, Hon. Ssewungu Joseph Gonzaga (MP, Kalungu West County, Kalungu District, NUP) said ” Parliament has pronounced itself on several occasions on rising fees. As we talk now, parents are being charged UGX 3m for a nursery kid and the government is watching. The Minister should come out clearly and explain why parents are being overcharged”. In response, the Presiding Officer said, “In this budget, we must look for money and bridge the gap so charges in government-aided secondary schools and primary schools are stopped”. Hon. Ngompek Linos (MP, Kibanda County North, Kiryandongo District, NRM) brought to the attention of the House a letter from AfDB threatening to suspend the disbursement of US$288m to KCCA for the reconstruction of city roads, effective 1st Feb 2024 over failure to provide counterpart funding, etc. In response, State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi Arignayira who is the (MP, Rubanda East County, Rubanda District, NRM) said the matter has been resolved with AfDB and gov’t has now provided counterpart funding. “If you check in the Quarter 3 release, we have provided UGX 20bn for this purpose”, Musasizi said. Speaker Tayebwa later said the matter involving KCCA and AfDB does not only involve counterpart funding but also other critical issues of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and the environment. “Let the Committee summon the Ministers responsible and report back to this House on Thursday”. Tayebwa said. Minister Katumba Wamala Edward later presented the Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 for the first reading. The Bill seeks to amend the CAA Act. Cap. 354 to bring it into conformity with the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention). The bill seeks to provide for the delegation of powers to inspectors to have unrestricted access to aircraft, aerodromes, and aviation facilities; including cargo and records of aviation organizations under Uganda Civil Aviation Authority. The bill
Today in Parliament | 9th January 2024
Greetings from AFLI and the Parliament of Uganda! This is an update from the Parliament of Uganda marking the 1st Sitting of the 3rd Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 11th Parliament. This Sitting was chaired by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Anitah Among. In her communication, Speaker Among congratulated Parliament on successfully hosting the 27th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers. “And on that note, I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank every one of you for a successful Conference. Thank you very much and keep up that remarkable spirit of sacrifice, teamwork and dedication.” Also, The NRM MPs, led by Speaker Anitah Among, praised Mathias Mpuuga for his outstanding leadership as Leader of the Opposition. She urged the new LOP, Hon. Ssenyonyi Joel, to build upon Mpuuga’s work and address Rule 14, especially 13 (3), which requires regular consultations with the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker. “As the Leader of the Opposition, I urge you to build upon the works of your predecessor, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga. Let us be incremental in our service to the people but not disruptive. In so doing, I urge the LOP to address his mind to Rule 14, especially 13 (3) which requires the Leader of the Opposition to hold regular consultations with the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker”. Among said. Reacting to the Speaker’s Communication, the outgoing LOP, Hon. Mpuuga Mathias (MP, Nyendo Mukungwe Division, Masaka City, NUP) in his handover statement, urged leaders to serve the people and prioritize the common good, appealing to the House to accord his successor, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, the same support. Mpuuga said. To the new LOP, he said: “Communicate effectively so that you are understood, don’t take it personal, take care of your good self, focus on the positive, be patient, seek support, it is all over this place, remember you aren’t alone, and where you get space, celebrate your successes.” In his maiden speech, the new LOP, Hon. Ssenyonyi Joel Besekezi who is the (MP, Nakawa West Division, Kampala, NUP), praised the outgoing LOP, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga for his leadership and service, stating that keeping the government in check benefits all parties involved. “Rule 14 (1) of our Rules of Procedure provides that the principle role of the Leader of Opposition is to keep Government in check. By God’s grace, I will execute that mandate effectively and I hope that we shall get support from MPs, not just from my colleagues but the entire House, to do this work. Because you see, keeping Government in check benefits all of us here and the people we represent”. Hon. Ssenyonyi said. Parliament later confirmed Commissioners, including the outgoing LOP, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, with the Opposition represented by Hon. Mathias Mpuuga and the NRM by Afoyachan Esther, Solomon Silwany, and Prossy Akampulira from January 2024 to May 2026. However, the approval of Commissioners for the NRM Party drew criticism from Hon. Yorke Alion,(MP, Aringa South County, Yumbe, NRM) who wondered why the party asked MPs to apply for positions as Commissioners when all indications suggested the Party wanted to keep the old team. “In November, the Government Chief Whip requested MPs from NRM to apply for the position of Commissioners. I am reliably informed that over 200 MPs applied. These MPs (Commissioners) were meant to be subjected to an election which hasn’t taken place within the NRM Party. As a Party, we also had a resolution in Kyankwanzi to have our Commissioners undergo primary elections, and then be presented to Parliament”, the Hon. member said. He added “There is no way the Government Chief Whip is going to convince us that of all the NRM MPs we have, that we only have the three MPs who can serve in the capacity of the Commissioner. There is what we call injustice, there is what we call corruption, and disrespect of the law is taking place on the NRM side. And I want to advise the Government Chief Whip that the step you are taking is going to divide the Party”. Parliament later approved the extension of the term of office for LCIs and LCIIs for 180 days, effective today. It should be noted that on July 28th, 2023, the government tabled Statutory Instruments extending the tenure of Local Councils for 180 days under Regulation 11A(d) of the Local Government Councils Regulations and Regulation 2(3) of the Schedule to the National Women’s Council Act. The 180 days were to expire on January 5, 2024, prompting the Minister to issue another extension on December 29, 2023. The Minister of Gender, Hon. Amongi Betty Ongom who is the (MP, Oyam County South, Oyam, UPC), also tabled the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for first reading. In response, Speaker Among referred the Bill to the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Dev’t for scrutiny and report back. Party Whips later designated Members to the Standing Committees following Rule 158 (1) of the Rules of Procedure. Speaker Anitah objected to Hon. Zaake Francis’ appointment as Deputy Chief Whip in Parliament, citing the lack of the position in Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. “We don’t have that position (Deputy Chief Whip) in our Rules of Procedure. We don’t have it, withdraw it. We have a whip who is your good self, we don’t have a deputy in our Rules of Procedure. That is air, if someone has been given air, that is air”. the Speaker said. This was after John Baptist Nambeshe, Chief Opposition Whip, attempted to designate Zaake for two positions: Shadow Minister of Presidency and Security and Deputy Chief Whip, which the Speaker halted, prompting the Opposition to withdraw its position. The Speaker afterwards adjourned the House to Thursday, 25th January 2024 at 2:00 pm.