FOOTBALL Club Katwe United has signed a dangerous striker Tony Odur from Mukwanogw’abangi Express FC on a half season deal. He will be with the team till the end of this season .
According to Katwe United FC PRO Adam Al-Mahadi Kungu, “We have accomplished all the necessary transfer requisites, making him our player with immediate effect. His acquisition is part of our efforts aimed at not only remaining in the FUFA Big League but also to be elevated to the country’s top division.”
Odur comes with vast experience having played for a number of good football clubs and featured for the national team for many times.
“We are excited about his coming and hope for the best from him. He now joins our other experienced players like Jimmy Kakooza, Gofin Oyiroth, Wafula Solomon, Habibu Kavuma, Kikonyogo Enoth Ronald, Nkata Billy, Asiku Emmanuel, Reagan Mukwaya, Mike Lubowa, Allan Tebusweke and others.” Says Mr. Kungu, adding, “Once again, we want to welcome Tony Odur to Katwe United FC and wish him good luck.”
THREE Ugandan Quran reciters have qualified to represent the country at the continental Quran Competitions in Gabon in April 2020 after participating in Muhammed VI Foundation of African Oulema Quran competition on Friday at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Kampala Headquaters. The local Quran competition that have been running for two days at UMSC conference Hall organised by Muhammad VI foundation of African Oulema and UMSC was intended to select three Quran reciters who will participate on the international level. While officiating at the awarding ceremony His Eminence The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje expressed gratitude towards Muhammed foundation for this initiative in Uganda which will see many Muslim scholars in Uganda participate in activities of promoting Quran on International level. His Eminence also cautioned common muslims to desist from pronouncing themselves on matters that concerns doctrines and principles of Islam adding that this duty should be left to the learnt cleriks. “U don’t have authority to make fatuwas on matters of Islam, leave this to the learned sheikhs and respect them” Mufti said.
More than 100 Quran reciters participated in this competition and only 3 qualified to the continental level and will represent the country in Gabon in April. This function was also graced by Chairman Umsc Dr Abdul Kadr Balonde, H.E 2nd Deputy Mufti of Uganda Shk Muhammad Ali Waiswa, Umsc Sec Gen Haj Ramathan Mugalu, kampala regional kadhi sheikh hamid kyewalyanga, busoga regional kadhis sheikh husein bowa and many others.
Ugandan Quran reciters have qualified to represent the country at the continental Quran Competitions in Gabon in April 2020 after participating in Muhammed VI Foundation of African Oulema Quran competition today. The local Quran competition that have been running for two days at Umsc conference Hall organised by Muhammad VI foundation of African Oulema and Umsc was intended to select 3 Quran reciters who will participate on the international level. While officiating at the awarding ceremony His.Eminence The Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje expressed gratitude towards Muhammad foundation for this initiative in Uganda which will see many Muslim scholars in Uganda participate in activities of promoting Quran on International level. His.Eminence also cautioned common muslims to desist from pronouncing themselves on matters that concerns doctrines and principles of Islam adding that this duty should be left to the learnt cleriks. “U don’t have authority to make fatuwas on matters of Islam, leave this to the learned sheikhs and respect them” Mufti said.
More than 50 Quran reciters participated in this competition and only 3 qualified to the continental level and will represent the country in Gabon in April.
This function was also graced by Chairman Umsc Dr Abdul Kadr Balonde, H.E 2nd Deputy Mufti of Uganda Shk Muhammad Ali Waiswa, Umsc Sec Gen Haj Ramathan Mugalu, kampala regional kadhi sheikh hamid kyewalyanga, busoga regional kadhis sheikh husein bowa and many others.
ABAYIZI abasoba mu 100 okuva mu masomero g’Obusiraamu ku Lwokutaana battunkidde ku kitebe kya Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) e Kampala mukadde, mu mpaka z’okusoma kkulaani okukkakkana nga ku bano, basatu be bayise mu kasengejja okukiikirira Uganda mu z’akamalirizo ezinaabeera mu kibuga Libreville eky’eggwanga lya Garbon nga 20/04/2020.
Abaalidde empanga kuliko; Sulaiman Sudaisi, Habib Wafula ne Bashir Abubaker.
Omukolo gw’okulangirira abawanguzi gwetabiddwako Mufti wa Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje eyasiimye ennyo Kabaka w’e Morocco, King Muhammed VI olw’okutandikawo enkola y’okuzza amaanyi mu bayizi abasoma Kkulaani mu Uganda nga ayitira mu kibiina kya Muhammed VI Foundation.
Mubajje yagambye, “Ng’Abasiraamu ba Uganda, tuli basanyufu era twebaza Kabaka wa Morocco eyatandikawo enteekateeka y’okulaba ng’abayizi baffe bajjumbira okumanya n’okuyiga ekitaboekitukuvu Quran.”
Mufti Mubajje asabye Abasiraamu okukomya okutyoboola bamaseeka n’agamba nti kino kyekimu ku bivuddeko obutabanguko n’okulwanagana.
Mufti era asabye Abasiraamu okwewala ennyo okuyisa amateeka (Fatuwa) ku byebatamanyi nga baagala Abasiraamu bagagoberere kyeyagambye nti bangi bakozesa emitimbagano okusasaanya amawulire agobulimba ku biteekateeka nga bino.
“Ekiddiridde, kwekugwangana mu malaka, empalana mu Basiraamu ezitaggwa. ” Mufti Mubajje bweyategeezezza ku mukolo ogwabaddebadde mu kisenge ekituulamu enkiiko ku muzikiti gwa Gadaffi National Mosque.
Sheikh Hatwib Mukuluwakika akulira ekitongole kya Daawa ku Uganda muslim supreme council yasabye abayizi abaakutte Quran okufaayo enyo okugikuuma.
Dr. Ibrahim Ssali, pulezidenti w’ekibiina kya Muhammad VI Foundation mu Uganda yagambye empaka z’okutegeka Quran Dr.Ibrahim ssali ategezeza nti enteekateeka z’okusoma Quran zatandika mwaka guwedde mu mawanga ag’enjawulo agabadde mu kibiina kino kyokka nga mu Uganda zezisookedde ddala olw’okuba yo yakegatta ku kibiina kino.
AS a total of 1,262 candidates’ results are withheld, the Uganda Examination body has given Education and Sports minister Janet Kataha Museveni five reasons which attributed to poor performance in 2019 UCE Examinations. This was during the release of 2019 UCE results on at a function that was held at Prime minister’s office in Kampala. In a nine pager statement, Mr. Dan N. Odongo the Executive Secretary UNEB said, “The challenges which caused poor performance of students are persistent and we have reported on these in previous Statements of Release of Results.” However, Mrs. Museveni pledged to find solutions. In the Statement, Odongo addressed about general performance of all candidates saying, females only performed better than male students in English.
FULL UNEB BOSS STATEMENT Honourable minister of Education and Sports, the Uganda National Examination Board presents to you the Statement of Release of Results for the year 2019 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Examination for release to the public, in accordance with Section 4(2) of the UNEB Act, Cap 137, Laws of the Republic of Uganda. The Examination was conducted between 14th October and 15th November 2019 under the theme: “Integrity and Security in Management of Examination in my responsibility.’
TOTAL CANDIDATURE Candidature increased by 2,285 (0.7%) from 337,720. Of these, 144,256 (42.7%) were USE beneficiaries. The number of registered female candidates has surpassed that of males by 398. This is the first time that more females have registered than males. In 2019, 333,060 candidates appeared for the examination compared to 330,721 candidates who appeared for Examination in 2018. This is an increase of 2,339 (0.7%) over 2018. A total of 410 Special Needs Education (SNE) candidates registered for 2019 UCE Examination as compared to 357 in 2018. These included the Blind (36), those with low vision (87), the deaf ( 60), the dyslexics (26) and physically handicapped (78). There were 123 others with forms of disability that only needed to be given extra time. The Board made adequate arrangements for these candidates, which included modification of Questions, provision of questions written in Braille form, providing support personnel for the handicapped and dyselexics, and sign language interpreters for the deaf. Candidates with low vision were given question papers with enlarged print to enable them read more easily. All SNE candidates were allowed extra 45 minutes in each paper.
The best SNE candidate is Godwin Ndyamuhaki, a deaf candidate from St. Henry’s Kitovu in Masaka district. He scored Aggregate 13 in the best 8 Subjects.
Alfred Timothy Tukei from Munta Royal College in Bombo, also a deaf candidate scored Aggregate 14 in the best 8 Subjects.
The best dyslexic candidate is Miracle Daniella Obura from Gayaza Hifh school who scored Aggregate 22 and passed in Division 1.
The best blind candidate is Gabriel Awas from St. Francis School for the Blind in Soroti. He scored Aggregate 29 in Division 2.
PERFORMANCE OF FEMALES AND MALES COMPARED Female Candidates performed better than males in English Language. In other large entry subjects, male candidates show better performance with the differences more marked in Mathematics and Sciences. The level of performance of females in Sciences, especially Physics and Chemistry is quite low with nearly 60% unable to get a Pass 8. The mean failure rate nationally is 7.8%. However, there are districts which have recorded more than twice this rate.
COMMENTS ON AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT As we have stated bellow, the UCE examination is designed to assess the degree of acquisition of the necessary knowledge, skills and competences in the various learning areas of the curriculum and to lay a foundation for specialization at higher education levels. Examination papers are constructed to test the candidates’ knowledge, understanding and ability to apply the knowledge acquired to solve problems in a given situation and show analytical skills. In the Sciences, the papers are designed to test the candidates’ ability to manipulate science apparatus whily carrying out experiments to apply the science process skills of making measurements and observations, recording observations and other data, drawing inferences or conclusions from observations, data presentation and interpretation. They are also expected to be able to apply basic scientific knowledge to solve problems in their environment.
CAUSES OF POOR PERFORMANCE The following challenges are persistent and are responsible for poor performance by the candidates in the lower grades. We have reported on these in previous Statements of Release of Results. They include:
Inadequate coverage of the Syllabus: Evidence available indicates that in many schools, teachers are made to cover the syllabus by the end of Senior Three or latest, by Term 1 of Senior Four. The results is that, some topics are either skipped or lightly dealt with and learner’s miss out the basic Principles. The reason for this practice is supposedly to have time for revision. However, when learners have not grasped the subject matter initially, the revision is ineffective.
Language Deficiency: Candidates failed Report writing, with many writing letters or minutes of a meeting. They had problems in composition writing, summarizing a passage and interpretation of passages and contextual meaning of words in passage. In creative composition, candidates crammed and produced passages irrespective of the question they were answering and used appropriate vocabulary; words they themselves did not understand. The challenges of Language deficiency is reflected in performance in other subjects, where Chief Examiners continue to report problems of question interpretation, misunderstanding key words and generally, poor language expression.
Performance in Sciences: Examiners reported improvement in the skill of connection of electrical circuits and taking measurements of voltage and current in Physics. Problems however remained the same as before. Candidates experienced problems in the handling of the apparatus during the practical tests as well as making and recording observations and drawing conclusions from those observations; tabulation of experiment results and interpretation of the results, among others. Examiners have reported that the cause of these inadequacies lies in the fact that teachers do not integrate the teaching of theory and practical. One of the biggest problems in Chemistry is that the candidates did not know the steps in balancing equations. This is an indispensable skill in the subject. There is a lot of misspelling of chemical terminologies. There is a theoretical approach to practical tasks due to lack of practice. Skills of making correct observations, recording those observations and making inferences are therefore not well exhibited in the answers. Examiners however reported that in Biology, making of Biological drawaings have improved a lot from previous years.
Performance in Higher Order: Higher Order questions are those questions that require candidates to apply knowledge in problem solving situations, draw inferences or make predictions from observations or a set of data. Performance in these types of questions has remained poor for a large number of candidates. There is evidence of candidates failing to understand and interpret questions. Those questions that require computation and skills of representing data graphically were poorly done.
Performance in Humanity subjects: Apart from the problem of language deficiency, candidates showed evidence of spotting. Where a question is phrased differently, many candidates set their own questions and provided answers as per spotted topic. Candidates do not give relevant examples or draw sketch maps to illustrate their answers. Whereas candidates showed improvement in handling field work, map reading remain an area of serious weakness in Geography. In Christian Religious Education, candidates display poor knowledge of the Bible and application to everyday life.
EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE The measure put in place resulted in a welcome reduction in the case of malpractice. Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics have been most affected with common cases of external assistance, collusion among candudates, impersonation and script substitution. A total of 1,262 candidates’ results are withheld in accordance with the law, and we will give the affected candidates a hearing. In 2018, the affected candidates were 1,825. After the hearing on the cases in 2018, the Board cancelled 1,086 candidates and released the rest.
RULING NRM has footed medical bills of Ms. Enid Tumusiime, 45 years old who was on January 26th knocked down by a speeding boda-boda cyclist in Kampala on her way from Namboole where she had attended the NRM Delegates’ Conference.
According to Rogers Mulindwa, senior Manager Information, Communication & Public Relations, NRM Secretariat, Tumusiime was admitted at Nsambya Hospital where medics confirmed her right femur bone sustained a compound fracture.
“On receipt of this information, NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba paid her and the late Mary Lokel a visit in the same hospital. She yesterday cleared Tumusiime’s medical bill of UGX 8, 042,900.” Said Mulindwa in a press release today Friday morning.
Tumusiime is the Vice Chairperson of the NRM Women League in Bushenyi District and a Chairperson of the Women Council in Nyarubaare Sub County.
From St. Elizabeth Ward, where she is admitted on bed No.8, Rogers Mulindwa has said, “Tumusiime carries the Party spirit so high with a Party yellow cap on her head and the Conference accreditation card around her neck.”
She is a resident of Nyarutooma – Kasozi village in Bushenyi.
SEXY Kabalore district Woman Member of Parliament Sylivia Rwabwogo who recently hit headlines over suing a 25yrs old student Brian Isiko for sending her sweet love messages is in trouble, Hon. Bobi Wine’s people power has finalized preparations to unseat her and front youthful Lilian Kobugabe who recently graduated at Ndejje University.
Rwabwogo is offended for what some people call torturing a fellow youth yet the MP, as a leader had better ways to resolve this but not imprisoning Isiko.
Lillian Komugabe shares this school of thought.
She said, “Yes as a leader, Hon. Rwabwogo would have known that she leads people of different characters. Someone who is above 18yrs sends you love texts and you run to courts of law? Rwabwogo embarrassed us as Kabalore people. She would instead be in news for fighting against poor health services in the district, poor schools and unemployment of our youth but not for sex scandals.” People Power’s Lilian Kobugabe said recently while meeting a section of youth in the district.
Kobugabe told them, “Now Kabalore is known about Rwabwogo’s scandal. Our pregnant mothers are walking long distances to get antenatal care due to lack of adequate health facilities in the district, so to schools were you find especially our girls walking long distances at night to and from schools. Every body would expect our woman member of Parliament to be a voice for these women and our girls but she has been busy with court battles against a youth over just love texts.”
In the meeting, Kobugabe vowed to unseat Rwabwogo so that Kabalore gets a voice in Parliament.
“Hon. Rwabwogo is ever quiet in the House only to be seen voting to lift presidential age limit and mobile money tax. Did she consult us before taking that side? Who then authorized her? It is enough, let her not waste time and funds to return in 2021, Kabalore is ready to substitute her with an effective voice.” Kobugabe said.
For starters, Kabalore Woman Member of Parliament Sylvia Rwabwogo started receiving calls in November 2017 from a stranger who would profess love to her.
The calls and messages got so frequent that she reported him to the police.
Isiko was sentenced to two years in prison for what court said was harassment of the MP but later, he appealed the ruling.
Rwabwogo had told court that, “One of the texts that provoked my fears said: ‘I love you so much and want to protect you. My love is for you alone and since there is no one taking care of you, I will do it.’”
Rwabwogo said she received several more calls and more than 10 messages and that one time her stalker sent a text asserting that he had failed to sleep at night and all on his mind were only thoughts about her.
The trial magistrate Kamasanyu asked him why he was stalking a woman almost twice his age.
But Isiko innocently retorted: “Everything she [Ms Rwabwogo] said is correct. I wanted her to become a personal friend. I ask for forgiveness. I also wanted her to give me ideas on how to run my poultry project. I did not have any bad intention. In fact, that is why I agreed to meet her so that we could talk.”
Now Kobugabe says, their MP embarrassed them when she chose to battle with a youth over what she called useless matters instead of counseling him.
“Leaders must be accommodative and good listeners. Why take a decision without listening to your sixth sense?” She asked.
Born to late Joseph Byamukama and Ms. Kajoina of Kabalore, Kobugabe attended Railway Primary School in Kasese, Mugusu Primary School in Mugusu Parish in Kabalore, Kyebambe Girls for O and A Levels.
She joined Shimon PTC and awarded a Grade three Certificate and later went to Ndejje University where she graduated from recently. Kobugabe has a Bachelors in Business management.
She told excited Kabalore youth that she is coming as an independent but with People Power blessings and promised to be a voice that will lobby for facilitated health centres, schools in different subcounties, training and skilling youth so that they can start up their jobs, helping farmers in the district and better laws for a girl child.
However, Sylivia Rwabwogo camp looks not to be mover.
ON DECEMBER 18th 2018, Eng. Andrew Mubiru Kitaka completed his first year at City Hall, in the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Acting Executive Director capacity.
Eng. Kitaka came in after Ms. Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi resigned one of the most top paying jobs in Uganda citing sabotage by the politicians and accordingly, constrained her in that, she couldn’t go on with the job.
In her 21 pager notice of resignation dated October 15th 2018 to the president who appointed her into this office seven and half years, Musisi said, with her Technical Team they made progress towards transforming Kampala but she was not able to continue serving in this position.Musisi officially left office on December 15th 2018.
Three days later, Eng. Kitaka was appointed Acting ED, to date.
In a letter to Eng. Kitaka dated January 10th 2020, Ministry of Public Service Permanent Secretary Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire wrote , “I am pleased to inform you that His Excellency the President has, in exercise of the powers vested in him under Article 172 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Uganda directed that your appointment as KCCA executive director be extended for a period of six months with effect from December 18, 2019 to June 18 2020.”
In an exclusive interview with the News Editor (NE), Eng. Kitaka takes us through his first year as KCCA top boss and challenges he has faced since he put on Jennifer Musisi shoes.
FULL INTERVIEW:
NE: It is now a year since you took over as Acting Executive Director Kampala Capital City Authority. Tell us, how have you found Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi shoes? KITAKA: First of all, it is an honour to have this opportunity to serve the people of Kampala and the Country at large. Kampala is a very important city in the Country right now the population is about 1.6M people at night and during the day, it goes to 4M people which makes it a very large City. Therefore, to be at the helm of administering it, is an honour. Ofcourse it is a challenge to be the leader of this institution because of the diversities that we have to cater for, we have the ordinary people, the politicians, many dignitaries in the City and the Institution itself. Obviously, we are supposed to deliver services despite the fact that we manage so many interests, we still have to be moving forward. In terms of service delivery, it’s quite challenging to deliver services in a situation where you are financially constrained and at the same time you have to show impact. So you have to choose very carefully.
NE: You mean Eng. Kitaka, you dont have finances to run the Authority? KITAKA: The budget that we have from Government is not sufficient to make us move as faster as we want.
NE: Was your budget cut? KITAKA: Actually this financial year, our budget for road fund has been cut substantially and we are still in discussion with the Ministry of Finance to get it re-instated.
NE: Dont you think that KCCA budget was cut following what the President said sometime ago about how your predecessor Jennifer Ssemakula Musisi was given a lot of money to run the city but instead, she spent tax payers money extravagantly? KITAKA: Not really, I don’t think so because this Budget has always been for service delivery, it is not for paying salaries. The previous year we were getting UGX 30.5B annually for road fund which is for road maintenance and this year has been cut by UGX 8B which is a large proportion given that we have a large road network to maintain and we are also increasing on the value of the infrastructure of these roads because we have Street lighting, installing traffic lights meaning that the maintenance of the roads is now not only the surface of the road we have to maintain the walk ways, the under ground drainages because we are constructing walk-ways under which there are under ground drainages. We have to maintain the street lights, as the city expands it also needs maintenance. And then the traffic lights, they have expanded substantially meaning that road maintenance is getting more and more costly and yet the budget is diminishing. So that is a challenge. The other challenge is that, to date we have not identified the source of funding to carry out major drainage works in the City and yet drainage is one of the major challenges in the City especially, whenever it rains parts of the City floods.Sometime back, with funding from the World Bank, we prepared the Kampala drainage master plan which gives us a lot of information on the flood prone areas and what has to be done. Certain major drainage channels were identified which need to be worked on and these were subsequently designed and even tender documents prepared but we are unable to tender because we don’t have funding. Drainages like Nalukolongo, Kinnawattaka, Kansanga Channel that one which crosses Gaba road and many others. So we only have money now to do the rest of Lubigi Channel from Bwaise round about to Hoima road to line it fully and Nakamiro Channel which is a tributary of Lubigi and runs across Nabweru road within Kawempe Division. So those ones we are starting any time because tender evaluation has been completed. So that is all we can do yet there is a lot we would like to do in the area of drainage. We are fortunate that the fly-over project is going to address the drainage problem at the preparation Clock Tower. We have partnered with UNRA and shared with them our designs for that area and they have take in on-board that project because it would be pointless to do fly-overs, improve junctions in that area without looking at drainage. So Clock Tower is going to be sorted. So we are still looking for a development partner to fund drainage. With regard to other infrastructure, we are fortunate to have support from development partners. Recently we got a big grant from JICA to improve certain junctions in the city, construct traffic control centre at KCCA headquarters. So it will give us a good platform to manage traffic over a wide area in the City because all junctions are going to be connected and shall be able to give appropriate good time to diffrent directions where traffic will be going. Also it is worth noting that KCCA is partnering with police and have signed an MOU to share infrastructure in the City. We gave police permit to install their ducts all over the city to put fibre for the cameras. In return, police has also given us space in some of these ducts to run our fibre for connecting the junctions which is postive because it means we don’t have again to dig the city. This is also beneficial to police because it is also in charge of enforcing traffic regulations. In addition to that, we are also a project for increasing the number of street lights in the city, we have carried out a street light master plan for the entire city and we are right now doing feasibility study for selected areas. We are using funding from the French Development Agency and by early next year, this project will be rolled. The lighting will increase security,road safety at night, to enhance the functionality of security cameras because with light,cameras will see better. So these are projects which are completely. We want to encourage building owners to install CCTV cameras. One area where government can be supportive, is to reduce taxes on the acquisition of CCTV so that every body can easily access it. With cameras everywhere, criminality in Kampala will be minimised. We are at the advanced stages of preparing big road improvement project with the African Development Bank (ADB). This project is bigger that KIIDP which is on-going. The ADB project will cover about 67Kms of roads in the city of which, about 18Kms will be for four-lane roads dual car lane ways. So if you look at the equivalent two-lane roads, it is like 85Kms of roads. We expect to have financing agreements signed this year and then next year, we start implementation. That is the major project in the city and if you combine it with the junctions that we shall be doing, the lighting and the on-going World Bank funded road projects which we recently inaugurated, the fly over project, Kampala I can say, will be a Construction site. Everything will be under rehabilitation and improvement. KCCA has a lot better of plans for service delivery and it is not only the infrastructure. We are also constructing markets to provide the work space. Kasubi Market is going to be inaugurated this year and that will free-up all that space which vendors have been occupying at Kasubi junction so that the junction can be signalised. In the other project, it wasn’t signalised because we had no where to take the vendors but now we are creating them spaces and as soon as they move, that junction will also be improved.
NE: How many vendors will the new Kasubi market place accomodate? KITAKA: I think it will take 900 vendors. And if there will be others who will not fit in, we have plans of expanding that market to take on the extra but at least those who are encroaching on the roads and its reserves will all have gone away. NE: Some vendors say the new market place is inconvenient, its location is in a corner and accessibility looks to be hard by their customers. Are you not wasting tax payers’money in another USAFI – like market? Don’t you think vendors will reject it? KITAKA: The market is at the side of the road and accessible. Visit it, you will see the standard and the quality of space is much better than where they are working from now. We shall put their markets to ensure road safety. Where they are now, many of them are being knocked. We also have Busega market funded by ADB and a very big project. Once Busega market is completed, it will decongest Busega round about and there will be no reason for any one to trade on the roadside. This year, Busega market will also be put to use. In Kitintale, Nakawa division we have started constructing the market and the work space for the artisan.
NE: Do you have any plan of making a 39 Billion Usafi market useful? KITAKA: This is an existing market. We have plans for upgrading it further although the funding has not been yet obtained we are still doing the master plan for that area but as it is now, we want to improve the connectivity to the taxi park because the two are independent where there are people,there will always be customers for the market. So we want to improve connectivity to USAFI market to the park to make it more vibrant. Then later, we want to construct a market in Gaba. The land was already acquired but we are still looking for the money. We want to construct a market in Kamwokya. We are moving steadily. So there will be enough work spaces for the informal Sector, artisans, within a short period of time. We are also in advance stages of starting procurement of waste management services in the City. We currently have some concessionaires whose contracts were extended for one year within which we are supposed to procure new concessionaires with higher capacity. We currently have Nabugabo Updeal ventures and Home Klean. These are local companies and you know the capacity they can manage.
NE: During his 2018 tours in Kampala. His Excellency the president got complains out about these companies on how they are incompetent and their charges for collecting garbages are too high. He directed KCCA to take on garbage collection since it is your mandate. Again you renewed their contracts?
KITAKA: We talked to the President and explained why as of now, KCCA cant manage garbage collection on its own. That is not yet possible because we need to renew our fleet for collecting garbage which money we don’t have. Actually, the little we have is doing a great job to fill in the gap where the local companies may not have capacity. So we are still collecting a lot of garbage. We have done a feasibility study with the International Finance Coperation (IFC) which is an arm of the World Bank and has been completed. We are in advanced discussions with the PPP unit of ministry of Finance to allow us advertise an expression of intrest which will bring us on board international players who will be encouraged to team up with our local ones to manage the entire value chain of garbage management in the City, connection, transportation, treatment and may be producing energy out of it or other products. So we are hoping, this is something we can realise with in this financial year to have new concessionaires on board. Ofcourse, KCCA is multi-sectoral, we fit under many sector ministries and again this is another challenge. We have many reporting centres. When you look at Engineering, we are members of the working transport sector group headed by the Minister of Works. Gender is under the Gender, Social sevices group ministry of Gender. Public health is under Health Sector working group ministry of Health. Environment is under water and Environment. Physical Planning is under ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development. Education is under Education sector of Ministry of Education and Sports. Our Admin has to frequently to liase with the Ministry of Public Service. We have three commission that give us staff. There is the public commission, the health service commission and the education service commission. So, we have so many reporting centres. We are also members of the accountability sector. There are so many partners that we have to work with. Then after that,we have the Political wing. The Authority also has many standing committees, they have a standing committee which overseas every Directorate and then we have the City Public Accounts Committee, we have Public Administration Sector a committee under the Ministry of Finance which is also an audit committee and that is on top of the other audit functions of the Auditor General and COSASE. So, amidst all that, KCCA has to deliver services to Kampala people.
NE: Having many reporting centres, you call it a challenge? How then do you want KCCA to be treated? KITAKA: Not all organisations are set up this way. Look at Authorities like UNRA, it’s services are for one particular area, that is road management and belongs one sector. So things are a little bit more straight forward but we are managing this challenging environment may be being a city, it must have all these areas of operation. Under revenue collections, our revenues have increased significantly from when we started. There is a debate going on what should be the property rates and consultations are going on
NE: How has the revenue increased? KITAKA: It has increased from UGX 30B to UGX 90B, the highest Kampala has ever collected. We have Treasury Services which manages the expenditures. We separated collections from expenditures
NE: Talk about KCCA staffing. KITAKA: We are in a situation where there are a number of staffing issues to sort out. And this has brought on board some anxiety but there is no other way of doing it if we are to put things right. Working with the Public Service Commission, within a few months from now, the staffing issue will be sorted out.
NE: How is the relationship between the Technical wing you lead with the Political wings led by the Lordmayor. Did you pick it from where can madam Musisi left it? Are the two wings at war? KITAKA: We made it a deliberate effort to reach out to the Political wing and hear them out, understand their positions, also them to understand us and I think it has been successful in that we can have a healthy debate in the Authority and arrive at resolutions that we all support. We want consensus in most of the things we are doing so that we can avoid the fights, bad publicity also fights with the public. If politics is not right, the public might be insighted to sabotage what we are doing.
NE: Late last year, we saw you in a meeting with COSASE Chairman Hon. Mubarak Munyagwa. What were you cooking?
KITAKA: Actually i was very surprised about how much publicity this meeting got because me as the Acting ED KCCA I made it a deliberate move to talk to all major stakeholders in the City and that is why Kampala is calm.I talk to the Kampala ministers, the Lordmayor, the councilors, division mayors and their councilors, I have been talking to many Members of Parliament and Hon. Munyagwa is an MP of Kawempe South in Kampala. He is the former mayor Kawempe division and now happens to head COSASE where we have appeared several times. It would not be out of the norm for me to have a meeting with a representative of Kampala people in Parliament.
The meeting was in a broad day light, in a public space where we perfectly knew that everybody will be seing us may be even following our discuions. I find it intriguing for someone to write that it was a secret meeting. Secret meeting in a public place? Then is that still a secret meeting?
As a major stake holder in the City, I think it was very innaculate to try connecting my meeting to the staffing issues in KCCA. It was not correct at all,the meetings with political leaders in the City are aimed at stabilising the institution and to let know what the people they represent want. Am sure this is very important and all leaders must do this. The calmness you see in the City wouldnt be achieved if I had not taken this path.
NE: You are faced with staffing issues at KCCA, many top officials are resigning an others are feeling unsafe you want them to re apply. KITAKA: We have different categories of staff. There are those who came in from public services and those on temporary terms. Most of this came because there was no assurance of the budget. So couldn’t be recruited on permanent terms and they are a big number. But as you go about regularisation of this situation, there are certain things you can not avoid. The public service which recruits for us has certain guidelines we are all obliged to follow. All the staff on the temporary terms will have to reapply. But I trust that since they have been performing well on their jobs, they will also perform well at the interviews and will be retained. A lot of them have experience, Tey have been trained, and therefore it will be advantageous to retain such staff. Other than training a new group of people.
NE: Do you have staff under probe? Are there staff investigations in KCCA? KITAKA: Yes there will be audit of certain Directorates but not auditing individuals. Such audits are normal in public service. They help us to find where the weak areas are so that we can plan and move forward in a more organized way. So when you here about staff being investigated, it isnt out of the norm. If something has gone wrong in an institution, there has to be an investigation.
NE: About transport industry in the City, the president recently directed the ministry of Finance to work on bringing 980 Tondeka buses to replace marathon so as to decongest Kampala. How are you prepared for that development? KITAKA: It is evident that we need a higher capacity of means of transport in the City. The only challenge is, when you bring them on, what do you do with the existing operators. Because transport is a source of income for so many peoplre. And we dont want to make so many people unemployed. It means that, when this new phone system comes, they should be part of it. They should be given jobs there, operate some of the services, so that the new system benefits Ugandans, it does not instead disenfranchise them. So we would support the introduction of buses but need to come with other accompanying measures on the road. Because if you bring so many buses and get stuck in the congestion people will not use them because they always want to use the fastest mean of transport. It means you have to take away the matatus from the city, relocate them to the periphery and then create dedicated bus lanes, create bus stops, create many modes of payments like the travel cards to avoid cash leakages so that there is no cash on board, you need to create an information system so that you can be on stage and no when the next bus is coming. So that people can plan their travels like in other developed cities. We could also introduced trains in the City because a population of 4M people in Kampala every day, is not a small figure. So buses could be completed by trains because if people are assured of the transport system, there is no need to operate a car because it is very expensive. I for one, if there is a very good transport system, I will be happy to pick a bus or a train when am comming to work.
NE: Since you took over this office, has KCCA lost cases? KITAKA: Oh yes!
NE: How much has the Authority lost in costs? KITAKA: Since I came in, I found many cases already lost. And what was left was a matter of agreeing on the settlement. So money had to be paid out. Details of that I do not have them as of now. On my side since I entered this office, no case has been lost.
NE: Finally, would your Mr. Kitaka want the president to appoint the Substantive ED?
KITAKA: Yes I would want the president to appoint me as the substantive Executive Director but I want that appointment to come through showcasing what we are capable of doing so that it can make an informed decision. I dont want it to come through lobbying. Want him to see himself what KCCA has managed to do. I have already told you what we have done in such a shorter period, what we are doing and our plans to make Kampala a Construction capital city.
JOB WELL DONE: Finance Minister Kasaija and Eng. Kitaka signing JICA contract
WHEN on Saturday January 25th 2020 cliques among Delegetes booed and blocked Party Secretary General Justine Kasule Lumumba from addressing NRM National Conference at Namboole, questions about competence of this former Bugiri district Woman MP were raised.
Rt. Hon. Kasule Lumumba featuring on CBS radio airwaves
Some delegates were heard asking the NRM Chairman to relieve Lumumba of such a very important office and return her successor Rt. Hon. John Patrick Amama Mbabazi in a Delegates Conference expected in March this year.
However, insiders say, Lumumba has hit her target, voices calling for her sacking must be ignored.Rogers Mulindwa, senior ManagerInformation, Commucation and Public Relations at Plot 10 Kyaddondo has saluted Lumumba’s leadership saying, “In 5 years, NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba hasperfectly steared her team at the NRM Secretariat and her achievements are written on the walls.”
PRESIDENTIAL & PARLIAMENTARY POLLS
Facts shows, ruling NRM won with 60.2% in 2016 Presidential elections.
“A total of 12 NRM MPs sailed through the 2016 elections unopposed and the pary registered overwhelming majority in Parliament with 298 NRM Legislators which is 70.43% of the total Legislators in the 10th Parliament.” Said Rogers Mulindwa.
He said, Rt. Hon. Kasule Lumumba played a pivotal role in harmonising both Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions which were won by NRM members.
Of the five Workers MP, Rogers Mulindwa said, “Four are from NRM, one is Indeoendent but still, NRM leaning. Our Party won 3 out of the 5 slots for Youth MPs. Only two are independents. From the polls for PWD Members of Parlament, NRM secured 3 and the remaining 2 are NRM friendly Independents.”
2016 LOCAL GOV’T ELECTIONS
A total of 15 NRM District Chairpersons were unopposed and the Party won massively in 83 out of 112 Districts.
“Out of the 3267 seats of District Councillos, NRM won 2556 which is 78.2%. We won 14 out of the 35 Mayoral seats and 579 out 968 Municipal Councillors which is 59.8%.” Mulindwa noted, adding, “Of the 1326 Sub Counties countrywide, NRM had 923 candidates winning the LCIII seats making 69.6%. NRM had 10,738 Sub County Councillors unopposed and in total won 12,732 out of the 16,951 seats. We won 174 (70.6%) out of the 229 positions of Directly elected Women Councillors.”
COUNCILLORS REPRESENTING WORKERS
NRM had 56% victory in elections of District Workers Councillors. 48 were unopposed.
LOCAL COUNCIL I ELECTIONS
NRM claimed 72% from the LCI elections across the country.
WOMEN COUNCIL POLLS
NRM swept the Women Councils from villages to the National level. The National Women Council Executive Committee has no single opposition but only NRM who went through unopposed.
NRM GRADUATES FROM RENTING
Most importantly, History will have it that Rt. Hon Lumumba’s creativity and commitment on duty saw NRM mobilise resources to buy off the premises located at Plot 10, Kyadondo Road in Kampala City as the Party Headquatters. Renting is now history. That monthly expenses will now be channelled to other party sectors.
HON. BETTY Amongi Akena, the newly appointed Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs minister want President Museveni’s directive on decongesting the Central Business District (CBD) and easien public transport in Kampala Metropolitan Area by replacing matatu with 980 buses, executed.
Minister Amongi will officiate at a Greater Kampala Mass Transit Bus Service Conference at 8:30am on Thursday January 30th 2020 organised by Tondeka at International University of East Africa, Main Auditorium in Kansanga under the Theme: ‘From Planning to Execution’.
For starters, Government of Uganda entered into an Eight years’ deal with powerful Hinduja Group in India which manufacture vehicles, to supply 980 Ashok-Leyland buses to Uganda in phase one, and replace over 12000 taxis that has been operating around city centre.
“This is a very organized project that works in different Africa cities and many people will find no reason to drive their cars to and from city centers since buses will be very many and fares affordable.”Said officials of Tondeka Metro, a locally Special Purpose Vehicle sponpored by Hinduja Group to operate these buses. Now all is set and six months from now, these state of the art buses will be in Kampala. This comes after a meeting between The Head of State and Hinduja Group to supply Ashok-Leyland buses of the JAN make that will not only boost Tax revenue by 100 billion in taxes and GDP by US$ 800M annually but also create over 20000 jobs especially to youth, veterans and women in the first year. In this meeting, both parties agreed that allowing buses to operate in Kampala will enhance urban safety and security, massive reduction in security surveillance costs, it’s affordable in costs to the elderly, youth, women and disabled and cost optimization. “In countries where our buses are operating, the city roads are decongested and this leads to quality environment. There is road optimization and a very organized city transport system.” Wealthy Hinduja Group told the President in the meeting. They talked about Ancillary infrastructure services, issue of IPO – on completion of year three track record and that there will be service accessibility and predictability. The suppliers assured Government that their buses are comfortable and hygiene and will cut trabsport costs hence household savings.
M7’S DIRECTIVE In a letter to Finance, Planning and Economic Development minister Hon. Matia Kasaija dated August 31st 2018 on supply and assembly of Ashok leyland buses and trucks, president Museveni directed him to, “Expedite the signing of the Term sheet dated July 9th 2018, valid for 90 days from EXIM Bank of India for supplier credit under Loan Agreement.” Letter reads, “Recently when I met with the representatives from Hinduja Group, in regard with the supply of 980 buses Ashok – Leyland to Uganda through a secured funding under EXIM Bank NEIA, I agreed on the following actions”. “Ashok – Leyland will supply 980 buses imported from India under Phase 1 and to establish an assembling plant for trucks/buses in Uganda with a minimum of 200 units per month for the supply of vehicles beyond the initial 980 buses.” President Museveni said. He added that, “The Ashok- Leyland buses will only use arteries of cross-city transport (East-West, North-South, South-East to North-West) and leave the feeder branches to the locals for some years.” The President also agreed with Hinduja Group to strengthen the institution and technical collaboration between Ashok -Leyland and Kiira Motors in Uganda. “Eventually, Ashok-Leyland will float shares so that the locals can also benefit from our growing purchasing power, transport expenditures in this case.” Said Museveni in his letter to the Finance minister in which he gave him directives. “The past is PROLOGUE not DESTINY! We should be open minded and curious. A lot has been done. More needs to be done” said the President directeing Finance minister to expidite this project. The project name is Tondeka Metro and the government is implementing this project through UDC, the government investment arm in collaboration with the Hinduja Group/Ashok Leyland. This project will be fully implemented in 6 months. Matatus will now work in feeder roads, feeding buses and no matatu will be allowed in centre centre and all routes where buses operates.
WHY GOVT WENT FOR ASHOK-LEYLAND It is the leading Bus Manufacturer with Mass Transit Bus System (MTBS). They have customized technical specifications, flexible financing and delivery terms and conditions and their buses are technically enabled with an intelligent integrated transport system – for tracking vital information. Government says, Ashok buses have excellent technical and institutional operation and maintenance support and solid African footprint in the cities of Dakar, Lagos, Abuja, Abidjan, Accra, Luanda among others.
DETAILS OF THE DEAL Hinduja Group will supply JAN Bus Vehicle module 980 buses that will operate a cross 4 service routes in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. According to project frame work, there will be aftermarket support and Cashless ticketing Infrastructure Module of Bus Depots & Infrastructure, Mobile service vans and Cashless IT Infrastructure including cards, hand held devices & servers. The Spare part and Workshop development Module will have fast moving spare parts and accident bound body parts and Work shop development related tools & special tools etc.
JAN BUS SALIENT FEATURES · 12m Front Engine Semi Low Floor Bus (650mm Floor Height) · Fully Flat Floor throughout the Passenger Saloon · Modular Body – Accommodates different Applications / Door Combinations · CRS (Common Rail System) Engine · AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) · Full Air suspension (Kneeling arrangement available) · Tubeless Radial Tires · Conforms to latest UBS (Urban Bus Specification) formulated by MoWT · Multiplex Wiring · Latest ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) features enabled
SOLUTION: NETWORKS AND ROUTES Buses will operate in four routes. Eastern routes will cover; Kampala- Jinja Road (up to Mukono, Kampala- Luzira Road (Up to Kirombe) and Kampala- Ntinda Road (Up to Namugongo). Western routes are; Kampala- Masaka Road (Up to Nsangi), Ka;mpala-Mityana Road (Up to Buloba) and Kampala- Hoima (Up to Wakiso). Northern routers are; Kampala- Gayaza Road (Up to Gayaza), Kampala-Bombo Road (Up to Kawanda) and Kampala- Northern Bypass Road. Southern routes; Kampala- Entebbe Road, Kampala- Makindye, Kampala-Nsambya Road (Up to Lukuli), Kampala- Gaba Road (Up to Gaba),Kampala-Salaama Road (Up to Munyonyo) and Kampala- Kibuli Road (Up to Namuwongo) Transit Terminals will be constructed in Mukono, Nsangi, Buloba,Wakiso and Matugga.
BUS FARES Government agreed with the Ashok – Leyland operators fares to be socially affordable. The proposed Fare charges are as follows: · One way/Single Trip; UGX 1,200. For example from Buloba to Kampala, from Entebe to Kampala, from Wakiso to Kampala, from Matugga to Kampala or from Mukono to Kampala. · One day unlimited travel; UGX 3,500. Use this ticket to travel where ever you want with the Tondeka buses. · Weekly pass (unlimited travel); UGX 18,000 · Monthly pass (unlimited travel); UGX 55,000 · Number of Passenger Transported Daily; 1,980,000 · Number of Km Per Bus Daily; 200KM · Average Speed per hour; 25/30km
EXPECTED IMPACT w.e.f FY 2019/2020 Under Economic GDP according to World Bank, US$ 800M is expected per year and in 8 year period it will be US$ 6.4B. Looking at Environmental – Excess Fuel, report by NEMA shows, UGX 300B (US$ 80M) estimate per year and in 8 years period , it will be UGX 2.4 Trillion . Under direct employment, in a year, 6000 people will be employed and 10000 people are estimated to be employed in eight years. Indirect employment, it is expected in the first year to take 4000 people and in eight years, it will be 5000 employees. Under Treasury – Government of Uganda; · Estimate annual Corporate Tax will be UGX 50-60B and UGX 400B – 450B. · Staff Income Tax in a year is estimated at UGX 40 – 45B and inmEight years it is estimated at UGX 320 – 360B. · Import Taxes/Vat Year ½ is annually estimated at UGX 181N (US$ 47.5M) · NSSF fund annually is estimated at UGX 17B and 136Bb · New Income Stream/Operator Fee on Revenue (0.5%) UDC is annually estimated at UGX 3.14B and 25B in Eight years. · Licence fees in a year is expected at UGX 1B and in eight years it is estimated at 8B. · Local Authority Fee (KCCA 50%) in a year is expected at UGX 3.6B and in eight years it is estimated UGX 28.8B.
(Who is who in Tondeka Metro? Wait for the full details)
Peter Kimbowa, Chairman Tondeka MetroSample of Jan Buses
President Museveni at the opening of the 22nd Annual Judges Conference on Tuesday
Aloysius Mukasa (in a red overall battling with a police officer as his supporters were chanting him on)
BY OUR REPORTER
HON. ROBERT Ssentamu Kyagulanyi’s blue eyed boy Aloysius Mukasa has vowed to unseat Lubaga South MP Paul Kato Lubwama come 2021 polls saying his time for eating is over, its now time for an MP who will be a bold voice for Lubaga South voters and lobby for services.
“I have come to serve not to be served. Am not looking for a job to enrich my family. Lubaga South deserves better. Not endless floods which has killed business in the parts of Nateete, Nalukolongo, Ndeeba, Kitebi, Ssembuule among others. When voted area MP, I will create avenues to make sure the voice of Lubaga South People against floods is not only heard on the floor of Parliament but also lobby for service delivery. Our people pays a lot of taxes, there must be value for thier hard earned taxes” Says Lubaga South MP hopeful Aloysius Mukasa.
Mukasa was this week on Monday arrested while consulting residents in Lubaga South and detained at Katwe Police Station.
He was however released later in the night.
The New Editor held a detailed interview with Mr. Mukasa on why this successful businessman has offered himself to contest for Lubaga South MP in 2021.
We will shortly publish it in details
Aloysius Mukasa (in a red overall battling with a police officer as his supporters were chanting him on)
