Author: Johnson Thembo
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi has vowed to practice extraordinary proficiency ahead of the forthcoming 2021 general elections. Speaking while appearing in a televised talkshow, Odoi said that its high time Ugndans especially those in opposition stopped living in self-denial. He noted that the elections will happen, something that is like an exam, “whether you read or not you will do it.” “As the NRM, we will not panic, we will deal with this roadmap head-on.” Odoi maintained. His comments come in barely two days after the Electoral Commission launched a revised Roadmap…
Parliament has passed a motion urging Government to waive the payment of water and electricity bills, as one way of assisting persons affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Masaka Municipality MP, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, who moved the motion during the Tuesday 16 June 2020 plenary sitting, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on the Ugandan economy, which would be mitigated by Government paying for the utilities to the service providers, National Water and Sewerage Corporation and UMEME. “I urge the government to consider a waiver of the payment of water and electricity due to the fact that many…
Over the past few years, distinctions between financial institutions and telecom service providers have been gradually breaking, thanks to the emergence of Financial Technology Companies (FinTechs) that are providing the needed bridge. FinTechs are transforming lives in Uganda and the entire African region for the better; facilitating payments, boosting financial inclusion and enhancing customer experience. Among the key FinTechs that has played a great role in this space in Uganda is True African, a mobile and online Financial Services Hub that provides custom tailored software solutions to address specific business needs, payment gateways to banks, collection platforms to utility service…
The Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, has presented a Shs45.5 trillion budget for the 2020/2021 financial year, focusing on reviving small and medium scale business that are suffering due to the Corona virus pandemic. The budget, Minister Kasaija said will seek to improve livelihoods in response to the effects of the pandemic on households. For businesses to survive, government has allocated Shs94 billion as credit through Saccos and microfinance to benefit small and medium scale businesses. Kasaija said this credit is significant since this sector accounts for 85 percent of private sector employment. An additional Shs104 billion has been provided…
The Electoral Commission has this morning launched revised Roadmap for the 2020/2021 General Elections. This comes almost three months of low-key electoral activity that occurred due the suspension of events due to public health safety concerns, arising out of the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected the whole world, Uganda inclusive. During the Press Conference that happened at the commission offices in Kampala, the Chairperson, Electoral Commission, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon revealed that the process has to resume in consideration of the new normal post Covid 19 guidelines. He added that the Commission recognises the constitutional right of citizens…
Masindi High Court was at the center of attention on Wednesday (June 10) when members of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs visited the Court on a fact-finding exercise. The MPs who were led by Hon. Robina Rwakoojjo Gureme, were received by the Masindi Resident Judge, Gadenya Paul Wolimbwa. The legislators said they wanted to know the workload at the circuit, establish the level of case backlog as well as assess the mechanism and methods that the Court is using to address case backlog. They equally wanted to inspect the infrastructure for delivery of justice, determine the efficacy of…
Many small farmers in Uganda usually sell their produce at giveaway prices as middlemen often exploit them by offering low prices even when the prevailing market prices are higher. This mainly happens because of lack of market information. However, this could soon be history, if all farmers adopt online technologies that seek to connect them to buyers. One of such online platforms is Lusuku Online www.lusuku.ug , a fresh produce e-Market platform that gives farmers direct connection with buyers. Lusuku, which in English means garden, seeks to empower local farmers and producers through connecting them to a vast pool of…
President Yoweri Museveni has outlined his stimulus package to revamp the economy in the midst of the Covid19 pandemic, banking heavily on import substitution through powering industrial progress. In his address on the State of the Nation delivered to Parliament, Museveni said he is determined to turn the pandemic into an opportunity to finally substitute for over US$7 billion in imports by supporting industrialisation. Museveni has set aside Shs1 trillion in the recently passed National Budget for financial year 2020/2021 to offer low interest credit facilities to manufacturers and commercial agriculturalists under the Uganda Development Bank. “When the global crisis…
Stanbic Bank Uganda has launched a new brand campaign with a fresh, bold and captivating brand promise and pay-offline that aims to deepen connections with clients and reaffirm the bank’s commitment to help clients realise their dreams. Launched today, the campaign will run for the next six months and will unpack the Bank’s new aspirations and client solutions which have been customized and speak to the current needs and demands. Explaining the new campaign, Stanbic Bank’s Chief Executive, Anne Juuko said, “This is a new chapter for our brand as we evolve with our customers and walk the journey to…
In a bid to support vulnerable communities across the country that have been affected by the COVID19 lockdown, Stanbic Bank contributed a further UGX140 million used for purchasing food items for the communities in which they are operating in. Through the different branches across the country Stanbic Bank employees distributed food items to over 4,000 individuals among vulnerable communities across the country. Speaking during the handover of food items to Loving Hearts Babies Home, Munyonyo children’s home, Stanbic Bank Uganda Corporate Social Investments Manager, Ms Barbara Kasekende said, “At Stanbic Bank, we understand the drastic effects the lockdown has hard…