PHOTO: Government Chiefwhip Thomas Tayebwa (centre) together with AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka (right) and Hon. Nankabirwa (right) interacting with members of UPPA at Parliament yesterday

NEWS EDITOR
PARLIAMENT

HON. KIRYOWA Kiwanuka, the Attorney General of Uganda, yesterday Thursday met members of Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) and took them through the Bills that have been introduced to the the 5 Month old 11th Parliament showing their relevancy and why they should be urgently passed by the August House.
This was during media interaction between the Government chiefwhip Hon. Thomas Tayebwa and UPPA which took place in the Conference Hall at Parliament.
In the meeting which was attended by Energy Minister Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the convener Chiefwhip Tayebwa said members of NRM caucus will be persuaded to have a consensus on scrapping of Bail application to suspects of capital offences, a campaign driven by H.E the President.
The Attorney General who did not to submit on the issue of Bail, insisted that consultation is on-going.
Here is how AG Kiwanuka submitted on the 10 Bills introduced to the 11th Parliament;

1. THE NSSF BILL 2021
   The National Social Security Fund Ammendment) Bill, 2021 is among the seven lapsed Bills from the 10th Parliament which were reintroduced for enactment to the 11th Parliament. Its 1st reading was on 29th September, 2021. 
   This Bill seeks to expand social security coverage by making contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) mandatory for all workers in the formal or informal sectors to make voluntary contributions to the National Social Security Fund, to enhance the spectrum of benefits available to workers and to improve management of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). 
   Explaining why the Social Security Bill was brought, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka told members of UPPA that, “Social security is to provide for persons that have been working at a later point in their lives. That means that if a government sets a law which forced every person working to save for the future meaning when you get out of your working life, you have something to sustain you. That is the purpose of The Social Security Fund Act.”
   On Mid term access of the funds, Hon. KK said, “The purpose of that amended was for members to have an opportunity to access their funds before the end of the time. The Bill expects that you will have your money secured until you are 55 years old or until you retire. There are certain circumstances.  However, this amendment brings in an opportunity for person to have access to their money in mid term.”
   On the need for social security, AG KK noted that when you are still able to work, although the pay is low, imagine when you are not earing at all? 
   “People should understand that as they grow older, your children are also growing. So by the time you hit 55 years or retirement age, probably your children are going into Universities and you still need an income. That is the purpose of The Social Security Fund amendment.” Explained Attorney General Kiwanuka. 
   The Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee is handling this Bill.
2. THE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE BILL, 2021
   The Bill is handled by The Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries Committee. It’s 1st reading was also on 29th September, 2021.The Bill seeks to consolidate and reform the law relating to the management of Fisheries, Fisheries products and aquaculture. 
   The current Fisheries Act, Cap. 197 is insufficient in addressing the challenges and emerging issues in regulation and management of the Fisheries sector including; overcapacity, invasion of water bodies by aquatic weeds, limited support and investments in aquaculture, institutional challenges excessive pressure, destructive fishing malpractices, growth in illicit fish trade in immature fish, increasing local fish demand and decreasing per capita fish consumption.
   Supporting the Bill, Kiryowa Kiwanuka noted that, “In the past Uganda had specific cash crops. Our Agriculture was based on coffee, cotton, tea, etc. But no where from the colonial and independence time did we ever have fisheries or Agriculture as a major aspect of our life. It was done socially within our society, just doing fishing to eat. That was the purpose. Now it’s changing.”
   He talked about the population which is growing saying, “The pressure on water and our water bodies is increasing.The kind of things that we do with our water bodies is also increasing. Today you can find people building houses in the waters. This Bill will help government to manage resource that we have in fisheries.”
   “Members, fisheries is a major source of income and of managed well, we will go a long way in assisting us balance our trade. But it is also important to note that there are societies which are predominantly doing fishing and others which are not but are business people. So this Bill is supposed to come and address this.” AG told UPPA journalists.
   He gave an example that, when the businessman comes, he come for profits and when business is done, he or she goes away. “The Bill will help us deal with the bad practices in fishing and you all know the long fighting against fishing and etc.”
3. THE LAND LORD AND TENANT BILL, 2021
   This long awaited Bill, its1st reading was on 29th September, 2021. This Bill seeks to;
   (a) Regulate the relationship of the landlord and the tenant
   (b) Reform and consolidate the law relating to the letting of premises, and
   (c) Provideo for the responsibilities of landlords and tenants in relation to the letting premises.
   The Bill is under The Physical Infrastructure Committee.
   AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka said, this Bill is intending to regulate the relationship between the tenant and the Landlord. 
   “It is a double edge sword because someone must build the structure in order for someone to rent it. And the person who builds it, builds it for a profit. However, government isn’t a businessman. It is here to protect the social aspects of the society.” He said, Government is aware that not everybody will be able to build a house at a particular time, therefore, the relationship between the tenant and the landlord is very important. 
   Giving an example, Kiwanuka who co-owns a legal company with Mr. Karugire (who is President Museveni’s 1st son-in-law) said, “Look at an incident when someone with a family is working and gets a salary, but over a sudden, he or she loses the job. But where he lives, the property belongs to the landlord. So what does the landlord do because he wants his money? He asks the tenant to leave the next day! This Bill will cater for this. Government will sit in the middle of tenants and the landlords. It’s role is to make sure that the society is safe.”
   He said, the Bill will also determine the reasonable rent. “The government needs to balance the needs of the public with the needs of the businessmen/landlords. If the government sees that a certain section of the society is squeezed, then the government must come in.” Noted Kiryowa Kiwanuka. 
4. THE SUCCESSION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
   The Bill seeks to amend the Succession Act, Cap. 162, to bring it in conformity with the Constitution and provide for gender equality in accordance with articles 21 and 33 of the Constitution by repealing sections that were declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. 
   This Bill provides further for the protection of principal residential property for the benefit of the surviving spouse and lineal descendants; revises the percentages of distribution of the estate and an intestate; provides for the duration of administration and execution of wills of deceased persons; and enhances penalties and prescribes penalties for contravention of the Act. 
   Its 1st reading was on 5th October,  2021. It’s under The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
5. THE SUPPLIMENTARY APPROPRIATION  (No. 2) BILL, 2021
   It’s handled by The Budget Committee  (Standing Committee). Its 1st reading was on 29th September, 2021.
   The purpose of this Bill is to make supplemantary appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund under Article 156 (3) of three Constitution and section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 to meet the additional expenditure for the Financial Year 2018/2019.
6. THE SUPPLIMENTARY APPROPRIATION  (NO.3) BILL, 2021
   The purpose of this Bill is to make supplementary appropriation out of the Consolidated Fund under Article 156 (3) of the Constitution and section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 to meet additional expenditure for the Financial Year 2019/2020.
   1st reading of this Bill was on 29th September, 2021. It’s under the Budget Committee  (Standing Committee).
7. THE PHYSICAL PLANNERS REGISTRATION BILL, 2021
   Its 1st reading was on 5th October, 2021. It is handled by The Physical Infrastructure Committee.
   The Bill seeks to;
   (a) Provide for establishment of a Physical planners’ Registration Board
   (b) Provide for the powers and functions of the Board
   (c) provide for the registration of physical Planners,  and
   (d) Provide for disciplinary procedures for errant physical planners.
8. THE EAST AFRICAN CRUDE OIL PIPELINE (SPECIAL PROVISIONS) BILL, 2021
   This is one of the three new Bills that have been introduced for enactment by the 11th Parliament.
   The Bill seeks to facilitate the implementation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project in Uganda and to implement the obligations of Uganda under the intergovernmental Agreement and the Host Government Agreement and for related matters. Its 1st reading was on 5th October, 2021. It’s under The Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
9. THE PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT  (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021
   It’s also a new Bill. Its 1st reading was on 5th October, 2021. 
   The Bill seeks to amend the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 to enable the National Oil Company to retain proceeds from the sale of petroleum arising from the State participating interests in the applicable petroleum agreements for purposes of meeting it’s financial obligations arising from the applicable petroleum agreements and Joint Operating Agreements in each financial year, based on the approved work programme and budgets for the financial year in issue; for meeting obligations on its own behalf as well as on behalf of the State as provided for in the relevant petroleum agreements and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Act, 2021; to provide for the deposit by the National Oil Company of the balance from the proceeds retained into the Petroleum Fund and for the appropriation of funds to the National Oil Company for approved investments.
   This Bill is handled by The Finance, Planning and Economic Development Committee.
10. THE INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL, 2021
    This is the third new Bill. Its 1st reading was on 19th October, 2021. It’s under The Finance, Planning and Development Committee.
    The Bill seeks to amend the Income Tax Act, Cap. 340 to provide for windfall tax and limitation of deductions on petroleum operations.

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BY WASWA TENYWA
www.newseditor.co.ug

FEMALE journalists from the various regions across Uganda are advocating for better occupational safety policies and human rights while on job.
During a virtual workshop hosted by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Uganda in partnership with Journalism and Media International Center(JMIC) on Saturday, Eunice Kasirye the IAWRT Uganda chapter head, noted that safety and human rights are a pre-requisite at a workplace for mostly female journalists.
 “The platform of virtual networking has it’s fears. The same fears we get online are the same we face offline. If you frustrate the voice of a female journalist, you’re frustrating the voice of all the voiceless in the community. However, when a female journalist is given all the space and the power to do her job without being censored, the community benefits,” Noted Ms. Eunice Kasirye.
Violet Gonda the IAWRT president noted that the Association has been able to receive international support to start a pilot project on creating a digital safe house for female journalists adding that they female journalists suffer a lot everywhere.
Meanwhile Rouenah Kajumba, a TV  journalist in central region noted that issues concerning female journalists’ safety started with what society perceives as what a woman is and what a female journalist is.
She said that in a very patriarchical society where men have always taken lead, some female journalists fear to air their views because they will be termed as emotional and most threats are much more directed towards women than men while on duty.
She noted that men should be involved in discussions around the safety of female journalists.
“We are not only females in the field, but there are men as well. So if these male journalists don’t understand the female journalists, there’s no way we are going to uphold the issue of safety. When we leave our workplaces, the married go back to men.” She said, adding, “We have brothers and we work with men in different sections. So these people ought to understand what it means to be a woman because men are the very people that are exposing us to the things that make us unsafe while in the field.”
Caroline Bunga urged the journalists to task the public servants to provide information since the information act mandates any public officer to provide information except where the release is likely to prejudice the security or sovereignty of the state or interfere with the right to the privacy of any other person.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA

SEVERAL Civil society organisations are threatening to close their operations in the country if the government doesn’t stop harassing their colleagues.
This is in relation to last week’s arrest of AFIEGO CEO Dickens Kamugisha and six staff of the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO) due to unknown reasons.
In August this year, the government ordered a number of NGOs including AFIEGO to halt operations. The NGO Bureau said these 54 groups were violating a 2016 law.
AFIEGO backs the Save Bugoma Forest Campaign (SBFC) and as such opposes oil developments and sugarcane growing in Hoima for nature good.
In a joint press briefing at Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) in Ntinda a Kampala suburb, the executive director CCG Sarah Bireete explains that the attack on NGOs is intended to compromise the civil space which cannot be allowed.
Bireete noted that the NGOs are considering closing and operating informally.
At the same press briefing, the program manager at Governance ActionAid Uganda Mercy Munduru said that the government’s decision is likely to cripple social services that these NGOs render to the public.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
KAMPALA

THE Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has revealed how cases of counterfeit have increased in the country since the outbreak of covid 19 in March 2020.
Other challenges recorded include change in symbols, use of same without changing the product among others have been recorded.
Carol Nazziwa from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau noted that in just two months they have registered over 76 cases of duplication of names of various companies.
She revealed this to the press while meeting with officials from Fohow International Uganda limited led by Daniel Tumushabe who cautioned various companies to be more keen with people who want to develop using other people’s business through duplication.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
MEDIA CENTRE

CABINET on Monday 25th October 2021 under the chairmaship of H.E the president Yoweri Museveni took a decision on signing and ratification of the Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) inter governmental agreement for the joint construction of road infrastructure.
Yesterday while addressing journalists at the Media Centre, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi the minister of ICT and National guidance said, “This will strengthen bilatel relations between Uganda and the DRC, increase volume of trade between Uganda and the DRC and also improve people to people movement and security.”
Baryomunsi noted that this initiative is done to benefit trade because the eastern congo is not well developed and yet there is alot of trade and business in this area between Uganda and DRC.
Minister Baryomunsi also revealed that, “Cabinet also approved the implementation of the Amuru deed of settlement for the Amuru sugar works project.”
He said, this will enhance social economic transformation of the Amuru community as a result of established Agro – industry and infrastructure development.
This will also improve standard of living as a result of established Agro – industry by Amuru sugar works limited through the creation of employment particularly for unemployed youths.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA

UGANDA Revenue Authority (URA) a few days ago kicked off the third edition of the e-bomba ya business summits with discussions on survival of businesses in the wake of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
The month-long virtual engagements are aimed tipping business owners on financial growth and fostering voluntary compliance. These have been incorporated with skills to help businesses thrive in the new normal.
According to the URA Ag. Commissioner General Abel Kagumire, majority of the businesses which were a big source of revenue for government have been greatly hit by the effects on trade by the COVID-19 pandemic and this has affected tax collections by the institution. 
Kagumire pointed out sectors like education, food services, accommodation, arts and recreation as those that have been grossly affected in this era.
Collections from the food service and accommodation hit a dive of 37% especially because the sector is driven by tourists who were locked up in their respective countries. 
He however says that the revenue body is hopeful of a change in the sector collections because of the vaccines that are making travels much safer.
The e-bomba ya Business summits will run in series on Fridays up to 12th November 2021. The first episode of the summits has focused on survival through the pandemic with deep conversations on business financing and alternative skills adoption by sectors grossly affected by the COVID-19.
The discussants included; Ag. Commissioner General Abel Kagumire, Private Sector Foundation Uganda’s Ruth Biyinzika, the Managing Director Centenary Bank Fabian Kasi and Price Waterhouse Coopers’ Crystal Kabajwara and moderated by NBS TV’s Mildred Tuhaise.
Mr. Kagumire revealed that, unlike the past where the tax burden was carried by a few entities, the authority is to embark on expanding the tax register so that the businesses recovering from the pandemic effects are not overwhelmed
“URA has embarked on expanding the taxpayer register because we know that there are many Ugandans out there in profiting business but are not paying taxes. We intend to achieve this with comprehensive tax education so that everyone contributes to betterment of this country” said Kagumire
Uganda’s tax burden was held by slightly over 1.7 million taxpayers by the end of financial year (FY) 2020/21. However, this figure is expected to expand by 400,000 additions as the authority is set to have 2.1 million taxpayers by the end of FY 2021/22.
Ruth Biyinzika cautioned business owners against unnecessary expenditures as they recover from the pandemic emphasising that all resources are now needed for business survival. She pointed to the need for effective financial management in order for business owners to turn around operations for the better.
URA started the e-bomba ya business summits in 2019 as one of the activities in the Taxpayers Appreciation Month to equip business owners with necessary skills for financial growth and these were held at Kololo independence grounds.
However, due to the pandemic, these went virtual to cope with the standard operating procedures to curb COVID-19. URA will continue to equip segmented taxpayers with skills to thrive financially as it marks a 30-year anniversary. A similar engagement will be held for the youth in January in an Open Minds Forum Engagement.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
KAMPALA

THE Uganda Aids commission on Tuesday launched the National Policy Guidelines on Ending HIV Stigma and discrimination.
While presenting the contents of the policy in Kampala, the Executive Director of the Commission, Dr Nelson Musooba said, the objectives of policy guidelines is to provide stakeholders and the public with guidelines on non stigma and discrimination to enable them take appropriate actions to protect themselves and the communities.
The policy is also to improve access to and utilization of health and other services by people living with and affected by HIV especially where there has been punitive laws, policies and practices which violate human rights.
Dr Musooba noted that the Commission has secured funds to roll out the policy across the country that will help in eliminating the rising vice of stigmatizing people living with HIV/AIDs.
While launching the guildlines the minister for presidency Milly Babalanda has appealed to all ugandans to go and test for HIV.

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BY KETRAH JJEMBA
CITY HALL

KAMPALA Capital City Authority (KCCA) through the help of government of Uganda has secured USD 288M from the Africa development bank to help improve road transport and ease congestion in the city by upgrading 22 road junctions.
According to the acting director engineering and technical services Justus  Akankwasa, this will enhance the drainage capacity of the city to mitigate street flooding in low lying areas.
Akankwasa said that the project will improve 69.7km of roads in all divisions of Kampala,134 km of non motorised traffick facilities, walk ways, cycling trucks, construct commercial vehicle parking places, bus depots, 30 public toilets,6 Public markets along project roads for women vendors.
Meanwhile Akankwasa says Kcca has collaborated with Uganda railway corporation to revitalize the passenger train service between Kampala and Namanve.

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UMSC SG Mugalu and UNBS executive director Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru after signing MoU

BY WASWA TENYWA
www.newseditor.co.ug

IN a bid to implement and enforce Halaal standards in Uganda, Uganda National Bureau of standards has today signed a memorandum of understanding with Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC).
During the MOU signing at the headquarters of UNBS today, leaders of the two institutions agreed to work together to support the implementation and enforcement of Halaal standards in Uganda.
Speaking during the signing, the UNBS executive director Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru said UNBS will be working closely with the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council to make sure that those who claim that they are implementing Halal standards can be verified to promote trust and confidence in their products so that they can be consumed by the Muslim community and countries as a way of sidelining false claims.  
Mr. Ebiru revealed that the focus of the MoU is that as UNBS implements the Halal standards, they also protect the Muslim consumers as part of their mandate of consumer protection because Uganda as a country is a member of the Standards & Metrology institute of Islamic Countries called Organization of Islamic Countries whose secretariat is based in Turkey and that as members, there is need to harmonize standards and develop standards together.This means that Uganda should be able to sell our exports to countries that align to the Muslim faith.
“We are members of Organization of Islamic Countries whose secretariat is based in Turkey. As a member, we harmonize standards and develop standards together and the focus of the MoU is that as UNBS implements the Halal standards, Muslim consumers are protected as part of our mandate of consumer protection.” Said Mr. David Livingstone Ebiru.
Ebiru says uganda’s airlines fly to islamic countries and while in the flight people are served food where most of the travellers in the airlines are Muslims who want food that meets the expectation of the Muslims since muslims are part of the community.
Meanwhile the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council secretary General Hon. Ramadhan Mugalu on behalf of UMSC expressed gratitude  that Uganda has joined many countries to have Halal in it’s standardization which he says will give more consumer protection not only to the Muslims but also other people who would enjoy halal products.
Hon. Mugalu also said the signing of the MOU will expose uganda to the Arab and islamic countries market in terms of exports.
“We agree with what UNBS is doing and are very much in support of their endeavors.” Said SG Mugalu
Also the secretary for halal at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council sheikh Munil Sebintu said the MOU will give Uganda a chance of selling its products to the outside counctries.He says this will enable people to consume good things which can only be achieved when the two institutions work together.
Sheikh munil working together with UNBS will save muslims from consuming things that contradict with the islamic faith.

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