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PHOTO: From right; MPs Dennis Ssekabira, Abubaker Kawalya, Brenda Nabukenya, Muhammad Ssentayi and Micheal Bukenya during Mission House fundraising at Namirembe Cathedral on Sunday

● Rubaga North MP donates more UGX 3M towards Namirembe Diocese Mission House completion 
● LOP Mathias Mpuuga, other MPs; Michael Bukenya, Dennis Ssekabira, Muhammad Ssentaayi, Brenda Nabukenya, Gorreti Namugga, David Kabanda, Hanifer Nabukeera, Kayemba Solo, John Mulimba and others show solidarity to area MP Kawalya at Namirembe Cathedral Convention and Mission House fundraising
● Buganda Land Board boss Simon Kabogoza Muwanga, minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo, Hon. Beatrice Nyakaisiki Byenkya, ex-Minister Nyombi Thembo and Tycoon Gaster Lule Ntakke’s generosity excites Bishop Kityo Luwalira

STORY BY:
MOSES MUGALULA
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA

YESTERDAY Sunday May 8, 2022, Rubaga North legislator Abubaker Kawalya led fellow members of Parliament to Namirembe Diocese mega Convention and later to a fundraising function for the completion of Mission House, on the invitation of Namirembe Diocese Bishop Rt. Rev. Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira and Diocesan Secretary Rev. Ssegawa.
The theme of the convention was: “You shall be my people and I will be your God” Jeremiah 30:22. It was organised by The Mission Department of Namirembe Diocese.
Speaking to the Anglicans who filled St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe to capacity, without mincing words,  Hon. Kawalya said, “Who ever wants to give our coffee to a foreigner Ms. Enrica Pinetti is joking! We will not allow that to happen. I call upon all of you, support the fight to save our coffee. Government signed a bad agreement, which we have strongly rejected. Please, join us to fight this deal.”
Kawalya, a former Speaker of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), in the presence of Buganda Lukiiko Speaker Owek. Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule told the congregation that, Buganda Kingdom’s Premier Charles Peter Mayiga has done a commendable job in rallying Kabaka’s subjects to plant more coffee through ‘Emmwanyi Terimba’ campaign, wondering how can government sign such an agreement without consulting Katikkiro and coffee growers in Buganda and other regions of the Country.
Kawalya said, “You all know how our Katikkiro has been traversing the whole Kingdom calling upon Kabaka’s subjects to plant more coffee, then next day, government without consulting Owek. Mayiga, signs such an agreement giving our coffee to a foreigner and it expects us to agree with it? No way!”
As the area member of Parliament, Kawalya requested the congregation to rise up and resist this coffee agreement saying it was brought in a bad faith and has many loopholes.
Hon. Kawalya decried the skyrocketing prices saying people should leave the comfortable zone to demand for an urgent solution.
He said all this in the presence of two State ministers Owek. Joyce Juliet Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo (IT & National guidance) and John Mulimba (State minister in charge of Foreign Affairs).
Kawalya used this function to thank Rubaga North people for overwhelmingly voting him and proudly said, “I won at all polling stations in the constituency. Thank you for entrusting me with your votes, you will never regret.”
The day started with a service and had three preachers.
The first one was Ven. Can. Godfrey BK Buwembo from Nateete Archdeaconary
He talked about some parents who these days are confused, thinking about school fees for their children but asked them not to fear because God himself said, we will be his people and he will be our God.
“God knows what bothers us, he knows our needs, he knows all about us, he knows all the situations we are going through because he is the God and does everything in the Universe. He sees all attrocities you commit against fellow people .”He reminded the congregation. Those who torture people, God is seeing you so tread carefully. Jeremiah, in the Bible says, ‘When we acknowledge God, he will heal and renew us.’ ” Preached Ven. Can. BK Buwembo.
Another preacher The Very Rev. Jonathan Kisawuzi Ssalongo, who is the Dean St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe preached about giving to God and the importance of the Mission House.
He said, “When you find God’s treasury and he teaches you giving, tell me any one whose business collapsed for giving back to God? Yes, he or she can make a loss but still, the business booms again because God is the provider. Those who wisely chose to give back to God, they have received more blessings.”
Ssalongo Jonathan Kisawuzi asked, “Who of you young girls visits your boy friends and when you are leaving, he gives you exact transport, can you go back there? But most of us when we come to the Lord, we are slow in giving back know to God.”
He told church that when Mission House is completed, and it starts bringing money to the Church, it will help the Bishop to have source for contributions because people always ask, what do we gain from the Cathedral. 
“How do you feel when Bishop contributes 5M on behalf of the Diocese? As Diocese, we need source of income so that we can fund different projects. My lord the Bishop, Mission House needs to be completed quickly so that, work done so far is not be in vain due to the ongoing down pour.” Ssalongo Kisawuzi noted.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira read from the book of Mark 8:25-27 and urged every one, “To see things in a right way. One who has God is capable of seeing things and understands whether what he or she does is wrong or right.”

FUNDRAISING FOR MISSION HOUSE: LOP MPUUGA GIVES SHS 2M
Later, Kawalya was invited by Diocesan Mission Secretary Rev. Samuel Muwonge to lead fellow MPs in fundraising for Mission House.
Before announcing his contribution of Shs 3M, Kawalya, who last year delivered bags of cement for Mission House, invited fellow MPs to contribute. Who gave what;
● Hon. Dr. Michael Bukenya (NRM – Bukenya Constituency) gave UGX 3M
● Hon. Brenda Nabukenya (NUP – Luweero district woman MP) UGX 500,000
●  Hon. Dennis Ssekabira (NUP – Katikamu South) UGX 500,000
● Hon. Muhammad Ssentayi (NRM Bukoto Mid-West) UGX 1M
● Hon. John Mulimba  (NRM – Samia Bugwe Constituency) UGX 1M
● Hon. Maria Gorreti Namugga  (NUP Mawogola) UGX 500,000
● Hon. Hanifah Nabukeera (NUP – Woman MP Mukono district) 300,000
● Hon. Kayemba Solo (NUP – Bukomansimbi South) 500,000

OTHERS WHO CONTRIBUTED
● Hon. Minister Joyce Nabbosa Ssebuggwawo – UGX 3M
● Hon. Nyombi Thembo – UGX 2M
● Gaster Lule Ntakke – UGX 10M
● Omuk. Simon Kabogoza Muwanga – UGX 2M
● Owek. Florence Bagunywa Nkalubo – UGX 1M
● Owek. Patrick Luwaga Mugumbule – UGX 500,000
● Hon. Beatrice Nyakaisiki Byenkya – UGX 1M and many others

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU – REV SAMUEL MUWONGE
At the end of the function, Rev. Muwonge who heads Mission department in Namirembe Diocese announced that they had collected about UGX 92M cash and over UGX 50M in pledges.
He said, their target for the next phase is UGX 200M.
“I want to thank my Lord the Bishop of Namirembe, the Diocesan Secretary, the Dean and all people of God who have contributed towards Mission House. We have moved a long way but still need more funds. May God bless you abundantly.” Said Rev. Samuel Muwonge.
The function was coloured by different gospel choirs which included Gospel Elite Crescendo and Cathedral Choir.
Bishop Luwalira is expected to lay a stone on Mission House in September this year. In the same month, Mission department will hold another Convention from 11th to 18th. It will involve sports gala and praying for students who will sit for their final examinations at the end of this year.

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PHOTO: Minister Anite posing for a photo with the manufacturers of new cheap cars in Uganda

STORY BY:
ERIC DOMINIC BUKENYA
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA

PRIVATISATION and Investment Hon. Evelyn Anite has unveiled Uganda’s modern fuel efficient car making unit at the Automobile Group Uganda Company Limited. Congratulations NRM government for this step taken!
Speaking at an inspection tour of  the country’s biggest business park in Namanve, Minister Anite lauded the company for availing the country with a timely product that not only reduce the volume of used  imported cars in the country but also make fuel friendly cars.
“We welcome this initiative because it directly answers the challenge that we have as a country on fuel costs,” Minister Anite said.
She added, “Besides providing jobs for our people, this will also go a long way in helping our country in reducing on the high volume in very old and yet expensive imported cars in Uganda. And you find that most of such cars are emit gasses which are a big threat to our environment.”
She also revealed that the development is part of the country’s initiative to promote home generated products and services which are manufactured, promoted and sold under the ‘Buy Uganda, Build Uganda’ initiative. 
The BUBU drive is among others meant encourage the uptake of domestically made products as a means to promoting local talent, curing the long standing challenge of unemployment in the country also tone down levels of immigrant workers.
In his remarks, the Company Director Mr Anthony Liu revealed that the cars manufactured at the plant will not only be fuel efficient, but  also installed with state of the art equipment meant to reduce on carbon emissions thus sustain quality air in the country.
“We are going to sell our cars just as the sane rate of those that are at used car prices. For instance the pick-up double is just USD35,000 (Ug Shs125 Million) at zero mileage,” Mr Liu said before revealing that “we have already made 32 large trucks and 32 pick-ups.”
Mr Liu also revealed the cars are built on well researched technology that will not only ensure that the country gets economically viable cars but with a long span as well.
“So because we have very trustable technology, in the future we want to make the country’s cheapest brand new cars in Uganda and the region of East Africa,” Mr Liu said.
Additionally, the company also manufacturers air filters, cabin, oil and fuel filters under its subset strand known as the Uganda Filtration Technic Company Limited located at the Mbale Industrial Park.
Also Manufacturer air, cabin, oil and fuel filters under the company’s unit Uganda Filtration Technic Co. Limited located at the Mbale Industrial. Under the same strand research unit purposed to take on more Ugandan students enlarge knowledge base on the same.
The filters, among others, prevent the engine from premature abrasion, moisture, dehumidification, and no affection to air inhalation. 
The same branch of the company, research unit is set up to mainly absorb more Ugandan students as a means of widening the pool of experts in the line of work in the country.
“We may not be able to make most of the spare parts here but we believe we can make glasses, tyres. We look out for any Ugandan factory that has these materials and once they are tested to be fit for the cars we make, then we will definitely take them up,” Mr Liu said.
The company already intends to roll out the product to other parts of the country. Currently, the company has a branch nested at the Mbale industrial Businesses Park which manufactures filters that are fitted and used in the same cars.
These include Vigus 5 SWD pick-up trucks which are all designed to suit the conditions and terrain in East Africa and the African continent as well. 
Among the long term plans that the company has include accommodate intern students from both vocational institutions and University in the areas of Information Technology, computer science, mechanical engineering among others. 
“When these come, we train them in all the sectors and through the entire production line of the cars,”Mr Liu said before adding: “This is meant to expand the knowledge base in this area so that the same can be used in other factories.”
He further stated: “We trust that once we train as many Ugandans as possible then, the same labour force can be embraced and applied in local companies like the Kira Motor vehicles.”
With the launch of this development, Uganda joins the counterparts in the East African Community which among others includes Rwanda and Kenya that have since engaged in high-end initiatives and programmes to quench the thirst of ever growing demand for modern and brand new motor vehicles.
It is worth noting that most of the countries in the region have had a high reliance on second hand cars and have also had an adverse effect in the countries that they have been bought and used.
About the company, cars
Automobile Group Uganda Company Limited currently imports most of the spare parts from overseas for the first line of production. It however has plans to equipping native workers to learn and apply the same knowledge skills that can later be applied on producing spare parts for same within the country.
The company is to be headquartered in Uganda as central station so that it can make and churn out cars for ever growing thirst in the East African region.
Among the major products made by the company is the Vigus 5 4WD pick-ups both the single and double cabin versions. These come with one of the lowest fuel consumptions whereby with 8 litres, one is able to cover at least 100KM. The truck is gutted with Disc brake with ABS + EBD. Manual transmission 5 forward + one reverse. It has a sitting capacity of 5 persons within the double cab with an extended trunk for one’s extra goods or commodities.
All the cars manufactured under the plant are installed purify air quality. Specifically purify harmful gases, remove odors, reduce odors, reduce bacterial growth and also ensure that the car’s interior had a constant supply of fresh air.
Having the studied the Ugandan market and established that some of fuel station have adulterated fuel, the makers of the said car have filters that incase a driver unclean fuel, the dirt and water and filtered before releasing clean fuel into the engine for combustion.

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PHOTO: Tycoons Ham and Akon during Eid prayers on this week

STORY BY:
MOSES MUGALULA
NEWS EDITOR

SENEGALESE American Singer Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, known mononymously as Akon, this week returned to Uganda for a special visit to Kampala’s richest businessman Hamis Kiggundu of Ham Enterprises (U) limited. 
They attended Eid El-fitir prayers together and later, tycoon Hamis Kiggundu hosted Money magnet Akon at the State-of-art – Ham Agro Industries Headquarters.
The 38 years property mogul Hamis Kiggundu revealed to his guest why  he has chosen to venture into Agricuture saying it is the only path to fight and end poverty in Uganda.
Recently Ham told journalists that he invested UGX 2B in this research and divided Uganda into 10 Aggro zones.
“I carried out soil tests in different areas. I went to Western Uganda and saw that it has livestock, in Central we can get fisheries, fruits, horticulture, we have Maize and coffee. But before setting up structures, systems and policies, that can fully accommodate Agriculture for instance, Ham Agro Industries, there are many things I must first work on.” Mr. Kiggundu told journalists.
To his guest Akon, billionaire Hamis Kiggundu said that he is going to make a lab so that he can produce quality seeds and also, open up Ham Agro Bank in partnership with farmers. 

Hamis Kiggundu believes that to promote agriculture in the country, Farmers have to control right from fertilizers they use, the pesticides and, “We have to train them in the best Agriculture practices because right now, many of their crops and produce can’t meet the market standards so they end up living the liability.”
About his plan to build storage facilities, Hamis Kiggundu told Akon that in Uganda there has been a problem of storage facilities.
“You find someone has 10 acres of maize but sleeps in a small house. At the time of harvesting, when he leaves maize in garden, it will get spoiled. When he harvests it, he has no where to keep it at home to dry it. Majority farmers have that problem of storage, So I want to set up big storage facilities.” Kiggundu told his guest.
He took him around Ham integrated processing plant and headquarters which is no different from white house. 
“What I am building”, Ham told Akon, “Will have capacity to engage big international markets like in Qatar, Middle East, Europe or Turkey that we can sign with them treaties with the help of government, say we can supply them maize worth UGX 2B.  Ham is is planning to work together with the farmers by financially empowering them.This he plans to do through Ham Agro bank.He hopes to give farmers a helping hand by not only buying produce from them but also working together all the way from planting to harvesting. 

Kiggundu wants to start right from the soil, yes it will require sometime but he says, if they give it a robust approach, within a period of two-three years, they will be able to have gone to parameters of quality controls.
He asked why plant more maize which can’t meet international standards?”
He says, other able Ugandans like will join him in this industry and do things like this and later, government will join.

He told Akon that Agriculture has capacity to employ all Ugandans if handled well, being that it is the backbone of our country. 
“There is more money in Agriculture than in Oil. Uganda has capacity to feed 500 million people. Our soil is fertile, we have rainfall and we have youth who have capacity to do the work.” Noted tycoon Hamis Kiggundu.
While addessing media recently, Kiggundu said,  “We have to use factors of demand and supply to see that, through a liberal economy we entice these youth to move back into agriculture. That should be determined by actual incomes not just taking them to gardens. One hears that all maize in Kiboga is on demand. Then he will sell away his bodaboda, goes back to the village to plant maize.”
This according to him, will kill urbanization. “Why is it that all people are running from villages to the cities can’t we move productivity back to our villages like it was before?”
He asked.

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Mr. Kagenyi (standing-left) during a security meeting with locals

STORY BY:
MOSES MUGALULA
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA

KAGENYI Lukka, the newly appointed Deputy Resident Commissioner (DRDC) Manafwa district has written to the line minister Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda, through his immediate boss, explaining his game plan to fight and end all acts of corruption, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds in Manafwa District. 
The two paged letter was copied to the Secretary office of the President, Head RDC secretariat, Chairperson LCV Manafwa, CAO Manafwa, District Internal Security Officer and District Police Commander,  Manafwa.
Mr. Kagenyi revealed to Minister Babalanda about his plans to introduce an Accountability Day in Manafwa district in order to create a value for money system where all Government employees and contractors will openly account to the public on implementation of projects.
“The Constitution of Uganda provides that all Public Offices shall be held in trust for the people. Therefore, all persons placed in positions of leadership and responsibilities shall in their work be answerable to the people.” Reads Deputy RDC Kagenyi’s letter.
He said this Accountability day is one of the measures that shall be taken to expose, combat and eradicate corruption, abuse of power by the holding political and other public offices.
In the same vein, DRDC Kagenyi said having an Accountability day will also act as a monitoring vehicle for various Government projects in the District and also re-activate the duty of all citizens to combat corruption and misuse or wastage of public resources as enshrined under Article 17 of the Uganda Constitution.
The different expected activities during the District Accountability day will include among others; The Presentation of the the Periodic Performance Report, Presentation of Financial Reports, Presentation of Internal and External Audit Reports, conducting staff performance Appraisal and Presentation from the public and Local leaders on the progress and implementation of government projects in the district.
He also talked about non-structured mechanism of Accountability that largely involves public participation such as community Barazas, community dialogues, public open days that will directly be incorporated in the activities leading to the Accountability day.
Kagenyi told Minister for Presidency that, “The Accountability day in my view, will help to reduce on corruption tendencies within the technical staff and the contractors and also enhence effective service delivery and timely completion of government program.” 
He ays, the Accountability day should be fixed in the first 7 days of the new month after completion of every quarter.
“The District Accountability officers and all Contractors implementing government projects in Manafwa district including; CAO, Town clerks  Subcounty chiefs and all Heads of department should be prepared and get used to this new initiative that is geared at propelling Manafwa district to greater heights in terms of development and timely delivery of Government projects and service to the people.” Reads DRDC Kagenyi’s letter.
On Friday last week, Mr. Kagenyi went to areas of Buwagogo, Buwangani and Bweswa to sensitize locals on neighborhood watch with an aim of identifying criminals and fighting criminality. 
In his address to the different wanainchi, the workaholic RDC challenged the residents to be part and parcel of the crusade that will free their communities of criminals.
“The NRM government under President Museveni ushered in peace that we enjoy on a daily basis and in return you’re able to address issues of fighting poverty. However, criminals want to destabilize our peace which we as his representatives cannot allow”, he said noting that being vigilant is all the people should do in addition to reporting all suspicious characters to the authorities in his pursuit of a crime free Manafwa district.
DRDC Kagenyi  appealed to locals to embrace government programs since it’s one sure way of being part of the beneficiaries.
In his bid to make Manafwa the model district in the entire Bugisu sub-region as regards service delivery in line with government programs of Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Operation wealth creation among others, Deputy RDC will ensure his crusade is an all inclusive campaign that will bring on board the CAO, Town clerks, Parish chiefs, sub-county chiefs such that supervision is water tight with no room for error in addition to having value for money from the government coffers.

For views/comments on this story, WhatsApp editor on 0772523039