Press Statement: Uganda Telecom – False Sale Rumours (19.10.2016)

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Uganda Telecom Limited wishes to address the false and misleading stories that have been published in sections of the media, particularly in online publications, regarding the sale of the company. Uganda Telecom has not been sold nor is in the process of being sold.
Our two shareholders are working closely to ensure that the company strategy and business plan are implemented. Uganda Telecom continues to broaden its portfolio of services and remains dedicated to innovation and offering our customers the highest possible service levels.
For more information, please contact;
Tonny Achidria
Public Relations Officer|
Telephone House
Plot 2A-4A Speke Road | P O Box 7171 | Kampala – Uganda
Ext: +256 414 333781 | Mob: +256715968897 |

Letter: Bank of Uganda take over of the Management of Crane Bank Limited (20.10.2016)

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Letter to Staff:

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Statement on Trade and Law Enforcement in Kampala Capital City (19.10.2016)

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The Ministry of Kampala Capital City is aware of the grave status of trade disorder in Kampala Capital City which has culminated in traffic congestion, noise pollution, indiscriminate parking, unfair trade practices and competition. This has led to insecurity and violence on the streets of Kampala, particularly between the shop traders and street vendors.

Kampala Capital City is governed by the Constitution, Kampala Capital City Act, 2010 and the KCCA administers and enforces several Ordinances and bylaws including, the Kampala City (Maintenance of Law and Order) Ordinance, 2006, the Local Governments (Kampala City) (Street Traders) Bylaws, the Local Governments (Kampala City Council) (Licensing of Trade Persons) Ordinance, 2006 and these laws govern trade order.

We have received and discussed several petitions, views and concerns of various stakeholders and met with the political and technical leaders of Kampala to address the issues of trade order in the city. The Ministry has conducted a tour of the city, particularly the Central Business District and witnessed directly what the absence of trade order has reduced Kampala City to. We have received and considered various suggestions on how to resolve the street vending question and the Ministry has directed the Kampala Capital City Authority to provide medium and long term strategies on the improvement of trade order in the city.

Kampala Capital City Authority shall embark on an exercise to restore trade order, traffic order and development control in the city. (Page One)

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RSA: Oakbay Responds to Application by Minister of Finance (19.10.2016)

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 19, 2016 Yesterday afternoon, van Der Merwe Associates (“VDMA”) notified the Minister of Finance’s attorneys of their client’s (the Oakbay Group of companies) (www.OakbayInvestments.co.za) intention to oppose the application issued under case number 80978/16 on 14 October 2016 – unless the Minister of Finance withdraws the application and tenders costs by this afternoon – Wednesday 19 October.

VDMA’s letter noted that the Minister of Finance’s affidavit implicated its clients in inappropriate and unlawful conduct. The affidavit also insinuated that VDMA’s clients would “expose the fiscus not only to loss of tax revenue but also put the burden of mining rehabilitation on the fiscus.” which VDMA noted was “uncalled for, malicious and nothing but vexatious.”

VDMA’s client disproved this earlier this week with evidence of the transfer of the Optimum Rehabilitation Trust Fund from Standard Bank to Bank of Baroda, which followed a request by Advocate Thuli Madonsela on 4 October 2016.

VDMA advised its client to oppose the Minister of Finance’s application, obtain all the necessary information from the relevant role players and ask for punitive costs order against dismissal of the application.

VDMA’s letter also stated that the Minister of Finance’s letter has been launched with the financial resources of the tax payer. VDMA’s client does not dispute that Minister of Finance’s is not by law compelled or obliged to intervene in the relationship between VDMA’s clients and the commercial banks. However, VDMA noted that to spend tax payers’ money in “a reckless and inappropriate manner” would constitute a contravention of the provisions of the Public Management Act, No.1 of 1999 – which would warrant “further action against those officials responsible for same.”

Furthermore, VDMA noted that:

“In order that we do not expose the fiscus unnecessarily to costs we propose that the application be withdrawn” – that the Minister of Finance’s application is withdrawn and that the Minister of Finance’s tenders VDMA’s client’s costs, before close of business on 19 October 2016.

VDMA reiterated that the purpose of its letter was to offer the Minister of Finance the opportunity to save taxpayers money.

VDMA also noted that its clients “would like” to put their formal version before court since the Minister of Finance has chosen that forum, so if the application is not withdrawn then “the matter must proceed and we will gladly do the necessary in order to restore the misrepresentation created by the papers.”

VDMA concluded its letter by noting that the Minister of Finance had made “defamatory and untrue remarks towards members of the Gupta Family by insinuating that they have been involved in inappropriate conduct” and that “their rights remain strictly reserved.”

This morning, attorneys for the Minister of Finance declined the offer to withdraw the application and tender COSTs.

Bank of Uganda: Monetary Policy Statement for October 2016 (18.10.2016)

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“No need for Banking Regulations” are the memo from the leaked Goldman Sachs Speeches from Hillary Clinton!

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We have all now at some point if we have followed the news cycled heard about the Podesta leaks from Wikileaks; I have already had a few pieces on it and there is still lot’s detail that deserves to be looked and showed. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democratic Party Presidential Nominee and running with bravura in her campaign. This is because the leaks show the Democratic Party behavior and her real moderate political framework.

With her moderate mind and positive faith in Wall Street doing their own thing; the paid speeches and transcripts from Goldman Sachs show even more what kind of economic policies that her administration would put forward. If not what she would not do; here they are:

“*Clinton Said, With Dodd-Frank, There Was “A Need To Do Something Because For Political Reasons” Because Members Of Congress “Can’t Sit Idly By And Do Nothing.” *“And with political people, again, I would say the same thing, you know, there was a lot of complaining about Dodd-Frank, but there was also a need to do something because for political reasons, if you were an elected member of Congress and people in your constituency were losing jobs and shutting businesses and everybody in the press is saying it’s all the fault of Wall Street, you can’t sit idly by and do nothing, but what you do is really important.” [GS2, 10/24/13].

She has been saying that Dodd-Frank is a positive first step of regulation of the Wall Street after the too big to fail banks after the recession. Hillary Clinton is claiming that Dodd-Frank is the reason for American People losing jobs, not securing it through the regulations put forward, even how weak they are. Dodd-Frank is not perfect, but first step to regulate a market that has been free-for-all for ages. Therefore, a bank like Goldman Sachs wants to be totally free again!

*Tim O’Neill Told Clinton “We Really Did Appreciate It” When She Had Been “Courageous In Some Respects To Associated With Wall Street And This Environment.” *“MR. O’NEILL: By the way, we really did appreciate when you were the senator from New York and your continued involvement in the issues (inaudible) to be courageous in some respects to associated with Wall Street and this environment. Thank you very much. SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I don’t feel particularly courageous. I mean, if we’re going to be an effective, efficient economy, we need to have all part of that engine running well, and that includes Wall Street and Main Street. And there’s a big disconnect and a lot of confusion right now. So I’m not interested in, you know, turning the clock back or pointing fingers, but I am interested in trying to figure out how we come together to chart a better way forward and one that will restore confidence in, you know, small and medium-size businesses and consumers and begin to chip away at the unemployment rate. So it’s something that I, you know, if you’re a realist, you know that people have different roles to play in politics, economics, and this is an important role, but I do think that there has to be an understanding of how what happens here on Wall Street has such broad consequences not just for the domestic but the global economy, so more thought has to be given to the process and transactions and regulations so that we don’t kill or maim what works, but we concentrate on the most effective way of moving forward with the brainpower and the financial power that exists here.” [GS2, 10/24/13].

Here again, Clinton are saying it is the people who doesn’t see the engine of Wall Street and their works, they are not understanding the efforts of Wall Street to the Main Street. What she is saying is that people should visit Wall Street and therefore understand their actions that effects global and local activity. The People are supposed to be proud of the Wall Street and their ways the businesses acts. So the Moderate Clinton is praising the greedy and mechanisms that eats of the plate without consideration of Main Street America.

*Speaking About Financial Regulations, Clinton Said “The People That Know The Industry Better Than Anybody Are The People Who Work In The Industry.” *“There’s nothing magic about regulations, too much is bad, too little is bad. How do you get to the golden key, how do we figure out what works? And the people that know the industry better than anybody are the people who work in the industry.” [GS2, 10/24/13].

This point Clinton has done before, she has so little faith in regulations, as with Dodd-Frank that she praised her involvement in, still with Goldman Sachs she acts that it is problem. This with the regulations that are keeping the banks regulated and to act to a standard instead of following their greed instead of serving their costumers and citizens; the banks are nobody without accounts and costumers who are earning money, not only the stakeholders and Wall Street cynic attitude that yield positive results. Something that regulators have to consider so that the people’s tax-money is not doled on banks who has earned on the blood of the common man as it happen after recession. Something Dodd-Frank we’re out to stop!

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*Clinton Said “I Represented All Of You For Eight Years. I Had Great Relations And Worked So Close Together After 9/11 To Rebuild Downtown.” *“I represented all of you for eight years. I had great relations and worked so close together after 9/11 to rebuild downtown, and a lot of respect for the work you do and the people who do it, but I do — I think that when we talk about the regulators and the politicians, the economic consequences of bad decisions back in ’08, you know, were devastating, and they had repercussions throughout the world.” [GS2, 10/24/13].

That the repercussions we’re because of the free-markets we’re allowed to make sophisticated business-models that earned the bankers and not the citizens who risked it all on the real-estate market and borrowed through the roof. The Dodd-Frank we’re to stop these mechanisms; if regulations are so bad than the people are used to blead so the bankers can live life like real-life Gatsby! Is that what Clinton really wants in her moderate world?

*Clinton Said “Banks Are Not Doing What They Need To Do Because They’re Scared Of Regulations, They’re Scared Of The Other Shoe Dropping.” *“I mean, right now, there are so many places in our country where the banks are not doing what they need to do because they’re scared of regulations, they’re scared of the other shoe dropping, they’re just plain scared, so credit is not flowing the way it needs to to restart economic growth. So people are, you know, a little — they’re still uncertain, and they’re uncertain both because they don’t know what might come next in terms of regulations, but they’re also uncertain because of changes in a global economy that we’re only beginning to take hold of.” [GS2, 10/24/13].

So the continued praise of anti-regulations, the moderate free-market and belief that the banks can monitor themselves. She is saying to them that Dodd-Frank and such is bad! That the people of Goldman Sachs hearing that they could be allowed to do anything. This is what we can expect from her now and I am not surprised, it’s not like these banks wants to be regulated and have the Federal Government telling them how to act. They are regulated for the safety of the costumers, which is the people and also the Stakeholders doesn’t blead blood out of stones. Something Clinton believes in or selling Goldman Sachs. Peace.

Ethiopia: the Government are apparently using all means to silence the citizens under the current ‘State of Emergency’!

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The State of Emergency that came recently is a precautions move; to establish in essence the legality to oppress the regions of Amhara and Oromia under the TPLF or Ethiopia People Revolutionary Democratic Front that goes after civilians to keep the Tigray-Government in power in Addis Ababa.

Here is the main fixes to keep the stalemate and continue to violate the citizens’ rights under the oppressive behaviour of Agazi Squad; not only killing civilians, but going from houses to stop the congregations of peaceful demonstrations. That’s been going on for months that the citizens’ have demonstrated against the Central Government; something that has not gone well with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Here is the details of the State of Emergency that will last for six months to shut-down peaceful demonstrations that been gaining momentum in Oromia and Amhara.

Exchange of Messages:

“The state run media outlets on Saturday published details of the law as presented by the head of the command post secretariat in charge of the state of emergency and minister of defense, Siraj Fergessa” (…) “The emergency law prohibits the exchange of messages and information via the internet, cell phones, social media, television and radio” (ESAT, 2016).

Firstly the law now is not allowing the people to use common communication channels as modern and older technologies to spread information. This is happening as there have already shut-down the Internet, therefore the activists want the citizens to use VPN connections through MeshKit and FireChat. This is because the Central Government have even silenced the phone-lines as well, to stop the information from the area go to the people.

Holding Demonstrations:

“Publishing and distributing documents, holding demonstrations, showing protest gestures, importing and exporting published materials were also prohibited by the law” (ESAT, 2016).

Secondly publishing and distributing document together with holding demonstrations are now illegal, as much as the hand-gesture like holding fists is now banned from Central Government. The Central Government are showing really that they don’t let the people spread information or holding demonstrations. This together now with gestures or publish any materials. So these materials and documents are supposed to lead to demonstrations, therefore they are illegal because the government doesn’t want to see it. This proves that citizens are not allowed to demonstrate against a regime that is now currently not allowing the citizens to have a VOICE!

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Watching ESAT and OMN is banned:

“The law specifically mentioned  two independent media outlets abroad and banned the public from watching and listening to television and radio  programming by the Ethiopian Satellite Radio and Television (ESAT) and Oromo Media Network. The law gives power to security forces to monitor  and block messages transmitted via television, radio and movie theatres” (ESAT, 2016).

Thirdly, the Central Government who is not allowing spreading information or even gestures, that are silencing the voices of people. That the Central Government are banning two Channels directly Ethiopia Satellite Radio and Television (ESAT) and Oromo Media Network (OMN); this is the government is controlling the media and not allowing other news from being spread to the citizens. That is because they are not sending the massaged messages and statements that Government Spokesperson Getachew Reda wants to broadcast to save face for the oppressive regime.

Strikes are banned too!

“According to the law, strikes by workers as well as businesses and closing government offices in protest are illegal. The law says protests by students in universities, colleges and higher institutions of learning are also outlawed. The law gives power to security forces to take any action they deemed necessary against students who stage protest rallies” (ESAT, 2016).

Fourthly, the Workers are just to labour and not to ask about their rights, their wages or do anything about it. They are just too be happy with their place and salaries, working hours and not question the behaviour of their bosses and the labours safety. Together with the students who is not allowed to question the Central Government under the ‘State of Emergency’ as the civil society cannot spread information or watch certain channels; therefore the wages and workers are to be in the period not demonstrate for their wage or working hours; even if their wrong or not just for the labourers in Ethiopia. The #AddisTaxiStrike is not allowed to happen in the next 6 months… because of the EPRDF silence everybody who thinks about addressing the misgivings of the authoritarian regime.

Diplomates banned from travelling:

“The emergency law stipulates that diplomats cannot travel beyond 40 kms radius outside the capital without prior authorization and permission from the command post” (ESAT, 2016).

Fifth, the diplomates and dignitaries are not allowed and banned from movement, I wonder if the American Diplomates we’re to travel to Amhara or Oromia if they would be directly sent back to Addis Ababa. If not if they would end in jail like the Swedish Journalists in recent years. As the Oppressive behaviour doesn’t want Human Rights Activists and Diplomates who are connected with allies and such to travel into the regions to see the violence and oppression from the Central Government.

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Police Force intact:

“Members of the police and security forces cannot take leave of absence or resign in the duration of the state of emergency” (ESAT, 2016).

Sixth, the Police Force and Security Forces are to be stable in the levels it is now. The Security Organizations like the Army and Agazi Force is to be there to silence the Civil Societies and the people of the regions use their forces to kill the spirit, the people and the means to silence them by any means. This means they are now occupying the regions with soldiers and artillery without any consideration of the people as they are just to work and not question the legitimacy of the Central Government in Addis Ababa.

Curfew:

“A curfew is in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time in areas where there are economic infrastructures, factories, agricultural projects and other investments. The law also authorizes security forces to take whatever measure necessary against people who violate the curfew” (ESAT, 2016).

Seventh, so the people who are just to work, not to listen or see reports or news from others than who are accepted from the Central Government of the EPRDF. So the demonstrations are not illegal, they are extending it to be indoors from after work time; if the people tries to avoid this than the Agazi Squad to detain or use any means to stop them. This leaves the people with fixed salaries and with no freedom or liberty of their movement while the ‘State of Emergency’ is in effect!

Security forces can do what they please:

“Security forces are given permission to search and arrest anyone and confiscate possessions without a court warrant, according to the law” (…) “The emergency law also give security forces the power to take any action to defend themselves from any threat or attack” (ESAT, 2016).

Eight, the Agazi Forces and Soldiers, even Police can arrest anyone as they please, they don’t need charges or any signs of illegal activity. The people are designed to be sinners or violators as the citizens are guilty before there are innocent under the current Central Government. The Ethiopian Government have made people and their illegitimate activity into a feast of oppressive behaviour. The next level is to ban work and harvest so they can just die on the side of the roads of Gonder or Mendi. I am sure by the new laws, they are not allowed to be die or be buried; as the people are just supposed to be silenced by the TPLF.

This is so sad, that the Central Government is issuing this sort of acts and activities that are done with the cookbook of oppressive behaviour. They are using any ingredient to stop the people, the citizens from being [citizen’s] and they don’t want the foreign powers to know anything about their violence towards the citizens. Therefore I am calling it not aggression, but calling it an occupation of Amhara and Oromia regions, as the Central Government do not want to accept the demonstrations against them. Peace.   

Reference:

ESAT News – ‘Ethiopian authorities release details of state of emergency’ (15.10.2016) link: http://ethsat.com/ethiopian-authorities-release-details-state-emergency/

Uganda: Alleged Irregularities in the Procurement for Management and Collection of Revenue from Nyamayenje Market (19.09.2016)

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Other Documents:

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Explaination of the documents: 

“Today the Town Clerk of Rukungiri Municipal Council Otim Andrew Kibwota was described as the most un serious accounting officer by the members of Rukungiri District Public Accounts Committee.Mean while all Councillors of Rukungiri Municipal council have unanimously voted to chase away this Town Clerk who is never in office and only comes when he hears that government has released some money and comes to withdraw it and share it with the Mayor Charles Makuru(Endira Kukyinduka) and Treasurer one Andrew Byaruhanga” (John Kakugombe, 30.09.2016).

Kenya: Press Statement addressing Budgetary Allocation in Counties (14.10.2016)

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Members of the Press,
Citizens of Kenya,
We address you today after recent coverage in the dailies portraying counties to be misusing funds allocated to them. County Governments have achieved much since the inception of the devolved system of governance and each county can readily demonstrate what they have achieved in each sector.
In line with this, the Council of Governors would like to clarify some things and the set the record straight.
ACCESS TO OVERDRAFT FACILITIES
• Counties are now able to access overdrafts from the Central bank for operations at 5% of the latest audited revenue and to be repaid within a year.
• The Central Bank of Kenya is in the process of preparing guideline since they have clearance from the Attorney General on the interpretation of the law in line with Article 212(b) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and Sec 140(1) of the PFM Act 2012.
The borrowing will cushion Counties financial constraints necessitated by delay in disbursement of the equitable share from the National Treasury.

UTILIZATION OF FUNDS BY COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
• According to the Controller of Budgets report for the past nine months, County Governments spent Kshs.7.15 billion on domestic and foreign travel of which Kshs.2.9Billion by the County Assembly and Kshs.4.115 Billion by the County Executive.
• The National Government Ministries and departments spent Kshs.8.023Billion in the same period of which Kshs.2.6Billion was spent by the National Assembly.
• The report further indicates that the National Government spent Kshs.107.862Billion being 26.9% of the total recurrent expenditure (Kshs.400.33Billion) on other unclassified expenditure.

WHAT DEVOLUTION HAS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE OF KENYA
• Since the advent of devolution, there is evidence to show that the people of Kenya have experienced a lot of positive change especially in service delivery. Health services are more accessible in the rural areas and more affordable. In 2012, there were 8,466 health centers and dispensaries, currently the numbers stand at 10,032 health facilities.
• Counties have employed more health care personnel. In 2013 there were 874 doctors and 6,620 nurses, the statics today stand at 1,302 doctors and 8,903 nurses in the county health facilities.
• Infant mortality rate has dropped to 39% per every 1000 live births as opposed 62% per every 1000 live births before devolution.
• In Agriculture there has been an increase in crop and livestock production. 132 Value addition projects have been instituted in 34 Counties; 1,021 greenhouses installed in 36 Counties; and 911 cattle dips have been constructed and rehabilitated in 28 Counties.
• 541,627 farmers have access to extension services with the aim of improving productivity.
• Counties have witnessed a 20% increase in enrollment of students in the ECD centers. In 2013, the ECD enrollment stood at 1,691,286, today it stands at 2,074,060. Additionally, 30,049 teachers and assistants have been recruited to cater for the increased enrollment.
• County Governments have refurbished over 598 centers, built over 5,951 ECD centers and equipped them with desks in a bid to ensuring that pre-school children learn in a conducive environment.
• Counties have embraced innovative and advanced technologies like the Pro-base road construction technology which is cost effective, durable and easy to maintain. Between 2013 and 2016, County Governments have tarmacked 379 kilometers of road and constructed 35,934 kilometers of all-weather road. Furthermore, 19,148 kilometers of new roads have been opened up and 9,572 kilometers of road rehabilitated.
• In trade, new markets for locals have been constructed to facilitate trade in the counties. The numbers of markets have grown from 362 markets to 651 markets.
• In 2013, there were 1,396 cooperatives which have since grown to 1,806 cooperatives with a turnover of KES 56 billion. The Cooperative societies in Kenya are now employing more than 300,000 people besides providing opportunities for self-employment to many more.

Zimbabwe Youth Council Statement on the Support Rendered by the Minister of High & Tertiary Education through ZIMDEF (11.10.2016)

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