Category «National News»

By Ritah Kemigisa. The president of Rwanda Paul Kagame has pledged to give political support to the private sector in Uganda and Rwanda to thrive. Speaking from state house Entebbe where he had visited his Counterpart Yoweri Museveni, Kagame said what is required of the private sector now is to re organize themselves. Private sector engagements at head of state level between the two states like the Uganda and Rwanda Business forum have since died out. Kagame has now tasked the foreign affairs Minister Sam Kutesa to speed up the Permanent joint commissionwhich will provides a good mechanism for discussing matters of mutual interest and also strengthen cooperation.

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By Ritah Kemigisa. The police has dismissed media reports that it had allegedly closed Nalufenya detention center in Jinja. According to the Deputy Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango has said police did discuss about Nalufenya this week during thePolice Advisory Committee (PAC) but no decision was taken concerning its closure. Onyango says if any decision of that nature is taken an official communication shall be made by the Inspector General of police in writing. The local newspaper today carried a headline reportedly alleging that the new Inspector General of Police, Martin Okoth Ochola had ordered for the closure of the detention center which many have criticized for torturing people.

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BY TOM BRIAN ANGURINI. The National Planning Authority has completed development of Greater Kampala Economic Development Strategy through a highly consultative strategy. The strategy is based on a report by World Bank “Enhancing Economic Development and Job Creation in Greater Kampala” and will be implemented by stakeholders in greater Kampala Metropolitan Area namely Mpigi, Wakiso and Mukono Districts. Addressing the media in Kampala this morning, the authority’s executive director DrKisambaMugerwa says this strategy however will not affect the administrative boundaries of local governments in greater Kampala area. He says the strategy has prioritized five key areas which include Competitive Economic Infrastructure, Conservation and Protection of Environmental Areas, Business Support to Transform Informal Sector, the Youth and Economic cluster Growth. The …

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By Moses Kyeyune. Parliament’s Committee on Health has blamed fake Hepatitis B vaccines on laxity and conspiracy within the ministry of Health. The committee chairperson Dr. Michael Bukenya says there are people in the ministry who are culpable on the matter and must be investigated. The Bukuya County MP also says Dr. Medard Bitekyerezo, the Board Chair National Drug Authority has been in NDA for a short time, so he cannot be blamed for the mess. Meanwhile, the ministry reportedly has no policy on Hepatitis B despite the fact that this program for voluntary immunization has been on for 3 years This comes after the NDA sent the suspected Hepatitis B vaccines to Geneva, Switzerland at the World Health Organisation laboratory …

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BY TOM BRIAN ANGURINI. A new report released by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group shows that in the financial year 2016/2017 more girls enrolled for primary education compared to boys. It further indicates that out of 570primary schools monitored, over 410,000 pupils enrolled. Of these, 209,000, accounting for over 50% were female compared to 204,000male pupils accounting for 49%. While the teacher to pupil ratio was unevenly distributed across quarters at 1.240, 1:47 and 1:57 for quarters 2, 3 and 4 meaning that teachers are not in position to provide the required attention to pupils when needed. While releasing the report, Sophie Nampewo, a policy analyst at CSBAG attributed the increase of girl child enrollment to increased awareness, improvement …

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