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Netanyahu arrives in Uganda for one day official visit

Gerald Businge — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:09:32 +0000

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived Monday for a one-day visit to Uganda, where he is set to meet with leaders of other East African countries.

Netanyu’s on arrival at Entebbe airport as welcomed by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda

At Entebbe airport, Mr. Netanyahu who is companied by his wife, Sarah Netanyahu, was welcomed by Prime Minister Ruhakana, state minister for foreign affairs Okello Oryem among other officials.

“I am setting out for another visit to Africa, my fifth in three and a half years,” Netanyahu was quoted by local media before taking off from Tel Aviv.

“Israel is making a big return to Africa, and Africa has already returned to Israel. These are important ties politically, economically and in terms of security,” he said, adding that he hopes to have good news upon his return.

Netanyus disembark from the plane at Entebbe airport

In July 2016, Natanyahu participated in a ceremony in Uganda to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Entebbe, a hostage rescue by Israeli commandos at Entebbe Airport in 1976.

The operation, which aimed to rescue 106 passengers of an Air France flight that was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, succeeded in freeing 102 of the hostages. Netanyahu’s brother Yonatan, who led the mission, was killed.

It has also been reported that in the past, Israel contacted the American administration and other foreign governments in an attempt to encourage them to improve their relations with Sudan and to make overtures in its favor, in light of the severance of ties between the Arab-African country and Iran.

Reports in Israel and abroad in recent years have said that Israel might renew its diplomatic relations with several Muslim countries on the African continent, including Mali, Niger and Sudan.

Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda welcomes Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Entebbe airport

After Netanyahu visited Chad in 2019, it was reported that Israel was working to formalize ties with Sudan, and Israeli officials spoke about it publicly on several occasions, especially after the ouster of dictator Omar al-Bashir.

Haaretz previously reported that Israel had secretly deported asylum seekers from different African countries to Uganda.

To this day, asylum seekers are being deported to Uganda in what Israel has called “voluntary departure.”

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Melania Trump in Kenya, visits baby elephants

Agnes Tumuheire — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 14:39:30 +0000

US First Lady Melania Trump (C) uses binoculars to scan the environment while on at The Nairobi National Park in Nairobi: COURTESY PHOTO

On third day of solo tour of Africa, US First Lady Melania Trump has enjoyed carrying baby elephants on a safari in Kenya.

The first lady fed one of the baby elephants with bottled formula at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi.

Mrs.Trump is in Africa for first solo trip to four countries which she described as “four beautiful and very different countries in Africa” Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Egypt.

Melania Trump started with in Ghana, where she visited mothers and their newborns, and toured a former slave trading fort before making a brief stop in Malawi and toured a primary school.

President Donald Trump tweeted: “Our country’s great First Lady, Melania, is doing really well in Africa. The people love her, and she loves them! It is a beautiful thing to see.”

US First Lady Melania Trump walks and sings with children at the Nest Childrens Home Orphanage : AFP PHOTO

The office of the first lad has termed the tour as a “showcase” for the work of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mrs Trump landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at around 9pm on her maiden visit to Kenya ahead of her talks with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Friday. From Kenya, She is expected to visit Egypt.

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Uganda sends a delegation to the Africa Oil Week 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa

mugisa geofrey — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 14:01:38 +0000

Uganda is committed to developing its petroleum sector across the entire value chain, and clear strides to move the country’s key assets from the exploration phase into the development phase have been made.

The country offers opportunities for companies looking to explore, develop and utilise its petroleum assets.

Hon Irene Muloni, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, in the Republic of Uganda will lead a delegation of private and public-sector players from Uganda’s oil and gas sector to the Africa Oil Week 2018,which will be held between 5 – 9 November, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Consortium has proposed to Government a financing approach and a path to establish, develop and operate a commercially viable refinery company with a strategic benefit to the country and the region

Muloni said, “Uganda is open for business and we will be looking forward to promoting the country`s highly progressive and lucrative hydrocarbon sector during the Africa Oil Week. Over the course of the week, we will announce a roadmap for Uganda’s next licensing round and offer insights into our country’s potential and operating environment.”

“During the Africa Oil Week, we will host private meetings with the global private sector with a view to successfully attract capital in every stage of our oil and gas value chain.” The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Robert Kasande said.

Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda went on to say, “As the regulator of Uganda’s oil and gas sector, Africa Oil Week offers the Authority an exciting platform to provide insight into the regulatory environment in the country and how this has been structured to position the country as a sound investment destination.

We encourage operators, investors and service companies to attend the Oil Week and meet with officials from the Government of Uganda and the private sector. Uganda welcomes you to partner in what we believe is one of the most commercially viable and prospective oil and gas environments in the world.”

The Africa Oil Week is an important event which continues to drive new business opportunities for E&P companies in Africa. It presents an exclusive and dynamic network of Oil and Gas operators in Africa. Former UK Foreign & Commonwealth office Minister with responsibilities for Africa, the Caribbean, UK Overseas Territories, International Energy and Conflict Prevention Rt. Hon. Mark Simmonds added, “The commitment of the Ugandan Government to Oil Week reflects a country on the move in the petroleum sector. Africa Oil Week will focus on the country’s oil and gas sector during the week.”

Oil activities in Bunyoro

Dr Josephine Wapakabulo, Chief Executive Officer for Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) also added that, “UNOC is responsible for the State’s commercial interests in Uganda’s oil and gas sector and we see the country’s participation at Africa Oil Week as a clear opportunity to engage with the most prestigious global operators. UNOC will arrive at Africa Oil Week looking for strategic partners who have the appetite, financing, technology and capabilities to deliver equitable and profitable projects in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.” These projects have been identified and will be on display during the week.

Conference Director Paul Sinclair said, “On top of the 13 confirmed ministers who will lead delegations to Africa Oil Week, we now have a partnership with the Government of Uganda to host a huge opportunity for the global private sector to exclusively engage and hold private meetings regarding oil and gas opportunities at Africa Oil Week.” This comes fast on the back of the governments of Ghana and Congo announcing their own bidding rounds at Africa Oil Week in November 2018. Africa Oil Week remains the only true industry event for the Africa’s upstream Oil and Gas sector.

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Jean-Pierre Bemba convicted of witness tampering

Emma Laura N. Kisa — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 15:14:49 +0000

The former Congolese Vice President, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, who is serving an 18-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity and war crimes, was convicted of coaching witnesses and bribing them to give false testimony.

The applicable law was Article 70(1) of the Rome Statute which addresses various forms of conduct that may encroach upon the integrity and efficacy of the proceedings before the Court. The ICC noted that 14 key witnesses had been coached about what to say and that Bemba and four other defendants had conspired to present false evidence. The facts of the case included:

Mr Bemba, Mr Kilolo and Mr Mangenda jointly agreed to illicitly interfere with defence witnesses in order to ensure that they would provide evidence in favour of Mr Bemba.
Mr Bemba, Mr Kilolo and Mr Mangenda adopted a series of measures with a view to concealing their illicit activities, such as the abuse of the Registry’s privileged line in the ICC Detention Centre, or money transfers to defence witnesses through third persons or to persons close to the defence witnesses.
Mr Bemba, as the ultimate beneficiary of the common plan, planned, authorised, and approved the illicit coaching of the 14 Main Case defence witnesses and provided precise instructions which were, in turn, implemented by Mr Kilolo. Mr Bemba authorised the illicit payment of money to the witnesses prior to their testimony and ensured, that financial means were available with which to execute illicit activities.
Mr Bemba also spoke with witnesses personally on the telephone by abusing the ICC Detention Centre privileged line.

The summary of the judgement reads in part:

In the light of the foregoing, the Chamber is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Bemba, jointly with Mr Kilolo and Mr Mangenda, committed the offence of corruptly influencing 14 Main Case defence witnesses within the meaning of Articles 70(1)(c) and 25(3)(a) of the Statute.

The Chamber found Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo guilty, under Articles 70(1)(b) and (c), in conjunction with Article 25(3)(a) of the Statute, of having corruptly influenced D-2, D-3, D-4, D-6, D-13, D-15, D-23, D-25, D-26, D-29, D-54, D-55, D-57, and D-64 and having presented their false evidence as co-perpetrator; guilty, under Article 70(1)(a), in conjunction with Article 25(3)(b) of the Statute, of having solicited the giving of false testimony by witnesses D-2, D-3, D-4, D-6, D-13, D-15, D-23, D-25, D-26, D-29, D-54, D-55, D-57, and D-64.

The verdict was delivered by Trial Chamber VII of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday 19 October 2016 at 14:30 (Hague local time). For these types of offences, according to the Rome Statute, the judges may impose a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and/or a fine. “No legal system in the world can accept the bribing of witnesses, the inducement of witnesses to lie or the illicit coaching of witnesses,” said the presiding judge, Bertram Schmitt, “Today’s judgment sends the clear message that the court is not willing to allow its proceedings to be hampered or destroyed.”

The Chamber will be pronouncing the penalties at a subsequent stage.

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Tanzania tops region in hunger levels: GHI

Emma Laura N. Kisa — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:19:53 +0000

Tanzania has been found to top the region in hunger levels. This according to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) which was released in October 2016 by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in partnership with Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. The report which was dubbed Getting to Zero hunger notes that the developing world has made substantial progress in reducing hunger since 2000; the level of hunger in developing countries as a group has fallen by 29 percent. However, the report continues to note that this progress has been uneven, and great disparities in hunger continue to exist at the regional, national, and subnational levels.

The second of the Sustainable Development Goal developed in 2015 aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. The Global Hunger Index combined the four component indicators of Undernourishment; Child wasting; Child stunting; and Child mortality to come up with accurate conclusions on hunger.

Countries’ hunger levels were rated as Low, Moderate, Serious, Alarming, and Extremely Alarming. Hunger levels were found still serious or alarming in 50 countries the highest of which are found in Africa south of the Sahara and South Asia. Highest hunger levels were found in Central African Republic (with a score of 46.1) followed by Chad (44.3); lowest hunger levels were found in Argentina (<5) followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (<5). The regional countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda were rated Serious with Tanzania having the highest levels scoring at 28.4. Rwanda was at 27.4, Uganda 26.4 and the least being Kenya with 21.9.

The report notes that the decline in hunger must accelerate in these regions if the world is to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.

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Africa’s economic growth to fall 1.6% in 2016 – World Bank

Emma Laura N. Kisa — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 12:53:01 +0000

In their October 2016 report: Africa’s pulse, An analysis of issues shaping Africa’s economic future, the World Bank Group notes that after slowing to 3 percent in 2015, economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to fall to 1.6 percent in 2016. That is half of what it was last year and the lowest level in over two decades. This fall is attributed to low commodity prices, tight financial conditions, domestic headwinds from policy uncertainty, droughts, and political and security concerns. The report states that overall slowdown in Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth reflects economic deterioration in the region’s largest economies.

However despite the gloomy forecast, a point to note is that Sub- Saharan Africa is growing at diverging speeds; Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania—are continuing to post annual average growth rates of over 6 percent which is way higher than the region’s average, It was noted that these countries have stronger quality of monetary and fiscal policies, better business regulatory environment, more diverse structure of exports, and more effective public institutions. That is to say, the established and improved performers have made more progress in business regulation, rule of law, and government effectiveness. Rwanda is one of the fastest structural reformers in the region.

The report further notes that Sub-Saharan African countries underfund high-return investments, and that increasing the efficiency of current public spending in agriculture while rebalancing its composition could reap massive benefits.

“Improving the productivity of smallholder farms is central to lifting rural incomes and reducing poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa,” says Punam Chuhan-Pole, Lead Economist for World Bank Africa and the report’s author.“But unleashing this productivity requires investing in rural public goods such as rural infrastructure, agricultural research, and use of improved technologies, as well as in availability of good data and evidence.”

Increasing agricultural productivity is central to transforming Sub-Saharan African economies and promoting sustained and inclusive growth. This has to date been done by expanding the area under cultivation rather than productivity gains.

See report below for more.

Africa’s Pulse by Kisa on Scribd

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Fifa World Rankings: Uganda tops East Africa,Kenya drop and Cote D’Ivoire best in Africa

Paul Kisembo — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:31:27 +0000

Uganda is the best ranked country in the East African region with neighbours Kenya dropping in the latest Fifa world rankings released on 15^th September 2016.

This comes after Uganda ended a 38-year wait by qualifying to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as one of two best placed runners-up.

Uganda cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is a proud man at the moment having led Uganda to its first Afcon finals appearance in 39 years but also move the nation from 97th in the rankings up to 65^th.

This is in line with the goals set up by the Serb on his arrival in Uganda in May 2013 to take over the reins from the sacked Bobby Williamson.

“One of my aims is to develop the youth systems, and I want us to move from 97th in the rankings up to 70, and stay there to give our players a chance to play in top European leagues.”

Uganda will better their world ranking if they perform well in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers group in which they were drawn with Egypt, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville.

Mean while,Kenya have dropped 3 places to 91st,Ethiopia follows closely at 125th moving four places up, Burundi are 129 while Tanzania are ranked 132.

Cote D’Ivoire is the best ranked country in Africa at 34th followed by Algeria (35th), Senegal (39th), Ghana (43rd) and Cameroon at 59th globally.

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Presidents Uhuru and Kagame speak at African Green Revolution Forum

Emma Laura N. Kisa — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 15:23:27 +0000

The African Green Revolution Forum that has been running from 5th September and will end on 9th September attracted major players in the region with Presidents Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyata present. The forum prides itself in laying foundations for a renaissance in Africa’s agriculture, one powered by the enormous progress increasingly evident in farmers who are gaining more options in the seeds they plant, in the fertilizers they use, and in the markets available to purchase their produce. For 2016 they are looking to advance the policies and secure the investments that will ensure a better life for millions of Africa’s farmers and families—and realize the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who was one of the panelists today, along with President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyata, called for action beyond words, he noted “Lets stop talking a lot about things & just do them. Lets do more action and less speeches” His counterpart President Uhuru noted that the government of Kenya has committed USD 200million over the next five years to support the agricultural sector. “We need our youth to practice Agriculture in new ways where it’s a viable business” the president said.

The forum that is hosting agricultural experts from all over Africa is themed ‘Seize the moment: Securing Africa’s Rise Through Agricultural Transformation’ and had leaders saying that agriculture should be put in the center stage of transforming the continent’s economic path and that it was a defining moment for Africa to rewrite the agricultural story.

According to a World Bank report released early this year, the East African region has a very high rate of youth unemployment with Kenya topping that list: one in five Kenyan youths of working age has no job, and one in twenty for Uganda and Tanzania. Youth are trained for (and desire) the non-existent white collar jobs instead of the more technical income projects like agriculture. With such statistics one can only hope that the youth are hearing the message and will look to agriculture for the betterment of their individual lives and consequently for the continent’s good.
The forum is taking place at the UN Complex in Nairobi, Kenya with its partners being African Development Bank, KCB, OCP Africa, The Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and World Food Programme. It was officially opened by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyata.

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UN envoy urges the private sector to aid modern agriculture

Gerald Businge — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 13:03:21 +0000

Rose Omalango, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uganda has urged the private sector in the country to invest more in climate smart agriculture inputs that can help farmers practice Eco-based farming.

Omalango made the call today Monday 25 July, while speaking to journalists in Kampala. She said such a move will save the environment by providing a suitable atmosphere for farming and drive the economy to the desired levels.

“Many farmers across the world have time and again practiced poor agricultural methods which have in the long run degraded the environment thus causing climate change problems. We need to change this trend in Africa including Uganda in order to save our environment from destruction due to climate related problems,” she noted.

A farmer practicing modern agriculture with his tomato yields.

Omalango says today’s poor environment is a result of climate change which has ushered in a lot hunger in many African countries and that this still remains a challenge to most countries which then leads into insecurity.

She warned Uganda on the fast increasing population which she says is strongly and aggressively encroaching on the existing ecological features like wetlands, lakes, rivers, forests among others yet these are the features that are supposed to provide a brighter environment tomorrow for the coming generations.

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Over 2million infected with AIDS annually as experts warn of complacency

Samuel Wamuttu — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:51:04 +0000

Delegates converging in Durban for the start of the 2016 International AIDS Conference.

Some two-and-a-half million people are still becoming infected with HIV every year, according to a new study published on Tuesday, even as drugs have slashed the death rate and virus-carriers live ever longer on anti-retroviral treatment.

Where as results from an early safety trial with a potential HIV vaccine show some promising results, this could that about a decade to be realized, according to the researchers.

This was among the key issues being discussed at the on-going International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa.

An 18-month trial with a candidate vaccine dubbed HVTN100 drew on 252 participants at six sites in South Africa, one of the countries hardest-hit by an epidemic that has claimed more than 30 million lives worldwide since the 1980s.

The participants fell within a low-risk category for contracting the sexually-transmitted virus, the researchers said.

The trial cleared a key hurdle in the long, three-phase process to test new drugs. In this early phase, the main point is to assess safety, not efficacy.

“We wanted to see if this vaccine candidate is safe in a South African population and if it is tolerable,” Kathy Mngadi, principal investigator at one of the research sites, explained to AFP.

The team also looked for antibodies signaling that the body’s immune system was responding to the vaccine.

The trial built on the foundations laid by a groundbreaking trial conducted in Thailand in 2009, which yielded the world’s first partially effective vaccine, dubbed RV144.

While hailed as a breakthrough, the effect of the Thai course decreased with time, dropping from 60 percent after one year to 31.2 percent after three-and-a-half years.

“RV144 set us on this journey of hope, but also showed us what we still need to learn and accomplish in this field,” said Fatima Laher, co-chair of the HVTN100 trial.

Delegates in a match in Durban at the beginning of this year’s International AIDS Conference in Durban.

All the study criteria “were met unequivocally and, in many instances, the HVTN100 outcomes exceeded both our own criteria,” added trial protocol chair Linda-Gail Bekker.

The next phase of the trial, dubbed HVTN702, will kick off in November with the recruitment of 5,400 South African men and women aged between 18 to 25 at high risk of contracting HIV.

People are divided into risk categories through criteria that includes their sexual activity.

“We hope to have results in five years, and it is going to be a very exciting five years for all of us because it is the result of many, many years of hard work,” said Glenda Gray, HVTN Africa programme director.

A fully effective vaccine is still a long way off, she cautioned.

But recent studies have shown that even a partially effective blocker could have a huge impact if rolled out on a large scale.

While the quest for a cure continues, many view a vaccine as the best hope for stemming new infections.

Larry Corey, principal investigator for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, a publicly-funded international project, said vaccines were barely mentioned the last time the conference was held in Durban some 16 years ago.

“It’s really gratifying now to see how far we’ve come scientifically,” he said.

Last year, billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates, who spends millions of dollars on AIDS drug development, said he hoped for an HIV vaccine within a decade, as a cure seems less likely.

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