Stanbic Bank Uganda continues with bold steps towards Uganda’s Socio-Economic Recovery

KAMPALA – Last Thursday the 9th of December 2021, Stanbic Bank organized a breakfast meeting themed “Working together to drive Uganda’s Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery”; to share planned initiatives that are aimed at supporting Uganda’s post-Covid19 economic restart in complement of government led efforts ahead of the planned full reopening of the economy in January 2022.

The meeting also intended to pledge partnership towards mobilizing Ugandans to refocus on economic activity to help recover from effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as support to B2G partnership to mobilize Ugandans into the money economy through cooperatives.

Amongst the guests of the occasion were the government Chief Whip Hon. Thomas. B Tayebwa who also represented the Prime Minister as the Chief Guest. Other guests present were; the Chairman of the NRM manifesto committee, Hon Ephraim Kamuntu and officials from Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, National Planning Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the Grain Council of Uganda and the bank’s key strategic partners together with cooperative clients from all the regions of Uganda.

In her address. Ms. Anne Juuko, the Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank reiterated the bank’s commitment to remain the people’s bank in Uganda. She said the bank is being deliberate about listening to all Ugandans and working with the government and different players to find solutions that respond to the needs of different segments of the population.

She informed the meeting that Stanbic Bank has customized different solutions for doctors, school proprietors as well as stakeholders in the oil and gas and agriculture sectors.

“Today partnerships make more business meaning than any other arrangements for a community to have an impact replicated over again. Partnerships with cooperatives is the way to go. We shall train, digitize and lend money to cooperatives at the rate of only 10% per annum,” She affirms.

The USD100M Economic Enterprise Restart Fund (EERF) which is currently benefitting cooperatives, and VSLAs was launched in November 2020, by Stanbic Bank Uganda, together with strategic partners to restart the economy post Covid-19.

Anne was keen to note that producer cooperatives were being lent to at 10% while other cooperatives business types like SACCOs were borrowing a rate of at least 12% per annum to enable the bank make an impactful intervention. She notes that this intervention comes at a time when many cooperatives and groups are facing with limited access to funding, lack of liquidity, low financial inclusion, and mismanagement by their leaders and members which is a threat to their longevity.

Apparently, the Northern Region has recorded the least access to EERF funds with only 2%, while Western Uganda stands highest at 46%. Eastern Uganda is also placed as lowly as 7% while Central Uganda stands at 45% access by cooperatives and VSLA’s.

In his opening remarks, Tayebwa acknowledged Stanbic Bank’s approach of thinking about citizens first.

“When you hear Ann speaking, you wonder if she is the CEO of a commercial bank. We as government are happy to work with you Stanbic Bank. Thank you for leading the way for others to know that it is not about profit.”

Hon. Prime Minister, Nabbanja in her speech read by Tayebwa equally thanks Stanbic Bank for setting the stage for other banks to lend at lower rates but implored Stanbic to further reduce the lending rates for more results.

On her part, Emma Mugisha Stanbic Bank’s Executive Director and Head of Business Banking further informed the meeting that the bank also aims at reaching at least 300,000 Village Savings and Loans Associations which are estimated to have in excess of 18m members country wide.

“We want to work with the VSLAs so that we reach at least 40% of the population in the informal sector that contributes to the national economy,” Mugisha says. More than 1,000 SACCOs and VSLAs have been recruited, and our bar is still going high, we are working on digitizing the system, so we have more members with easy access,” she adds.

She added that Stanbic Bank has also secured Shs. 2bn to facilitate a digitalization drive of all cooperatives, VSLAs and other groups involved in financing the population at a local level. Mugisha says, this would facilitate proper record keeping among the member institutions, ease financial monitoring and literacy, transparency as well as networking among all SACCOs.

The bank also introduced an application coded Flexipay, a virtual electronic wallet that enables members to access a systematic disbursement of funds and repayment of loans without going through hassles. Using this digital platform, at least 37,050 members have accessed the money through the different SACCOs and VSLAs around the country.

She further informed the meeting that the bank has set up an agricultural training centre in Hoima to help local farmers produce and target the foreign expatriates with things like pineapples, and fruits; adding that this facilitation comes along with financing to the farmers to enable them produce, but all in organized structures like cooperatives. Such enterprises will be catalyzed by the Parish Development Model (PDM).

According to data from the National Planning Authority (NDA), it is projected that at least 40% of the funding into the economy comes from the private sector, an indication that credit facilities should be made accessible and favorable conditions made for private sector led growth. Uganda’s NDA estimates to reach the 39% of the total Ugandan household who are still trapped in the poverty cycle, with investments towards health, education, house hold income and nutrition. Shs. 100m will be disbursed to every parish with a clear repayment plan for five years.

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Government launches study materials in Lango sub-region

LANGO – As the government prepares to reopen schools, Ministry of Education and Sports has launched home study materials in Lango region to cover both primary and secondary schools.

The home study materials will cater for primary one, four and senior five to ensure continuous learning, remedial learning and reawaken the learners.

State Minister for Sports, Denis Hamson Obua launched the distribution of the materials which will cover Kole, Alebtong, Lira, Kwania, Apac, Dokolo, Oyam and Amolatar districts.

President Yoweri Museveni closed education institutions last year as a measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as a result 15 million learners were sent back home. On the 1st November 2021, the government ordered the institution to resume studies.

Obua said, as they fully plan to re-open schools, stakeholders who include teachers, parents and pupils should prepare so that the exercise doesn’t take them by surprise.

Obua expressed concern over teenage pregnancy in the country saying children are not safe in the hands of their parents except in school.

He said children have become unsafe which means parents have abandoned their responsibility to guide their children.

“If children are not safe because schools were closed as a result of Covid-19, where else do you think they will be safe,” Obua asked.

According to the police and local leadership in Alebtong, 2,190 cases of teenage pregnancies were recorded in the district within the period of January to July, over 2500 in Kwania, 1,800 in Apac, 2,074 in Amolatar and more than 2,000 in Otuke.

“If nothing is done to save the situation, it will be worse in the next few months,” said Alebtong LC5 Chairperson, David Kennedy Odongo who is also the Chairperson of Lango LCV Chairpersons.

He also advised the government to fix the roofs of four primary schools in the district whose roofs were blown off.

“Alebtong district is more than ready to teach effectively if the situation allows next year,” he says.

He identified the schools whose roofs were blown off as Baropiro, Omarari, Amononeno and Amugu quran.

He said the district is setting up village education committees, parishes and sub-counties to mobilize the community to embrace education.

On secondary education, Odongo said if the government is to improve on sciences, they should build laboratories in all the schools in the sub-region and equip them.

“Unless we have functional laboratories in our schools, science will still be history,” he said.

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Wildfire destroys more than 200 hectares of sugarcane plantation in Atiak

AMURU – Police are investigating yet another fire incident at Atiak sugar plantation that has reportedly destroyed more than 200 hectares.

The Aswa River Region Police Public Relations Officer, David Ongom Mudong in a press conference on Monday afternoon said, the fire started in the farm on 10th December, 2021 and took three days.

He revealed that 200 hectares of the plantation has so far been destroyed, 14 grass thatched houses belonging to the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF 71) battalion which are providing the security in the place equally got burnt.

However, he noted that the police fire brigade failed to put down the fire in the plantation saying the plantation does not have paths for the trucks to pass through mostly in the hilly terrain.

“We don’t know why the management haven’t considered any of the recommendations that the police have issued to them in the management of the place in regards to the persistent fire outbreak,” he said.

He added that police have picked up investigations into the incident but the management of the plantation has failed to liaise with police and the local leaders in the District.

However, he noted that the fire is believed to have been set by unknown people, a matter which is being investigated under a CRB 15/12/12 /2021 at Atiak police outpost.

Meanwhile, the factory equally lost 60% of its plantation in December last year in a similar incident as the company reportedly suffered a loss of Shs.3 billion in the year according to the 2020 police Annual Crime Report.

The Director Agriculture and Plantation at Atiak Sugar, Mahood Abdi when contacted on telephone declined to speak on the incident.

Atiak sugar factory is located 17kms north of Atiak, off the Gulu-Nimule road in Gem village, Pachilo parish, Atiak sub-county in Amuru district. The factory has the capacity to crush 1,650 tons of raw sugarcane daily, producing 66,000 tons of sugar annually.

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NDA closes 15 unlicensed pharmacies, assorted drugs worth Shs. 114m impounded in greater Masaka

MASAKA – National Drug Authority (NDA) has closed unlicensed pharmacies, assorted drugs and arrested 15 suspects during an operation conducted in 11 districts of greater Masaka region.

In a press release, the operation targeted 20 unlicensed pharmacies (19 human and 1 veterinary) that were earlier warned and issued with closure notice following the resignation of their respective supervising pharmacists.

“Of the targeted unlicensed pharmacies, five (4 human and 1 veterinary) have acquired pharmacists and applied for licenses to operate, while 15 pharmacies including 05 without supervising pharmacists have been closed by NDA and 287 boxes of assorted drugs estimated at Shs.114,800,000 were impounded,” reads part of the press release.

Dr Muhammad Lukwago, NDA Manager in charge of Central Region says, they want to stop unqualified persons from dispensing drugs something that raises concerns about safety to the users.

Lukwago has challenged the public to strictly buy drugs from qualified and licensed dealers, as a way of eliminating risks of consuming unsafe drugs.

Doctor Faith Nakiyimba, the Masaka District Health Officer indicates that some of the unlicensed drug dealers were found to promote irrational uptake of medicines; practices she says present negative long-term effects to the public, that include among others high drug resistance rates.

David Ekau, the Drugs Inspector in charge of the Central Region confirmed that Ngonge, Naka and another unidentified pharmacy on Herbert Street have been closed.

Ekau says, the three pharmacies have been the leading dispensers of malarial drugs to Rakai, Kalangala, Sembabule, and Lyantonde districts.

“I would like to confirm to you that 20 pharmacies and clinics have been black listed because of selling fake drugs and using unqualified personnel in Masaka district,” he said.

Ekau adds that it’s businessmen in Masaka region who have taken up the business of dispensing drugs to the people’s health.

Also, Charles Byebeso, another district Drug Inspector in Masaka says, the drug shop owners take advantage of the congestion at Masaka referral hospital to sell expired drugs to the patients calling upon other related bodies to intervene.

Byebeso said, Masaka has more than 110 drug shops in the district.

Jane Nakato, the proprietor of Naka Pharmacy who was briefly detained and later released says, she has an operational license from the NDA but was shocked to see her pharmacy being closed.

Nakato insists that NDA has failed to do its work and threatened to petition the Ministry of Health over the closure of her pharmacy.

“We have provided all the necessary requirements to run this business but NDA has failed to appreciate the health services we are providing to hard-to-reach areas where government has not reached,” she reacted.

Speaking to Abiaz Rwamwiri, the Public Relations Manager, National Drug Authority (NDA), the legal operation was in line with the authority’s routine post market surveillance activities intended to protect the human and animal population from drugs and healthcare products that are substandard, counterfeit and unauthorized, and to curb unlicensed drug outlets and unqualified persons handling drugs.

Rwamwiri confirmed that the operation was conducted in districts of Kalangala, Kalungu, Kyotera, Lwengo, Rakai, Sembabule, Bukomansimbi, Masaka, Butambala, Gomba, and Mpigi where 15 suspects were arrested and detained at their respective area police stations.

“15 suspects were arrested and detained in Masaka, Kalangala, Lukaya, Lwengo, Gombe, and Kakuto for operating illegal pharmacies. The suspects will be charged with carrying out pharmacy business without a license {14 (3)} and unlawful possession of classified drugs {27(2)} of NDP/A Cap 206,” says Rwamwiri.

He appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any drug outlet that does not comply with operating standards.

He called upon all operators whose drugs have been impounded to report to NDA’s Central region offices Nakawa to address their compliances issues.

“You need to report any drug outlet that does not comply with operating standards on our toll-free line 080010199 or WhatsApp line 0740 002 070,” Rwamwiri emphasized.

“NDA extends its appreciation to the public, local authorities, Uganda police force and the media, for their tremendous support during the completed enforcement operation,” adds Rwamwiri.

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Gulu City Misses out on Special National Disability Grant

GULU – The Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Gulu City have demanded government inclusion for the national special disability grant.

The national disability grant is from an Act of Parliament to support persons with disabilities in groups with start-up capital to eliminate poverty among the people living with disabilities.

The fund was established under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development targeting at least between five to fifteen members from each group with a livelihood support of Shs 5 million.

The Chairperson, Gulu district Councilor for disability, Patrick Komakech, revealed that 22 groups from Gulu district have received the money to support their businesses since the implementation was launched three years ago.

However, he noted that none of the groups from Gulu City received any support for the special program, a situation which he blamed on lack of structural organization in the City.

“We are hopeful that Gulu City will start getting the same support now that the Council has instituted the Disability Council,” Komakech added.

The Chairperson, Gulu Disabled Persons Union, Geoffrey Alli says, the Members of the Disability Council are directly charged with the identification of the beneficiaries and will oversee the implementation of the different government projects targeting the persons with disabilities in the City.

The Council is composed of the five members that include; Komakech Patrick, the Former Chairperson Disability Council Gulu District. Patrick Komakech who now represents the youth and Peter Ouma who represents the Development Partners supporting disability in the City.

Others are the former male Councillor V, Roland Anywar, Maltrix Apiyo and Rose Aparo who represented the families of children with disabilities in the Council. Unfortunately, she passed on after her appointment.

Sections of the Persons with Disabilities which have opposed the appointment of the Committee have withdrawn the petition and agreed to work with the team.

Bosco Oryem has urged the new Council to work with the structures in the villages as he withdrew the petition against the Union and Gulu City Council.

“If it’s the petition that will block us from getting this support, then we have withdrawn but that doesn’t mean we will sit and watch over the Council if our interests aren’t protected,” Oryem added.

The team will jointly work with all heads of departments within the City Council in the enforcement and the implementation of the different projects and programs.

The Area Member of Parliament Joyce Acan says, conflict of interest arising from the different groups did not only affect the Union but the livelihoods of the vulnerable persons in the City compared to the other districts.

She revealed that while persons with Disabilities in Gulu are yet to be considered for the national disability special grant, at least 84 groups from Kitgum have benefitted from the project worth Shs 440 million.

“The fund can only be supervised when the structure is established and this is the challenge, we are facing in Gulu City. The problem will likely continue if they have failed to put aside their differences and work together,” Acan told theCooperator in a recent interview.

Florence Acen, the Chairperson Persons with Disabilities at Alokolum in Bardege-Layibi division says, they had been applying for the grant in the last three years in vain.

Betty Aol Ocan, the Woman Member of Parliament for Gulu City also urged the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to consider supporting the vulnerable persons within Gulu City in the second quarter of the financial year.

Just like Acan, Aol equally has appealed to the union to strengthen coordination and to account for the support being channeled for persons with disabilities in the City.

According to the 2014 report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the prevalence of disability in the Country was at 12.5% with a projection of 4.8 million people living with disabilities.

Meanwhile, the report by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development indicates that 17% of adults in the country are living with disabilities, 7% are children aged 5-17 and 4% are children below five years.

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Savings Group enabling better care for children with disabilities

AMURU – Parents of children with various forms of impairment in Jimo village, Agwayugi parish, Lamogi sub-county in Amuru district have formed a savings group to help fund their children’s education.

The group which was formed on the 4thNovember, 2021 has a total of 30 members whose children go to Agwayugi Primary School and has so far saved Shs120,000 cash.

David Oyet, the Chairperson of the savings group says, since most of them have children, more often than not, money is not available for children with disabilities which eventually affects their education.

Oyet says, given the hard-financial times being experienced now due to the impact of COVID-19, many of them have not been saving for the education of their children.

Margaret Aryemo, a parent of a child with disability says with the savings group, they can borrow money in case of emergencies like illnesses among others.

According to Aryemo, through the savings, they will be able to buy scholastic materials and as well as pay for their children’s school fees and other school requirements.

“Through our group, we share challenges and ideas on how we take care of our children, besides just saving for their fees or scholastic materials. We also plan to borrow from the group in case we have any challenges related to the health of our children with disability,” Aryemo explains.

“I can tell you that we have experienced a lot of attitudinal change especially from us and the general community as far as education of children with disabilities is concerned. Many people think we are just wasting money and this is majorly because of their bad perception. Save the Children has helped us change our mindset towards the education and wellbeing of the children with disabilities in our communities,” Aryemo observed.

Paska Auma, a resident of Jimo village, also a parent of a child with disability says, initially their children felt marginalized and stigmatized because as parents, they lacked knowledge of how to equally care for them.

Through the savings group, Auma says Save the Children, an international Non-Governmental Organization trained them on how to take care of the children with various forms of impairment.

She further said as a result, their relationship with their children has greatly improved because the children are no longer marginalized or stigmatized by them as parents but also by society.

“Most of the time many of us who have children with disabilities, we tend to neglect them and deem them surplus to support especially when it comes to their education. Through this savings group, we are able to save some small monies to help keep them at school. We also receive trainings from Save the Children which helps change our mindset towards our children,” Auma noted.

William Latim Alex, the Headteacher of Agwayugi Primary School says, most parents oftentimes looked down on investing in the education of their children with disability because of their physical forms.

“As a result, there have been numerous cases of school dropouts especially for children with disabilities,” says Alex.

As of the closure of schools two years ago, Agwayugi Primary School had a total enrolment of 924 pupils with 59 of them being learners with various forms of impairments.

The savings group is part of Save the Children’s Together for Inclusive Education Project being implemented in Amuru and Gulu districts.

Under the project, the organization has rehabilitated four classroom blocks in Agwayugi, Pagak, Gira gira and Jimo Primary Schools in Amuru district. It is facilitating home based learning for over 100 children with disabilities in the district.

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Implementers of EACOP project to give 30% project uplift to PAPs

HOIMA – Total Energies, one of the companies implementing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, has promised to give 15% annual project uplift to deal with the issue of delayed payment of Project Affected Persons (PAPs).

The implementation of EACOP project is by governments of Uganda and Tanzania represented by Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) respectively, Total Energies and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

The development of EACOP is being led by Total Energies on behalf of the shareholders. The contract will be executed by a joint venture comprising of two Ugandan firms: New Plan Limited and Industrial Compressor Services Limited (ICS Ltd) to develop and implement the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) to acquire land for the Uganda section of the EACOP project route.

This was revealed by Fred Bazarabusa, the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) for the EACOP project, during a meeting organized by Global Rights Alert to help the PAPs have an interface with the oil companies undertaking the EACOP project and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) in regard to compensation issues from Hoima and Kikuube districts.

The PAPs led by their Chairman, Nelson Tibemanya, presented a petition to the oil companies, district leaders and PAU where they decried the delayed compensation coupled with under valuation of their properties.

The residents claim that the valuation was done in 2019 and the government stopped them from using the land earmarked for the project. In their petition, they claimed that prices of different properties including land have increased, adding that money earmarked for their property cannot replace what they are going to lose.

He described the compensation arrangement as fraudulent, full of irregularities, unfair and not transparent.

According to Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), conducted by Strategic Friends International, PAPs were given Shs 12m for an acre of land between Hoima and Mpingi districts but under the RAP conducted by New Plan Limited and Industrial Compressor Services Limited, they were offered Shs.6m for an acre within the same area.

They wondered how these discrepancies came about and suspected some foul play by the implementers of the project.

Stanley Ntagali, the retired Archbishop of the Church of Uganda who is also a PAP says, they are not against the project, but the government needs to address their concerns.

Ntagali expressed concern that some of the PAPS are being intimidated and warned oil companies and government officials adding that intimidation will not help the project to progress.

In response, Fred Bazarabusa said that PAPs will be given 30% project uplift as benefit for the elapsed two years without giving them their compensation.

“We are going to give them 30% project uplift of the total amount of compensation for each PAP as an incentive for the time they wasted waiting for their compensation. For example, if a PAP was valued at Shs100 million, his or her 30% project uplift will be Shs 30 million,” he explained.

He called on the PAPs to remain calm saying, all their grievances will be handled adding that EACOP officials are also carrying out a review along the EACOP route registering the grievances of the affected people.

He explained that after the exercise, they will come up with a supplementary valuation for all property such as crops, trees, graves and houses among others which will be added to the earlier valuation.

He added that after this exercise, the officials will conduct a review on land to ensure that all those with issues related to land get settled.

He further noted, as implementer of the EACOP project, they are committed to addressing all the issues raised by the PAPs to ensure that they get fair treatment.

Chris Emanzi, Director Program at Global Rights Alert said, the PAPs must be treated fairly to ensure inclusive development of the project.

According to him, 200 PAPs affected by the project have refused to open bank accounts where their compensation will be wired and 64 are from Hoima and Kikuube districts.

“If you the oil companies continue to ignore the people’s concerns, then you are going to lose social license of the community and the end result of this will not be good. We may experience confrontation and this is not what we want for this industry.”

Peter Banura, the Kikuube LCV Chairman said, there is an information gap between the PAPs and the government on several issues in the oil sector.

He noted that many are ignorant about the sector and called on the government and oil companies to conduct more sensitization to ensure transparency in the sector.

Benson Chich, the Hoima district Vice Chairman explained that unfair treatment of the PAPs and discrepancies in compensation rates need to be addressed adding that Uganda is likely to face challenges like those faced in Nigeria if the government and oil companies continue to keep a deaf ear on people’s concerns.

Kenneth Babihemaiso, an official from PAU advised the PAPs to write to the government Chief Valuer to come and explain what caused discrepancies in compensation.

He noted that as PAU, they are able to explain how this was done adding that only the government Chief Valuer can answer this issue.

EACOP is 1443km and in Uganda, the pipeline, 296 km long, will traverse 10 districts and 25 sub-counties.

In Tanzania, the pipeline, 1,147 km long will traverse 8 regions and 25 districts. The construction of the proposed crude oil export pipeline will cost Shs. 12 trillion and the pipeline will transport 400,000 barrels per day.

In total, 5,300 hectares of land will be required for the construction of the pipeline, which means that around 13,000 households will be displaced.

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UPDF starts construction on Mukakati-Semuliki road inside DRC

Ituri – The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has started construction works on the most strategic feeder roads into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that runs through to Ituri Province from Bundibugyo.

Mukakati – Semuliki road is strategic both in commercial and security spheres given its reach into the heart of Eastern DRC and Uganda.

The road has a 14km stretch that has been impassable bogging down UPDF offensive against Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels early this month.

The road is also the main supply route for the army fighting against the ADF rebels, while it will also provide a short alternative for trade into the vast Central African Country from Uganda.

The Stretch runs from the Uganda – DR Congo boarder near Bundibugyo, crossing through to Mukakati, where the UPDF apparently has its forward operational base. It goes over the Semuliki bridge inside Congo, snaking to parts of Ituri Province from Lesse.

The UPDF engineering team, combined with the FARDC (DRC Armed Forces) engineers have embarked on the work that will likely last three weeks before partial opening in pursuance of the rebel remnants inside Congo.

Earth moving trucks have been deployed in a relationship that has seen two neighboring forces in a single operation to pacify the region that has been dreaded for decades now.

According to FARDC Operations Commander, Col Gbiagolo Antoine, the operation depicts a brotherly relationship enjoyed by the two forces, adding that construction of the road would constrain the offensives done by the rebels.

“We have invited media to first of all inform the world that we are committed to jointly fight our common enemy ADF and other anti-peace elements. This road construction depicts the true brotherhood between FARDC and Uganda forces,” he said.

UPDF 3rd Brigade Commander, Col James Kasule affirms that the army entered Congo to support FARDC flash out the rebels who are not only killing people and destabilizing DRC, but also Uganda.

“In support of our brothers, UPDF is happy and willing to jointly eradicate ADF hiding in these thick Ituri forests. We want to make sure the two countries are peaceful so that such infrastructural development can be realized. We want to warn ADF that you either surrender or prepare for your demise. We are going to hunt you down to the last man,” warned Col Kasule.

The army started the offensive almost a week ago inside Congo against the ADF rebels, before they got stuck at Mukakati, halting the offensive, due to bad roads.

The army has since embarked on civil military engagements with the communities in the area, informing them about the objectives of the attack and their presence in the area.

UPDF has also conducted medical outreach programs to treat sick Congolese, and open water points for the communities and now the road rehabilitation.

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Mbarara awards 17 contracts worth Shs.1billion, as local contractors are warned of shoddy work

MBARARA – Mbarara district leaders led by their LCV Chairman Didas Tabaro have awarded 17 construction contracts to local companies worth Shs.1,148,476, 966.

Some of the companies that were awarded contracts include; Kamugira Seth Investments Ltd, Frambo General Services Ltd, Muhwezi Abert Construction Ltd and Extech Technical Services to mention but a few.

The contracts awarded came at a time when President Museveni had directed the Health and Education ministry to use the Army Construction Brigade to undertake all government development projects.

In his July 1, 2021 letter addressed to the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni and Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng; Museveni noted with concern that many government projects have stalled due to the lengthy procurement processes and other challenges like corruption by some unscrupulous government workers thus ordering the army brigade to take over the projects.

While commissioning the contracts at Mbarara district council hall, the district LC V Chairman noted that, local projects had been delayed because of the presidential directive allowing the army brigade to take over.

“The delay was because of the presidential directive that was affecting the commissioning of contracts from the Education and Health ministry where the army was supposed to take over. But midway, the President communicated that the contracts which are funded locally can always be advertised and awarded to local contractors,” Tabaro emphasized.

“Good enough the president’s communication came when we had passed through the procurement processes and we are among the first districts to award the contracts,” says Tabaro.

Tabaro warned contractors to be mindful of the quality work to avoid risks of being blacklisted in future.

“I call upon the service providers to make sure that they do quality work; failure to do so may lead to termination of the contract,” he said.

He also encouraged the contractors to consider employing locals in the communities whenever undertaking their contracts.

“For proper coordination and cooperation, they should always employ locals that were born within the area where the contract is being undertaken. At least, 80% of casual laborers should come from the community and whoever fails to comply may not be able to get another contract in the subsequent arrangements,” Tabaro warned.

Kasaga Edward, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Mbarara confirmed that the commissioned projects will benefit primary schools and health centres in the district in the financial year 2021/2022.

“We agreed that all projects of Mbarara district would commence by 1st December, 2021. We are constructing two classroom blocks and one staff quarter in each primary school in 11 schools,” Edward explained.

He also noted that, it’s the President who had delayed the projects to commence.

“We had delayed a little bit, simply because we had a circular from the president who wanted to know which projects are being constructed and those to be constructed by the military brigade,” Edward said.

The 17 projects in Mbarara will cost the government a total of Shs 114billion out of a Shs 1.4 trillion loan fund from the World Bank meant to construct a public primary school and health center IIIs in each sub-county countrywide.

According to the CAO, the said projects will be constructed in 11 primary schools and in a health centre III from the six sub-counties of Rubindi, Bubaare, Bukiro, Kashare, Kagongi and Rubaya.

Some of the projects include; a two-classroom block at Rukanja primary school in Rubindi sub-county, Out Patient Department (OPD) building, five stance VIP latrines and a placenta pit at Kashare HC III in Kashare sub-county, a 3-unit staff house at Kitengure Primary School in Bukiiro sub county among others.

https://thecooperator.news/gulu-regional-referral-hospital-gets-new-maternity-ward/

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Gulu Regional Referral Hospital gets new maternity ward

GULU – The Japanese government through Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) have handed over the new building for a maternity ward at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital to the Ministry of Health.

The multibillion facility constructed by Excel Engineering Construction Company was at the cost of Shs37 billion.

The maternity ward has a capacity of 80 beds, three minor theatres, 6 sub units for delivery, 5 intensive care beds, casualty ward or emergency unit and 5 incubator beds for premature babies.

Tchiyama Takayuk the Japanese country representative said, the support is meant to improve patient’s safety which will cover all the regional referral hospitals in the country.

The Minister of Health, Dr Ruth Acheng who received the building appreciated the Japanese for investing in the health sector.

She however cautioned the hospital authorities and the medics in the facility for levying cost on patients for accessing the services.

Her counterpart, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine urged the hospital management to maintain the equipment and the facility from vandalism and damage.

She revealed that Shs 32 billion was used for the construction, while 5 billion went on purchase and installation of equipment.

The Hospital Director, Dr James Elima asked the Ministry to train more human resources to handle the equipment.

Dr Florence Oyella, the in-charge of the gynecology’s ward noted that the facility will help to address the challenges expectant mothers face.

She explained that the hospital continues to register more cases of premature babies who require intensive care that was difficult to provide due to limited facilities.

https://thecooperator.news/covid-19-speaker-oulanyah-rallies-northern-uganda-to-get-vaccinated/

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