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UN Supporting Uganda’s Journey to Transformation

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Prime Minister Nabbanja

A joint steering committee meeting, meant to review and endorse the annual UN country results for 2022, was today held at the Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting was moderated by the Prime Minister RobinahNabbanja.

A similar meeting was held in May last year,and a number of priorities were identified including support to climate change mitigation.

The UN Resident Coordinator Susan Namondo, reiterated the UN’s continued cooperation with Uganda government to push forward the development agenda.

The joint steering committee is the highest authority, that implements the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation for Uganda 2020/25 frame work. Today’s meeting also agreed on priorities for 2023 and discussed emerging issues

Parliament to Vote on The Anti-Homosexuality Bill Today

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Anti Homosexual Bill Uganda

In the parliamentary sitting held yesterday, the chairperson of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ms. Robina Rwakoojo the Gomba West MP said,” We are completing report writing on the  Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023,to be presented to plenary tomorrow.”

The bill, among others, seek to prohibit same-sex sexual relations, strengthen Uganda’s capacity to deal with domestic and foreign threats to the heterosexual family, safeguard traditional and cultural values and protect youth/ children against gay and lesbian practices on the perpetrators.

The entire country is waiting for the Parliament today to reach positive agreements on the Bill. Whereas, parliament today is to vote on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 amidst  mixed reactions from various stakeholders most especially western countries as well as LGBT rights activists.

According to reliable sources, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 will be presented for the second and third time reading. The bill has been fronted by the Bugiri Municipality Legislature, Mr. Asuman Basalirwa, who also hails from the JEEMA political party.

As earlier before proposed by the Speaker of the House Hon. Anita Among, the voting will be conducted by the show of hands. Though this is not yet clearly confirmed, several religious leaders have proposed the show of hands in order to know who is who in handling this serious matter that many Ugandans believe it is foreign and anti traditional to their societies. However the speaker of parliament has vowed that the Bill must pass at whatever cost.

Homosexuality and lack of Integrity which is Uganda’s biggest problem

While appearing before the Legal and Parliamentary  Affairs Committee last week the Attorney General (AG), Mr. Kiryoowa Kiwanuka, disagreed with some ministers who were in favor of the Bill saying that it is redundant due to multiple repetitions of offenses in already existing legislation.

Equally, members of the parliament and academic scholars offered divergent views on the Bill before the same committee.Lawyers advised that the Bill be discarded because there are already strict penalties for aggravated sexual crimes even for minors.

Lawyer Mabiriizi also asked court to quash the bill urging that among others, Speaker Anita Among, who is supposed to be neutral, is biased in favor of passing the Bill.

In addition on that,other people’s views on the bill via the media included Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, the Buikwe Woman MP via her social media twitter handle “the decision made in Parliament on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 today will shape the future of our children in years to come, for or against recruiting people to start practicing homosexuality. I urge my fellow to stand firm in their beliefs and vote the right decision,” she said.

How the Anti-gay affects you

If the bill is enacted in its current form, homosexuals, landlords, brothel proprietors, journalists and film directors face imprisonment or fines, ranging from Shs.5m to Shs100m. Offenses of Homosexuality and attempted or aggravated homosexuality will attract a maximum of 10-year jail term while any entity promoting the vice shall pay a fine  of Shs100m among others.

“The important thing isn’t what will happen in the parliament today tabling and passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Its what to do the day after. The MPs are hellbent on their hate, prejudice driven agenda against the queer community. They can’t disappear the community,” Mr. Nicholas Opiyo the lawyer and and a human right activist said.

Nevertheless, homosexuality, gayism and lesbianism all portray a sign of disrespecting God’s image as the Bible says in the book of creation(Genesis) .It  is clearly shown that God created a Woman for a Man not a man for a man or a woman for a woman.The current contradictions have been fueled by different foreign stakeholders whose goal is to see Africans(Uganda) backsliding from their cultural traditions and norms.

The final report from the Parliament today will determine much more on the future of the entire upcoming generations (Youths) as MP Diana Mutasingwa clarified on her twitter handle.

As a fellow citizen, we have to pull back on our parallel levels, the disintegrations  brought by politics and quarrels must be left out and aside. We must stick together, be firm and confidently defend our nation of the coming generation.

Though we need to advance from the stage of third World to another level in both Social and Economic spheres, we must also take a note that not all foreign policies are positively effective.Some we yearn for are weakest spot of our crippling. Note ,not all of the aid we receive from foreign powers yield negative consequences, but of our suffering, disintegration, foreign dominant powers are the culprits.

IUEA to organize 6th Cultural Gala this Friday

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The International University of East Africa (IUEA) will host its 6th annual cultural gala on March 17, 2023, at the university’s main campus in Kansanga, Kampala, in an effort to promote diversity and harmony.

The fascinating event focusing on the topic “The Colours of Diversity” is aimed to promote the brightness and richness of cultures from all around the world.

Charles Denzel Mwiyeretsi of XFM will serve as the host of the 2023 Culture Gala, which will begin at 10 a.m. (EAT) in the University Gardens.

According to IUEA, culture plays very crucial role in describing society, reflecting on who we are, where we have been and where we hope to be.

A cultural gala can effectively advance good change in society by fostering harmony and cooperation. The annual cultural gala at IUEA is a fun occasion where students display and perform numerous activities from diverse African and international cultures. Traditional dances, musical performances, fashion showcases, art exhibits, food tastings, and more are among these activities. IUEA’s head of public relations, John Jacobs, said.

The IUEA cultural gala offers a forum for learning and knowledge exchange. A spectacular display of food, fashion, music, and dance highlights the diversity.

One of the most eagerly awaited events at the institution is the IUEA cultural gala. Apart from the enjoyment, it is a sociable event.

By the conclusion of the day, students and other members of the nearby community are drawn to the day because it is so rich and dynamic. Together with cash prizes for the winner and additional non-monetary prizes for the runners-up, the most inventive team receives a reward.

After a close race against eleven other African nations, the DR Congo students community was named the overall winner of the 5th annual IUEA cultural gala in 2022.

According to John Jacobs, this event promotes harmony and understanding amongst individuals from all origins while giving employees, students, and invited visitors the chance to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural history of Africa and other parts of the world.

He stated that the university is totally committed to promoting and supporting cultural festivities because they are important for fostering intercultural understanding and tolerance among people, and since these elements are crucial for building a more harmonious and peaceful society for everybody.

“We cordially welcome you to set the date for an exciting day packed with cultural celebration and exploration. The culture of Africa is extraordinarily rich and diversified, made up of a huge variety of nations and tribes, each with its own distinctive qualities, he emphasized.

IUEA is happy to have a student body that is so diverse. Our multi-ethnic environment is made up of students from more nations than we can count. Our students are from many different Asian and African countries, some of which are quite far away, like Holland.

Nigeria and Ghana, two countries in West Africa, frequently collaborate to produce breath-taking presentations of everything the continent has to offer.

At the cultural event, you can be sure to try savory foods like Egusi soup, the renowned jollof rice, pounded yam, fufu, and okra. Because West Africa is an ethnically varied location, you will be mesmerized by the fashion statement made by the vivid Ankara fabrics worn by West African students. The kaftans and gele wraps will wow you!

The Congolese community never falls short when it comes to showcasing Congo and its principles, traditions, and artifacts. The Congolese take great pride in their appearance and attire. People are expected to wear freshly laundered and pressed handmade garments wherever they go. The passion of dance and music in this neighborhood is well known. If they shattered a leg, they wouldn’t care where or when it happened.

If you like sampling new foods, the Congolese tent will be your source of inspiration. You won’t be able to miss the frogs, monkey meat, and caterpillars on their menu. A taste won’t harm you. all these can also be experienced when taking cultural safaris to Uganda and have a taste of various cultural heritage of different tribes and communities.

When it comes to hospitality, the students at the Pearl of Africa go above and beyond. You are always greeted with the kindest smiles and the most welcoming surroundings. Due to the wide ethnic diversity in Uganda, the tribe with the best-established culture is fronted to represent the competition in dancing.

Native Somalis are quite gregarious and sociable. They are incredibly competitive while maintaining a nice manner, which they use to make things difficult for their opponents during the evening. During the event, be sure to sample the coffee, canjeero, and beef from Somalia.

For Tanzanians, the IUEA students’ Gala will give you a taste of the ancient Swahili culture. Tanzanians are understated actors. You wouldn’t want to take your eyes off them when they dance even for a moment! One of those performances that you remember for a long time.

Kenyans can anticipate a lovely fusion of beads and the native Masai suka. Kenyan society will give you a run for your money if you’re looking for the actual definition of a balanced meal. Your taste buds will clamor for more of the ugali, meat, and steaming veggies.

The smile that Rwandans wear is one of those things that pulls at your heartstrings when they perform wonderful dances.

Expect stunning Ethiopian women as well as delicious coffee that will leave you wanting more. If not, you really ought to! Ethiopia is said to be the country where coffee first appeared. It was once thought that a goat herder and his flock kept their flock stable on coffee. He became more effective and his herding skills considerably improved following that day. Ethiopia, which has a calendar with 13 months, is seven years behind the rest of the world. Interesting, huh?

IUEA’s Eritrean community has a long history of being friendly and accepting. Their white and vibrant traditional clothing, the Habesha, perfectly captures their charm. On the Red Sea is Eritrea. The capital, Asmara, is regarded as one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the world and is known as a hub of multi-cultural architecture.

The community in Burundi has some interesting things to display. The phrase “rhythm was born in Africa” was perhaps first used to describe Burundi. When the Burundian team plays the karyenda drums, the crowds are always in awe.

Last but not least, the Indian population is always eager to showcase their full culture. Nevertheless, in order to experience it fully, you would need to be in a relaxed setting with hot food, dancing, music, socializing, and fun at the gala.

It was regrettable, according to Mr. Eric Mukhwana, the institution’s communications officer, that the Resident City Commission (RCC), Mbale City, under the direction of Mr. Ahamad Washaki, let the celebration to proceed as planned.

The Elgon Festival, which was organized by the Masaba Tourism Initiative in collaboration with Babana Basha and the Mbale City Council, took place on the weekend of June 10–11, 2022, at the Mbale SS Grounds in Mbale City. Mixing little girls as young as 9 years old who are also naked with hazardous adults who are in no way related to them is a risky habit. Cultural institutions should safeguard girls from harmful cultural practices not disposing of them to such acts.

 

Homosexuality: Is Pope Francis Right?

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Pope Francesco

By definition, a Pope is a prelate who as Bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He is a human being elected by the top most leaders of the catholic church called Cardinals to head of the catholic church of Rome and by extension the head  of the global Roman Catholic church. As the human being a pope can make both right and wrong decisions. And as the bible says, all of us including the pope have fallen short of the Glory.

Popes have made many right decisions that have affected humanity in all corners of the Earth. They have also made very many wrong decisions that have affected humanity in diverse ways. In the early days of Catholicism and growth of catholic church, Popes were also politicians as emperors and, therefore, made political decisions that affected people positively or negatively. With time, however, the catholic church liberated itself from mainstream politics although Popes and clergy could still make political statements, with far reaching social, ethical, moral and scientific consequences name but a few.

One example of scientific consequences of a decision made by Pope Urban VIII. A young highly creative and highly innovative academic and intellectual, who did not even have formal university degree when he made his revolutionary innovations, Galileo Galilei, using his powerful telescope, established that it was the Earth which orbited around the sun, not the other way as the catholic church adherents believed. Pope Urban VIII, the whole church and the academia of the time were infuriated. Galileo got multi-pronged attacks from even his professors who thought the young man had denigrated them. The church, which had a lot of power and authority over humanity then, chose to try Galileo for his scientific discovery, which contradicted one of the main doctrines held by it- that is the sun which goes around the earth.

Doctrines are almost always non-scientific but mere beliefs that cannot be backed by science. Galileo was tried by the church for something that was backed by science: the Earth Orbiting the sun convicted of a “strong suspicion of heresy,” a lesser charge than heresy. “In sum, the 1616 event was not the beginning of a 17-year -long trial, as is often said, but a non-trial,” Galileo officially faced Rome Inquisition in Apranda and agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. He was incarcerated under house arrest indefinitely by Pope Urban VIII who also excommunicated him from the church. Galileo spend the rest of his days at his villa in Arcetri, near Florence, before dying on January 8,1642. More than 350 years later, Pope John Paul II absorbed Galileo, there by rectifying on of the church’s most infamous wrongs– the persecution of the Italian astronomer and physicist for proving the Earth moves around the sun.

One thing is true and must be emphasized. Churches and even Mosques are made of human bending and led by human beings, who must necessarily make mistakes and ask for divine guidance to put them right. If Pope Urban VIII had asked for divine guidance, instead of using human knowledge, wisdom, understanding and insight, the catholic church would have been saved its most infamous embarrassment to-date.

Today, Popes have been faced with one of the post-modern joint threats to the church-homosexuality and Lesbianism. While in Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte publicly revealed that he have been into gayism by a Catholic church Father, but he is no longer one, there aren’t many rules and leaders on the globe who will be as open as about the vice that compelled God, as the bible chronicles burn Sodom and Gomorrah. They quietly support the vice and have to this made laws to legalize it. However, there others who has outlawed it. Former USA Donald Trump Launched a global campaign against homosexuality.

Many African countries do not approve for gayism. However, the gay movement is well found. Some rich are investing in the popularization and prolification of the vice, in particular by causing vulnerable governments to pass laws to legalize the vice. In may 2021, BBC News reports that there are 69 countries in the world that has laws criminalizing homosexuality. These countries including Nigeria and Uganda, where existing laws outlawing homosexuality have been tightened.

In others, efforts to get the laws removed have failed. For example, in Singapore a Court, early 2020, dismissed a bid to overturn a law that prohibits gay sex. In 2019, the high court in Kenya upheld laws criminalizing all kinds of homosexual acts.

In 2021 a crackdown on lesbianism, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Cameroon resulted into arrests and assaults by security forces of dozens of people this year, according to Human Rights Watch. In the most recent incidents, two transgender Cameroonians were sentenced to five year in prison after being found guilty of “attempted homosexuality.” However, in February 2021, Angola’s president, Joao Lourenco, signed into law a revised penal code to allow same-sex relationships and ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In June 2020, Gabon reversed a law that was criminalizing homosexuality and made sex punishable with six months in prison and a large fine.

Botswana’s high court also ruled, in 2019, in favor of decriminalizing homosexuality. Mozambique and Seychelles have also scrapped anti-homosexuality laws in recent years, In Trinidad and Tobago, a court ruled in 2018 that laws bunning gay sex were unconstitutional. Following these developments, gay individuals and organizations have increased their activities, especially through aid to schools and Universities to recruit young people into gayism.

There is no doubt that the devil has found a conduit to fell man, Homo sapiens through perverted sex. It is definitely an effort against God who created sex and special sex organisms, more for reproduction of the human species and other biological begins and there perpetuation in the biocultural landscape. Young people have become extremely vulnerable. Reproduction and survivability of humanity as a species is both threatened and endangered by the deliberate conversion of the Anus, the body organ designed for ejection of feaces from the alimentary canal, into a sexual organ.

Increasingly, many young people are being forced into homosexuality by adults. This is being compounded by harsh socio-economic condition, which young people are suffering the most negative effects. Many young people are being forced to reject marriage because they fear the responsibility of raising children. Others see homosexuality as a source of livelihood. Those sucking them into the gay trade have money and promise good life and riches for them. Indeed, the lure of getting rich quick has made many young people victims to vice, which it promoters see as virtue. They need the protection of the government, the church and the mosque, and ultimately God.

However, if some of the promoters of gayism are in the government, the church and Mosque, then humanity is in real trouble. God could abandon humanity as he did in the days of Noah and a lot, when he sacrificed humanity to a worldwide flood and to fire i n order to destroy it before his eyes. Today he could choose to sacrifice it to nuclear war and destruction whereby Russia, North Korea, Iran and China could team up to destroy humanity in the other nuclear countries and beyond. Indeed, the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has raged on for almost a year, shows that the use of nuclear weapons to destroy humanity is not a distant possibility.

Apparently, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China are hard on gayism, while virtually all the other nuclear countries are soft on the vice. God, on the other hand, has never approved of gayism. Gayism has emerged as a 21st Century dilemma.

It is against this background that Pope Francis has put himself and the Catholic Church at the Centre of the gayism dilemma, just as Pope Urban VIII put himself and the church at the Centre of resting the scientific truth revealed by Galileo that it is not Earth that orbits the sun.

In an interview on 25th January 2023 in Vatican, the seer of Global Catholicism, Associated Press [AP], Pope Francis maintains that homosexuality is not a crime. AP saying,” Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “injustice”, saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic Bishops who support the law to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.”

The Pope may have had Jesus’ defense of a prostitute and children guiding children, but what matters today is the interpretation of his statement. The statement was immediately held by gay rights advocates as a milestone. However, some people are saying it is a milestone in Satan’s struggle to destroy humanity and the kingdom of God before Jesus comes back. They are convinced the pope has become the most high-ranking religious leader to openly work for the dark kingdom of the devil.

Many religious leaders are perplexed and no doubt many young people will be confused. However, as I said and illustrated elsewhere in this article, Pope is the first and the foremost a Pope is a human being and can make mistakes, and like the rest of us, has fallen short of the glory of God. Fortunately, God does not deal with groups any more like he did when liberating the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt. He deals with us individually.

So, if you asked me if Popes make mistakes, i would respond in the affirmative. They have made mistakes in the past and they will continue to make mistakes well into the future until Jesus Christ comes back. or if you asked me, ” Are Preps always right,” I would say ” How can they be always right when, like all human beings they are not free from making mistakes? I have shown that they can turn right into wrong as Pope Urban VIII did with the scientific truth revealed by Galileo and punished him for sticking to the truth, just like Jesus was punished for the truth and many people are punished by governments for truth.

Abortion: A Sign of Morally Decayed Society

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Stop Abortion

In the African Traditional society, abortion was both indiscernible and untraceable because of the strong bending towards norms and culture. Girls were brought up in high discipline form elders and parents unlike today where girls nearly do not spend time with parents nor elders.

They hence remain wanting in cultural values and norms especially the value of life. Today’s enigma  of work at the expense of parental roles by parents is central to moral degeneration and to mention abortion.

Many girls today have neglected their cultures regarding them old fashioned due to intrusion in advancements of both fashions and communication. At the cost of their lives, they pride in sayings like “Ffetuliko,” “Omulembe gwa swaga.”

Such a society infiltrated with this mind does not value life hence perpetuating drug abuse, pre-maritual sex, the use of contraceptives and abortions in case of “unwanted pregnancies.

I implore fellow girls to shun away from such acts and develop a positive attitude towards our cultural norms as in the past. More so that life is preserved and viewed from a positive perspective.

Here Comes a Baby Gorilla in Ruhija Sector

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Ruhija Baby Gorilla

On Valentine’s Day, (14th February 2023) a mature female gorilla in Ruhija sector in Bwindi National Park gave birth to a healthy baby gorilla. The Mukiza gorilla family is headed by Mukiza, the dominant silverback, and includes the adult female gorilla Tomvi (baby mom).

The field team officers have been attempting to get to the newborn and observe it, but the baby is being fiercely guarded by the father and mother, according to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the organization in charge of the conservation of all protected areas. According to UWA officials, the Mukiza gorilla family now includes 19 members due to the newborn baby.

Also, they credited the tiny bundle of happiness to the active, curious, and diligent efforts of many years of effective conservation. We commend the Uganda Wildlife Authority for its ongoing, relentless conservation efforts to ensure that these already endangered species of apes don’t become extinct as we visit Uganda. The mother and baby are both in good health as reported by the UWA officials.

This is the breakup of the Mukiza gorilla family in the Ruhija gorilla area of northern Bwindi. There is one male silverback named Mukiza, six adult females, three sub-adults, three juveniles, and four youngsters.

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the only gorilla destination in Uganda and Africa with the greatest concentration of mountain gorillas, and it is home to roughly 20 gorilla families. To track these groups in their native habitats, the park issues roughly 152 gorilla permits per day.

Given the group’s increased size, the birth of the new infant in the Mukiza family will greatly impact the protection and monitoring of these gorillas in the Ruhija region.

It should be mentioned that there are 4 gorilla families in the Ruhija sector, and 32 tracking licenses are provided daily for this area. The Bitukura, Mukiza, Kyaguliro, and Oruzogo families are among them. Every family receives 8 permits per day, for a total of 32 permits every day.

Visitors who pay for gorilla safaris in Uganda are charmed by their distinctive habits and their similarity to humans because they share about 98 percent of the same Genes. Visitors enjoy hiking in large families with many members, and now that Mukiza has grown by one, it will definitely gain popularity and draw more visitors.

NOTE: The 331km long Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the southwest of Uganda and is made up of lowland and montane forests. The park is around 520 km away from Kampala, and getting there take 8 to 9 hours. The forest’s primary residents are mountain gorillas, but there are also other wildlife attractions like birds (there are over 350 kinds), and other creatures that live there but are infrequently seen during gorilla trekking tours in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

150,000 Ugandans to Get Oil Jobs

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Oil Drilling in Uganda

Cnooc Uganda ltd, the operator of the kingfisher field whose early drilling works were flagged off last week,will invest approximately $ 580m {shs2.1 trilllion} this year and next year in the quest to fast-track oil production to start in the quater of 2025.

Experts say the developments in the oil sector will deliver at least 150,000 jobs to Ugandans.The coast of the developing the oil fields,which will pump Uganda’s  first crude oil, is estimated at $2b {shs 7.3 trillion} as per the petroleum Authority of Uganda{PAU} that among others reviews and approves oil companies’ work plans and budgets.

The frenzied investments kicked in the last year,with Cnooc investing $346m {shs 1.2 trillion} into the same project after the government and oil companies French TotalEnergies EP and Cnooc -announced investments of $10 billions {shs36.5 trillions} to bring Uganda within touching distance of starting commercial oil production in 2025.

Once commercial oil production starts,Cnooc will spend another $1.5 billion {shs 5.5 trillion} over a 20 year period of maintenance of the project.The significant amount of money,however,still goes back to foreign engineering,procurement and construction {EPC} firms employment on projects alongside local loans.

In the grand scheme of things,this year much like its predecessor kicked off on the a high note yesterday with the launching of early drilling works of the first oil well at the kingfisher oil field is located 2km off the shores of Lake Albert in Kikuube district.

The key ,milestone yesterday came almost a year after the oil companies and their local partners Uganda National Oil company {UNOC} and Tanzania petroleum development  Corporation {TPDC} closed the long awaited final Investment Decision {FID}. This paved a way for the awarding of some 92 tenders totalling $1 billion {shs3.6 trillion} for provision of goods and services on the kingfisher project alone.

Of the $1 billion,according to Pau,contracts worth $270 millions {986 billion}were awarded to Ugandan companies mainly in areas of Civil works,hospitality management, transportation and ICT.

what next?

With the early oil drilling works for the kingfisher oil field ticked off,next in line is to kick start  similar works on oil fields under the Tilenga project that straddles Nwoya and Bullisa districts operated by Total Energies EP.But the uphill task is the development of the 1,443 km East African Crude Pipeline EACOP) that will transport Uganda’s waxy crude oil from the kingfisher field and Tilenga to Tanga port in Tanzanian where it will be loaded in containers and route to the international market.

The closure of financing nearly $4.5 billion{shs 14 trillion) remains a total order but the officials say there is silver of hope.Uganda’s section of Eacop is 296km through 27 sub-counties,three town councils, as well as 171 villeges in 10 districts of Hoima, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Gomba, Ssembabule, Lwengo Rakai and Kyotera.

Tanzanian president Samia Hassan Suluh’s  Beijing vist last November offered some charity on the course of the EACOP,according to highly placed sources.However,questions abound whether the pipeline can be ready in two-three years to transport crude oil to the market.The EACOP company is currently fast-tracking land acquisition for the project right of way but since infrastructure development in Uganda is never short of drama,including bureaucratic headwinds,only time will tell.

No mean feat.

Ms Irene Batebe,the energy ministry permanent Secretary,described the launching of Kingfisher oil field spudding as a”momentous occasion”,pointing to the government’s unwavering commitment to first oil in 2025.

“As a country, it implies that we are about to join the the league of oil producing countries behind Angola,Nigeria, and Libya,” Ms Batebe remarked.The other medium considered for commercialization of Uganda’s oil is the  Proposed 60,000 barrels per day {bpd} refinery, but it remains a far cry.The government in 2017,awarded a consortium of American and Italian firms the tender to design, finance and construct the refinery projects,but besides the usual rhetoric,there is seemingly slow progress on that front despite recently announcing that its financing will be closed by this March.

The commencement of drilling of the development and production wells is the effect the start of trials for oil drilling using the rig that was hauled in the country last August and assembled in November.The process will culminate in the commercial production in late 2025.but could stretch into 2026.

Key Milestone

President Museveni,who has usually taken credit on Uganda’s oil discovery,extolled scientists led by the former Energy ministry permanent secretary Kabagambe Kaliisa,former petroleum Exploration and Production Department {PEPD} commissioner Rauben Kashambuzi, and petroleum Authority of Uganda{PAU} executive director Ernest Rubondo,for their pivotal role in shaping the oil journey as it is today.”How could i take on personal responsibility when i didn’t know?” Mr. Museveni said of the decision taken by  his government in its early days 37 years ago to  send a group of Ugandan scientists abroad to study oil and return home to take charge unlike many African governments which relied on foreign expertise.

“I want to  salute the scientists and the oil companies we started with small ones like Hardman,Heritage and now here we are, with Total and Cnooc,” the president said,adding,” I want to congulagulate Cnooc for moving foward. I hope others are also moving forward.”

Kingfisher lowdown.

The Kingfisher oil field,formerly known as Exploration Area{EA}  3A, is part of Kingfisher Field Development Area{KFDA” that straddles Kikuube and Hoima districts.The KFDA is operated by Cnooc Uganda ltd,which awarded the tender for construction of the required infrastructure to pump oil to a joint venture  of China offshore Oil Engineering company, and China petroleum & construction Corporation.

It is the successful drilling of oil well at EA31 2006 by the Australian Wildcatter, Hardman Resource and its Anglo-Irish partner Tullow Oil PLC, that led to the summation of Uganda’s  oil deposits as “commercially viable.”The announcement was made by president Museveni during  a national prayer breakfast convened at Kololo Independence Ground in Kampala.

Tullow oil PLC subsequently acquired Hardman’s stake, and in 2011,the former farmed down {sold stakes} to the French Total Energies EP and China’s Cnooc.Following commencement of operations in Uganda in February 2012, Cnooc was tapped operator of the EA3.

At the time,only the Kingfisher oil field had a license,which had been conditionally granted to Tullow around the time of the farm down.The condition to be satisfied included,among others, submitting an amended and restarted Field Development Plan and Petroleum Reservoir Report acceptable to the government,in accordance with the Petroleum Act and international petroleum Best practices.

The reports were submitted in November 2012,and rigorously reviewed,leading to lift of the conditions on September 16,2013 and its production license awarded on September 25 that year.The oil fields are owned jointly notwithstanding the individual operatorship by Cnooc  and Total Energies.Total Energies commands 56.7 percent  stake in the fields, CNooC with 28.3% and Unoc 15%.

Unoc is statutory body mandated to manage Uganda’s commercial interests in all petroleum licenses.

Mr.Rubondo revealed that the kingfisher oil field is estimated to have 560 million barrels of oil in place,out of which 190 million barrels of oil{33 percent} is expected  to produce over a period of 20-25 years.

“The oil field is expected to have a maximum production of 40,000 barrels of iol per day for five years after which,production will begin to decline,”he noted,”The drilling rig,which you have just switched on, your Excellency,will be used to drill all the planned 31 production wells of this oil field.Twenty of these wells will be used to produce oil,while 11 of these wells will be used to inject water in the reservoir to help improve production.”

According to PAU, investments in development of the Kingfisher oil field is expected to cost more than $2billion {shs7.2 trillion} over the next three years until shortly after production starts.Mr Rubondo revealed that the Kingfisher project is already employing “over 1,500 people, of whom, 1,300 are Ugandans and about 500 are from the communities surrounding the project.”

5 Hidden Gems of Uganda to visit this Year

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Bigodi Wetland

Would you like to go on a holiday through the Pearl Africa but wondering which unique gems you can include in your travel plan? Here are some of the unique destinations that are off the usual beaten path;

Bigodi wetland sanctuary

The wetlands of this sanctuary, which is close to the nearby Kibale National Park, are home to a variety of creatures, including primates, and serve as a habitat for several bird species. Bushbucks, otters, bush pigs, mongooses, and sitatungas are just a few of the forest creatures you might see on a nature walk to the sanctuary. There are also about 200 different bird species, not to mention a shoebill stork that was observed in the papyrus of Bigodi Swamp.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is one of the less visited but rewarding tourism destination in Uganda. You should visit this park if you enjoy adventure and birds because it is home to a variety of Uganda kobs as well as other mammals including elephants, leopards, and others. The park’s 420 different species of birds have earned it the moniker “real birders’ haven.” The Sempaya hot springs, which are located nearby and have male and female hot springs that are appealing to tourists, are the most well-known feature that unites this park.

Rwenzori Mountains

The Rwenzori Mountains are less marketed but offer a great potential for tourism in Uganda. The Uncrowded walks and several excursions may be done in the unique vegetation and some of the highest peaks of Mt Stanley, which is the third highest peak in the world with a height of 5.119 m. The mountains are of the highest caliber in the world.-class and magnificent blocks uncrowded hikes and multiple treks are carried out in the exotic plants and some of the highest peaks of MT Stanley the 3rd highest peak with 5.119 m. You can easily plan and book a Rwenzori trek with local tour operators including RMS, Rwenzori Expeditions, Mountain Slayers of Uganda or Rwenzori Trekking.

Queen Elizabeth national park

The most popular safari destination in the world is Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you can go on game drives and see fantastic safari animals like leopards, lions, antelopes, giraffes, and buffaloes as well as aquatic mammals like crocodiles, hippos, and other reptiles while taking a boat cruise to the Kazinga channel.

Bwindi impenetrable national park

The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where people go gorilla trekking, is not very far from the Kibale forest, where you are. The highlight of our vacation to Uganda is going to see the gorillas, and we haven’t met anyone who doesn’t absolutely love this amazing experience.

The Booming Uganda Car Rental Business

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Car Rental Business

Comparable to other flourishing business ventures, the car rental business has scooped a locus on the list among the easily profiting businesses. As usual many business owners prefer getting into a witnessed operating business.

However, like any other smoothly running venture, there are dynamics of opportunities accompanied with challenges attached to this hot cake venture. A number of considerations such as abroad market space are key facilitations of the sector.

The car rental broadness extends into safari rentals, city drives, business, and cargo, weeding and construction rentals.

Safari car rental is a sophisticated and delicacy niche of most Uganda car rentals. In the tourism world, many of the travelers are preferring to hire a car either with a driver or do a self-drive.

Then, how does the car rental venture operates? Currently, in Uganda there over 100 websites of companies venturing into car rental business. Though many, but that everyone has invested in the venture, no! Several of the companies are perfectly handling the work of a middle man.

Operation of the Car Rental Business in Uganda

Several reputable companies have availed and offered various models of car for rental. However, it’s should be noted that highest number of rental companies are rental companies in Uganda are third part in the business.

Through different platform, companies have released a market of potential buyers. Mainly through websites, recommendations, locations and agents, this is how car rental companies get clients.

For the sake of safari rentals, though only 4×4 cars used, but not every car can do a safari. The 4×4 safari car rentals are customized for safaris in particular.

Safari car rentals are tour vehicles, when bought from the car bond, again has to be replaced with perfect spare which can enable the car to drive for longer distances.

Securing a client is a battle especially with websites reservations. The reservation team must be very convincing just because most of the clients inquiring do window shopping.

Among the clients/travelers/tourists some hire a car for self-drive, and other hire a car with driver. It’s very risky to let a car to someone who is not familiar with the terrain and roads. And this is the situation under which these companies operates in.

Car Rental Business operates on honesty and trust, while booking, hirers/clients send in their some money to unfamiliar. Then, they remain to expect for a service as agreed upon reservation.

A car rental ready for use, should always be kept in a pure mechanical condition. However, mechanical technicality remains one of the major challenges of car rental operation.

Advantages of Car Rental Business

Hurried profits; after investing in buying and customizing vehicles for hire. Realizing profits is a walkover within a limited period of operation. The vehicle makes its money, whenever, the vehicle is back from the use, must be thoroughly mechanically checked and fixed of any breakdown.

Easy to manage; after reserving the vehicle and deliver it to the client, then have to set back and wait either for road assistance or collecting back the vehicle. Car rental business doesn’t deal with securing accommodation, organizing everything on the trip. No, it’s only a business of letting you a car and relax.

Broader market base; every day the market base of car rental is increasing getting better. This due to repeatedly market by several rental companies, tour companies and various marketing agencies. The market base also depends on the increasing number of travelers who opt to do everything on their trip by themselves. Several travel they rather car a car with a driver than taking a guided safari with any tour companies.

Booming tourism sector; the continual marketing strategies buy government agencies like Uganda Tourism Board and many private sector companies. This has increased the market base of travelers to Uganda. Among the so many tourist, some prefer to hire a car and do a self-drive trip.

Risks of Car Rental Business

This fertile business is as well a delicate business to handle. There are several challenges associated with the car rental business making it one of the risky ventures to operate. Some companies and proprietors have suffered beyond mechanical technicality, and rescue issues.

Theft risks; – several rental vehicles have been stolen by the impersonator. These come in the name of hiring a car for a trip and end up steeling. This incident has happened on two rental operators; Mugisha Kennedy of Self Drive 4×4 Uganda; in 2019 he hired 2 vehicle a Toyota Premio and Land Cruiser V8 that ended him in prison and courts of law. Though the Premio was restores, the V8 wasn’t.

Also Mbazira Bashir the proprietor of Omega Car Rental, in the same way, he hired land cruiser TX which was stolen by the hirer.

And many other incidences, this comes because the business involves renting a car for self-drive. Though vehicle tracking systems are deployed, also thieves find new ways of doing their ways.

Unestablished incidents; – People hiring cars are not familiar with roads and terrains. This makes them eligible to several road faults. Bad driving leaves the vehicles in a very poor mechanical condition and may require even more than what was used to hire. Accidents are one of unestablished incidences by hirers.

Client’s temperaments; – several rental operators have faced a situation of reserving a vehicle and a client fails to take it claiming it’s not a good car. Should be noted that in Uganda, older models of 1998 are used for safaris.

However, there are newer models which tends to be more expensive and some client can afford hiring them. But rental operators have mastered the sector and always makes sure that their rental cars are kept in a perfect mechanical condition.

Some clients have an ego to reject what’s reserved for them. This in most case depends on the character of clients, but in the real sense all presented vehicles are able for any destination in Uganda.

Ghost rental companies

It’s a very tight business to operate, however, well established companies now start to battle with hand bag companies. This has created unnecessary competition where some companies reach an extent of offering a car rental at outcompeting rates.

Seasonal business; – The business being a tourist aspect, operates in seasons. During high season no vehicle in the car parking, any vehicle which comes back from the trip is made ready to return. This makes the business very interesting in the peak travel months.

However, for low travel months, it’s a dozing moment, all vehicles in the car parks with limited inquiries. Being a season business, it highly affects the operation of companies.

Car rental complements

Car rental business has got supplementing services offered together with the rental. Mainly 4×4 car rental with rooftop tent is a great deal for travelers opting for a rooftop camping. This means hiring a car with rooftop tent and all camping equipment.

Hiring a car with a driver, this is also a common trend, many travelers have wished to hire only a car and its driver and then do the rest of the activities on the rental.

Car rental with a pop-up, these are safari customized vehicles perfect for game watching. Also some travelers prefer hiring a car with a pop-up roof to enable a perfect watch of wildlife especially in savannahs.

Difference between car rental business and safari tours

Safari car rental business deals with hearing tourist vehicles to tourist. But for this case tourist either rent a car and do a self-drive or rent a car with a driver. Then, planning for the all trip remains for the clients and nothing else is catered for by the rental operators.

And a fully guided safari tours is an all-inclusive trip. When reserving almost all things concerning the trip are catered for by the tour operator. Here tourists/clients have to make a full payments of the all trip and remain with seating enjoy everything concerning the trip.

Tourism is Uganda’s Silver Bullet

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Uganda Tourism

Uganda’s National Development Plan(NDP) lists tourism among the sectors that aught  be prioritized. The tourism sector is Uganda’s silver bullet for clearing the path for socio-economic development.

As we celebrate the 37th Liberation Day, there is a need for the media to portray a positive image of Uganda in order to boost the tourism industry.

The International media and tourism industry globally have all now endorsed Uganda as one of the most attractive destinations to visit. We must take advantage of this and push our tourism to higher performance levels. The tourism center has performed exceptionally well to become one of the leading foreign exchange earners for the country, contributing over 7.7% to the gross domestic products (GDP) and over 667,000 jobs before the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2022, the sector earned $521,000 compared to $ 1.6b in 2019. However we have noted significant recovery in recent months.

The sector also contributes to the multiplier effect in the other sectors such as transport,energy and agriculture.

Uganda’s brand has been taken to the African region and other parts of the world. We have successfully participated in tourism expos and competitions, winning awards and benefiting  from the associated publicity.

The Government, through the Uganda Tourism Board(UTB), has organized Explore Uganda and other campaigns aimed at endearing the Ugandan brand  to domestic tourists.

The pearl of African Tourism Expo 2023, which is Uganda’s signature event, will be held in April. It will bring together over 100 hosted buyers and over 300 exhibitors.

Tourism facility owners and service provider are currently being sensitized on the need for adherence to the regulations and standards governing the sector. Services provided at Ugandan Hotels should match the brand promise offered to tourists who visit our country.

COVID-19,EBOLA..

You will recall that tourism sector was badly hit by the COVID-19 lock-down and later the Ebola outbreak.It will take a time to recover. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, World Travel and Tourism Council Findings predicted that between 2019 and 2026, the 10 fastest growing destinations for leisure-travel spending would be India, followed by Angola, Uganda, Brunei, Thailand, China, Mynanmar, Oman, Mozambique and Vietnam. The COVID-19 pandemic, to a certain extent, disrupted this prediction.

However,the sector is making good strides in regards to recovery. The Government of Uganda deemed the sector an essential service sector and our fleet of tourism vehicle was permitted on the roads during the COVID-19 times.

A study conducted by the tourism ministry revealed that at  least 70% of the workforce in the tourism industry lost their jobs because of the pandemic. It also says that 91.8% of the tourism entities had furloughed or downsized the workforce by the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of June 2020.

The report further revealed that hotels were one of the industries hardest-hit by COVID-19, with 75.2% of all hotel bookings in Uganda cancelled by the end of June 2020. Hotel occupancy rates were reduced from an average of 58.2% before COVID-19 to as low as 5.3% by the end of June 2020.

A total of 448,996 hotel room booking between March 2020 and June 30, 2020 were cancelled, which caused a loss of revenue amounting to $320.8(sh.1.19 trillion).

The report also showed that 90% of tour operator business registered client cancellation of bookings between March 2020 and June 2020. As a result, tourism revenues in excess of $30.4m(shs.0.11 trillion) had been lost by June 2020.

In all this, the sector made a significant contribution towards the much-needed revenue despite the pandemic. If we are to use the number of visitors to our National parks as a proxy to gauge tourism recovery, for instance,prior to COVID-19 (in 2019) Murchison falls National Park received 103,665 visitors while Queen Elizabeth National Park received 77,995 visitors.

By the end of 2022, Murchison falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National park received 146,649 and 95,340 visitors, respectively. This should give us hope that the sector is recovering steadily.

     TOURISM PROMOTION..

Over the years, UTB has also supported various cultural and tourism promotion activities of the clusters Such as the annual Empango celebrations and the Tooro royal tours in a bid to spur travel demand in Tooro kingdom.

We have also promoted the Acholi cultural festivals to highlight the Acholi culture,in addition to the Imbalu festivities in Eastern region that have brought together the Ugandans and Kenyan president in celebration of culture

We also fully embraced the Buganda Tourism Expo,held once a year since 2015 to showcase the kingdom’s culture and heritage.

UTB and the tourism ministry have also supported and organised domestic tourism promotion campaigns such as “Tulambule” in Ankole, Busoga, Lango and Acholi.

We have aslo promoted annual school outreach programmes organized in various regions of the country including Busoga, Ankole, Lango and Kigezi to highlight the tourism in education programmes as enshrined in the Tourism Act  (2008)

UBT has also promoted and fully embarked the religious  tourism events  such as Uganda Martyrs celebrations, Bishop Hannington Day and St. Matia Mulumba and Mapeera Day celebration since 2015.

The Ankole Cow show, which is aimed at highlighting the famous Ankole,is another that we have embraced,in addition to annual Miss Tourism regional events organised by respective regional clusters.

Adventure tourism activities such as the Kagulu hill climbing challenge, the annual source of the Nile adventure events and the establishement of the Biharwe Monument  to commemorate the Ankole eclipse in 1520AD are initiatives that should give Ugandans a reason to celebrate Liberation Day.

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