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Showing posts from April, 2024

EFRIS is here to stay. Goobi tells off protesting Traders

Ramathan Goobi - PSST {Photo credit - file} By Jose Kabale  The Permanent Secretary, also Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Goobi has assured the traders that the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) is not about to be suspended because it's legal. Goobi said this during the media brief of the state of economy and the fourth quarter expenditure release for the financial year 2023/2024 at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development conference hall in Kampala today. Last Monday, business activities in downtown Kampala, particularly in the Kikuubo hub, were disrupted as some traders opted to close their shops in protest over various concerns regarding business concerns that include issues with tax policy and administration, particularly the 18 % VAT imposed on every sold commodity and the enforcement of the electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), which traders allege it lacks sufficient sensitization among the business commun

NUP blasts 500m "Service Award" extended to the out going AG

NUP's SG David Lewis Rubongoya {Photo Credit - File} By Jose Kabale On Tuesday, the Ugandan Parliament chaired by Anita Annet Among approved the motion which requested for an extension of a 500m gratuity to the outgoing Auditor General John Muwanga. The proposal, that was presented at the floor of Parliament by the state minister for Finance/General Duties Henry Musasizi, he proposed that the outgoing Auditor General John Muwanga should be allowed a 500m on top of a life-time salary which is equivalent to that of a sitting officer, a state burial upon death, a  furnished house, a one-off payment in lieu of accommodation, an annual medical allowance, provisions for transportation, security among others. According to NUP's Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, the act is a move to sanitize the Parliamentary leadership of the previous accusations leveled against them of graft and misappropriation of public funds. "The one of the Auditor General is meant to sanitize the se

Eid Al fitr, Mufti Mubajje encourages Muslims to go for PDM

Mufti Mubajje during the Eid Al Fitr prayers at the National Mosque in Kampala By Jose Kabale The grand Mufti of Uganda His Eminence Sheikh Shaban Ramathan Mubajje has endorsed the Parish Development Model, one of the government programs aimed at fighting household poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of Ugandans. Since the launching of the government led - initiative on January 26 in 2022, Muslims have been insouciant in their response in consideration of the "Riba" Islamic guideline that forbids Muslims from engaging in loans. Shortly before leading Eid Al Fitr prayer at the Old Kampala based National Mosque this morning, Mufti Mubajje said that it has been established that the PDM funds do not conflict with the set Islamic laws and went ahead on encouraging the Muslim community to embrace and participate in it. "After being explained by His Excellence the President, this money is not a loan, it's a donation to the beneficiaries of PDM at the Parish, therefore goi

Egyptian Nationals vending Utensils arrest Ugandans

Simon  Peter  Mundeyi while addressing the  P ress in Naguru last Monday By Jose Kabale According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the illegal immigrants, purportedly of Egyptian origin, are in the communities' hawking utensils at a hire purchase by collecting Ugandans' National Identity cards as collateral security. While addressing journalists at the Police headquarters in Kampala yesterday, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Peter Mundeyi condemned this unpleasant trend and tasked Ugandans to report them to the authorities whenever they surface. "It's very wrong for you the citizen of Uganda to get your national ID or passport and hand it over to a foreigner whose details or particulars you cannot actually tell in the name of getting utensils, saucepans,  P lates, on credit." Said Mundeyi. The areas where the vice has been reported in country so far are Mpigi, Kampala, Iganga, and as far as Gulu district. The Ministry of Internal Af

Uganda Prisons register over 5000 cases of the contagious Red eyes infection

Frank Baine, prisons spokesperson while speaking to press on Monday at Naguru. Photo - JK By our reporter While addressing the media at Naguru Police headquarters in Kampala today, the Spokesperson Frank Baine noted that approximately 5905 cases have so far been registered, of which 4704 have fully recovered, 1201 are still active and under treatment. Baine added that there are currently no critical cases and have never registered any deaths. The outbreak of the Conjunctivitis {Red Eyes disease} was confirmed by the Kampala Capital City Authority {KCCA} and the ministry of health early last month. Earlier today, Baine implored members of the public who wish to visit the inmates to first ascertain that they are not infected to avoid spreading the infection.  He also highlighted on the prisons facilities that have been so far affected by the infection as follows. Machison Bay prison Kasanda Prison Lira Main  Prison Mbarara  Prison Nakasongola  Prison Ngoma  Prison Kiyunga  Prison Luzira

Expect more torrential rains in April - UNMA

Courtesy photo {photo credit-internet} By Jose Kabale The Uganda National Metrological Authority (UNMA), a government agency mandated to inform and guide the nation about weather and climate changes, has warned the public about a most likely enhanced rainfall than the usual over most parts of the country. In a Press statement published on April 3rd, 2024, UNMA stated that the month of April shall be characterized by peak seasonal rainfall (Above - Normal) for March, April and May season which will be associated with thunderstorms and lightning over most parts of the country. According to UNMA, the Prime causes of this is attributed to the weakening state of the El-Nino episode (the Pacific Warm Pool), the intensification of the intra-seasonal variation of Madden Julian Osciliations (MJO),the current neutral phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the orientation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the country and the contribution of the local physical features like inland

Traffic Police: roads to be cutoff for motorists' access and preserved for the runners and birthday run participants.

By Jose Ka bale Traffic Police in the Kampala Metropolitan area has issued traffic guidelines ahead of the forthcoming Buganda King birthday run. Road users especially motorists, expect traffic diversions at the following roads, The Ring Road, that surrounds the Lubiri palace. The Kabaka Anjagala road, which connects the palace main gate to the Masengere building or Bulange Mengo. The road that joins Masaka road from Lubiri Ring Road. Mwanga II road. Musajja Alumbwa road. Mengo hill road. Nalongo road junction, the one which joins Lubiri road. Motorists from Entebbe Road to Masaka road will be required to navigate through the city center then connect to Old Kampala. Similarly, motorists from Masaka road will be required to stretch up to Kibuye round about, then proceed to the city center. In the same vein, Arinaitwe implored the participants, and the general public to observe discipline and adhere to the prescribed guidelines for a safe successful event. Meanwhile, the Child and Family

Police warns politicians against politicizing Kabaka Birthday Run

Luke Owesigyire {middle} during a security briefing held at Bulange Mengo today. {Photo credit - Jose K} Jose Kabale Ahead of the Buganda Kabaka Birthday run, an event that precedes his birthday, the security agencies have issued various directives to ensure safety of the participants and the public in general. Being a social - cultural event, the KMP spokesperson Luke Owesigyire deemed it imperative to sound a warning to political opportunists to desist from interfering with the event which is a few hours away. “It's imperative to emphasize that the event is a cultural celebration for the kingdom, and we discourage any attempts to politicization.” Said Owesigyire The Kabaka Birthday Run is a highly anticipated event on the Buganda Kingdom’s calendar as it precedes the celebration of the Kabaka, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, birthday which champions noble causes that resonate with the nationals' affairs. Just like the previous year, this year’s theme, “Men against AIDS to save the

Ministry of Finance Launches Braille Version of FY 2023/24 National Budget

  The Braille and Audio-Visual Version of the Citizen's guide to the budget {2023/24} which was launched today [Photo credit - JK} By Jose Kabale KAMPALA  Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and other Stakeholders have launched the Braille and Audio - Visual versions of the Citizen’s Guide to the budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024. With this, both the hearing and visually impaired individuals are able to read and comprehend the content encrypted in the Citizen’s Guide to the National Budget thence promoting inclusivity, accessibility and citizenship participation in the National budget processes. Paul Mwanja, who represented the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi at the MoFPED conference hall, noted that the Braille version will help to disseminate information about the Budget processes to even those who are unable to read or hear compared to the other platforms used. “We majorly communicate the information on the Budget to our stakeh

Gov't warned against the new Tax proposals

Alice Alaso addressing a press conference at the ANT head office in Kampala today.{Photo credit - JK} By Jose Kabale Kampala - The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Political party has advised the government of Uganda to desist from implementing the fresh proposed new set of taxes under the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2024 which was tabled in Parliament last Thursday. The proposed taxes which were introduced to parliament by the state minister for Finance in charge of General Duties Henry Musasizi, are classified under five sets, which include the. Income Tax Amendment Bill, 2024,  Value Added Tax Amendment Bill, 2024,  Tax Procedures Code Amendment Bill ,2024,  The Exercise Duty Amendment Bill, 2024 and  The Stamp Duty Amendment Bill 2024. In regard to the Exercise Duty Tax proposal, the government moves to impose a UgShs1230 tax on every gas oil litre, a 1550 UgShs Tax on every paraffin liter,  a 5% withholding tax on gains from sale of land in cities and Municipalities, sale

Court dismisses petition against Anti-Homosexuality Act.

By our Reporter Kampala - Wednesday April 3rd, the constitutional court in Kampala dismissed the controversial petition seeking nullification of the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 which happen to be one of the toughest laws in the world. While as the court acknowledged the violation of individual rights by the act which requires members of the public to report every suspicious act of homosexuality, the court decisively supported the law. " We decline to nullify the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 in its entirety, neither will we grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement." The president of Uganda signed the bill into law on May 26th, 2023, which prompted several human rights activists lodge four petitions in the constitutional court demanding for the suspension of the law accusing the act of threatening human rights. The decision delivered by a panel of five justices led by the deputy chief Justice, Richard Buteera nullified Sections 3(2)(c), 9, 11(2)(d) and 14 of the Ant

2 arrested over Penis found in food of Kampala restaurant

  By Jose Kabale Kampala The Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) has instituted a probe into the circumstances under which a local restaurant in Kampala allegedly served what the complainant believes to be a young male's genitalia in his food. According to Police, the customer had just started eating rice, matooke and beef stew meal when he noticed a suspicious flesh. He consequently inquired from the waitress and the eatery owner who seemed not to have an idea as they reasoned that they had bought the meet from the butchery. After informing Police, detectives visited the scene and collected the alleged genital flesh for investigation. While addressing the weekly security presser at Naguru police headquarters in Kampala yesterday, the Deputy KMP police spokesperson Luke Owesigyire stated that both the local restaurant owner and the waitress had been released on a police bond as they wait for the report from police forensic experts. " We submitted this to pathologists and we are

One charged for defrauding 200 people as MK movement official

Mubaraka Iguma, the suspect {Photo credit - @upf} By our reporter DESK - The suspect, identified as Iguma Mubaraka, 33 years old, was arrested by the Gulu police detectives for allegedly Obtaining money by false pretense from over 200 unsuspecting members of the public under the pretext of registering them into Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) formerly MK MOVEMENT, a political ambitious project patronized by the first son, who doubles as the Commander Defense Forces (CDF) Muhoozi Kainerugaba. According to Police, Iguma, defrauded about 200 people in Elegu district, posturing as MK movement official who would help them reach Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for assistance but only after paying an unspecified amount of money. The victims fall in various categories like Boda-boda riders, market vendors, taxi operators, salon and bars operators. According to the police spokesperson Fred Enanga, there are several documents which were recovered on the suspect upon search which revealed false statements

Police shoots 2 dead during a vicious operation against criminals

Fred Enanga addressing the media on Tuesday at Naguru Police head office {Photo credit - JK} By Jose Kabale Kampala Addressing the weekly security presser at Naguru police headquarters in Kampala today, the Police spokesperson Fred Enanga acknowledged the spike in crime activities during the 5 days, and as well highlighted on the expeditious actions undertaken to contain the situation among which includes launching of a crackdown against the notorious criminal self-managed syndicate which has been terrorizing people around the Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road, Nakasero, Katanga and Kyezi traffic lights, Kindi zone, in Kampala. According to Police, members of the public had complained about the gang's robbing activities, which prompted them to execute a vicious operation in which they opened fire that compromised the lives of the two suspected criminals following the victims' attempted to attack the officers with machetes and iron bars. " In the course of the operation, the criminals