Category Archives: Uganda

Uganda: URA is demanding UAD 404 million from the sale of two oil fields

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

UGANDA Revenue Authority (URA) is demanding over $404m (about sh810b) from the planned sale of two oil fields, Blocks 1 and 3A, found in northern and western Uganda.

The money is in form of income tax and capital gains on disposal of the oil assets.

“The disposal of the licence interests in blocks 1 and 3A gives rise to income sourced in Uganda,” Moses Kajubi, the domestic taxes commissioner, stated in an April 9 letter, written to Heritage Oil and Gas Ltd.

It was also copied to the URA commissioner general, Allen Kagina, permanent secretaries of the energy and finance ministries and the Bank of Uganda governor.

Heritage is in the process of selling its interest in the oil fields, valued at $1.5b.

The deal entails that a prospective buyer immediately pays $1.35b and a further $150m or surrender a stake in a producing oil field of a similar value within two years.

However, the transaction has not been finalised as the Government is still studying documents submitted by two companies, Tullow Oil and Italy’s Eni, to buy the oil assets.

Sources said URA has computed the capital gains on the basis of reducing signature bonuses earlier paid for the exploration licences, which amount to $250,000 from the consideration of $1.35b.

The balance will then be subjected to 30% of the income corporate tax, which brings the expected revenue collection to $404,925,000.

“Make payment to URA collections in US dollars Account Number 2362032291 at Bank of Uganda on assignment approval date or within 45 days from the date of service of this notice,” Kajubi demanded.

The rush in raising the taxes, even before the oil deal has been approved, comes at a time when the tax body registered revenue shortfall last month.

The loss created fears that the target of collecting sh4.4 trillion by close of June may not be met.

Experts opined that demanding payment from the unfinished transaction could be a strategy by URA to include the expected revenues as accrual income in its annual statement, a move that would mitigate the shortages.

In a move to meet its target, the tax authority has abolished an internationally-recognised customs valuation method, where taxes are assessed based on transaction value.

This violates the World Trade Organisation/General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs as well as the East African Community Customs Management Act.

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Uganda: Parties scramble for Buganda votes, with only nine months left until the 2011 polls

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

NINE months to the 2011 elections, political parties are scrambling to win the Buganda vote.

The rush has become more complex with the refusal of the Democratic Party to join the inter-party cooperation (IPC), a loose alliance of opposition parties that are preparing to front a joint presidential candidate.

Strategists in the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), IPC and DP have been plotting to position candidates in several constituencies within Buganda.

WHY BUGANDA?

Several parliamentarians have told Saturday Vision that the Buganda vote is crucial for any party to win the presidential election and to become influential in parliament.

“Buganda is to any political party what Ohio is to candidates aspiring to be American presidents,” Kyadondo South MP and DP treasurer Issa Kikungwe remarked.

Several politicians from Buganda believe that with Museveni likely to take the west and southeast, Mao likely to take north and FDC likely to take parts of the east, the Buganda vote might determine the winner.

Buganda is also seen as being central a factor in determining the political stability of the country as it is the centre of economic activities.

The parties under the inter-parties cooperation have been promising federo, hoping this will sway voters against the NRM. The Democratic Party is also in support of federo.

The inter-party cooperation is planning to visit the Kabaka on June 9, 2010. The meeting dubbed ‘courtesy call to the Kabaka’ will discuss ways of getting support from Mengo for the IPC flag-bearer in the presidential elections.

DP FACTOR

However, DP, the most dominant opposition party in Buganda, this week announced that they will not join IPC. After a two-day retreat, the DP’s national executive committee argued that past alliances had weakened rather than strengthened it.

They, however, decided that if no single party wins the election with 50% or more, then they will ally with other opposition parties in the re-run.

An inside source told Saturday Vision that from day one of the retreat, members of the party’s executive were divided over the decision whether to join the IPC.

According to the source, key issues that delayed the decision include the split within the party, and what would happen with the DP party president if he was not elected the joint opposition flag bearer. For years, DP has boasted as the oldest, most diplomatic and influential political party.

This was even after its presence in Buganda failed to register the party’s success in the 1996, 2001 and 2006 elections both presidential and parliamentary save for a few seats the party has in the 8th parliament.

The FDC national chairman, Sam Njuba has warned that unless DP accepts to work with other opposition parties in the forthcoming elections, it may not even retain the few seats it has in the house.

DP currently has nine MPs, making it the third strongest party after NRM and FDC. DP parliamentarians include Joseph Balikuddembe (Busiro South), Issa Kikungwe (Kyaddondo South), Lulume Bayiga (Buikwe East), Erias Lukwago (Kampala Central) and Matia Nsubuga, among others.

But the party plans to boost its strength by wooing independent MPs in various constituencies within Buganda and other regions to join the oldest party. “We are going to equip them with techniques for guarding votes and train them on political will for the party.

We shall also equip them with campaign materials that speak and address issues for Buganda,” Kikungwe said.
In Buganda, the party has enjoyed support though it still lags behind NRM.

But the party has been hit by internal wrangles. “While the IPC has missed the seal of the coalition by DP and PPP refusing to join, the NRM ruling party will eventually benefit from the failure of the parties to unite ahead of the 2011 elections,” one of the FDC MPs said.

There is a possibility that the second faction of DP might go ahead and ally with IPC. This would be bad for Mao’s faction since the other faction has some of the most influential DP members.

The faction has names like Betty Namboze and Lulume Bayiga. Several Mengo officials are also sympathetic to the Lulume-Namboze faction.

Like other opposition parties, DP strategists hope to capitalise on the standoff between the central government and Mengo. But they would be naïve to think this will automatically turn voters against the ruling party.

NRM STRATEGY

Since 2001, the NRM has enjoyed an overwhelming wins in Buganda in both presidential and parliamentary elections. To make a dramatic change in 2011 would require a master stroke.

The NRM deputy spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, argues that what is perceived as a standoff is only a misunderstanding between the ruling party and some individuals in Buganda and not the entire community.

He argues that even in the previous elections such misunderstandings existed but the NRM won. “Remember that NRM has over 72% of the constituencies from Buganda and we are going to retain the same number or get more MPs in the next Parliament,” he said. “The negative elements in Mengo are hiding behind the demand for federo, but there is no single district in Buganda that has passed a resolution supporting federo.”

The NRM also has the majority of the local leaders in Buganda from LC1 to LC5. He says his research shows that the NRM is growing stronger in Buganda. “We are not going to lose them in the elections.”

The NRM plans to continue with grassroots mobilisation locally refered to as kakuyege, in Buganda.

“Our strategy in Buganda is to continue engaging in constructive dialogue with all the groups in Buganda, the elected leaders, cultural leaders and all the other groups.” It also plans to “isolate”

Mengo officials considered as leaning towards the opposition “such that they lack a solid ground where to stand when disseminating negative propaganda against NRM.”

The NRM remains the biggest beneficiary of DP’s refusal to join IPC. Anti-NRM votes in Buganda will be divided between IPC and the two factions of DP. The pro-NRM votes on the other hand, will remain together, at least in the presidential elections.

MENGO MOVE

Men go insiders say Baganda kingdom also wants to have a bigger say in national issues and is therefore fronting candidates for parliamentary elections.

They want Parliament to have a good number of legislators who can articulate Buganda issues.

Sources say Mengo has already identified a number of candidates for this purpose. Mengo information minister Charles Peter Mayiga, for instance, has been linked with the race for Bukoto Central parliamentary seat in Masaka District. The seat is currently being held by Parliamentary speaker Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi.

Other parliamentary aspirants closely linked to Mengo are Uganda Martyrs Namugongo head teacher Dr. John Muyingo, who is eyeing Bamunanika in Luwero district; Medad Lubega for Busiro East and Bagunywa Nkalubo for Lubaga North.

Others are Nakiwala Kiyingi for Kampala Woman and Aloysius Kyeyune Kitikyamuwogo, who is yet to decide on a constituency.

“We need to front candidates who are well acquainted with issues that affect Buganda and Baganda. Our region deserves a new face in Parliament and we need strong advocates for people’s needs,” a source said.

Njuba says Buganda needs a strong fundraising drive in order to support these candidates.

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Uganda: Government is still studying oil deal between Tullow and Heritage and not in rush

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Government will not rush to approve the sale of the $1.5b oil fields before its interests are “satisfactorily” met. This reaffirms its position to build an oil refinery in the country.

The fields belong to Heritage Oil.

“We have different options, but I can assure you that the Government cannot approve a project that does not satisfy our conditions,” Ernest Rubondo, the commissioner in charge of petroleum exploration and production department, said in an interview.

“We are still reviewing the process to ensure they meet our interests.”

The Government wants early commercialization of the petroleum resources, value addition and listing by the companies on the Ugandan stock market.

The other conditions are based on the prospective firm’s investments in Uganda’s oil and gas sector and avoidance of a monopoly in the Albertine Graben rift basin.

The declaration came at a time when Tullow, one of the firm interested in buying the fields, said its bid would be “approved in few weeks time.”

“A formal request for the Government consent for the assets to be transferred to Tullow was submitted. They have indicated their intention to approve this transaction in the next few weeks,” the firm said in an interim management statement yesterday.

A bid war over who should control the two oil fields, blocks 1 and 3A in northern and western Uganda ensued when Heritage oil in December agreed to sell its stake to the Italian firm.

The deal was that Eni would pay $1.35b as immediate payment, and a further $150m or a stake in a producing oil field of a similar value within two years, subject to approval by the Ugandan Government.

However, the deal was subject to Tullow exercising its pre-emptive rights. The initial agreement between Heritage and Tullow Oil stipulated that if one wanted to dispose of its stake, the other partner had the first option to buy.

Tullow exercised its right of pre-emption which is under review by Government and a decision is yet to be made. However there are fears that a monopoly would rise if Tullow owns the asset which will hand it 100% control and delay early oil production.

But yesterday, Tullow said it has been working closely with government to sell part of its interests. “Two partners have been selected, CNOOC and Total, and each partner will acquire a one third interest in each of the three blocks,” the firm said in its interim management statement.

“This will result in a unified partnership with considerable technical, operational and financial capability. In addition, it will enable Uganda to become a significant oil producing nation with the potential to produce at rates significantly in excess of 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd)”.

In separate interview, Jimmy Kiberu, the firm’s public affairs manager, said: “Tullow made it clear many times that it has no intention of holding 100% of the Lake Albert licences and will be bringing the partners into the project because of the immense financial muscle and technical expertise required to develop the whole basin and export the oil”.

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UGANDA: THE DRILLING OF COMMERCIAL OIL AND GAS HAS STARTED IN RUKINGIRI DISTRICT

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Rreports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Drilling for oil and gas in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts has started.

The exercise is being undertaken by Dominion Petroleum Company at Rwenshama and Rweisigiro sites in Bwambara sub-county in Rukungiri and Kameme in Kanungu.

Excavation works at one of the sites in Rukungiri district

Dominion signed an agreement with the Government in 2007 to explore for oil and gas in the area.

Andrew Nyakaana, the liaison officer, told Rukungiri district leaders during a tour of the oil fields that the firm had invested billions of shillings into the exercise.

The exercise will involve sinking a rig where oil wells have been spotted to determine its volume.

Nyakaana conducted the district officials around the affected villages.
He revealed that his company would repair the feeder roads in the area to ease accessibility.

He said Dominion had started compensating the people whose crops were destroyed when the firm was opening up new roads and the site where the drilling will take place.

Rwesigiro residents are the most affected.

Nyakaana, however, said the pronged rain has delayed the exercise, but was optimistic that when the rain subsides, the works will continue uninterrupted.

He told the leaders led by the Rukungiri LC5 chairman, Zedikia Karokora, that an aerial survey conducted in 2009 provided good prospects for exploration in EA-4B block.

Meanwhile, the exercise has created down-stream jobs for drivers, cooks, causal labourers.

According to Dominion officials, the local residents have the first priority to the jobs.

The true potential of the Ugandan side of Lake Albert is nearer two billion barrels, making it one of the top 50 oil producers in the world.

Oil finds have already been made in the Bunyoro region.

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UGANDA: ILICIT WARAGI GIN KILLS SIX PEOPLE, AND SCORES ARE HOSPITALISED.

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From Leo Odera Omolo

By Dismus Buregyeya

THE killer waragi which claimed about 80 lives in Kabale district last month has spread to Sembabule, killing six more people.

Another 10 people yesterday remained admitted at various health centres in Ssembabule and Masaka districts. It is suspected that the gin was adulterated.

One of the victims, David Kabwigi, receiving treatment at BAMU Hospital

Similar deaths, which were first reported in Kampala surburbs early this year, later surfaced in Gulu, Kasese, Kabale and Kabarole.

Kabale was worst hit, where scores died and over 20 got blinded after consuming the contaminated gin. District authorities have since banned the sale of the product.

The waragi samples in the affected areas contain excess methanol.
Those confirmed dead over the weekend in Sembabule are John Serunjongi, David Kalanda, Patrick Mugagga, Paul Kasagga, Bisirikirwa Nabukenya and Maama Sitenda.

Among those admitted at BAMU Hospital in Mateete Trading Centre, are David Kabwigi and Frank Tusasirwe. The identities of several others were not immediately established.

The Police have since arrested a trader, identified as Geoffrey Begumanya, linked to the sale of the gin. The hospital boss, Dr Elly Muhumuza, said he started receiving patients on Friday.

One of the victims, Tusasirwe, said the waragi came from Kasese district.
The district Police commander, Didi Kigenyi, confirmed the arrest of Begumanya after receiving reports that he was aware of the source of killer waragi.

Angry residents in Lwebitakuli trading centre told The New Vision that the Police impounded about 10 jerrycans of waragi from the depots in the area but later returned them to their owners.

The manufacture and sale of sachet waragi was banned last September by the health ministry, after it killed people in different parts of the country. About 114 people have died after consuming the poisonous gin since September last year.

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UGANDA: TULLOW OIL COMPANY SCOOPED THE HIGHEST AWARD OF EXCELENCY PERFORMANCE IN EAST AFRICAN REGION

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

TULLOW Uganda has scooped the maiden East African Corporate Social Responsibility Sustainable Project Awards in a tightly contested elite category of regional corporate giants.

The awards were sponsored by Tanzanian Bank M and Dow Africa in partnership with the East African Business Council at the Southern Sun Hotel, Dar es Salaam last week.

Kiberu poses with the award with other Tullow members in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

It recognised companies engaging in projects and programmes which will outlive their business operations.
The strength in the “Tullow Kaiso-Tonya programme” submission lay in the CSR initiatives addressing issues often overlooked by policy makers.

Jimmy Kiberu, the corporate affairs manager, said Tullow had opened up roads to previously remote areas, exposing the communities to the world of commerce, supported education and upgraded a former maternity centre to a full health facility that serves communities beyond the area of oil exploration.

“It validates the fact that CSR is no longer philanthropy. It is a serious investment in responsible behaviour and it ensures a successful enterprise and shared prosperity,” said Kiberu, after beating Microsoft, Unilever, Vodacom, New Forest Company and East African Breweries to the accolade.

He said winning in Tanzania means Tullow is a regional partner.
“We would like to demonstrate that the oil and gas industry can be a responsible industry,” said Kiberu. Tullow has spent over sh2.7b in CSR activities from 2007 to 2009.

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Uganda: Oil Rich Iran to invest in Toro Kingdom in Western Uganda

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

THE oil rich Islamic Republic of Iran has promised to build a sh10b children’s hospital in Toro Kingdom to help fight the high infant mortality rate.

The hospital is one of the series of investments which Iran intends to locate in King Oyo Kabamba Iguru Rukidi’s kingdom.

Two senior officials from Iran disclosed their country’s plans on Wednesday while meeting King Oyo at his palace in Buziga, Kampala.


Oyo recieves Aramesh Abass at the palace in Buziga, Kampala.

Prof. Adel Abbas, who is in charge of promoting Iranian investments in foreign countries led his colleague Omid Aramesh a senior oil official for the meeting.

Abbas told the Oyo that Iran would also build more technical institutions in the kingdom to boost education.

He disclosed that Iran was also ready to provide scholarships to the needy children in the kingdom to enable them access tertiary education.

Abbas said their visit to Uganda was intended to follow up the promises which the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made while on a recent visit to Kampala.

Ahmadinejad had promised President Yoweri Museveni that his country would cooperate with Uganda in developmental programmes.

The delegation requested King Oyo and his officials to visit Iran to strenghten the relationship between Toro and Iran.

Uganda: Kampala police battle against taxis robberies continues netting many more suspects

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisaumu City

THREE men who were masquerading as town service taxi operators are being detained at Kiira road Police station. They were suspected of robbing a lady passenger. The incident occurred on May 3 at 11:30am.

Hassan Kazibwe, John Musoke and Moses Ssembwa, were in a Toyota Hiace, UAM 832L that was heading for Kampala city along Jinja Road.

However, mid way, they branched off BAT, drove through 1st Street Industrial Area and joined the Old Port Bell Road. When the taxi approached Meat Packers, the conductor forced the lady passenger to a light, grabbed her handbag and sped off. The lady screamed and alerted boda-boda riders at the stage that the conductor had grabbed her bag.

The cyclists volunteered to pursue the taxi to Kamyokya, where other cyclists joined the chase. On realising that they were being tracked, the taxi branched off to Cooper Road, Kisementi and joined Bukoto Street. Fortunately, their luck ran out at a pothole on Bukoto Street. They could not drive through and opted for Kanjokya Street where they got caught up in the traffic jam. Six men tried to abandon the taxi but the boda-boda riders had surrounded them.

Three managed to escape and one jumped over a wall into offices in the area but was arrested. The mob pounced on the suspects but were saved when the officers from Kira Road Police Station intervened. They were loaded onto the Police patrol truck and the taxi was driven to the station. On searching the taxi, a purse was recovered under the seats. It belonged to another lady who had fallen victim earlier in the day and had reported her case to the Police.

According to Frank Natamba, the assistant superintendent of Police at Kira Road Police Station, five to seven cases of taxi robbery are reported in a day.

“The taxi drivers and their conductors use the excuse of telling passengers in the drivers’ cabin to firmly close the door, while others use the trick of advising passengers to fasten the seat belts. While the passenger pays attention to the door or belt, their neighbour, or the driver stealthily feels the pockets or handbags to pick money, wallets or mobile phones.”

Statistics from Jinja Road Police Station indicate that on average five to 10 cases of taxi theft are reported every week. Edward Ochom, the CID director, notes that although taxi theft is on the rise, it is one of may other tricks being used to rob people. Ochom cautions passengers to be vigilant and watch out for their property while they are travelling.

Chris Ssegoba, the deputy chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association, says the practice was so rampant in August and September 2009 but ceased due to the tight measures that were put in place.

He attributes the rapid increase of taxi thefts to people who hire taxis from drivers claiming that they are transporting school children or helping people shift, yet they use them to steal.

Ssengoba added: “UTODA staff is registering every taxi that stops to pick passengers at every stage. Besides, every driver whose taxi is caught will be arrested as an accomplice and will face charges.” He urged passengers to take precaution and note the taxi’s registration number before boarding it.

Natamba says the thefts normally take place between 11:00a m and 2:00pm when there are few passengers on the road, although there are cases reported early in the morning, late evening and at night.

PRECAUTIONS

Natamba advises passengers to be observant. If the taxi has a few passengers (about 4-6), especially men, you should not board it.

If the conductor insists on you occupying the front seat then later tells you to check the locks or fasten your seat belt, it should alert you that you could be in the hands of thieves. Immediately disembark and record the car registration number plate.

You should take care of your property. Even fellow passengers can be pickpockets.

Avoid moving with lots of money. You can access money anywhere. But if you have to move with money, do not keep it in the wallet or purse, since they are a target for thieves.

Once you have fallen victim, you should report to the Police immediately. The thieves could dump your documents at the scene of crime, which could get you arrested as an accomplice. The police letter would also help you process new documents, for example driving permits and identity cards.

If your ATM card is stolen, run to the nearest branch and request that your card number be blocked.

TESTIMONIES

Cpl. Catherine Namulwasira,
Kamyokya Police booth

Namulwasira is a one of the lady victims of taxi registration number UAM 832L. She identified the driver and the taxi when they were taken to Kamwokya police booth. She narrates the incident that occurred on April 3 at about 11:00am: “I was coming from Centenary Bank main branch on Entebbe Road where I had withdrawn money.

“I boarded a taxi at Crane Bank, Kampala Road and occupied the front seat. Immediately the conductor started telling me to fasten the door. I placed my handbag on my laps and turned to fasten the door. When we approached Fido Dido, the driver and conductor urged me to move to the back seats.

“When I moved out, I realized my handbag had been unzipped. The taxi sped off but I managed to note the figures 832L. It was after I had boarded another taxi that I realized that my purse, containing the sh150,000 I had just withdrawn, was missing. I reported the matter to the UTODA Offices in Kamwokya and they said that number was not a regular on the Kamyokya route.

“The incident happened in 3-5 minutes. I boarded a taxi at Lugogo Shoprite stage and occupied the front seat, heading for New vision offices. The conductor asked me to close the door firmly.

“The other passenger in the front, who must have been one of them, pretended to help me fasten the door. While I turned towards the door, he unzipped my handbag and picked my purse. I did not notice that my purse was missing until I reached the office. However, luck was on my side and after they robbed me they branched off to Old Port Bell Road and stole another lady’s handbag.”

The lady alerted boda boda cyclists who pursued the taxi to Kamyokya, where they were waylaid, arrested and taken to Kamyokya police booth. When the was searched, the Police found my purse under a seat. I was called to identify it. I was shocked to find the man was seated next to me among the passengers.

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Uganda: News of robberies by taxi operators hit Kampala like hurricane

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

MANY victims of taxi robberies yesterday reported to Police stations in the city hoping to recover their stolen valuables.

The government owned NEWVISION made a startling detailed report of the new spate of robberies, allegedly carried out by taxis operators.

Foreigners and locals alike are som,e of the victims of the new waves of robberies which has hit the city like hurricane forcing the police to issue the public with the warning against using fake and unregistered taxi cabs in the City.

Meanwhile, the Police have issued a list of passenger service vehicles, or taxis, wanted in connection with the new wave of crime in which travellers are robbed of property.

The victims flooded Jinja Road Police Station in the morning. Some were referred to Old Kampala Police Station where other suspected robbers were held.

The victims also wanted to establish whether the arrested suspects were the ones who robbed them.

Some identified the suspects and had to be calmed down by the Police. A man in his late 50s who said he lost two Black Berry mobile phones to the taxi robberies. He charged at a suspect after he identified him. The Police had a hard time restraining the man.

“I had never been so embarrassed like when I fell into the hands of these thugs. They stole my property and belittled me,” the man said.

He thanked the Police for arresting the suspects.

“This time round you have done your job,” he told Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba.

By mid-afternoon yesterday, more than 15 victims had registered complaints at Jinja Road Police Station. An equal number reported at Old Kampala Police Station. Among the victims were a UPDF and a Police officer.

The arrest of the suspects started on Wednesday when the Police busted two gangs said to be behind the crime which has been going on for some time, especially in Kampala.

A total of 24 suspects––12 in Nakawa and another 12 in Old Kampala—were apprehended.

Yesterday, 12 of the suspects were paraded at Jinja Road Police Station after rigorous interrogation, particularly on the allegations that the gang had a firearm.

When the two groups were brought together at Jinja Road Police Station, some recognised each other, prompting the officers to conclude that the network was much bigger.

The Old Kampala gang included five women identified as Aisha Namukasa, 26, of Masanafu, Madina Nakintu, 33, a bar woman at Wandegeya, Anna Tumuhirwe of Lugala and Rosette Nakayaga also from Lugala who said she was pregnant and had two children.

The men included Juma Awori of Busega, Dennis Ssebunya of Namungoona, Ali Mumpi of Lubaga, Ronald Tumusiime of Munaku, David Tumusiime of Nabweru and Fred Kayondo of Masanafu.

Also among them were Bernard Kitaka, a chapatti maker of Busega, Steven Ssentamu, a driver from Kalerwe, Umaru Kato and Rajab Luboyera, both from Mpererwe.

Six of the women arrested in Nakawa confessed to being part of the group, but claimed their role was to work as decoy passengers. Most of the women come from Nansana, Namugoona and Nsambya suburbs. They said their work was to lure unsuspecting passengers into boarding the taxis where they would be robbed moments later under various guises. For this, the women were paid sh20,000.

They said they were recruited into the ‘business’ dubbed SMART by two men, Ali Mumpi and Kenny.

“Kenny would call us on phone and issue us with specific instructions of where to meet. The instructions were that we claim to be passengers if caught by the Police,” said 24-year-old Eva Nalubega, a housewife and mother of one. Nalubega lives in Nansana.

Rose Grace Nankya, another suspect aged 26, said she had been in the trade since March, bagging sh20,000 per errand. The woman, a mother of three who is separated with her husband, said she was lured into the vice by Kenny.

Detectives were shocked to discover that that three of the women suspects share a mother but have different fathers. They are Diana Namagembe, 22, Sesanga Lunkuse, 20 and 19-year-old Rashira Nabisubi, a computer student.

On seeing her photo in the newspapers, Nabisubi’s father rushed to the Police station in shock.

He said he had spent sh4.5m opening a clinic for his daughter to manage, but she had turned down the offer.

“Let her learn a lesson from this,” he said.

Nabisubi said it was her third ‘mission’ when she was arrested on Wednesday and had been paid 30,000 for her efforts.

Drama and panic erupted when a suspect, Vincent Matovu, said to be a key member of the gang, collapsed in a fit when he saw his father.

The suspects also include three former students–Dennis Kyambade, Brian Asimwe and Joshua Serunkuma.
Kyambade said he sat A’levels last year and scored 11 points. He said he was also recruited by Kenny.

Asimwe, a resident of Nansana, said he sat A’levels in Kihihi High School in Kanungu district and scored 13 points. Kenny recruited him as well, he said.
Serunkuma said he stopped in Senior 5 at Alliance High School.

Robert Ssimbwa, the driver of the taxi which was used in the robbery in Nakawa on Wednesday, said he had been in the crime for three months.

The Police had to use teargas to flush him out of a tunnel where he had hidden to avoid arrest.

Nabakooba said the Police were hunting for the kingpins behind the crime and was sure they would be grabbed.
“We have clues and it is a matter of time,” she said.

One of the ringleaders, Ali Mumpi, had already been arrested. Kenny is the next, the Police said.

The list of PSV on the Police wanted list include:
UAJ 157 B
UAL 120D
UAM 602 L
UAM 639 H
UAM 640 F
UAT 076 P
UAF 087M
UAJ 301 H
UAK 734 X
UAH 297X
UAJ 145 U
UAG 004Y

Suspects, victims speak out

The New Vision spoke to some suspects and their victims. Below is their testimony.

SUSPECTS

Grace Rose Nakamya, 26: I am a hair dresser based in Nansana East Zone. My husband, Richard Ssebuuma Kyazze, and I have a child. He is a truck driver. I joined the SMART ‘business’ three weeks ago when Kenny recruited me at a bar in Nansana. He promised me sh20,000. My role was to pretend to be a passenger.

Flavia Babirye: I live in Lugala and make chips. I have a one-year-and-six months-old baby. I was lured into the crime by a friend, Aisha Nantongo, who introduced me to Kenny. I get sh20,000 everyday.

Eva Nalubega, 24: I live in Nansana and I am married to Richard Ssekiranda of Nteetwe. I joined the racket a month ago after meeting Kenny at a bar in Nansana.

Steven Ssentamu: I am a driver based in Kalerwe. I hired out my taxi number UAG 004Y on Ggaba route but I did not know that the driver also hired it out to thugs. The car was impounded in a robbery and I was also arrested.

Diana Namagembe, Sarah Lunkuse and Rashira Nabisubi are sisters: We met Kenny at our mother’s workplace in Namungoona. We accepted the job and have been moving in taxis disguised as passengers.

VICTIMS

Christine Wamala: I am an actress with the Ebonies and live in Banda. On Wednesday, I was lured into a taxi at Banda stage at 8:00am, heading to Kampala. I was led to the front seat. After disembarking, I discovered that my sh207,000, phone and a wallet containing my documents had been stolen. Yesterday, I identified Grace Nakamya who was in the taxi.

Florence Natosho: I work with Child Fund and live in Bugoloobi. I lost a wallet, a phone, documents and money

Flavia Nakuya: I am a student of YMCA. I lost a phone between Mukono and Namanve when the driver purported that the door of the taxi was defective. I was dumped at the roadside and the taxi sped off. I reported the case to Kirinnya Police post.

Lt. D. K. Madaba: I boarded a taxi from Kigunga in Mukono but near Namanve the door swung open. As I fidgeted to fix it, the thugs stole my wallet which hadshs 300,000,my UPDF identity card and other documents.

ends

Uganda: Amorous Catholic priest to face prosecution for rapping two girls

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THE Director of Public Prosecution, Richard Butera, has ordered the arrest of a Catholic priest in Nebbi district who allegedly defiled two girls, and possibly infected them with HIV.

Butera yesterday said evidence was sufficient to charge the Rev. Fr. Santos Constatino Wapokura. “That matter is clear: He should be charged,” Butera said in an interview.

He explained that the resident state attorney had already been instructed to charge the priest.

“He should have appeared in court and if he has not, I wonder why,” he said. In an earlier interview, the head of criminal investigations, Edward Ochom, ruled out settling the matter out of court, saying the offence was capital.

“We can afford to do that for chicken thieves, but not for a matter like this. He should be charged,” Ochom said.

The directive, Ochom said, had been communicated to the Police upcountry. It was unthinkable for a suspect on such a charge, he said, to be let off the hook out-of-court.

However, despite Ochom’s and Butera’s orders, the priest had not yet been re-arrested by press time.

Asked about the matter, the district Police commander, Alex Wabwire, in turn asked: “What is your interest in the case?”

The release of the priest had shocked the nation. Women rights activists in Nebbi are planning a demonstration over the matter.

Wapokura, 45, the parish priest of Pakwach, is accused of defiling a 14-year-old girl who was serving in the church. Wapokura had been in Police custody twice over the same allegations. His latest release was ordered by the resident state attorney, Innocent Obale, purportedly to allow the parties resolve the matter out of court.

Upon his arrest last month, the Police said the clergyman tested positive for HIV and upgraded his offence to aggravated defilement. He will be hanged if convicted. The priest dismissed the allegations as a ploy to taint his name.

One of the complainants told the Police that Wapokura would often ask her to go to his house, where he would follow her and force her into sex. On another occasion, the girl alleged, she was at the priest’s home with other visitors when Wapokura sexually assaulted her after sending away the other people.

Wapokura’s woes add to the long list of accusations of sexual misconduct by Catholic priests, which have rocked the Church lately. Another Catholic priest was arrested and charged with defilement in Gulu recently.

Worldwide, the church has been forced to pay out millions of dollars to victims

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Refining of Its gold is now being done with technical help by Russians

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Business Report By Leo Odera Omolo

RUSSIAN investors have installed a $1.5m gold refinery, the first of its kind in the Great Lakes region, underscoring the Government’s efforts to ensure valued-addition on all commodities produced.

Victoria Gold Star, based in Fifth Industrial area in Kampala, can refine 60 kilogrammes of gold daily.

“When the supply of gold that requires refining increases, we shall also increase the plant processing facility,” Bogoroditskiy Yuri, the boss, said at the launch yesterday.

“We shall be able to buy raw gold, refine it here and export it as a finished product made in Uganda, which in return will fetch more money.”

The new plant comes at a time when gold deposits have been confirmed in Busia, Bushenyi, Mubende and Karamoja, according to a geophysical survey conducted last year.

Occurrences of gold have also been found in West Nile, Kitgum, Mbale, Jinja, Hoima, Rukungiri, Kisoro, Kabale, Kibaale and Kabarole.

A mineral deposit means that extensive exploration has been done and the quantities determined, whereas a mineral occurrence means the mineral has been seen but not quantified.

Uganda has only two gold mines in Busia and Mubende, leaving huge potential for investors to venture into mineral development and production.

Asked if there was enough gold to sustain the operations of the refinery, Yuri replied: “We shall also refine gold from Uganda and neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

He added: “What we are trying to do is to legalise trade in gold. We shall require import and export licence for the gold that we shall refine.”

Peter Lokeris, the state minister for mineral development, urged miners, mineral dealers and goldsmiths in Uganda and the region to use the facility to add value to gold so as to earn better income.

“President Yoweri Museveni is on the forefront, advocating value-addition on all commodities produced,” Lokeris said.

“The refinery will make an important contribution to support the development of the mining sector and national economy.”

Lokeris explained that the Government put in place a mineral policy aimed at boosting the mining sector through promoting private sector participation, adding value to mineral ores and increasing mineral trade.

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo take the raw gold to South Africa for refining, which has made them lose huge amounts of money.

The improving global economy and historically low central bank sales have boosted gold prices. Gold sales rose to $480 from $431 per ounce last year.

The Tira Gold Mine has been operating in Busia district since 1994, producing about 3kgs of gold a month.

The second mine is being developed in Kamulenge in Mubende by AUC Mines.

Experts say Busia has huge potential because it is part of the vast gold field belt stretching from Mwanza in Tanzania to Karamoja.

Tanzania has opened six world class mines in the area since 1998, producing over a million ounces of gold a year.

Last year’s survey that covered 80% of the country showed that Uganda is also endowed with rich and diverse mineral wealth, ranging from copper, uranium, cobalt to limestone and pho9sphate.

Ends

UGANDA: THE EU AND UGANDAN MILITARY FORCES ARE JOINTLY TRAINING SOMALI TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS

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Reports Leo odera Omolo In Kisumu City

THE European Union (EU) and the UPDF will train 2,000 Somali forces. The EU head of delegation, Vincent de Visscher, announced yesterday that 150 EU officers will conduct the training at Bihanga Camp in Ibanda district.

The commander of the EU Training Mission to Somalia (EUTM), Col. Gonzalez Elul, said the recruits will be trained to counter mines and improvised explosive devices.

He said they will also undergo training in communication, combat operations and trainer of trainers’ courses.

Each session, Elul explained, will have 1,000 trainees, 330 of them non-commission officers at junior management level and 670 fresh recruits. EUTM began flying in the trainees in groups of 250 yesterday.

“Our aim it to have a smooth transition in Somalia. It’s important that we link security to development,” De Visscher said

The commander of the land forces, Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, welcomed the EU’s involvement in the mission.

He said the Somalia mission is achievable if the troops are raised to the required 8,000.

The general said the three years the UPDF has spent in Somalia disapproved those who thought the peacekeepers would be routed on landing in Mogadishu.

“I appeal to those countries which said, ‘lets wait and see’ to deploy in Somalia.”

Katumba noted that Somalis can only be helped to restore stability through intervention.

“Many people in Somalia want to see peace. They wanted it yesterday. This wish is held hostage by a few armed militants,” Katumba said.

“If the Somalia government doesn’t have the capacity to run after these rag-tag gangs with guns, then it will not be able to implement its programmes.”

Asked whether the AMISOM peacekeepers would demand a change of mandate to confront militants, Katumba said the troops are only allowed to defend themselves when attacked.

Asked about fears that the trainees could defect to join the Al-Qaeda-backed Al-Shaabab, Katumba explained that after the training, they would be armed, fed, earn a stipend and on landing in Somalia would undergo mentoring to help them stay focused to ‘rebuilding Somalia.”

The political adviser to the EUTM, Patrick Geysen, said the training is part of the wider global engagement in Somalia.

“Piracy is a problem on the Somalia coast. Ships that were bringing humanitarian aid to Somalia were attacked. We had to ensure that aid coming to Somalia reaches the right people,” he said.

UPDF has in the past trained 1,200 security forces, including police, for Somalia.

The Somalia Transitional Federal Government President, Sheikh Ahmed Sharif, last month passed out 627 Somali and 120 UPDF soldiers at Bihanga training school in Ibanda district.

Sharif and President Yoweri Museveni last year passed out 500 Somali soldiers,also trained at Burahanga.

Ends

Uganda: Nation launches new bank notes to stimulate its economy

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Business and Economic News By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu

THE Bank of Uganda yesterday unveiled new-look bank notes in a major redesign of the currency since 1987. While most of the notes are in the familiar denominations of sh50,000, sh20,000, sh10,000, sh5,000 and sh1,000, the bank also introduced a sh2,000 note.

Uganda New Money samples

Specimens of the new notes issued by the Central Bank. The top two are faces of the newly introduced sh2,000 note. Below, left are the new and on the right, the old sh5,000 and sh1,000 notes

The notes will be in circulation from May 17, alongside the old ones, which will be phased out in a year-and-a-half.

Bank of Uganda (BOU) chief Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile said the new notes did not constitute a currency reform, nor were they dictated by politics.

Mutebile said over the years, the bank had issued new currency notes mainly for political reasons, usually after a change in government.

“This is the first time that BOU has introduced new notes on its own,” he explained.

The redesign, he said, was driven by the need to comply with international practices and to beat counterfeiters.

“Uganda is the first country in Africa to introduce ultra –modern security feature called SPARK,” he said.

Mutebile noted that besides the improved security features, the design also depicts Uganda’s rich historical, natural and cultural heritage.

The common security features for the 1,000, the 2,000 and sh5,000 notes are a water mark, a colour change image and a raised effect on the surface to help the visually-impaired people recognise it.

The notes also feature a windowed thread that changes from red to green when the note is titled. The notes also bear a hidden shiny stripe pattern.

The bank hired professional artists and designers led by Gen. Elly Tumwine which explains the Ugandan look as depicted by the main images which constitute pots and ornaments common in Ugandan homes.

The notes were printed by De La Rue, the world’s largest commercial security printer.

Mutebile said there would be no inflation and the public should not rush to the bank for the notes.

“The new notes should have no effect on the prices of goods and services in Uganda,” he said.

The bank, he said, will launch a campaign this month to educate the population about the notes.

Finance minister Syda Bbumba unveiled the notes but left shortly afterwards.

She said in a speech: “The redesign serves the public interest by easing cash transactions among ordinary people through the introduction of a low denomination note of sh2,000,” she said.

“Recent development in the oil sector among others continues to drive interest in Uganda as an investment destination.

“The Bank of Uganda is a key contributor through its role as regulator of the financial system.

Ends

UGANDA: PROMINENT KAMPALA BUSINESS MAGNATE ZZIMWE IS DEAD ONLY DAYS AFTER SIGNING A MULTI BILLION SHILLINGS CITY ROAD NETWORK REPAIR CONTRACT

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Business News By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

HE had just won a sh2.2b contract to repair Kampala city roads. It would have been one of many such huge deals he had clinched in a rosy but sometimes controversial career spanning decades.

And that would have added to his sh20b fortune. But it was never to be.

Seasoned entrepreneur Andrew Kasagga a.k.a. Zzimwe collapsed on his bed yesterday and died before reaching the hospital.

Early yesterday, the 63-year-old tycoon collapsed on his bed. Zzimwe had battled the cancer of the pancreas for many years.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Kampala International Hospital at about 8:00am, where his family rushed him, his son Paul Kasagga, told dejected mourners.

By press time, a tentative budget of sh50m had been drawn for the burial.

Kasagga was the founder of Zzimwe Enterprises Hardware and Construction company, one of the first in Kampala, and which he named after his humble village of Zzimwe in Masaka district. So influential was his company that he became known by its name, Zzimwe.

His death is a great blow to the village in which the dark-skinned, soft-spoken business business mogul was adored.

Narrating how he passed on, his grieving son Paul said: “He felt weak after showering, so he lay on the bed. Shortly afterwards, mum called us when she realised he was unconscious. We took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

Paul has been running the family business for years as his father fought ill-health.

Zzimwe last visited the company offices in Kabalagala, a city suburb, in October last year.

Although the astute businessman, who rose from humble beginnings, had fought the cancer for a while, his state was not worrying, Paul told journalists and mourners at their home in Muyenga, another city suburb.

“Dad was okay. My brothers and I met him and briefed him about the company after which he watched a football match. He was fine.”

“He was on a strict vegetarian diet but he requested for some fish. He later watched another football match before retiring.”

The ailment was detected in South Africa last year, Paul, the director of Zzimwe, adding that his father was recently treated at the Tata Cancer Institute in India.

Mourners, among them several Kampala’s affluent belonging to the Kwagalana Members’ Group, an exclusive club, flocked Zzimwe’s posh residence.

Kwagalana boss Godfrey Kirumira described Zzimwe as a humble, God-fearing man.

“We are all saddened. He was a senior adviser in the Kwagalana Group and did many things to uplift people’s lives. He would apologise immediately if he annoyed someone,” he said.

Kwagalana Group, he announced, would take charge of the burial.

Deputy Kampala mayor Rose Namayanja and city engineer Steven Kinyera were among the mourners. Namayanja said Zzimwe’s death was a big blow to the city and country.

A vigil will be held at Kisugu today before a funeral service at Rubaga Cathedral tomorrow. Thereafter, the remains will be taken to Seeta in Mukono for burial on Thursday. Zzimwe is survived by four wives and 19 children.

Who is he?

Zzimwe’s farming village owes a lot to him. By naming his businesses after his village, he promoted it.

For instance, his associates employed many young people from his village. “He generously gives to residents of Zzimwe. Many rich people forget their villages, but Kassaga has not forgotten us,” said Simon Kizito, a resident. If he was unable to attend a function in the village, he would send a representative to deliver a “big message”, the resident added.
Zzimwe, like his father Peter Kalema, became a businessman at an early age.

He did not go far in school. At 14, he was already dealing in coffee and cotton, which he sold to Indian businessmen. Four years later, he bought a motorcycle and joined his father’s cattle business.

In a rare press interview, he said in 1962 he won sh4,000 in a lottery organised by Kimaanya Seminary, which he invested in timber business based in Buyaga forests. He sold the timber to a Kampala friend.

Ever looking for better returns, Zzimwe moved to Kampala and rented a small room in Katwe, a Kampala suburb, where he sold fish.

From the profits, he bought a pick-up truck, which he used to transport scarce merchandise from Kenya during the chaotic years of Idi Amin.

In the 1980s, he joined the hardware business trading under Zzimwe Hardware based in Nakasero Market.

Later, he bought second-hand road construction equipment and began applying for contracts to seal pot-holes on roads before winning bigger tenders in the 1990s.

He was the first to establish a locally-owned quarry in Mukono valued at $4m, which put him at par with international construction companies like Spencon and ROKO. Now his assets—construction equipment, land and buildings—are estimated at beyond sh20b.

Zzimwe was a party animal, but he also loved sports. He donated generously to sports activities, and was a leading financier of SC Villa since the early 1980s. Zzimwe also had a penchant for expensive clothing. Gold was his choice of jewelry.

He also be remembered as a loving father who ensured a comfortable life for children, who enjoyed posh cars, nice houses in Muyenga and education in top Western universities.

Major construction projects

Zzimwe’s big projects included renovating Nakasero State Lodge, repairing the National Independence Grounds in Kololo and constructing security roads at the Uganda-Sudan border on top of various tenders with the Kampala City Council.

In January 2000, Zzimwe won a sh3b tender to seal pot-holes on 26 roads in Kampala city. His company also constructed Kampala Parents School and FUFA House in Mengo.

Woes

In 2003, Zzimwe’s company featured prominently in the IGG’s report over shoddy work.

The in 2005, the Kenyan government also investigated him over $1m fraud, but he was later absolved. Some projects undertaken by his company tended to delay, sparking off protests.

Ends

Uganda: Museveni, a peace maker or a trouble maker?

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By Douglas O. Majwala.

I have a concern about trend of affairs in the EAC more especially with regard to political integration in the future. One thing is latent in would be leadership of this unification, and this involves H.E. Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda. All signs are that Museveni is on a blueprint to become the first king of this sub-continent. He is determined and is on a drawing board and is not even known whether others watch this carefully.

Museveni a once guerrilla combatant could have only feared celebrity like the late Mwl. Nyerere who had the guts to silence and reduce to nothing [low profile] those who wanted to rise through barbaric means that could have tarnished the image of independent Africa and destabilize her peace, tranguility and progress.

Recent geological expert reports of Uganda’s affluence in liquid gold [oil] makes Museveni heady and has reportedly started importing heavy duty ultra-modern air fighters for unknown ends and that which even the neighbours bother not to be vigilant about the project.

Museveni’s trait is beyond tolerance. In no way he would convince any reasonable mind that he is serene whilst the world has entered him in its record of war loving lots and has vowed to remain alert and cautious of him considering his questionable international relations. He has ever had soured diplomatic ties with his neighbours with whom he is trying to form an integration [EAC] e.g. Rwanda, DRC, Kenya, Southern Sudan let alone his own people LRA and the recent Buganda Kingdom poor relationship with his government which does not qualify him to be a truely peoples’ leader [he is a least peace maker but more of a trouble maker].

The bully Museveni is dreaming and determined to become an East African superpower at a time when his colleagues in the intergration easily let this go without questioning it for their own individual countries destiny.

EAC should have carried aloft the security agenda for her lasting peace. Late Mwl. Nyerere once said “Tanzania will not consider itself free if other African countries are still tormenting in the yoke of colonialism”. Likewise EAC should follow Mwl’s philosophy by not considering itself a community if other colleagues / comrades are still agonized by LRA, INTERAHAMWE and possibly Somali invasion in north eastern Kenya and some parts of wealthy Tanzania.

Rorya Tanzania.

majwalaoriko@yahoo.co.uk

Uganda: 50 skulls stolen from a family cemetery; relatives of the deceased are shocked.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

JALIA Nantongo is a resident of Bugoge village in Kayunga district. The 70-year-old has seen as many Easters but recalls only one event that occurred on the most recent one. On the night before Easter Sunday, her family’s cemetery was raided by unknown people, who exhumed the remains of six of her relatives and stole the skulls.

The ailing Nantongo discovered, at about 1:00pm the following day, that the graves had been desecrated when a relative, Kanifa Nakafeero, reported the matter to her. Nakafeero was passing by the graveyard when she noticed the holes dug around six of the graves. Puzzled about what could have happened, the women called in neighbours to examine the graves. “We were shocked to discover that the skulls from the six graves which had been dug were missing. I had never seen that in my life,” Nantongo said.

Just a few meters away, five other graves had been dug in the same style and on the same day and the skulls taken. To Nantongo, who lives on her own a few metres from the graveyard, the experience was shocking and terrifying. The village converged at the two homes, withdrawing the focus from the Easter celebrations to grieve. Officers from Kayunga Police Station confirmed that the skulls were missing.

Before the Easter incidents, several others had been reported in Kayunga, Kitimbwa, Busana and Nazingo sub-counties since 2008. But the most gruesome, according to the residents, was in Busana in 2008, when 26 graves on different villages were dug and the skulls stolen. The Busana incident was unique because the rest of the skeletons were left on top of the graves after the skulls were plucked off. Police and local leaders who visited the graveyards condemned the act as relatives collected the remains and reburied them. According to the law, a person who exhumes bodies is charged with trespassing and is liable to one year’s imprisonment.

Kayunga Police estimate that since 2008, over 50 skulls have been stolen. There is also fear that more graves may be lying empty after their remains where removed.

The worrying practice was initially thought to be taking place only in Kayunga, but two cases were reported in Mukono in Kyampisi sub-county.

The Mukono incidents were at the same graveyard with the first case registered in 2008 and the second reported on Tuesday night. Florence Munyango discovered that her relative, Sarah Kazibwe’s body had been exhumed early on Tuesday morning as she was heading to the garden to dig.

“I saw a hole and clothes near the grave and I became suspicious. I ran back and informed the others about it,” she said, adding, “Then we called the resident district commissioner, Maj. David Matovu.”

Matovu and other security officials promised to investigate the matter. The incidents have left security officials and residents both in Mukono and Kayunga puzzled. “They dig a small hole at the front of the grave, pull out the skulls and leave the other body parts inside. We wonder what type of technology they are using,” Kayunga Police chief Julius Ahimbisibwe said.

Since some people cover up the holes after taking the skulls, it may be hard for the relatives to know whether or not their people’s graves were tampered with. The Police have not arrested anyone since the first case was reported in 2008. Ahimbisibwe said the residents were not cooperative which had made it hard for the Police to net the suspects. “Even those whose relatives were exhumed don’t follow up the matter and when we call them, they are not willing to come to us.”

At Nagalama Police Station in Mukono, which is in charge of Kabembe where the incident occurred on Tuesday, the matter had not reached the desk of the officer in-charge of the station by Thursday afternoon. The officer, Deo Kibuka, said: “Nobody reported the matter to us, we are just learning about it from you. I think they thought it was something minor.”

Residents in the affected areas suspect that traditional healers are behind the phenomenon. They believe that the healers exhume the remains to boost their charms. There is also a common belief that the healers who exhume the bodies have borrowed a foreign culture, especially from Nigerian movies.

The chairman of the traditional healers in Mukono district, Livingstone Kiggo Ssalongo, also believes that some traditional healers are involved. But he says those involved are impersonators who have penetrated their profession to tarnish it. “A true traditional healer respects the dead and cannot exhume their remains.”

Kiggo accused the government of failing to enact strict laws to control foreigners coming into the country which he said has given foreign practises to penetrate the country. Kiggo ruled out the possibility that night dancers were involved, arguing that they would not exhume remains of people who were buried a long time ago, because they are interested in the flesh. He said they had planned to carry out an operation to arrest fake healers. Mukono district cultural officer Jim Kato believes the habit is rampant in Kayunga and cropping up in Mukono because there are so many people of different cultures in those areas. Land conflicts were also cited among the likely causes of the habit. At Kabembe, the owners of the affected graveyard suspect that the conflict they have over the piece of land where the graveyard is located resulted into the act. The Police in Kayunga suspect that the people involved in the practice come from outside Uganda and connive with the locals to exhume the bodies.

Ahimbisibwe said if the locals had been spearheading the crime, they would have netted at least one by now.

The practice is so common in West Africa, that in 2008, the Police in Gabon carried out a crackdown on grave diggers. In these parts, skulls are sold for several hundred dollars each. In the USA and Europe there are shops that sell skulls for educational purposes and they go for between $300 and $800 a piece.

In January 2008, Saturday Vision reported that hundreds of skulls had been stolen from mass graves in Luwero district, where war victims had been buried. The motive of the skull thefts was not clear, but the locals believed witchdoctors used them to cast spells on enemies of their clients

Ends

Uganda: More oil and gas discovered in Balisia district

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

TULLOWO Oil , the Irish firm that carries out the exploration of oil and gas in Uganda, has announced more has been discovered in Balisia district.

It says, in a statement released to the press, that two appraisals of wells in Balisia district have confirmed the presence of a massive oil reservoir, hastening steps towards early petroleum production in the country.

The review was done on the Kasamene 3 and Kasamene 3A wells in the Butiaba region of Balisa 2. It also discovered more oil at the Warhindi North fault scheme.

The Kasamene oil field is where Tallow Oil wants to locate the early oil production scheme

“These exploratory appraisal results have shown the potential in this area. This now take us a significant step towards the first oil production in Uganda at the Kasamene filed next year,” the company’s exploration director Angus MacCross told newsmen.

McCross disclosed that Tullow was working closely with the Ugandan government on the way of accelerating the exploration and appraisal activities in the region.

“We also look forward to commencing a north well program with a second rig in Block 1 next month,” said McCross.

According to the statement from Tallow Oil, the Kasamene-3 well is 1,109 meters deep and over 2 kilometers from Kasamene 1 discovery well.

The result of logging confirmed 10 meters of oil pay within a 35 meters thick reservoir section of the Kasamene fields.

Pressure data confirmed this pay to be in communication with the up-dip Kasamene -1 well, extending the column height of these to over 100 meters.

A high quality reservoir, 25 meters thick, were encountered as projected below the oil water contents. “This outcome proves the viability of this location as a future water injection point to support oil production,” says Tullow ‘s statement.

A second well, to explore the Warhindi North fault block, was also drilled through the top-hole section of Kasamene-3. The well encountered over 15 meters of oil pay.

The rig will now move to the Kais-Tonya area to drill, the Nzizi-3 appraisal well to support the accelerated Nzizi oil development project.

Kasamene-3A,well drilled about 988 meters deep into a separate fault compartment, about 300 meters Kasamene-3.

Tullow has interests in the three licenses in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in Uganda. lt is the sole owner and operated Block 2.

The firm also has 50 per cent stake in Block-1 and 3A operated by Heritage Oil, which has the other 50 per cent.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Investment conference to be held next week

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CLOSE TO 2,000 DELEGATES ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND INVESTORS CONFERENCE IN UGANDA NEXT WEEK

Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

Experts will speak on infrastructure, public-private partnership
Uganda will host the third session of the East African Community (EAC) Investment Conference from April 27 – 30.

In an interview with David Mugabe and Isaac Omoding, Dr. Maggie Kigozi, the executive director of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), details the expected outcome and benefits for Uganda as host and for EAC as a region.

Maggie Kigozi

Maggie Kigozi talks about UIA performance

Below are excerpts
How many and what category of people are coming for the EAC conference?
We are targeting about 2,000 business people.

We have participants from the five EAC countries. As the host, we have 500 people and we expect 250 business people from the other countries.

We have approached every country’s chamber of commerce, manufacturers associations and all our partners in investment promotion agencies.

We will also have the five presidents and EAC ministers under their chair, Tanzania.

As host, are there any special surprises for our guests coming for the conference?

We have opportunities in the mining and petroleum sector which we did not have before.

Uganda is blessed. We have the people and the market. Our people are high-end and educated.

I meet an investor in petroleum twice a week from all over the world.

They want to see how they can get a foot in.

Unfortunately, we have halted further exploration for the time being.

We need to see how the refinery will work and how the regulation, policy and the relation between the Government and private sector will work. So for now we are focusing on five and value addition.

As EAC, we have the common market coming up. We have plans for the regional rail, roads and sharing energy. These are some of the new additions.

What can the EAC say has been the quantifiable gains out of the past two conferences?

One thing we do in these conferences is we meet a lot of investors.

Star Communications, the fellows providing digital TV, I met them in Rwanda and now they are in the four EAC countries. I am happy ours is now up and running.

KCB was able to meet all the countries at a single conference. There is a hotelier I met in Kenya who is quite advanced in putting three-star hotels around the country and he is here already.

We also learn about one another. We have experts coming in and speaking on infrastructure, public-private partnership and policy issues at EAC and government level.

As a host what will Uganda benefit?
First of all we are bringing our hotel industry about 1,500 guests, which is a big plus.

But these are not just guests, they are investors.

Getting investors to see Uganda is one of the most difficult things for us as an investment promotion agency. We have people who ask questions like where will I sleep, is there food?

So to bring them here and they see the beautiful Munyonyo is a step forward. I think the most interesting thing about Uganda is that people do not sleep.

The night life is terrific, at 11 pm, Abaita ababiri (Entebbe Road) is booming. We are also providing them with tourism opportunities to go and visit the gorillas and other national parks.

What are the criteria for winning the EA investor of the year award?

This year we have not had enough time to study the companies thoroughly so we are just looking at companies that do businesses regionally.

It is an advantage if the firm has invested in more than one EA country. If you have invested in all five, you have an added advantage.

Then we look at companies that export within the region and outside the region and how the companies stand in the community.

Any lessons learned from the last conference?

Yes, we used to bring the heads of state at the beginning but they require a lot of attention and, therefore, we don’t focus on investors. So this time they are coming in at the end, apart from the host President who will open the conference.

The last conference was in Nairobi and the venue was a bit small. All the Kenyans wanted to attend. Here we have a nice big room where we shall fit 2,000 people at Speke Resort Munyonyo. We have also tried to get the invitations in earlier.

Ever since the UIA was incorporated, how much investment value has it attracted?

As an agency we have licensed about 5,000 projects. The ones that came recently are in the process of setting up but the older ones are running.

That translates to how many jobs?
The accumulated planned investment is about $12b.

The jobs are 440,000. For each job in a company, there are at least eight other job linkages either as suppliers, farmers, raw materials, transport or packaging.

What is the difference between planned and actual investments?

Planned investment is what investors target when they are coming here.

For some of them the plan goes completely out of hand when they reach here. A good example is MTN. We had them licensed with $20m.

Now they are well over $600m. Then there are those that do not find the market good so they abandon the market. You remember AES power for various reasons was not able to take off.

How far have plans gone in promoting the region as a single destination?
Actually for investment we started long time ago.

We formed the association of investment agencies of East Africa in 2001. We have since developed a guide for the countries.

The private sector look at it suspiciously as competition or that people will take their market but for us it is very clear that investors want a big market.

Since the EAC put in place a secretariat we now have an office since about four years ago and the first thing we did was to launch the EA investment conference.

As a country, how are we positioning to sell the country and its diversity?
We have an exhibition. We have about 20 square meters for each country.

We have UWA and UTB and UEPB plus a number of our private companies. Even within the presentations we have discussions on mining, tourism and we are updating the tourism videos.

Most of the investments are located in central, how are you going to change this to see that this spreads out?

That was the truth a few years ago because the infrastructure and the markets were here.

But I am happy to report that that is changing. We have in place UIA district focal point officers in all the districts and they have worked on what the districts have to offer.

It is very difficult to promote somebody who is negative about themselves, we have this problem with Jinja which improves slightly and then goes down to zero.

We are putting up 22 economic zones.
We have a couple of successes, last week we launched Mount Meru in Lira (contract farming for sunflower) where there is Mukwano and the shea nut butter project.

What is the status of Namanve?
Namanve is ready.

We have allocated land to 230 investors. In the logistics park we have about 70 companies so in total we have about 300 companies.

Since the last competitive report was released, what changes have you made?

We are working on the registration of companies and we have a World Bank funded project.

We have got a new board, but the legislation is still slow. It is a huge problem and it will not go overnight.

Temporarily for us, we have a one stop shop. The financial sector is booming.
We have the best labour laws, we are number 11 in the world.

Talking about commercial laws, the investment code was supposed to be amended, how far have you gone with the process?

We have worked on it and it has passed through cabinet. But it has to be pushed further through Parliament. It is now in the Ministry of Finance.

We need to update 44 commercial laws that are in the pipeline. We have managed to pass about five.

But even the ones we have passed, the regulation is not in place and it does not help to have a modern law but it cannot be regulated. That is an area where we have been very weak in.

What challenges do you face in promoting investment?

Infrastructure, access to finance, lack of land and the bureaucracy within government, these are the key ones.

The old laws do not allow for efficiency. For immigration as an example, the board has got to sit to issue a work permit, now how often does a board sit? This means I have to wait for my work permit.

There is lack of understanding of the private sector within government. They are slow, speed is not of essence meanwhile the investor is losing money.

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Uganda: Catholic Priest who tested HIV positive arrested for defiling a 14 year old girl

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HIV/AIDS POSITIVE CATHOLIC PRIEST IN PAKWACH UGANDA ARRESTED FOR DEFILING A 14 YEAR GIRL

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A senior Catholic priest based in Pakwach town in Nebbi district has been arrested by the Police on allegations of defiling a 14-year-old girl, who served in the church.

The district criminal investigations officer, Henry Mulindwa, said the Rev. Fr. Santos ConstatinoWapokura was first arrested last week in Pakwach when the girl’s parents registered a complaint.

Mulindwa said another 14-year-old girl had also reported to the Police, saying the priest also forced her into sex early last year.

Wapokura, 45, the parish priest for Pakwach, is also HIV-positive, Mulindwa said.

Therefore, the Police upgraded his case from simple to aggravated defilement.
He was, however, shortly released on bond under unclear circumstances, which the district Police headquarters in Nebbi are investigating.

“This is a capital offence. When I heard about it, I called for the file and ordered the priest’s re-arrest on Monday,” Mulindwa said. Mulindwa explained that the victim was a Primary Five pupil.

The girl told the Police that Wapokura would often ask her to go to his house, where he would follow her and force her into sex.

On another occasion, the girl narrated, she was at the priest’s home with other visitors. Father Wapokura reportedly sent away the other people and forced the girl into sex.

Wapokura, who is detained at Nebbi Central Police Station, denies the allegations, which he described as a ploy by his enemies to tarnish his name.
Wapokura was at the helm of celebrations to mark the Centenary of the Catholic faith in northern Uganda held in Pakwach on March 20.

The Police said his file had been forwarded to the resident state attorney for sanctioning, after which he will appear before court. Another Catholic priest was arrested and charged with defilement in Gulu recently.

The cases add to the long list of accusations of sexual misconduct by Catholic priests, which have rocked the Church lately. In America, the Church has paid millions of dollars to victims.

Pope Benedict has also been accused of trying to cover up the crimes in an attempt to preserve the image of the church, which forbids its priests from marrying.

Activists in Britain are considering arresting the Pope when he travels to London later this year.

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Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda: Governments are blamed for mismanagement of Lake Victoria

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda failed to manage Lake Victoria leading to a sharp decline of its most valued species, the Nile Perch

Experts have predicted that there will be no Nile Perch in Lake Victoria in the near future unless there is a drastic change in the way the resource is harvested, the Kenyan Fisheries Ministry has said.

Official statistics made available to this writer indicate that the stocks harvested steadily fell from 1.9 million tones to 1.2 million tones between 1991 and 2001.The figure further dropped to 544,000 tones in 2005.

Regional survey carried out in 2008 also show a further drop to approximately 299,000 tones, raising fears that the poor fishing, use of unlawful fishing gear, is rapidly depleting the lake of its economically important resources.

Kenya’s Minister for Fisheries Development, Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, readily admitted that the decline has led to reduced exports and less of revenue for the three states sharing Lake Victoria.

Fish processors contend that while they have instituted self regulation measures to address the declining fisheries level, which is the responsibility of the governments, this has not been strictly enforced.

According the Kenyan based fish processors and exporters association CEO, fish factories can barely operate at their optimum capacity leading to the collapse of several factories over the years.

“We cannot even raise the 10tons that most factories require to break even,“ said the CEO. There are eight fish processing factories on the Kenyan side of the lake, four are located in Kisumu City, while Nairobi Homa-Bay and Migori towns have one each.

The latest statistics indicate a sharp decline in the number of the Nile Perch from 1.2 million tones a decade ago, to 299,000 tons last year.

Besides the huge economic effects supporting the estimated USD 250 million annual export market, experts have linked to dwindling fish stocks in the lake to emerging fishing conflicts such as the row over Migingo Island and wars of an escalation of such incidents, id this is not adequately addressed.

Lack of commitment has been blamed for the failure of national initiative by the three governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to reverse the trend.

In the recent past, the focus has been on joint plans that have bit fared well so far. Last year, a plan to eliminate illegal fishing and trade in immature Nile Perch fish species in Lake Victoria by December flopped.

However, an Assistant Director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute[KMERI] Dr. Richard Abila, explained that though success was made in removing illegal gear, authorities could not keep up with the rate at which they were being re-introduced in the lake.

A joint communique by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization Council of Ministers that set the stage for the planned crackdown against illegal fishers alluded to this, saying, that as soon after the confiscation, the illegal fishing gear were immediately replaced by racketeers.

Drawing from the experience of the botched attempt, the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are planning a fresh onslaught against the declining Nile Perch stocks.

A major security operation is planned in Lake Victoria later moth {April 2010} to mop up illegal fishing gear. The planned week-long operation is part of the regional initiative dabbed ‘Operation Save the Nile Perch conducted by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization {LVFO].’Te total biomass of fish in the lake was estimated at two million tones in 2007 of which 30 per cent were Nile Perch, which had declined to 15 per cent in 2008, a total of 91,000 tones of fish species valued at USD 319.4 million were exported, but in 2009, this figure had dropped to 81,000tones valued at USD 310 million.

Kenyan Fisheries Minister Dr.Otuoma said sad other effect of this decline include closure of some fish processing plants, while many are operating below their production capacity

Other effects said the Minister include re-emergence of cross border conflict such as the on-going dispute between his country and Uganda over Migingo Island, loss of income by fishermen employees and traders.

These issues, the Minister said highlights un-sustainability of the fish stocks and unacceptable status of the Lake Victoria fisheries.

“Scientists’ evidence has positively identified the root cuase of this steady decline in the un-sustainability of the fish stocks which by nature are predetermined.”

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com