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By Ritah Kemigisa & Christine Kasemiire

All is set for this year’s Monitor Thought Leaders Forum slated for Monday, October 21, at Kampala Serena Hotel with  Africa’s youngest billionaire Mohammed Dewji lined up as the keynote speaker.

Speaking during the launch, Mr.Tony Glencross, managing director Nation Media Group Uganda, said the Thought Leaders Forum which will be held under the theme: “Turning a business into a multi-billion dollar enterprise”, aims at empowering and encouraging young struggling entrepreneurs.

“It is also an opportunity for ambitious and young entrepreneurs with struggling businesses to learn and transform for the better, and to learn and listen to the things we need to do and think about,” he said adding that the forum will also be a good networking opportunity.

Through the six years of Thought Leaders’ Forum, the event has recorded an augmenting number of attendees with focus on enriching their lives and businesses.

The forum has this year attracted sponsors such as National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), Umeme and Kenya Airways.

On his part the NSSF deputy MD, Patrick Ayota, said the theme of this year’s Thought Leader’s Forum is timely given the fact that majority of Ugandan businesses do not leave beyond their first birthday.

He has however tipped all business owners to always be prepared and have financial discipline if they are to grow. Ayota also used the launch to handover their contribution of Shs20m to Mr. Glencross.

To attend the forum, an individual will part with Shs350,000 and a table of 10 goes for Shs3m.

About Mohammed Dewji

Based in Uganda’s neighbour to the South, Mr Mohammed Dewji is a veteran entrepreneur currently serving as the president of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL) Group in Tanzania.

The group has investments in textiles, energy, petroleum, agriculture, insurance and mobile telephony among others.

Because of his vast experience in multi-sectoral projects, in addition to political service he has given, having represented Singida as a Member of Parliament, Mr Dewji’s ability to tackle the theme at hand is indisputable.

Mr Dewji was listed as the 14^th richest person in Africa by Forbes Magazine in 2019.

By Ritah Kemigisa

The 600 Mega Watt Karuma Hydro power dam may not be commissioned this year as earlier projected.

This has been revealed by the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited Corporate (UEGCL) affairs manager Simon Kasyate.

Mr. Kasyate says although the dam will be ready by December this year, challenges with construction of the transmission evacuation lines will delay the commissioning.

He says the physical progress of the dam is over 95% done, with the installation of hydro mechanical and electrical parts, and generator unit already in place and the remaining work progressing well.

Mr. Kasyate says the construction of the transmission lines like Karuma-Kawanda power line has been delayed by compensation issues and vandalism.

The $1.7 billion dollar dam is being constructed by Sinohydro Corporation Ltd from China.

15% is being financed by the government of Uganda while 85% is a soft loan from China Exim Bank.

By Arthur Arnold Wadero

The Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Fr Simon Lokodo has said his ministry will summon Sheikh Nuhu Muzaata over the remarks he made about local musician Mr Edrisa Musuuza, best known as Eddy Kenzo.

The Minister says Sheikh Muzaata should have been parental and responsible with his words rather than lashing out at “his son”.

Fr. Lokodo has also condemned the Sheikh’s attack on Kenzo saying it is not befitting of him as a religious leader.

Our efforts to reach Sheikh Muzaata for a comment were futile as our repeated calls went unanswered.

While at the introduction ceremony of Ms Rema Namakula alias, Rema, Sheikh Muzaata without mentioning names, is alleged to have referred to Kenzo as a love nigga and allegedly told him go marry his mother, who is now deceased.

“Those love niggas are never serious. They are hypocrites in love, they pretend to love you but they don’t. They don’t marry, they will tell you they want someone who has the same manners as their mothers. Go and marry your mom, if you want someone like her,” Muzaata said.

This later prompted Kenzo to get onto social media and vow to pitch camp at the Kibuli Mosque until Sheikh Muzaata apologises for the remarks he made against him.

“When I return to Uganda, I will camp outside Kibuli Mosque and wait for Muzaata to marry me with my mother since he said I should go marry my mother,” Kenzo promised.

Rema fell out with Kenzo a while back and over the last few days has released information and photos showing she is dating Dr Hamza Sebunya.

Before going solo, Rema started as a backup singer to Bebe Cool alias Moses Ssali till 2013 when she went solo and did “Oli Wange”, a song authored by Nince Henry.

By Juliet Nalwooga

The minister for Information Communication and Technology Frank Tumwebaze has proposed the provision of free internet and Wifi for education institutions and government agencies.

He made the remarks while launching the 5^th edition of a two-day national conference on communications at Makerere University under the theme, “Harnessing Opportunities in Emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Technologies”

Tumwebaze says enhancing connectivity is now an important tool for effective learning and development.

He says he is yet to meet with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) officials over the same.

Meanwhile the Acting Manager, Communication and International Relations at the university, Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke welcomed the proposal saying having free internet in all corners of the campus is long over due.

By Damali Mukhaye.

At least five people in Kamuli district have been arrested by police for allegedly hiding their children from the ongoing national wide measles -rubella immunisation campaign.

The District Health Officer, Moses Lyagona says they visited one school in Bugulumbya village with an enrollment of 100 pupils, but there was no one.

He says they then resorted to a door-to-door method but to their dismay, some parents had hidden their children under the bed.

He says other children have been sent away from their homes until the exercise is done as he explains.

By Ruth Anderah.

The police spokesperson Fred Enanga has denied using police resources to evict people from their family land located in Oreta village, Amui parish – Akokoro sub-county in Apac district.

He was this morning appearing before the commission of inquiry into land matters to defend himself on allegations that he and his father George Echonga grabbed clan land situated in Apac district.

46 year old Enanga says he was born on the disputed land in 1973 and that the land belonged to his grandfather Enos Okabo.

Enanga asked the commission chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire to investigate the issue deeply and visit the disputed land to establish the facts on the ground.

Earlier last week Enanga’s grandfather Naphtali Enanga told the same commission that the police publicist evicted residents from a 4 square mile piece of land using police.

The four square mile land is now registered in the names of Auilodyang Mixed Farm belong to Echonga and his son Fred Enanga.