Uganda should adopt Twin Peaks model of financial sector regulation

On July 15, I was privileged to attend the Bank of Uganda Golden Jubilee panel debate under the theme, “The Role of a Central Bank in a Market Oriented Economy”. This very topic will also inform the subject of discussion at the Golden Jubilee Joseph Mubiru memorial lecture on Tuesday, August 2 under the topic, “African Central Banks: Rethinking their role, or staying the course? Learning from global experience”. The shifting balance between the Central Bank’s monetary policy (price stability) and financial stability mandates is worth re-examination. In the history of Central Banking, every financial crisis provokes public rage and debate on the mandate and tools available to central banks to deal with such economic catastrophes.
Researchers of central bank history and policy are familiar with such debates in 1907, 1929, 1982, 2007/08. Modern central banks function in three areas: monetary policy, supervision and regulation of individual financial institutions and the systemic regulation of the financial sector as a whole. A clear lesson from the crisis is that central banks in the 21st Century will have to manage all these three functions simultaneously.

In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis, many countries have embarked on major central bank institutional reforms as a response to the challenges arising from regulating today’s increasingly integrated financial markets in which the traditional distinctions between banking, securities, pensions and insurance products have become blurred. Furthermore, the rise of diversified financial conglomerates/Systemically Important Financial Institutions (SIFIs) or “too big to fail, has also necessitated group-wide consolidated supervision in order to ensure effective regulation. The increasing internationalisation of financial markets and institutions creates risk for the domestic economy and financial sector, thereby requiring specific national regulatory arrangements.

Uganda’s current financial regulatory system is underpinned by a series of piecemeal interventions. It is disjointed, fragmented and encourages silo regulatory approaches. The banking industry is regulated by Bank of Uganda (the Central Bank), the insurance industry is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority, the securities market is regulated by the Capital Markets Authority, and the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority is in charge of pensions sector.

However, the rapid economic changes and realities of the finance market suggest that due to increased market innovations such as creation of new products and financial instruments such as derivatives and credit securitisations, the traditional boundaries of the banking, securities, insurance and pensions sectors are shrinking, and, therefore, such kind of regulatory structure causes duplicity, overlaps and regulatory arbitrage.

Under the Twin Peaks model of financial regulation, instead of the various regulatory bodies listed above, the institutional structure of regulation should be based on two equal and independent regulatory agencies (peaks) – one in charge of the financial stability mandate (the financial stability department residing within the Bank of Uganda), and the other in charge of consumer protection and market conduct supervision of all the financial firms. The former should be responsible for ensuring the stability of the financial system as a whole, mainly through the implementation of prudential regulations, while the latter should be tasked with ensuring that financial firms treat their customers in a fair and transparent manner.

The bank supervision department can remain exercising its mandate of bank supervision and co-ordinate the lender of last resort function. The lender of last resort role is of greatest relevance in dealing with institutions whose instability would pose a direct threat to the financial system as a whole.

This is a better response to market developments. For example, the recent 2016 amendment to the Financial Institutions Act introducing “bancassurance” business- that is, business done by financial conglomerate groups engaging in both banking and insurance would permit better supervision of financial conglomerates under the twin peaks system, which encourages regulatory consolidation due to enhanced interlinkages in the financial services industry. The institutional/sectoral approach becomes increasingly difficult to operate as the complexity of financial products and financial institutions increases.

Furthermore, integrated supervision also creates significant economies of scale. Centralising regulatory functions enables the development of joint administrative systems, information technology and other support functions such as improved co-ordination and information sharing. This would improve the efficiency of financial regulation objectives such as financial stability, crisis management, prudential regulation of both systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) and the non-systemically important and market conduct regulation. The history of financial regulation reform in Uganda has normalised discussion of the structure and effectiveness of our regulatory system against the backdrop of specific events such as bank failures of the 1990s and early 2000s, or perceived regulatory failures, thus contributing further to more fragmented, reactive and piecemeal interventions.
However, the suggested twin peaks approach is more forward-looking, proactive, and seeks a regulatory re-design of the system through reflecting on the purpose, aims and objectives of financial services regulation with a view of improving the robustness and resilience of the economy.

By and large, the twin peaks model is considered to have a number of advantages. First, the two peak regulators are more likely to have dedicated objectives and clear mandates which they exercise. Secondly, there is minimal danger that one aspect of regulation – such as prudential regulation – will come to dominate the regulatory landscape at the expense of consumer protection, and thirdly, the model may be better adapted towards keeping pace with the growing complexity of financial markets and the continuing rise of financial conglomerate groups in Uganda.

Mr Kayondo is a legal researcher on regulatory policy and compliance. Twitter: @Silver Kayondo

UK’s mistreatment of Ugandans unacceptable

A week or so ago, the United Kingdom’s High Commission here found itself at the centre of a most regrettable incident in which several Ugandans lost their passports.

Most regrettable because this foreign mission, whether for cost cutting reasons or whatnot, nowadays processes visas for Ugandans wishing to travel to England, Wales and Scotland through South Africa. It was during this perplexing movement that the said passports disappeared.

Why they have to send our papers all the way to South Africa remains both befuddling and disrespectful. There is no known data in the public realm to validate any suspicion that Ugandans are being mistreated thus because they generally abuse the welcome of the UK and overstay their visas. As such, it becomes difficult to understand this behaviour by our former colonial master.

A few years ago, South Africa was another of those countries similarly mistreating Ugandans. They were even charging our people extortionate fees for transit visas when one was spending only a few hours in Johannesburg en route to other climes. It was after much public outcry and threats to implement retaliatory measures that this mission came to its senses and dropped some of its more draconian tendencies.

We have since seen some improvement at the South African High Commission although there remains a lot of room for improvement.
Now, whenever they deny Ugandan travellers visas to their country, the UK mission claims that the victims of these denials did not show enough proof that they had sufficient binding ties (either filial or financial) to guarantee their return home. But who is to say whether someone plans to hang on in UK to moonlight instead of returning home?
We have not been given objective proof to show that more Ugandans are hiding about in the London underground and as such must be subjected to more rigorous vetting. The prevailing (mis)conduct at the UK mission should not be tolerated quietly. A vehement protest is long overdue.

Ugandans are neither notorious for, nor otherwise known to be given to terrorism – which would be the other valid reason for making their UK visa applications tedious. We cannot have our national documents being flown all the way to South Africa for vetting without protest. Now that some people have lost their papers, who will take responsibility if these documents end up in the hands of terrorists?

While our Foreign ministry has dutifully maintained a very tolerant posture, we say it is time to call in the cards. Searching questions must be asked, and explanations demanded.

Why are my toes turning black?

My toenails are gradually turning black and thick with some growth of what looks like dead skin on the sides. I stopped wearing tight shoes but in vain. Applying nail polish just makes it worse because I feel mild pain under the nails. When I remove the nail polish, I find when my nail has separated from the flesh as if it is about pop out. What could be the cause and what can I do to make my toe nail white again?
— Disturbed Dorothy

Dear Dorothy: Much as you are scared of the cosmetic effects of your nails, the colour, thickness, and shape of one’s nails may show the health status of a person. Apart from diseases, nails can be a window to one’s inner health with changes indicating anaemia, kidney, thyroid or even liver diseases, among others.

Nails gradually turning black usually happens among people who are on medication such as anti-retrovirals. If the drugs are effective, darkening is not a serious reason to change them.

Nails growing into the flesh are called ingrown toe nails. They affect mainly the big toes! Many times there is a thick growth on the undermined side with toes looking like a head of a snake. Eventually the nails may require trimming but not the cuticle. Wearing ill-fitting shoes, high heels, and wrong cutting of nails trying to remove the side parts instead of across the nails can also be the source.

Nails separating from the flesh, or detachment of a nail from its bed (onycholysis), can result from fungal infection psoriasis. It can also be a reaction to detergents, thyroid disease, injuries or excessive manicuring.

A manicurist will cover your nails and hide symptoms of diseases but a doctor will diagnose and give treatment.

About black toenail
If you have a black toe or black toenail then it is understandable that you might be alarmed and want to get to the bottom of what is causing the discolouration. However there is not just one cause of a black toenail but several which can make it quite difficult to identify the problem and to treat/avoid it.

Political interference affecting tax collection – URA official

KAMPALA.

Failure of the government to put tax revenue into good use that benefits the society is the major challenge affecting tax collection in the country, a senior official has said.

According to Mr Evaristto Mugisha, the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) official attached to Domestic Taxes Department, tax collection is affected by government’s challenge of striking a strategic balance between desire for tax revenue and appeasement of certain factions of society to gain political popularity.

“The sentiments expressed by politicians have at times been contrary to tax legislations implemented by URA and the obvious is jeopardising tax yields and putting the professional independence of the authority under suspicion,” he said.

Impact of crises
While presenting a paper at a public dialogue in Kampala last Friday on the challenges of tax collection in Uganda, Mr Mugisha explained that tax collection is a victim of numerous economic and political crises the country has gone through.

“Ugandan market is largely an importing economy and over time has witnessed a lot of political strife which hampers economic growth, killed and displaced some people within Uganda and regionally. These are not conducive avenues for commerce and trade thus affecting tax collection,” he added.

Frontier for Accountability, Transparency and Integrity (FATI) organised the dialogue under the theme ‘Revisiting Uganda’s taxation policy, its management and impact’.

In the 2015/16 financial year, URA failed to hit their revenue target with a shortfall of more than Shs400 billion.
The tax company collected approximately Shs11.231 trillion against its Shs11.63 trillion target.

Mr Mugisha said that people have maintained a negative attitude towards tax which has resulted from tax evasion activities.
“URA is facing an uphill task of combating this culture to replace it with cultivating a culture of voluntary compliance. Tax enforcement mechanisms are expensive and eventually increase the cost of tax administration generally which is uncalled for,” Mr Mugisha said.

Participation of all
According to Mr Mugisha, whether in support of the ruling regime or not, revenue collection in any country should be a concern by every right thinking national because public revenue is the backbone of every society’s economic progress.

“True, there are many challenges that hinder tax collection initiatives but with support from everybody through paying each person’s fair share of tax contribution, the tax burden is lessened,” he said, appealing to the public to embrace the culture of voluntary compliance in honouring tax obligations.

Impaired systems
FATI legal director, Ms Peace Mbabazi, observed the channels through which government is accountable are dysfunctional which demoralises tax payment in the country.

“The systems through which a local person can engage government are limited. We do not have avenues to have tax issues addressed yet we would like to see an all-inclusive government to attract people to pay taxes,” she said.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com

When should a child be given cell phone?

Nowadays, children as young as four years have smartphones. This has given them access to the Internet and they also use the available applications to communicate widely even on social media platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter.

Most parents take for granted the content their children are exposed to online. Some children install apps that lock their phones making it hard for parents to access them.

Roselyn Asekenye prefers her children to have phones especially when they are away from home but agrees that it comes at a price. She was recently shocked to find her 12-year-old son with pornographic content in his phone.

She says there was a time when she did not have airtime and requested to use his phone.
“At first he was hesitant but after seeing how much I needed to make the call he handed me the phone,” she says.
After the call, she was curious because he never left her presence and the moment she disconnected the call he grabbed his phone from her hands.

She had to ask him to give back the phone and when she checked his gallery it was full of pornographic videos and images.
She flipped through his conversations on WhatsApp only to find that it was his older cousin who was the source.

“I had to share the discovery with his father who later talked to his nephew and warned him never to share such content with our son,” says Asekenye.

She is happy that she disabled all the social media platforms including Internet connectivity to restrict his options.

Expert opinion
Caroline Nabwire, a counsellor, says as it is sometimes essential for children to own phones, it is also hard for parents to make sure that children use these gadgets the right way. She advises parents to find time and scroll through their children’s phones to avoid surprises later.

Nabwire advises that instead of getting a child a phone, you can install a landline where you can easily reach them when you are away from home adding that these phones should have airtime in case of any emergency.

“I strongly disagree with parents who buy their children phones with functional applications. If a parent has the urge to buy for his or her child a phone, there are simple phones that do not have applications” she argues.

She says if a parent wants their child to own a trendy phone, then they should make sure that the applications that can expose them to adult content are disabled.

We should not only concentrate on Internet connectivity, some calls that are received by children need to be monitored because phones have made children so permissive.

What do other parents think?
Constance Asiimwe, a mother of four, says there is no reason a child should own a phone at a tender age. She instead advocates getting a handset for the adult who watches over the children.

“The children are at school during the day and when they get holidays, I am also be on holiday since I am a teacher by profession so I see no reason of buying any of them a phone,” argues Asiimwe.
Sharon Mutesi a mother who is always on the move says it is necessary for her children to keep in touch with her though she opted for a landline that she makes sure has airtime every time she is going for her trips.

Mutesi says she cannot buy a phone for any of the children because it will be hard to onitor the usage.
Ronah Ochako a preacher at Faith Ministries says it is not right for a parent to buy a phone for a child who is not of age.

District introduces cage fish farming

MASAKA.

The Masaka District Council has started gazetting specific areas along the shores of Lake Nabugabo for promoting cage fish farming. The gazetted areas will be out bounds for fishermen.

The district council secretary for production, Hajj Jamil Miwanda, told Daily Monitor last Saturday that the department has already identified Birinzi and Nabugabo fishing grounds as some of the areas where general fishing activities would not be allowed.

Breeding areas
“These are fish breeding areas where we shall not allow other fishing activities to take place apart from cage fish farming, which has already started,” Hajj Miwanda said.
He added that the proposal was yet to be submitted to the district council for approval.

Hajj Miwanda said other areas on the lake shore within the district were yet to be identified for the same purpose to help reduce illegal fishing methods applied.

He said this was being done to encourage residents to invest more in cage fish farming so as to increase fish production in the district, which has tremendously declined in the past few years.
“It will help to increase the rate of fish breeding since the process will be taking place underneath the cages where illegal fishing activities don’t reach,” he said.

Former Masaka District Woman MP Freda Kase Mubanda is among the people who have already set up fish cages at Nabugabo in line with the district production department’s plan.
“Cage fish farming is much safer than practicing agriculture on the dry land which is affected by unpredictable weather changes,” Ms. Mubanda said.

She added “But cage fish farming is very expensive to a local farmer, government must come out to help locals access loans.”
The district Fisheries officer, Mr Gesa Fredrick, said a 2.5 meter cage costs up to sh7m and lasts ten years.

“It can breed over 10,000 fish which grows from six to eight months. A farmer can harvest between four and five tones,” Mr Gesa added.

Trade between Uganda, China must be mutually beneficial

Diplomatic relations between Uganda and China date back to 1962 when Uganda and China signed a joint communiqué on their diplomatic relations. Keen to strengthen relations with Uganda, China has continued to invest in and trade with Uganda. Uganda has benefited from China’s investment in form of loans including concessional loans of as low as 2 per cent interest rate. It is through these loans that construction of major infrastructural projects such as Karuma hydro power dam, Isimba hydro power dam and Entebbe express high is underway.

According to the government of Uganda report on public debt for the financial year 2014/15, China was Uganda’s third largest creditor after World Bank and African Development Bank as of February, 2015. However, whether Uganda will be able to meet its loan repayment obligations to China using future oil revenue as planned, remains to be seen.

According to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, total trade between Uganda and China reached about $932.8 million in 2015 with Uganda’s exports to China contributing $57.7 million and China’s exports to Uganda contributing $ 875.1 million. In fact, China ranks second as Uganda’s major source of imports after India.

Unfortunately, majority of Uganda’s exports to China such as grains, hides and skins, coffee, tea and spices are unprocessed and therefore cannot fetch so much in terms of price. On the contrary, the bulk of China’s exports to Uganda is in form of finished high value products such as electrical equipment, machinery, steel and plastics. It is undisputable that trade between Uganda and China is skewed in favour of China, at least for now.

The need to address trade imbalance between Uganda and China was underscored during the State of the Nation Platform meeting on China-Africa Relations which was organised by the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) recently. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde urged Ugandans to utilise China’s ready market of 1.35 billion people and export products and services to China. She however cautioned Ugandans to add value to their exports to China if they are to benefit significantly from the Uganda-China trade relations.

During the same meeting, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Uganda – H.E Zhao Yali emphasised mutual benefit as a key principle of China’s foreign policy. The Ambassador repeatedly emphasised China’s willingness to share its development experience with Uganda and work with Uganda to achieve its development aspirations.

As Uganda-China relations grow stronger, concerns about mutual benefits become more pronounced. To reduce the trade imbalance between Uganda and China, Uganda needs to increase its exports to China. Similarly, the government of Uganda needs to strategically attract Chinese investors who produce consumer goods that are suited to the consumption needs of Ugandans if imports of consumer goods from China such as shoes, clothes and food products are to be checked.

To increase Uganda’s benefits from Chinese and other foreign investments, Uganda should include a requirement in the contracts of foreign investors, at least the larger state owned companies, to prioritise sourcing of locally available goods and services. Uganda should also include, in its investment guidelines, a requirement for foreign investors to recruit specified proportions of Ugandans at managerial and non-managerial levels to work in their firms.

To improve investment practices among Chinese and other foreign investors, the Uganda Investment Authority should improve investment monitoring and deliberately reach out to investors to share relevant information on recommended investment practices and to guide them to invest sustainably. If all the investment projects from China are thoughtfully screened for their benefits, Uganda will surely move in the same direction with China and mutual benefits will be achieved in the Uganda-China relations.

Ms Barungi is a Research Fellow with the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment.

julian.barungi@acode-u.org

Do i have warts around my vagina?

By Dr Vincent Karuhanga

Hello Doctor, I have a problem of warts in and around my vagina and anus. I asked for help from one of my doctors and he told me it is due to constipation. I was advised to eat fruits and drink more fluids but still there is no change. Advise on what to do next.
— Elaine

Dear Elaine: Warts are growths that result from a sexually transmitted germ known as Human Papilloma Virus!
What you have are actually piles which are dilated rectal veins because of pressure in the veins as happens when one has chronic constipation or associated with pregnancy and child birth.
Correction of constipation usually heals piles but if there are other problems like standing for long hours, pressure in the abdomen affecting the blood flow from the rectum to the heart, then the piles may persist.
Sometimes, the piles may not correct immediately requiring medical treatment which your doctor can help out with!

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Uganda calls for increased trade among fellow LDCs

Kampala.

Uganda has called for improved trade among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), saying it is the only way they will be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) by 2030.

During a general debate on how to achieve Agenda 2030 at the 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14) held in Nairobi, Kenya recently, Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde said: “There is need and urgency to improve infrastructural interconnectivity amongst LDCs in order to address the low level of intra trade among these countries.”

The UNCTAD 14 conference was held under the theme: “From decision to action: Moving towards an inclusive and equitable global economic environment for trade and development”.

Ms Kyambadde said the theme challenges all UNCTAD member countries not only to make the right decisions but to implement them for the transformation of all countries, particularly the LDCs such as Uganda.
She said: “It is unfortunate that the total share of global trade for all LDCs is less than 2 per cent when UNCTAD has existed for more than 50 years. This clearly shows that the disparity continues to expand and the rich continue to get richer and the poor poorer.”

She added it will be very hard for LDCs such as Uganda to aspire to deliver the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development when in Africa alone, the total intra-Africa trade is only about 11 per cent of the global trade.

“It is embarrassing that forty four (44) years since the United Nations classified certain countries as LDCs; only four countries have graduated from this category,” Kyambadde noted.
She urged UNCTAD to focus on the needs of LDCs with the aim of strengthening their role in the global economy on the basis of the principles of justice, equity, inclusiveness and differential treatment.

On his part, UNCTAD deputy secretary general Joakim Reiter, said UNCTAD should play a central role in implementing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, and that the global community broadly agrees.
Mr Reiter said the integrated approach of UNCTAD, which sees trade as essential to development, is now widely accepted as the critical path for all developing countries to sustainable development.

“With the financing for development outcome at Addis Ababa, in particular paragraph 88, and the Sustainable Development Goals, we see unprecedented unanimity in finding a strong and central role for UNCTAD in implementing the 2030 Agenda,” Mr Reiter said.

The Potential
LDCs have the potential to help transform themselves into middle income countries within the foreseeable future if they put emphasis on value addition and consolidate multilateral trade through promoting technology transfer and industrialisation.

dnakaweesi@ug.nationmedia.com

Do i have crickets in my ears?

By Dr Vicent Karuhanga

I earn a living by welding. Recently, I started hearing cricket-like noises in my ears. Have I been charmed or what?
— Christopher

Dear Christopher: Welding is the method of joining two metal parts together by applying intense heat and in Uganda welding rods are preferred . Without precaution, subsequently formed fumes, heat, sound and light can pose a health hazard.
Smoke and fumes generated by welding are the most common health risks, as they are extremely toxic. Substances found in smoke can affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, eyes, skin and central nervous system both in the short and long term. People are more scared of eye injuries posed by welding and usually emphasise using eye protection neglecting other injuries.
Apparently, it is your ears that are getting injured and apart from suspending welding, you require visiting a doctor specifically one for Ears, Nose & Throat.
For the time being you may have to suspend using ear phones. You also need to use speakers on your phone instead of putting the phone close to your ears.

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She had to learn the hard way

I don’t even know why she was going through my phone in the first place, because i never go through her phone. Probably the messages started coming in, and she got curious, and she couldn’t help herself that she just had to check. Then, after reading my messages, she put down my phone and kept quiet about it. Of course the moment i got to my phone, i figured out that those messages hadn’t marked themselves read, because i had not read them. And unless we had a ghost in the house going around reading people’s messages, the only other possible culprit was the maid, who am certain does not know how to operate my phone. Which left only my dear girl as the sure criminal. The messages were nothing damaging, its just that they were from a girl, Michelle, so naturally my girl’s curiosity was piqued. But, after realizing that this girl was simply updating me about a work project, she had most likely felt bad about it, but nevertheless could not undo her action. so, like a typical guilty child, she had tried to pretend it had not happened.

I wasn’t mad at her, no. i imagined her feeling really bad about it, and considering that this was the first time she had done it, and it was not in her character to go snooping through my things, i let it go. I even realized that that was why she had been so pensive all morning. But, i still had lessons to teach people who snoop. We shouldn’t encourage such bad habits to grow, that would be careless.

i got my phone, went to where she was seated and sat right next to her. And started reading my messages, making such sounds as to indicate surprise, bewilderment, and even shock. i did this for about two minutes, during which she said nothing but i could feel her flinch each time i made a sound. She was sitting up, stiff as a rod. then i stood up, put my phone down as if i meant to leave it behind, but then on second thought, i got it and put it in my pocket. Turning, i gave her a questioning look as if I meant to ask something, but then walked away. i called her from the other room, asked to come and see something.

she came over and said, ‘yes?’. Again, i gave her this long questioning look before i said, ‘you left your makeup kit open on the table, somethings might fall out’. She gave me this look that said, ‘really, is that it? normally, you wouldn’t have called me just for this’. but, she went ahead to close and keep her makeup kit. Then as she walked away, i said, ‘i also wanted to ask you about something else that happened this morning’.

This time, i could see it on her face, that realisation that said, ‘this time, this is it. He is going to chew my head off about snooping through his phone’. But yet again, i asked her if she let the maid take the 5k that was on top of the fridge, because the maid said she had been told to take it. But as i did this, i kept scrolling through my phone, hardly paying any attention to her. This time, she nodded her head, the frustration visible on her face.

Finally, i asked her, ‘are you OK? you don’t look fine, you look really not fine, as if you are unwell’. She insisted that she was fine, then went back to her seat. So i dialed Michelle; as as we talked, i walked past my girl on my way out, giving her a long piercing look, as i mentioned the name Michelle over and over, even where unnecessary. ‘yes, Michelle. Of course Michelle. i saw the messages, Michelle. Am going to revert as soon as i can, Michelle. Thank you very much Michelle, have a nice day too Michelle. Bye Michelle’. I never asked her about snooping in my phone, but that ought to teach her not to go snooping again.

7 vie for Rubanda MP, LC5 seats

By ROBERT MUHEREZA

RUBANDA:

Three people have been nominated to contest for the Rubanda Woman parliamentary seat and four men for the LC5 chairperson seat.
Contestants Hildah Kabarungi (Ind), Vastine Katushabe (FDC) and Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi (NRM), were nominated for the parliamentary seat while Nelson Habasa (Ind), Stephen Ampaire Kasyaba (Ind), Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema (NRM) and Joseph Ruhangariyo (FDC) were nominated for the LC5 race last Friday.

However, the district returning officer, Mr Ismail Atwijukire, on Friday said he did not nominate Mr Benjamin Mbabazi, the UPC party flag bearer for the LC5 seat because the aspirant failed to raise the required number of signatures.
His nomination papers also had both the FDC party stamp and that of the UPC.

Mr Atwijukire asked the candidates to restrain their supporters from acts of violence so as to have a peaceful electoral process.
The candidates promised to ensure proper service delivery for the development of the newly created district. Ms Kabarungi said she opted to contest as an independent because she was not satisfied after losing in the NRM party primary election.

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89 per cent of Uganda’s labour force get no pension

Kampala.

Uganda continues to experience low levels of pension coverage as the majority of the labour force remains uncovered by the various schemes in the country.

According to the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA), at least 13 million people out of the total labour force of about 14 million do not have access to pension, which risks bringing poverty in old age. This amount accounts for 89 per cent of the 15.6m labour force in the country.

With the majority of that labour force in the informal sector, access to money after retirement is highly unlikely.
“We have a huge informal sector where a lot of money is generated. It is our interest to extend coverage to these informal sector workers because they also need to save for their old age income,” Mr David Nyakundi Bonyi, the chief executive officer UBRA, said at the release of the 2015 Pension Industry Performance last week.

Coverage
In total, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the Public Service Pension Scheme, occupational schemes and the Senior Citizens Grant provide coverage for 1.97 million of the total labour force.
The bulk of these are covered under the NSSF, which has almost 600,000 members. URBRA’s task is even far greater if it is to convince more members of the public to join a scheme that would grant them some income once they reach old age.

“The authority has been trying to reach out to the informal sector. We now have two informal schemes, Mazima and Kacita, where members of the public can contribute money on a monthly basis. At the end of the day, it is about how members become creative in making a contribution. What we must understand is that the informal sector is largely complicated,” Mr Bonyi added.

Inactive members
Even within the formal setting, there are individuals who are registered but not active contributors to a pension scheme. For instance, NSSF has 1.573 million registered members but only 38 per cent of those are active.

Performance
The pension sector in terms of investments and returns is dominated by NSSF. According to the 2015 Pension Sector Report, total assets for the sector rose to Shs6.5 trillion in 2015, up from Shs5.2 trillion in 2014.

According to Mr Benjamin Mukiibi, the URBRA senior research and sector development officer, this growth is attributed to a rise in investments especially in government securities and listed companies. The public service pension scheme does not make any investments.

“Public debt securities continue to have the largest share over the years. High demand for public debt securities indicates that the large portion of the funds accumulated in the system is loaned to the public sector. This reduces public sector borrowing costs, however public sector financing could be achieved through increasing the amount of funds transferred from the system to equities and corporate bonds,” he said.

In 2015, returns on government securities were much higher at an average of 20 per cent. Because of their risk-free nature and good return, the investment rose from Shs3 trillion in 2014 to Shs4.2 trillion in 2015.

In fact, the interest income generated during the year also rose to Shs614 billion from Shs522 billion in 2014.

Payments & Assets
Pension schemes also paid out a total of Shs243 billion to several members who had retired, survivors and disability benefits which is a rise of 13.5 per cent from Shs214 billion in 2014.According to the 2015 Pension Sector Report, assets for the sector rose to Shs6.5 trillion, up from Shs5.2 trillion in 2014.

mmuhumuza@ug.nationmedia.com

4 signs you are dating a gold digger

Henry has always provided for Annette and tries to give her money whenever she asks, pays her bills, rent and even makes sure to do some shopping for her parents every time he gets paid.

However, he was very surprised about her behavior this time round when he couldn’t shop for her parents and pay her rent on time because he incurred some loses at work. So he is wondering if this girl is just after the things he can offer or is it just because she is worried that he is changing and just doesn’t believe his work problems. Poor Henry, for a relationship that has lasted only nine months, he deserves some support and love not “Kamanyiro” from the person he has been spending all his money on. If you are equally suspicious that your partner might be dating your wallet instead of you, these five signs should help you get rid of a gold digger.

1 She throws tantrums when you don’t buy expensive things
If your partner gets mad at you whenever you fail to deliver on a financial promise or to buy her expensive things, there is a problem. She only wants the things you can provide and not you really. Someone who loves you tries to understand why you can’t fulfill the promise. Besides, the things that make them so angry, they also can’t afford buying for themselves, so clearly you are the bank to them.

2 She encourages you to spend extravagantly
someone who loves you genuinely and cares about you and your future together encourages you to invest and save. But if someone who claims to love you only pushes you to waste money and unnecessarily show off, you are in trouble. It’s time to smell the coffee.

3 All her exes are rich
If in your partner’s dating history you can only see rich men or people who could give her the life she wants and expects you to give her, wake up! Clearly she has made dating loaded men her way of survival and the moment your financial status seems to be going down, she won’t go down with you, she will jump to the next big spender.

4 Try acting broke
Yes this time Henry is genuinely broke and that’s the problem. He is only realising that his partner might be using him at a time when he needs her most. It’s good to test your partner to be sure of what you are dealing with. So before trouble kicks in, try acting broke and unable to do certain things for her just to see her reaction. If she becomes mean and distant, let her go. What more proof do you need? The earlier you run the better.

Follow me: @JaqDeweyi on Twitter | Facebook | @jnamataka@ug.nationmedia.com

Has Uganda changed its foreign policy on Palestine and Israel?

During my service at Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York in 1971/72, one of the Israeli diplomats on the UN political committee asked me to ensure Uganda votes in favour of Israel on a resolution relating to that country’s relationship with Palestine. We have for decades been defenders of Palestine’s right to exist as an independent state alongside Israel.

If the request had been made during President Obote’s first regime, I would have responded with a straight ‘no’. Uganda’s foreign policy on most issues was then quite clear. We rarely sought guidance from home, at least not on the Israel and Palestine question. But now that Obote had been overthrown by Idi Amin with the assistance of Britain and Israel, Uganda’s foreign and domestic policies were rapidly changing. A wise diplomat had, therefore, to be cautious in handling most issues.

I told the Israeli diplomat that I would consult and get back to him, but he complained a few days later that I was procrastinating; that I was not being helpful. He told me that they had referred the matter to their mission in Kampala, and a day or so later, our mission received instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala to vote in favour of Israel. Obviously, Amin had been cajoled by the Israel envoy in Kampala to support his government.

It took the raid on Entebbe airport by Israel to change Amin’s amicable relations with Israel, and because of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, Israel was eventually (to use Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s words) ‘blacklisted’ by Africa and almost all civilised countries.

Netanyahu also admitted that Israel’s collaboration with South Africa’s apartheid regime in suppressing the aspirations of Black South Africans greatly contributed to her being blacklisted.
Israel continues to oppress the Palestinians and has committed atrocities involving the killing of civilian children and women and the bombing at will of Palestine territory. The United Nations condemned Israel’s building of a wall to separate it from Palestine, but even the countries that celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall have not brought enough pressure on Israel to stop that deplorable project.

It is against that background that many people were dismayed by Netanyahu’s recent visit to Uganda, Rwanda Kenya and Ethiopia, and even more so by the hospitality and friendliness he was accorded by the African leaders he met, including President Museveni.

He flattered them with offers of economic and security assistance in fighting ‘terrorists’, and while he was making the offers, his government was announcing that he had approved the building of 800 housing units for Israelis in the occupied territories. A courageous leader would have used that opportunity to throw Netanyahu out of his country.

Although they have their own reasons, some friends of mine have joined Gen Moses Ali in disagreeing with the decision to erect a plaque at Entebbe airport in honour of Netanyahu’s brother who was killed in the raid in particular, and in remembrance of the raid in general. There has been little mention of Dora Bloch, the female hostage who was reportedly dragged from a hospital bed at Mulago in Kampala and executed, nor of Jimmy Parma, a prominent Ugandan photographer who was allegedly murdered for posting a photograph of Dora Bloch to foreign publications.

Gen Ali thought the Ugandan soldiers who were killed in the raid should also be honoured, but my friends think that whatever monuments are put up should be erected in Israel and not in Uganda.

Mr Kiwanuka is a journalist, retired foreign service officer and author. jkiwanuka700@gmail.com

Let the lingerie speak on your honeymoon

There is no better time to live your fantasies with your spouse than on your honeymoon. The world of lingerie makes this possible with costumes such as nurse, naughty professor, rally driver and teacher costumes. These costumes are now easily available, so there is no reason not to experiment during your honeymoon.

According to Ritah Kigozi, of Rigozi Fashion House, when choosing lingerie for your honeymoon, go for the virgin look because no matter what your body shape and size you can still find some great options.

“A white baby doll night dress with a veil, for example, would be appropriate,” Kigozi explains, adding, “This is something for the calm brides who want to cover up. But depending on your courage, show off what you can so that he sees you like he has never seen you before.”

She adds that you should not make it easy for the groom during the honeymoon. “Different items will affect different men in varying ways, and clothing that turn men on can range from a simple matching bra and panty set to a fishnet body suit, silk lace nighties and crotch less panties.” If you want to guarantee he will stay tuned in for the show, consider letting him pick out an item or two.

“This way, you know that you are buying and wearing what he wants to see and will pay attention to.”

The love making should not be mechanical and that is why there is a variety of lingerie such as a policeman and army man’s costume for both men and women to spice things up. Young women usually have fantasies about men in uniform, so you can take a bit of that to your bedroom to heat things up.

Kigozi says you can also opt for edible panties. These come in flavours such as chocolate and vanilla. “With the edible panties, by the time he is done with eating them, you will be in the right mood.”
She adds that men also have edible underwear. However, Kigozi cautions couples not to try out new things without discussing them with their spouse so that you are in agreement on what works for both of you.
With lingerie, it is all about more flesh and less cloth. Some of the exciting pieces you can invest in are crotch-less panties, which Kigozi refers to as ‘easy access. “With such panties, it is easy to make love. Some crotch-less panties have beads (on the crotch area), which are considered sensual in African culture.

These can be worn with butiti (waist beads).”
Lingerie costs between Shs50,000 and Shs150,000
You should also go for lace panties as lace is considered a sensual fabric and smooth to the touch. Have a variety of colours for that playful look.

Men should also remember that women are not the only ones who can wear something sexy and fun on their honeymoon. They may also enjoy a comfortable new robe to wear around the room or anywhere you choose to go so that there is no need to get fully dressed.
So for a man who is willing to explore, an animal print vest with plain coloured briefs would spice up the honeymoon as the groom unleashes his animal instinct. This lingerie is available at King park.

Do not ruin your honeymoon with sex toys, Kigozi says, adding, “I do not believe anything should ever replace the human being. Sexual intimacy is meant to be enjoyed between a man and woman. As your love grows and the marriage matures, do not be stuck in your ways, you should explore.

Caution
Men should also remember that women are not the only ones who can wear something sexy and fun on their honeymoon. They may also enjoy a comfortable new robe to wear around the room or anywhere you choose to go so that there is no need to get fully dressed.

jkigongo@ug.nationmedia.com

Forests on private land may disappear in 15 years

All forests on private land may disappear in the next fifteen years, if urgent reforestation is not done and the country will be plunged into more environmental troubles, a senior ministry of Water and Environment official has warned.

Mr David Mugabi, Assistant Commissioner – Environment Affairs in the said ministry told an inter-ministerial workshop on clean cooking organized by Uganda National Alliance on Clean Cooking (UNACC) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that forest cover on private land will be no more by 2030 and only limited to gazetted areas and game parks.

“Annually, we are losing 120,000 hectares of forest and it is estimated that by 2030, there will be no trees on private estates… We don’t have forests in the future,” Mr Mugabi said yesterday in Kampala, citing ministry projections.

Majority of trees in the country are on private land and according to Mr David Duli, the WWF Uganda country director, should the trees especially natural species extinct, the country will not only face more extreme drought, high temperatures but also famine due to limited rainfall.

“We should do everything to make forests remain. 90 per cent of energy sources used in cooking comes from biomass and if trees are extinct, how will people meet this demand,” Mr Duli, told this paper on the sidelines of the meeting.

Kitgum Woman Member of Parliament, Beatrice Anywar, said Uganda must act now and preserve forests for future generation by subsidizing the costs of improved charcoal stoves which halve the amount of charcoal used by convention stoves but also set policies for mandatory tree planting.

“Government should come up with a policy for all new constructions to have trees in the compounds and clean cooking provisions before local governments can approve their plans,” Ms Anywar, said.

Dr Joshua Mutambi, assistant commissioner Industry in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives said majority of the small scale industries in the country are still reliant on charcoal and wood to meet their energy needs, any shortfalls in this supply will mean high cost of doing business for these industries and even collapse.

Cooking using convention stoves results into indoor pollution which according to the World Health Organisation (WHO),an estimated 4.3 million people die from related diseases like lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight and burns, pneumonia, bronchitis and cataracts, .

Of the said 4.3 deaths, Uganda contributes 18,250 deaths annually. This figure, Mr George Mugerwa, an official from the Office of the President, said can be changed if government agencies in this sector can lobby government to prioritize clean cooking.

ptajuba@ug.nationmedia.com

Mentors that need mentorship

By Dennis D. Muhumuza

There is a Ugandan businessman I have long admired for his glut of successful enterprises. Two years ago, I attended a business forum at which he talked about the importance of creativity, versatility and integrity in business.

I left that forum not only determined to start my own business, I also sent him an email begging him to write a book detailing everything he had learned in his long business career that could serve as a light to aspiring entrepreneurs.

He heads the boards of several high-profile government and private bodies and is a coveted speaker at inspirational events. So he is reported about a lot in the press, only colourful stuff that make him even more inspirational.

But last week I learned that this highly respected business man is choking on loans amounting to billions of shillings and has joined other businessmen suffering the same plight, to push government to bail them out using taxpayers’ money.

I’m grateful that he inspired me to start my own business but I am not sure I still want him to be my business mentor. One of my friends would rather have me believe that no business enterprise operates completely debt-free, but I believe an entrepreneur that accumulates debts to the tune of billions of shillings and without compunction expects government from a Third-World country to come to his rescue at the expense of the taxpayer is worse than the merchant of Venice.
This government has already lost trillions and trillions of money through corruption and other scandals, and we cannot afford to worsen an already precarious situation by diverting public money to massage a clique of moguls that refuse to take responsibility for their business irresponsibility.

The country is still in dire need of public services for which that bailout money could be used for the greater good. The taxpayer is already burdened enough and the country is bigger than a few individuals whose so-called business acumen and ingenuity has turned out to be a sham with accompanying ramifications they are not willing to pay for.

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Little life skills to empower your child for the future

As children grow, there are life skills parents are expected to impart in them and these will make their life easier as they grow. The children might feel pushed to the wall while learning some skills but it is up to the parent to work their way around making the child accept them. Without them, your child may turn out a society nuisance.

Yes, most parents get caught up in the busy work schedules but sparing time to groom your child into a responsible citizen could never be traded for whatever is keeping you busy. These skills are home grown.

House chores
Most teenagers dislike house chores but as a parent, it is your responsibility to guide them. Doing laundry, dishes, making meals and tidying up are things a parent should never deprive their child of since they are important to their future. Grace Namuli ,56, a nanny emphasises that most times when parents have house helps they tend not to bother about their children learning house chores but this becomes challenging for them later on in the future.

Dress code
An inappropriately-dressed child always makes some members of society wonder how the child left past the gate without parental guidance. “Your child’s dress code represents your level of responsibility. Restrict your child from dressing seductively.

Explain what others will make of it so that your child grows up knowing that a person always has to look presentable,” says Maria Kamali, a mother of six girls. This guides them in future to be able to distinguish what type of clothes go to office, outings and formal functions.

What society expects of them
Many would kill for a polite and well-bred child with good social behaviour but not many parents are willing to spare time off their busy work schedules to guide their child. Manners range from not just how your child conducts him or herself around elders an d peers.

Most teenagers tend to be impolite and most times they cannot be blamed because they have grown up without being corrected on what can be and should not be said in public.

According to Joseph Kiberu, a counsellor, society has expectations of each and everyone but more emphasis is put on how you carry yourself around and the only way a person could know this is if they learnt these morals from home.

Let them be able to drive
Such may sound luxurious to many but it is a plus in scenarios when it is most required especially when the family needs someone to apply these skills to rush a member to a hospital in the parent’s absence.
Kansiime Banyenzaki, a father of three says, “A child who knows how to drive will relieve the parent of spending more energy. Let them drive to the shopping mall, the farm and even take turns with you while going long distances.” The family driver too needs a break as you save that day’s wage. Keep in mind this is for children above 18 as it is the legal driving age in Uganda.

Table etiquette
How to use the cutlery, how to chew, how to start and end a meal are skills most parents leave to society to teach their children which end up embarrassing them.

Dorcus Achaloi, a mother of two learnt the hard way when it came to table manners with her two sons. She recalls a family get together they had and her sons “they would talk carelessly, move around and even pick food from my plate, this was embarrassing but I blamed myself because at home I never taught them table etiquette.”
This should not be the reason why you hardly go to parties or dinners with your children.

Bargaining skills
This helps you not to raise an extravagant child. Lack of bargaining skills is usually regretted during teenage years when a child starts doing their shopping which means they need to grasp this art before they mature into adults ready to run their homes.

Surroundings

Most children are used to the comfort of riding in cars with their parents and hardly know their way around town without the parent’s assistance. There will come a time when a child’s knowledge of places around them comes in handy.
“It is vital for a child to beware of their environment and what better way to go by this than use public means of transport without a parent’s assistance,” says John Mangeni, a banker. This improves their interaction and boosts their confidence.

The week in pictures

Arya Permana, dubbed as one of the fattest boys in the world, weighs about 188 kilos after following a crash diet suggested by Indonesian doctors that made his weight lower from 192 kilos in the beginning of the program

Police react to shocking video of their truck knocking Besigye supporter

The Police have instituted inquiries in response to a video footage that emerged of a police pick-up, appearing to have knocked and brushed a man to the roadside.
“The alleged victim, who is still unidentified, was maliciously charged and kicked at by another unidentified man with a helmet and in civilian attire, whom many claim to be part of security. The video by a civilian journalist was kept quiet until when it was released yesterday by the media, from a previous public order incident, with traces of alleged police brutality, for which disciplinary court hearings were taking place,” said Police spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga.

According to Mr Enanga, the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) of Police has reviewed the video footage and “is working hard to identify the victim, the police pick-up, its driver and car commander, which officers will have to be suspended from operational duties, pending outcome of the investigations. It will in addition, use the video to justify evidence of professional misconduct by selected officers undergoing disciplinary court processes.”

“Although, many questions about our policing and accountability have been asked in the last one month, we highly encourage the filming and release of videos on sensitive police related incidents, as a very important step in promoting transparency in the course of our duties; provided it does not interfere with a police officer on duty, and or refusal to obey a lawful order, obstruct an arrest or police action among others. This is consistent with our commitment to increased transparency through various rectification campaigns, which is essential in rebuilding and strengthening our trust with the public’s we police,” Mr Enanga added in a statement issued on Saturday.
He further noted that police officers are being advised on the minimum use of force, through better communication especially intense and fast moving public order policing situations.

“For this we are confident of our ability to continue protecting the safety and security of all Ugandans and visitors, whom we request not to judge the entire police force by the actions of a few bad officers,” he added.
This comes just a day after former Kampala Metropolitan operations Commander James Ruhweza on testified against his fellow commanders in the police disciplinary court on charges of discrediting the police image when they beat up Dr Kizza Besigye’s supporters about three weeks ago.
Mr Ruhweza on Friday told the police court that he learnt about the beating of civilians through a telephone call from Mr Jonathan Baroza, the personal assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Gen Kale Kayihura.

The officers facing trial are Mr Moses Nanoka, former Wandegeya Division police commander, Mr Andrew Kaggwa, former Kampala Metropolitan South region police commander, Mr Samuel Bamuzibire, former Field Force Unit commander, Mr Patrick Muhumuza, former Field Operations commander at Katwe Police Station, constables Kenneth Muhangi, Moses Agaba, Sula Kato, Willy Karyango, Robert Wanzala and Dan Tandeka, a crime preventer.

4 dead in attack on Somali police building

At least four people were killed on Sunday when two cars packed with explosives were rammed into a police building in the centre of the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials said.

“The information we are getting indicates at least four people died and 12 others were wounded but we still don’t have more details,” security official Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP.

He said “terrorist elements” had smashed two cars packed full of explosives into the headquarters of the police’s criminal investigations department in the city centre.

An AFP correspondent heard an exchange of gunfire after the explosions, which took place near a busy junction in the city.

“One of the cars hit the corner of the building and the other hit near the gate. There was smoke and dust and everything was in a mess,” said witness Abukar Osman.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The blasts came just days after at least 13 people were killed in twin bombings near Mogadishu airport and UN and African Union buildings.

That attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab militants fighting to overthrow Somalia’s internationally-backed government.

The Shabaab were forced out of the capital five years ago but continue to carry out regular attacks on military, government and civilian targets.

In recent months they have claimed deadly assaults on military bases as well as civilian targets including hotels.

Last month, a junior minister was among 11 people killed in an attack on the Naasa Hablood hotel.

That began when a suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside the building.

Gunmen then stormed the hotel in an assault lasting for several hours. Special security forces ended the siege after killing three attackers inside the hotel.

Earlier in June, the same group claimed an attack on the city’s Ambassador hotel, which left 10 dead including two lawmakers when a huge car bomb ripped the front off the six-storey building.

This year is considered critical for the group, which is eager to disrupt an expected change of government due in the coming months.

S. Sudan war criminals will be held accountable, says US

Washington has warned that those who perpetrate atrocities in South Sudan’s civil war will be held responsible for their crimes.

The United States served as a midwife in the creation of the South Sudan, formed in July 2011 by partitioning Sudan.

But South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, and a peace deal signed last year collapsed during heavy fighting in the capital this month.

“Recent weeks have featured well-documented reports of civilian killings and a surge in the number of government soldiers in uniform raping and gang raping women and girls who have taken refuge in UN Protection of Civilian sites,” the US State Department said late on Saturday.

The United Nations “has documented at least 120 cases of sexual violence in the last two weeks” in fighting between government forces and those loyal to rebel chief Riek Machar.

“Those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law — including those who order or incite violence, or encourage or contribute to the commission of crimes — will be held accountable,” the US statement read.

The statement reminded “all parties” that the peace agreement provides for a special court that “will have jurisdiction over violations of international law committed during the transitional period, including those committed during the ongoing violence.”

Washington also called for “an immediate halt to combat operations and full compliance with the ceasefire declared on July 11 and in the peace agreement.”

– ‘Edge of an abyss’ -Juba was rocked by several days of heavy fighting in early July between government forces and those loyal to Machar, in the latest upsurge in the two-and-half-year war.

Nearly 300 people died in the violence and two Chinese peacekeepers were killed in an attack on a UN base, where thousands of civilians rushed for safety.

South Sudan is “poised on the brink of an abyss” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on Thursday.

Ban has called for an arms embargo and sanctions to be imposed on those who fail to observe the peace agreement in South Sudan, but the council has yet to endorse his call.

In 2015, the UN and the US imposed sanctions on the main players in the conflict, with the State Department reiterating its warning that “those taking actions threatening the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan… may be subject to sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 2206 (2015).”

Harry Potter magic hits Asia as fans celebrate new book

Harry Potter magic hit Asia on Sunday, as aspiring witches and wizards crowded into bookstores to get their hands on the first copies of a new play that imagines the hero as an adult.

Launch parties for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” were held hours after the play’s premiere in London, setting the stage for a return of the series that has captivated readers and movie audiences worldwide.

Nearly 300 fans rushed through the doors of Kinokuniya bookstore on Singapore’s Orchard Road at 7:01 am (2301 GMT Saturday) to become one of the first people in the world to see the new script.

Student Samantha Chua, 24, who along with her boyfriend was first in line, said she had been waiting outside the fourth-floor bookstore since 5:00 am.

“We were here so early that the mall wasn’t even open yet so we had to come up through the cargo lifts,” she said, adding that it was “all worth it”.

“I grew up reading the books and I have a special place for them on my shelves but this will be my crowning glory,” added Chua, who was wearing a Harry Potter-themed sweater.

Widely seen as the eighth Harry Potter instalment, the play is set 19 years after the end of the last book and features a grown-up Potter working at the Ministry of Magic.

Like many of his fans, Potter has now become an adult and has three children with his wife Ginny Weasley.

He still has his trademark round-rimmed glasses and the scar on his head, a permanent reminder of his nemesis Lord Voldemort, but must now help his youngest son Albus confront the family’s dark past.

The script’s global kickoff was timed to coincide with its launch at midnight in London, after the play’s world premiere at the Palace Theatre earlier in the evening. July 31 is also author J. K. Rowling’s birthday.

– Wands, wizards and wonder -In India, fans began lining up outside shops which had opened early especially for the script’s release.

“It’s been amazing to see 10-year-old fans and 70-year-old grandmothers turn up at our shops,” Shilpi Agarwal, a spokeswoman for Om book shops, said in New Delhi.

“We’ve got an excellent response,” she told AFP, adding that the store would be laying on Potter-themed activities throughout the day.

In Bangkok, around 40 fans, many wielding wands and other wizarding paraphernalia, gathered outside a large downtown mall overnight.

Sanpipat Huangsawat, 29, was first in line and had started queuing at 6:30 pm on Saturday evening. He finally got his hand on the book some 11 hours later.

Over 2.5 million pilgrims at pope fest finale in Poland

Pope Francis celebrated mass Sunday with over 2.5 million pilgrims in a vast sun-drenched field, wrapping up a emotionally charged trip to Poland which took him to Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

High-spirited teenagers, scouts, priests and families had camped under the stars in the vast “Campus Misericordiae” (Field of Mercy) near the city of Krakow ahead of the final mass of a week-long Catholic festival.

Francis whipped out technology metaphors for today’s chat and app-happy pilgrims, telling them to “download the best link of all, that of a heart which sees and transmits goodness without growing weary”.

He said they should be dreamers who believe “in a new humanity”, one that “rejects hatred between peoples” and “refuses to see borders and barriers”. They should use the gospel, he said, as their GPS.

Hundreds of thousands of people had streamed to the grassy site Saturday with folding chairs, sleeping bags, umbrellas and sun-hats, amid warnings hours in the baking July sun could be broken with a rainstorm.

– Confusing happiness with sofas -“This is the trip of a lifetime, for me and my whole family,” said 29-year old Mexican pilgrim Isaac Victoria, as volunteers handed out bottles of water to the thirsty crowds.

At the evening vigil on Saturday, Francis chastised “drowsy and dull kids who confuse happiness with a sofa”, urging them to get out and live life rather than spend it glued to smartphones.

The final festivities were attended by “between 2.5 and 3.0 million people,” 2016 World Youth Day spokesperson Anna Chmura told AFP. Polish police declined to give an estimate.

Latin America’s first pontiff had faced stiff competition at the start of his five-day trip with the memory of immensely popular Polish pope and saint John Paul II, but quickly made the festivities his own.

As he visited the death camp in Auschwitz, he warned that the cruelty seen there “did not end” with World War II.

The “world is at war”, Francis said, but the way to “overcome fear” was to welcome people fleeing conflicts and persecution — a message with particular resonance in Poland, which has taken a hard line against refugees.

On Saturday he prayed for God to rid the world of the “devastating wave of terrorism”.

“In these dangerous times, he is convincing people not to be afraid to open up,” pilgrim Kasia Czajka, 40, said.

“While John Paul II was especially focused on the young, Francis is for all people in need”.

– ‘Multiculturalism as opportunity’ -The head of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics cracked joke after joke with youngsters gathered nightly beneath his window, cranking up the party spirit at an event dubbed “the Catholic Woodstock”.

Trump to slain soldier's dad: 'I've made a lot of sacrifices too'

Donald Trump hit back Saturday at accusations from the father of a slain Muslim soldier that the billionaire has “sacrificed nothing” for his country, saying he had employed thousands of people.

Khizr Khan — whose son died in Iraq — accused the Republican presidential nominee of vilifying American Muslims in a steely rebuke that electrified the Democratic convention on Thursday.

“Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America,” Khan said to Trump.

“You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one.”

Trump brushed off Khan’s words in an interview with ABC News, insisting he had made “a lot of sacrifices.”

“I work very, very hard. I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I’ve had tremendous success. I think I’ve done a lot.”

The brash billionaire has alienated many Americans with insults against immigrants, Muslims and women during his nomination campaign.

Among his more controversial policy positions has been his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and suggestions he would back profiling them.

Trump also questioned whether his rival, Hillary Clinton, had been behind Khan’s address, which the father said he wrote with his wife Ghazala.

“Who wrote that? Did Hillary’s script writers write it?” Trump said in the interview, which is set to air in full on Sunday.

“If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say,” Trump said, adding: “maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say.”

– ‘A dark heart’ -Reacting to Trump’s comments, Ghazala Kahn told ABC News that she chose not to speak at the DNC because of her overwhelming grief.

“Sacrifice — I don’t think he knows the meaning of sacrifice, the meaning of the word,” the late army captain’s mother said. “Because when I was standing there, all America felt my pain. Without saying a single word. Everybody felt that pain.”

Her husband said he had invited her to speak, but she declined knowing that she’d become too emotional.

Khizr Khan said that running for president does not entitle Trump “to disrespect” the relatives of soldiers killed in combat.

Please don’t worry. You can cry

I was a 24-year- old receptionist and deeply in love with the gu-child I was dating at the time. I knew he was my sun and stars, my honey-boo-boo and the lucky man I was going to have my children with.

So I happily went to work with fond memories of my time with him the evening before. I remember there had been a bit of a disagreement on the street but nothing major.

I sat down at my desk and switched on my computer and logged into Facebook. I saw I had received a Facebook message from honey-boo-boo. “Oh, how sweet”, I thought. “He wanted this to be the first thing I saw when I came in to work!”

It was a long message telling me my services as girlfriend were over, no longer required and never would be.
Something about me making fun of his trousers on the street in front of his brother and friend, and how could I embarrass him like that and he wanted nothing more to do with such a horrid inconsiderate person.

I first thought, “He’s dumping me over his trousers?”; and then I thought “He’s dumping me on Facebook?”; and then I thought “He wanted this to be the first thing I saw when I came in to work?!”

Reader, I still had some residue of delicate feminine emotions at the time. I whimpered and sniffed as I fought back tears. They forced their way out and I let them slide freely. A male customer who had approached my desk took one look at me and asked, “Are you okay?”

And that is when I started to sob. Long, dry heaving sobs.
“No, I’m not okay”, I cried. “Leave me alone!”
He reached across the desk, patted me on the shoulder and said: “Let me not disturb you. Just point me to so and so’s office”.

Still crying, I waved my hand vaguely. I swiveled in my chair with mucus beginning to collect as for 10 whole minutes, I watched this poor customer walk up and down stairs and go in and out of wrong corridors. Every time he passed me he said the same thing.
“Please don’t worry. You cry. I can find the office myself!”

You have been warned!

Tourists who are warned about certain dangers are driven by a sense of curiosity to disobey the rules and leave the safety of their safari car to take pictures with animals.

Watching the pictures of a woman attacked by a tiger in a Chinese Safari park, and before that the video of a four-year-old boy dragged by a gorilla in an American park, and many more such incidents, revives in my mind a true story that I luckily live to tell.
Many years ago we made a trip to Kenya where my parents-in-law had a beautiful farm in the town of Nakuru. One day we woke up determined to have a Safari in one of the national parks, and we chose mount Elgon National park.

My father-in-law had a four wheel drive car, the right vehicle for the occasion. They also had tents and safari chairs. Lots of food was packed in the car and all was set and ready, all except the know-how of an African safari.

Arrival
At the entrance of the park, the gate keeper asked us if we needed a ranger to guide us, and both men in our car decided that it was a walk in the park and that they would find their way around!

The first shock hit us when we got lost in a hilly area with a very narrow path and it started raining buckets and we saw our car slipping and it was through prayers that we managed to pull through, reaching the safety of an abandoned camping site when it was almost dark. We had a quick dinner and went to sleep.

I woke up in the morning and looked outside to see my husband near the tap fetching water. He was surrounded by what he called ‘wild cows’ and he was even shouting at them and chasing them away. Even when I wanted to answer the call of nature and feared the ‘wild cows’ he assured me that they were harmless. Well, the animals kept staring at us from a distance and decided to leave.

A few days later, when we were showing the pictures of our adventures to some locals, we learnt the bitter truth about the ‘ wild cows’ and that they were actually Africa’s most dangerous animal: buffalos.

Tales of others
A doctor who was among those present, congratulated us on escaping from this incident unharmed, he further elaborated that just a few days ago he had to attend to a French tourist who was attacked and badly injured by a buffalo in a nearby park!

Now, I often think about that day, and how ignorant we were, how arrogant we felt when it came to hiring a ranger who knew his way around, and above all, unlike European tourists who would read, study and research every step of their trip while abroad, we seem to be guided by the wind, that will sometimes take us to danger zones.

Of course, even the same tourists who are warned about certain dangers, driven by a sense of curiosity, would disobey the rules and leave the safety of their safari car to take pictures with animals.

One such incident happened just an hour before we reach a certain location in one of Kenya’s national parks, this was a place where a herd of elephants were moving , an American tourist who saw a baby elephant wondering in the bush, jumped off the safari Jeep for a quick photo, little did he know that where there is a baby the mother is close by. He was attacked and lost his life for a photo.

IN THE PARK
A family row at a safari park ended in a mum being mauled to death by one tiger as she went to rescue her daughter from another. A young woman got out of her car in the Siberian tiger enclosure to berate her partner in the driver’s seat. One of the tigers quickly pounced at Badaling Wildlife Park in Beijing, China. An older woman, believed to be her mother, then also got out and went to her rescue. But she was then attacked by a second tiger.

She won’t give way

There we were early in the morning. My Significant Other had been touched by the goddess of generosity and decided to drop me off at my workplace.

I remain, as always, the eternal passenger, the all-knowing co-driver and pedestrian-for-life. If that situation ever changes and the economy allows me to own a vehicle with slightly more horsepower than a bicycle (and definitely not a donkey-cart, I must confess my upper-body strength is nothing to write home about) then, dear reader, you will be the first to know.

So where was I, yes, we approached a roundabout, still chatting away merrily and that’s when I noticed her on the lane next to ours. She sat at the wheel of her sleek, tiny, female vehicle.

You know, the type designed to fit into any parking space in town, no matter how cramped. The kind of car, that many men fear to be seen driving, even under the cover of darkness.

At the roundabout, we came to a grinding halt, as usual. My driver (ahem!) signalled as he wanted to change lanes and that’s when an unusual thing happened.

Her grip tightened on the steering wheel and a dark cloud gathered on her forehead, transforming her face into one almighty scowl. She gritted her teeth and inched forward, making it clear that she would not give way, not on her life, oh no!

I was amused, but amazed at the same time. I see this all the time and I wonder where this brand of ultra-aggressive female drivers came from. I wonder what driving school ‘produced’ them, really. Want to change lanes? She will not give way! Want to cross the road? She will not give way! Instead, she will accelerate after shooting you a Medusa-like glare!

Rushing a sick person to hospital? She will not give way! Confused on the bypass and trying to exit quickly? She will not give way! Entertaining ideas of overtaking a truck moving at 0.00 kilometres per hour on the highway? She will not give way!

I do not know if this particular driving habit translates into other areas of life e.g. marriage proposals, dates, shopping in Kiembe Lane, etc. but I do hope it does not, for the sake of sanity.
This weekend, please give way.

Are you for Rio ?

The Olympics are here and it is quickly becoming a national tradition, for our skirts to be blown off to expose all our sports troubles.

As if the last 2012 Olympic preparations were not complex enough, we are back to the last minute, struggle and drama as I have read in recent media reports: Some people are not on the list, a supposedly wrong coach is all packed and ready, the money is still not here, allowances this, allowances that and there is a long list of issues.

It reminds of a naughty school boy on his first day to school after a long holiday; looking for homework under the carpet or mattress, mixing up socks and accusing siblings of hiding his shoelaces, he cannot find his bag and it is 10 minutes to school.

As a country, we had four years, many lessons to learn, and opportunities to improve a reputation. It is the same amount of time students in Senior One have to prepare for their O-level exams. When the results are out, we hear so many inspiring stories of hard work and determination.

Children, read their books while watching rice fields, herding cattle or selling fish, yet they put their minds to it and indeed, they excelled.

And then we have a happy country of brilliant kids, happy parents and even newspapers making a killing! Everyone is happy. But then across the street, there is a unique case of adults who have a different view of so many things, there is never a scandal free process. So instead of logic, we see greed, instead of patriotism it is utter selfishness at the expense of an entire country?

Perhaps I should take a day off with volunteers like you and compile all those PLE, O and A- level stories and make as many murals as we can to share with any one who in one way or another is causing us such sports pain as a country!
Better still, I had better become and athlete and get win gold for this country and when am invited to the presidential dinner, I would just use the word ‘saboteurs’ frequently as I speak to the president and in no time, they would be fired!

Preaching the gospel for 10 years in Uganda

A band rehearsing Tukutendereza Yesu, (let us praise Jesus) and well-decorated tents spruced up Rest Gardens, Bweyogerere. It was the 10th anniversary of Words of Hope Ministries Uganda.

Ushers in blue and white shirts quickly rushed to receive, register and direct guests to their seats. Guests from Mbale, Ankole, Nebbi, Kigezi, Kinkiizi, Masindi Kitara dioceses in Uganda and more than eight bishops attended graced the event.

Genesis
In 1989, a retired pastor, Rev. Grover and his wife, Helena Wilcox got a call to come to Uganda. By then Canon Rev. Capt. Titus Baraka was the industrial area chaplain in Masamba Parish, Lugazi. In 1992, the Wilcoxes retired in Mukono to do missionary work in Uganda.

The couple asked Baraka to accompany them to US for their youngest son’s wedding in 1994. Then, the young chaplain made friends as they visited many churches. Five years later, the trio visited Dr Bill Brownson who was by then the president of Words of Hope in Grand Rapids.

Brownson, a renowned radio evangelist soon won their hearts. He was invited to speak at Uganda Christian University chapel where he got a vision to send three students for a Master’s in Western Theological Seminary, Michigan. The students today are Rev. Emilly Erema, Rev. Stephen Kaziimba and Baraka.

Target
Brownson introduced Baraka to Rev. Dave Bast; the new Words of Hope president who in turn asked him to share his life story and testimony on radio. After realising that radio reached to a wider audience, Baraka yearned to bring the same idea home.

July 1, 2006, Words of Hope Uganda was born. They began broadcasting in three languages; English, Luganda and Bari-Kuku(a South Sudan dialect) on Spirit FM. This covered Kayunga, Luweero, and Nakasongola. Radio helped many to, receive Christ and also know each other as they were scattered around the country.

Anniversary
Bishop of Mityana Stephen Samuel Kaziimba, during his sermon expressed his joy. “We are happy for ministries such as Words of Hope whose aim is to touch the heart of man with holistic gospel.” He however argued that preaching the gospel today requires new tools compared to those in the past and to minister relevantly, the church needs new tools of which the media is part.

The bishop urged religious leaders to look for the youth and bring them to church. Church leaders, he said, need to come out and preach this gospel in every corner if the new generation is to embrace its milestones.

“We should reach out to the youth wasting their lives in video halls and sports betting centres even if it means having a few minutes on the screens before a movie or football games,” he explained.
Interludes between speeches saw the Canaan Gents, a gospel vocal acapella band perform.

Achievements
Through the dioceses of the Church of Uganda, Words of Hope have now expanded to 14 dioceses in Uganda having started with three. “We are broadcast in Namirembe, Mityana, South Rwenzori, Kinkiizi, and Masindi Kitara among others,” Baraka boasts.

This ministry reaches out to everyone especially the marginalised groups such as the Batwa; areas that have suffered war, poverty, famine; those affected by harsh cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation in Sebei diocese.It is time other influential bodies gave it support.

Rev. Canon Capt. Baraka, the executive director of the ministry said, “The only thing we can fix to turn the hearts of people in Uganda and Africa as a whole is to preach the gospel using media. We must think big, start small and it will grow.” He called on churches to empower pastors to teach the word alongside life issues such as marriage and counselling with a biblical foundation.

“The media is taking many young people and the church can reach them through the radio programmes of such ministries,” he argued, adding that, so many were suffering and need solutions yet no one seems to care. “The media is doing a lot to entertain yet people have wounds and are hurting. If the church does not come out to help, no one will.”

Scarce airtime
The ministry whose mission is to proclaim the gospel to the people of Uganda and neighbouring countries has found challenges in getting airtime on some commercial radio stations.

Koffi Olomide, please keep your women in check

It is in a unipot under the cool shade of a tree in a police barracks that I first listened to the enchanting sounds of tcha tcho, a type of music done by Koffi Olomide, a popular musician out of DR Congo.

Back then I had just completed high school and my ‘music mentor’ was a youthful police officer, who liked to unwind after work to a beer and the pulsating Papa Plus, a wildly popular album at the time.

I loved Koffi’s music and have kept tabs on him since. I have several copies of his albums, including that collabo with Papa Wemba, which I play often to put me in a good mood. But the love turned sour when the chanteur landed in Kenya recently.

He was caught on film walking back towards one of his dancers and kicking her somewhere in the mid-section. Then sh*t hit the fan: He was deported from Kenya, his concert in Zambia was cancelled, and he was arrested and sentenced in DR Congo.

What led to this? The story is that the dancer at the receiving end of his foot was involved in “fight” with his wife Cindy. Now, that is where Koffi made a mistake. Other men should take what happened to him as a lesson. Here are a few tips on how to handle your business to avoid being caught up in such situations.

Never beat a woman in public: Every man should always know that if you ever lifted as much as a finger towards a woman in public, the court of public opinion will charge and hang you without listening to your side of the story. However much the violence may be justified, say if the woman had a knife, you will not get off the hook.

Save yourself the trouble that will follow you like a bad smell by fleeing from the scene. Even at the risk of being laughed at, embarrassed or labelled a wimp. If I may play the devil’s advocate, I advise if you must be physical, do it in private. If asked about the bruises, she will say she slipped and fell.

Play your position: The other dimension to the Koffi-queen dancer debacle at the airport is that these two women, and probably others in the band, are involved with the superstar in some way. Reports indicate that Cindy, is his wife and a CEO-of-sorts in the band hierarchy.

So why would a dancer slap her boss? Unless she in some way feels “equal” to her! I believe the dancer is a side-chick or jump-off to Cindy’s husband.

Another mistake he made. When you are involved with more than one woman, make sure they know their position. Don’t keep grey areas, put everything in black and white. If she is a girlfriend, mistress, side-chick or “just a friend”, let them know their position in the pecking order. If they are wives, let them know their status as well.

Keep them all in check: Now that the position thing is sorted and the boundaries set, the duty of keeping the peace falls on the man who brings all these moving parts together.

It takes the skills of being both a diplomat and a dictator, there is no democracy in these things. Know how to balance rewards and punishments—the carrots and sticks.

Otherwise, you will get into situations that spill out of control like how it happened with Olomide at the airport. He should have pulled his Cindy from the mix, gone with her to the hotel…then docked the dancer’s pay for indiscipline but bought her dress (of course, secretly).

What happened

Congolese music star Koffi Olomide will spend the next three months in jail as he awaits a ruling on prosecutors’ request to imprison him for a longer period for assaulting one of his female dancers in Nairobi.

Married at 15, chasing her education dream at 37

A mother of eight, who include a set of twins, Mellon Nyamwiza Rwancumangi Nalongo, mixes freely with children fit to be her own. With short kinky hair, she is clad in a white short-sleeved blouse bearing a school badge, teamed with a black skirt and black leather sandals.

Occasionally, she breaks into wild laughter, jumps and cheers on the athletes at Rukoni Primary School playground in Ntungamo District on their school sports day.

She is the head of cheerleaders of Makerere House which comprises the most cheerful students but does not perform well in sports activities. At 37, she is a Senior Four student to whom children seem endeared while teachers treat her as their equal much as she has to obey the school rules.

Recently elected local councillor for Kyamwasha Parish in Rukoni Sub-county, Nyamwiza braves 24km to and from Rukoni Secondary School daily to attain her dream education. She has done this for the past four years to better her literacy skills she missed when her parents passed on when she was a teenager.

She wears a bright smile as she welcomes guests to the sports ground and follows the teachers’ instructions to the dot. I could not start a conversation with her before seeking permission from the school head lest she faces disciplinary action.

Back then
In 1991, Nyamwiza had joined Primary Six, when she lost both her parents to HIV/Aids. She dropped out of school, two years later. Her relatives married her off to a 71 –year-old widower. He convinced them that she would be taking care of his three children from his previous marriage. His wife had died in 1992.

At 15 , she could not understand what her role in the home would be.

“I had not come to get married to Mzee (her husband). My family members told me I had to take care of the children who had been left by his other wife who had died a year earlier. Being an orphan with no care, I grabbed the opportunity.

Afterall if I rejected, I would be disowned by my family. This doubled as a chance of survival,” Nyamwiza recollects.
Her husband Eliasaph Rwancumangi was 71 when the two got married. Rwancumangi at the time had many cows and a vast piece of land.

Sailing the murky waters
Nyamwiza’s parents left her with eight siblings to take care of as she is the first born.

A year after she had been married off, Nyamwiza fell pregnant. The couple had a girl who is currently in Senior Four at Nyakyera Secondary School. She played her housewifery roles and had seven more children.

Meanwhile, the three children she had been brought to care for are now married with children. “I decided to go back to school because I wanted to resurrect my dream of the education I lost during my childhood,” she explains. Her husband pays her fees and that of their children.

Active community member
Nyamwiza is sociable and active member of the leadership in her community. When she considered going back to school, Nyamwiza at the time was the LCI vice chairperson for Kigando village, head of village health teams in Kyamwasha parish, the mission coordinator for her local church, Kyamwasha Church of Uganda.

In her village, she ranked among the highly educated females having attained primary school education.
In her earlier school days, Nyamwiza was always the top pupil from Primary Two to Primary Five. One day, while doing house chores, Nyamwiza says she felt she had spent more time having babies than adding any other value to her profile.
“I was given many responsibilities in my village and in 2010, I was asked to lead women, children caregivers in three sub-counties of Rubaare, Kayonza and Rukoni which I undertook.

This enabled me to move to different places. While I was a good leader, I met people who spoke good English yet mine was very basic. With my leadership skills, I felt the need to go back to school and improve my English as well as enhance my leadership skills,” Nyamwiza recollects.