Tanzania: Nacogdoches eye doctor traveling to Tanzania to help Albino children

Tanzania:
Nacogdoches eye doctor traveling to Tanzania to help Albino children
NACOGDOCHES, TX (KTRE) -
A Nacogdoches eye doctor will be traveling to Tanzania, Africa next week with Step by Step Missions to give low vision devices to nearly 200 Albino kids.

It's a little known fact that people with albinism have low vision.

"If you're born with albinism, you are visually impaired. Every one of them are. Usually their vision ranges from 2100 to 2400," said Dr. Ashley Risner, an optometrist with the Nacogdoches Eye Associates.

This is one of the reason's why Risner, who specializes in low vision rehabilitation, will be traveling to Tanzania on May 3.

"It's fairly rare in the United States, it's only about 1 in 20,000 people with albinism versus in Tanzania it's 1 in 2,000 people," said Risner.

In Tanzania, people with albinism are considered magical and are hunted by witch doctors and sometimes killed.

"The government has set up these safe houses and homes for the children to go to and a lot of parents give them up because they think that there is something wrong with them," said Risner.

Risner is one of twelve optometrists in the state who works with low vision patients. She will be donating nearly 200 low vision eye kits to kids from age zero to twenty.

"The reason why there is a visual impairment is because the photo receptors, the cells inside the eye into the retina and into the optic nerve and brain, are actually made up of pigment cells. Of course, albinism people have less pigmentation so they have less pigmentation in the eyes so the signal doesn't get through as easily," said Risner.

She will be using her skills and low vision devices, like the dome magnifier, to help albino kids read and write.

"I just saw how it could change someone's life and it does. I see that all the time," said Risner.

This will be Risner's first trip to Africa and she is excited to see the look on the kid's faces when they realize they can finally see.

"I work with that type of patient here in the United States so I wanted to do what I could," said Risner.

She will also be traveling with e3 Partners to Tanzania and says she has received funds for all of the eye kits from donations.

Copyright 2013 KTRE. All rights reserved.

Tanzania: Indian Medicines Impress African Buyers

Tanzania:
Indian Medicines Impress African Buyers


Mumbai, India — THE African drugs buyers are the darling of the sellers at the ongoing Mumbai's pharmaceutical show, as the continent poises to be the leading corridor for the India's medicine export market.

This has been experienced at the ongoing International Exhibition for Pharma and Healthcare (iPHEX) 2013 co-located with Pharma Pro&Pack Expo 2013.The Africans are not only leading the buyers' pact but also have sent a large number of regulators and ministry of health officials to attend the iPHEX 2013 in Mumbai, India.

The 'Daily News' witnessed sellers calling and trying to woo African buyers whether in medicine, healthcare solutions or pharma-manufacturing equipment and technology, more than any other visitors.The sellers, after succeeding to woo an African, the first question is:- Are you from Nigeria... "

According to some participants here, Nigeria is the biggest market as it has lesser stringent regulations and laws on drug registration and good manufacturing practice (GMP) and also huge population.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, said India is building a huge warehouse in Nigeria to ease businesses and facilitate exports procedures in a bid to boost Delhi's global market share.

"This sector has a huge potential with its export rate currently at 13 US billion dollars... it's expected to double in the next two years," Mr Chavan said during the opening ceremony.

"To further the growth story (Indian) companies should also focus on innovation along with expansion through exports of the generics to make us all-rounder," the Chief Minister said.

To show their seriousness, India pharma-industry will hold an exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria this October that is complete for medicine, manufacturer equipment and related business. Kenya is slated for next year.

"Are you from Nigeria! We have good (pharma) machines ranging from processing plants to solution," a Fabtec International sale Nareej Shukri told this reporter."'Naturally, almost equipment buyers from Africa hail from Nigeria," the salesman said.

Uganda: Group: Sudan army supporting fugitive warlord Kony

Uganda:
Group: Sudan army supporting fugitive warlord Kony


FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2006, file photo, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army Joseph Kony answers journalists' questions following a meeting with UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland at Ri-Kwangba in southern Sudan. A report by the watchdog group Resolve on Friday, April 26, 2013, says the fugitive African warlord Joseph Kony recently found safe haven in territory along the Sudan-South Sudan border, controlled by Sudan and that Kony benefits from Sudanese military support.

STUART PRICE, FILE, POOL / AP PHOTO

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/26/3366000/group-sudan-army-supporting-fugitive.html#storylink=cpy

BY RODNEY MUHUMUZA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KAMPALA, Uganda -- The fugitive African warlord Joseph Kony recently found safe haven in territory controlled by Sudan, a watchdog group said Friday, accusing the Sudanese military of offering aid to commanders of the Lord's Resistance Army.

The U.S.-based group Resolve said in a new report that Kony recently directed killings from an enclave protected by the Sudanese military. Until early this year, according to the report, Kony and some of his commanders were operating in Kafia Kingi, a disputed area along the Sudan-South Sudan border where African Union troops tasked with catching Kony don't have access.

"The enclave is currently controlled by Sudan, and numerous eyewitness reports indicate that elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Kafia Kingi have actively sheltered senior LRA commanders there and provided them with limited material support," the report said. "According to LRA defectors and other sources, LRA leader Joseph Kony himself first traveled to the Kafia Kingi enclave in 2010. He returned to Kafia Kingi in 2011 and was present there throughout parts of 2012."

In a series of makeshift camps near a Sudanese army barracks, Kony "continued to direct LRA attacks against civilians in neighboring countries and issue new orders for LRA fighters."

The Ugandan military - with support from U.S. military advisers - is the driving force behind the hunt for Kony. Ugandan army spokesman Col. Felix Kulayigye said the report vindicates Uganda's contention that the LRA is a beneficiary of Sudanese support. Ugandan army officials said late last year they believed Kony was hiding in Sudan-controlled territory, although now they believe he has moved elsewhere.

"We always knew Kony was hiding in Kafia Kingi," he said. "The way forward is that no country should be hiding a wanted criminal."

Kony watchdog groups are concerned that Kony can retreat to Kafia Kingi whenever his pursuers get close. Resolve said it has satellite imagery of the now-abandoned camp where Kony was reportedly seen in late 2012. The warlord is no longer believed to be hiding there, the report noted, saying he may have crossed to Central African Republic.

Sudan has consistently denied charges it supports Kony, a warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Kony's LRA, which originated in Uganda in the 1980s as a popular tribal uprising against the government, has become notorious for recruiting children as fighters and forcing girls to be sex slaves. Military pressure forced the LRA out of Uganda in 2005, and the rebels scattered across parts of central Africa. LRA fighters are now believed to be operating mainly in the jungles of Congo and Central African Republic.

Ugandan Brig. Dick Olum, the top commander of African forces hunting for Kony, recently said he believed Kony had crossed to Central African Republic, where last month rebels deposed a president and expressed hostility toward foreign troops operating in the country. The lack of cooperation from the new government there forced the African Union to suspend military operations against Kony, who over the years has taken advantage of porous borders and weak governments to regroup.

The LRA is vastly diminished from previous years, and its forces now don't exceed 500, according Brig. Olum. Many of Kony's fighters have defected in the past year, and some of his top lieutenants have been captured or killed in combat. Last year an LRA commander believed to be Kony's military strategist was seized by Ugandan troops.

Sudan's support for Kony threatens progress made against the LRA, said the new report by Resolve.

"Unless addressed, it will also enable LRA leaders to outlast current counter-LRA operations," the report said. "Though international diplomats and military officials working to stop LRA attacks privately acknowledge recent LRA movement in Kafia Kingi, they have not adopted realistic strategies to prevent further support from Sudan to Kony's forces."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/26/3366000/group-sudan-army-supporting-fugitive.html#storylink=cpy

Uganda: MTN Uganda successfully launches LTE network in Uganda, making it one of the first in the region

Uganda: MTN Uganda successfully launches LTE network in Uganda, making it one of the first in the region MTN yesterday became the first mobile operator in Uganda, and one of the very first in the region, to successfully launch a long-term evolution (LTE) network. LTE is the latest technology in the world with the fastest Internet speeds of up to 100Mbps, giving customers the most seamless experience in data services. Popularly known as 4G, LTE is a ‘standard for wireless communication of high-speed data for data terminals and mobile phones’. LTE data networks provide mobile ultra-broadband Internet access. “We are happy to claim another first in Uganda with this momentous announcement, as MTN Uganda successfully launches its LTE network, offering world-class Internet services to our customers. What is even more pleasing is that we've done this ahead of many other advanced economies around the world,” says Ernst Fonternel, MTN Uganda’s Chief Marketing Officer. The launch of LTE represents a major stride in mobile connectivity capabilities in Uganda. The service offers almost triple the speed of any existing mobile connection available commercially in Uganda and in the region. “This launch further emphasises MTN’s commitment to not just transforming its own network, but also the businesses of its corporate and SME customers, while contributing positively to the overall development of the ICT sector in Uganda,” Fonternel adds. For the customer, this means you can download large files in no time, stream music videos and HD movies without buffering, and upload pictures without delay. These services will significantly transform the way you interact with the world. “The higher LTE speeds will give our customers lower latency, which translates into a much more stable user experience. The technology’s impressive speeds create endless possibilities for the user, including instantaneous music and picture downloads,” says Fonternel. “Our challenge isn't keeping ahead of the other operators. It’s keeping ahead of the tidal wave of data demand both in our country and in the region. Last year, we launched our 21.6Mbps data network, and last month we rolled out our 42Mbps data network, and now LTE. In all these innovations, we have been the first, and our intention is to continue pushing boundaries so that our customers enjoy world-class Internet.” MTN’s LTE service will initially be available in greater Kampala, with other towns to follow in the near future. There are currently 20 locations that have been fully integrated onto the LTE network. Furthermore, LTE-capable dongles will be on sale at selected MTN outlets. Fonternel says the commercial launch of LTE is part of a bigger network transformation plan that MTN has been undertaking over the past few years in order to give its customers world-class services. Over the last two years, MTN has made major investments in its data infrastructure in Uganda, expanded the mobile distribution foot print, and greatly enhanced the mobile core, radio capacity and network infrastructure. MTN Uganda launched the first mobile money service in Uganda with tremendous success. It was recently ranked second in the worldwide sample for the number of active mobile money accounts as per GSM Association’s 2012 Survey. MTN Uganda was also recently named Uganda’s Number 1 Leading Superbrand, and was voted as the Best Mobile Telephone Service Provider of the Year in the Uganda Responsible Investment Awards 2013. MTN was voted for by the people of Uganda in appreciation and recognition of its contribution towards the promotion of international best practices and standards. “MTN’s vision is to lead the delivery of a bold, new digital world to our customers. MTN Uganda is embracing this vision through constant enhancements to our data network to deliver world-class Internet and make our customers’ lives a whole lot brighter,” says Fonternel. Since MTN was launched in Uganda in 1998, it has made major investments in the country. In 2012 alone, its capex investments exceeded $80 million. This investment was mainly in expanding the network infrastructure to support the mobile subscriber growth as well as the rollout of new, innovative products and digital solutions. MTN Uganda plans to invest an additional $70 million in 2013 towards further infrastructure development. “In terms of network infrastructure, MTN Uganda has deployed 2 800km of fibre backbones achieved with multiple layers and rings to protect customer experience across all national regions and provide dedicated business solutions to SMEs and corporate enterprises. Another 400km of fibre is currently under deployment between Mutundwe, in Kampala, and Kyenjojo district, in Western Uganda, and should be completed within the coming months,” says Rami Farah, MTN Uganda’s Chief Technical Officer. Furthermore, MTN Uganda extended the fibre network backbone and built five regional switching centres in the East, West, North and Central regions. MTN also built a fibre-optic cable through Tanzania into Rwanda, providing an alternative data capacity route through Katuna into Uganda. MTN Uganda has, over the last six months, rolled out approximately 100 new base transmission sites to new coverage areas while commissioning another batch of capacity sites to enhance the quality of network services. MTN Uganda currently has more than 1 100 network sites across all regions in Uganda. “The continuous capex investment by MTN is aimed at providing our customers with the best possible user experience across the country. We would like to ensure consistent and reliable network quality for all existing customers and also to enable many more new customers to enjoy the best of what mobile technology has to offer,” concludes Farah. - Issued by MTN Group Corporate Affairs MTN Uganda Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading telecommunications firm in the country. Visit MTN Uganda at www.mtn.co.ug andwww.facebook.com/mtnug. MTN Group Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As of 31 March 2013, MTN recorded 195.4 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. Visit MTN at www.mtn.com, www.mtnbusiness.com and www.mtnmmo.com, and for football fans www.mtnfootball.com. Editorial contacts MTN Justina Ntabgoba ntabgoj@mtn.co.ug

Kenya: You have disgraced Kenya, Muigai tells ICC prosecutor

Kenya:
You have disgraced Kenya, Muigai tells ICC prosecutor

BY OLIVER MATHENGE


THE government has been allowed to make a comprehensive response to ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's claims. Bensouda claimed that Kenya has not been co-operating with her office.

On Wednesday, the Trial Chamber V asked the government to make its application and gave the parties to the two Kenyan cases 14 days to respond to the submissions once the filing is done.

"Given the desirability of fully understanding the status of cooperation between organs of the court and the Government of Kenya, the chamber considers it appropriate to grant leave to the Government of Kenya to file observations on this issue and, further, to accept the submissions in the application," the judges said in their decision.

The judges also shortened the time the prosecution, victims and the accused can respond to the Kenya government application to 14 days and vice-versa.

"Due to the need to ensure any outstanding cooperation concerns are addressed in an expeditious manner, the chamber considers it appropriate to set a shortened time frame of 14 days for submission of any such responses," the judges said.

Attorney General Githu Muigai wrote to the court complaining that Bensouda has disgraced the Kenyan government by repeatedly claiming it is not cooperating fully with her office.

Githu cited recent comments by Bensouda that part of the reason she dropped the case against former Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura was lack of cooperation from the Kenyan government.

He wants all parties in the two Kenyan cases ordered to file on record their complaints against the Kenyan state so that it can respond and put matters straight.

“The Government of Kenya disapproves of any attempt by the Prosecutor of the ICC to excuse evidential gaps or difficulties in her case as being attributable to action or inaction by the Government of Kenya,” he said.

Githu said the government has complied with all 37 requests by the prosecutor apart from two—those that relate to the request that the government furnish the court with financial information on the three suspects and statements of the interviews of ten police bosses.

On the financial information, Githu said “Kenya contends that there has to be a court order in place to fulfill this request.” In any case, he added, the pre-trial chamber found out that such a request lacked justification.

On the police interviews, Githu said there was a court order issued on February 1, 2011 prohibiting judge Kalpana Rawal from "taking or recording any evidence from any Kenyan” pursuant to any international criminal court process.

“It cannot be right that a State's internal security is suborned by an outside agency's ill supported allegations of non-cooperation which has the potential to erode national regard for the institutions of government and their compliance with the rule of law,” Githu said.

In her latest filing, Bensouda said the Government of Kenya supported the court order and that the order has remained “despite the repeated requests to the GoK to ask the court to designate judges to hear the case on the merits.”

Muigai said instead of always complaining, Bensouda will do better to report Kenya to the Assembly of State Parties in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statutes.

He nevertheless said Kenya has fully complied with its obligation and handed over state documents and materials. “The provision of such sensitive national security materials to a third- party for use in criminal proceedings is, in the respectful submission of the Kenyan government, an unprecedented act of cooperation with the court and demonstrative of the Republic of Kenya's commitment to and respect for the ICC,” he said.

Rwanda: Rwanda sees heavy demand for debut $400 million Eurobond

Rwanda:
Rwanda sees heavy demand for debut $400 million Eurobond

* Source says order book 7.5 times issue size
* Underlines investor appetite for sub-Saharan African paper

By Tosin Sulaiman;
JOHANNESBURG, April 25 (Reuters) - Rwanda issued a debut $400 million Eurobond in a sale that was heavily oversubscribed, with investor enthusiasm for the fast growing economy trumping misgivings about the modest size of the offering.

The 10-year dollar bond was issued on Thursday with a 6.875 percent yield, a lead banker told Reuters.

That was at the tighter end of Rwanda's final guidance of 6.875-7 percent. One investor source told IFR, a Thomson Reuters news and analysis service, that the order book was $3 billion, or 7.5 times the issue size.

The lead banker, who did not have the precise order book size, said: "It's well oversubscribed as you can imagine."

The issue underlined investor demand for high-yielding but rare sub-Saharan African assets and suggests Eurobonds from other sovereigns planning to come to the market this year, including Kenya and Angola, may be well received.

Investors were also attracted by Rwanda's strongly growing economy, low debt and recent political stability. President Paul Kagame has been praised for leading Rwanda's recovery after the 1994 genocide, although critics say he has an autocratic style.

Economic growth averaged 8.2 percent from 2006 to 2012 and the International Monetary Fund projects growth of 7.6 percent this year. Debt levels are equivalent to 23.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2012. Inflation is in single digits.

But the yield means investors demanded a premium to past African Eurobonds, including Zambia's 2022 bond that is yielding 5.6 percent, and Senegal, whose 2021 bond is currently trading at 5.5 percent.

At less than $500 million, Rwanda's bond was ineligible for JP Morgan's emerging market bond indices that would have automatically triggered demand from index trackers and ensured higher secondary market liquidity.

Some investors were expecting more generous compensation and decided not to participate at the lower yields.

"We just think it's priced to perfection at that level so there's not much room for upside," said Daniel Broby, chief investment officer at Silk Invest.

"Clearly the order book had to be large for them to come in tight on the pricing from their initial indications," he said.

Another investor, who had expected a yield of about 7 percent, said Rwanda had benefited from renewed demand globally for risk this week and a well-run roadshow, in which officials addressed aid cuts.

Donors froze some aid over Rwanda's alleged support for rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which Kigali strongly denies.

"They appear to have done a good job on the roadshow ... explaining the dip in aid flows last year and the steps they have taken to address that," said the investor, who declined to be named.

Foreign aid accounts for about 38 percent of the budget and aid suspensions have widened the current account deficit. (Editing by Edmund Blair, Ron Askew)

Burundi: Telling the truth yields relief and vital documents in Burundi

Burundi:
Telling the truth yields relief and vital documents in Burundi

News Stories, 24 April 2013

© UNHCR/H.Simon
A large Congolese family meets UNHCR and Burundian government officials to present their documents at a verification exercise that will give them new identity documents that better protect them.


BWAGIRIZA REFUGEE CAMP, Burundi, April 24 (UNHCR) – At first, Congolese refugee Wivine Bahati Mulemaz was apprehensive about the extensive document-checking exercise being carried out by the UN refugee agency and the Burundian government at this camp in eastern Burundi.

"I did not understand because there were refugees who were saying that you [UNHCR] wanted to destroy everything," the petite woman says, smiling broadly. "People were talking about the makanaki – people added to ration cards to increase the family size. They were saying the point of the verification was only to reduce the family size."

In a refugee camp where ration cards are literally a meal ticket, Wivine confesses, "I thought that there would be a mess with the ration cards. I thought that they would cut our ration cards."

Flashing another smile, she says that finally, "I understood that the aim of the verification is to correct the mistakes and the lies. I was happy about that. One feels relieved when one can tell the truth. The truth gives us a better life."

A better life and some prized documentation. During the verification campaign, all 43,189 refugees in Burundi are being called to show up with their documents and explain who they are and their relationship to everyone in their family. At the end they come away with valuable government ID cards (complete with hard-to-forge holograms), updated ration cards that will entitle them to food in the camps, and a new family document with photos of all family members.

All these add up to better protection. Refugees can not only prove who they are and safeguard against being deported if they are outside the camps, the exercise also ensures that refugees with special needs – children on their own or people with disabilities – get the services they should have.

The campaign kicked off in Bwagiriza in March and will wrap up in the capital, Bujumbura, in September.

Wivine was especially grateful for a UNHCR-run information campaign that preceded the document-checking. She admits she was so confused she attended three information sessions in different "villages" in the camp just to figure out what to expect and what to do.

Part of the campaign was a skit composed and acted by Congolese refugees in which a young man confessed to having illegally registered a Burundian child on his ration card. He fell to his knees, saying God had told him to come clean because he recognized that receiving extra food amounted to theft. A second actor, playing a pastor, offered absolution – as long as he told the truth during the verification exercise.

It seemed to have had an effect on Isaac Semuhanuka, a 49-year-old Congolese refugee teacher. He came forward to remove his sister's child from his ration card because she does not live in the camp. "I was the one who wanted to say that the child is not here and that it had to be deactivated," he says, adding he no longer wanted to accept food for someone who was no longer in the camp.

The verification campaign, he adds, "allows us to tell the truth and to be open." Recalling that during the information campaign UNHCR officers stressed the importance of telling the truth, Isaac says: "The fact that we can tell the truth also relieves us."

After queuing and returning several times, Wivine had a tangible pay-off for her time and her honesty. She came away with a refugee card, ration card and a proof of registration – the last was a new document for her.

A married woman, Wivine has four children and also takes care of three of her relatives' children. The new documents, she feels, bring them all an added sense of security. "If someone bothers me, I can show him this," she says, waving her refugee card.

It's just as well, because after the trauma she suffered when she left the violence of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1996, she feels "I have no home there. I think I will be a refugee until I die."

By Hannah Simon and Tony Tumagu in Bwagiriza Refugee Camp, Burundi

Tanzania: Education: Primary schools get Sh61 billion capitation grant

Tanzania:

Education: Primary schools get Sh61 billion capitation grant


Education - The government has so far provided a total of 61bn/- as capitation grant for pupils as of March, this year, to all primary schools in the country, the National Assembly was told on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Local Government and Regional Administration (Education), Majaliwa Kassim Majaliwa, said such amount was equivalent to 7,909/- per pupil, which is equal to 77 per cent.

The deputy minister was answering a question by Deogratius Aloys Ntukamazina (Ngara - CCM), who sought to know, among other things, when the government would bring back the citation grant of 10,000/- for each pupil instead of 200/-, which was not enough to buy books and other items. He had earlier explained that during the Primary School Development Plan I, the government was issuing 10,000/- as citation grant to each pupil for buying books, chock and other school items.

The legislator said Primary Schools in Ngara Constituency were facing critical shortage of books because only 200/- was being provided instead of the required 10,000/- for each pupil. He, therefore, sought for at least a word of the government to the people of Ngara on the problem.

In his response, the deputy minister said a total of 473m/- has already been sent to Ngara District Municipal, which is equivalent to 6,932/- for a pupil, that is equal to 69 per cent. He assured the legislator that the government would continue providing the remaining amount of 3,000/- average for a student, depending on availability of revenue at the end of 2012/2013 financial year.

Tanzania Daily News/25/04/2013

Kenya: State sends 11 to Korea for training on Nuclear power

Kenya:
State sends 11 to Korea for training on Nuclear power


By Standard Digital Reporter;
NAIROBI, KENYA: A team of nuclear scientists have been dispatched to Korea for capacity building in an attempt to increase power generation from alternative sources.

Kenya is looking into Nuclear Energy sources to boost its electricity generation capacity to over 19,000 MW by the year 2030.

”As part of the master plan to increase Kenya’s installed electricity capacity over the next two decades, we have dispatched eleven scientists to undertake postgraduate studies in Nuclear Science at the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) training school,” said Mugo Kibati Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, Director General.

The students will undertake studies in various Nuclear Power Production (NPP) disciplines as part of a bilateral co-operation agreement between Kenya and Korea.

Kibati says that in tandem with the training programs, Kenya’s plan to engage in nuclear electricity Production is well on course under the direction of the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board.

The eleven postgraduate students enrolled this year, Kibati disclosed, will pursue a comprehensive two-year Masters Degree programme in Nuclear Engineering. Upon graduation, the Nuclear Scientists will play a key role in laying the groundwork for Kenya’s nuclear electricity generation plans over the next two decades as envisaged in the Vision 2030 National Development policy.

Besides the 2013 class comprising of eleven students, a further six students drawn from the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board, Kenya Power and Lighting Company and Kenya’s Radiation Protection Board admitted last year are now concluding their two year Masters Studies in power generation, power transmission, and radiation safety.

The integration of a nuclear electricity generation plant in Kenya is part of continental effort by more than 12 African governments to facilitate the diversification of power generation.

KNEB Executive Chairman Hon. Ochilo Ayacko says that it is within the mandate of the organisation to build the capacity and human resource skills of Kenyans in this specialized field.

“We are using local and international resources to enable Kenyans to be trained to an adequate level of competency to run all aspects of the Nuclear Power Programme.”

Ayacko says that a nuclear power programme has three key facets: a Nuclear Electricity Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO) - which is the role KNEB is performing, a regulator who will ensure application of nuclear technology is done safely with safeguards for human life and property. The third arm is the operator, which is the body that will run the nuclear power plant.

Uganda: Road laws outdated

Uganda: 

Road laws outdated

By Taddeo Bwambale;
Laws governing roads in Uganda are weak and obsolete, making it difficult to prevent encroachment on gazetted road reserves, a new study has revealed.

The study shows that most Ugandans consider the fines stipulated in the existing road laws to be too weak to ensure compliance.

Uganda has two laws governing roads, namely: the Roads Act, 1949 which provides for the creation of road reserves and their maintenance, and the Access to Roads Act, 1969 which provides for access to a public highway.

A report released by the Uganda Road Sector Support Initiative (URSSI), a transport advocacy organization, shows that both laws cannot enforce proper road usage.

For instance, under the Roads Act, a person who interferes with a road reserve is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding sh1,000.

Presenting the findings at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Tuesday, the URSSI executive director, Stewart Mutabazi said most Ugandans considered the penalties too weak to enforce compliance.

"The laws are obsolete and the fines provided for are meaningless. The fine of sh1,000 needs to be reviewed," Mutabazi said.

The Government is in the process of amending both laws to address the rampant encroachment and abuse of road facilities.

The study was carried out in the five regions of Uganda, seeking views of Ugandans on possible areas for amendment to the two laws.

According to the study, most districts lack surveyors, planners and valuers to guide the creation of roads and compensation of effected communities.

Districts also want contractors to guarantee the life span of the roads they build, and Government to standardize the rates for road construction.

The report recommends the extension of the road width from the recommended 15 metres to at least 40 metres, to allow for easy maneuver in case of accidents.

The design of most roads in Uganda is also blamed for high rate of road accidents. Uganda has the second highest rate of road accidents in Africa and the world after Ethiopia.

Rwanda: Agriculture: USAID to support smallholder dairy farmers

Rwanda:

Agriculture: USAID to support smallholder dairy farmers


Smallholder dairy farmers - The United States cooperation agency Usaid and the Eastern Region Genetic Improvement Cooperative (Eragic) have announced a public-private partnership to increase the productivity of dairy herds and increase incomes for 2,000 smallholder farmers in Eastern Province.

Usaid awards Eragic Frw 44 million (US$ 69,000) to train dairy farmers in agricultural best practices and artificially inseminate 1,200 dairy cows.

Speaking at the initiative's launch in Nyagatare, the chief of party of the Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Program, Frank O'Brien, highlighted the benefits of the alliance for smallholder farmers in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Rwamagana. 'This partnership will expand and strengthen Eragic's business services, and create an ideal opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of milk coming from these four districts,' O'Brien said.

The donation enables the cooperative to train farmers, about half of whom will be women, in techniques that will maintain optimal health and nutrition of their herds. Eragic will also demonstrate best handling and hygiene skills to enhance the quality of milk, while educating farmers on how to improve their business and cooperative management skills.

The public-private partnership falls under RDCP's Competitive Service Sub-Grant mechanism that is managed by the organization Land O'Lakes for Usaid. 'The award will enable Rwanda's dairy products to become even more competitive in regional markets, as they will meet quality standards set by Comesa,' O'Brien pointed out.

By 2017, RDCP aims to increase the value of local dairy products exported to neighboring countries by 60%.

'This initiative will empower farmers to improve the quality of their yields sustainably and increase their incomes for more financial security,' said Mr. O'Brien.

RDCP II, which is also implemented in partnership with African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management Limited (ABS), aims to reduce poverty in 35,000 rural households through the sale of quality milk and by creating 7,500jobs in the dairy industry. The US$15 million program, which began in 2012, also intends to improve food security and nutritional status of rural households. In the coming months, it will launch a consumer awareness campaign to increase domestic demand of Rwandan dairy products.

Rwanda Focus/25/04/2013

Burundi National Defense Force Officers Complete Second Phase of African Deployment Training

CJTF-HOA Press Release

Burundi National Defense Force Officers Complete Second Phase of African Deployment Training
By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

GAKUMBU CAMP, Burundi,
Apr 25, 2013 — More than 20 prospective logistics officers in the Burundi National Defense Force completed a two-week deployment skills course with U.S. Soldiers at Gakumbu Camp, Burundi, March 18-29, 2013 - marking the second phase of deployment training.

Covering convoy operations, hazardous material transportation and proper center and balancing of cargo for transportation, the second phase of African Deployment Partnership Training is designed to help BNDF troops better prepare for real-world deployment of personnel and equipment. This is especially critical since Burundi is a troop-contributing country to the African Union Mission in Somalia and deploys forces there.

"They taught us how to prepare for pre-deployment before going to the mission area or when you reach there," said a BNDF captain taking the ADAPT course. "Also, (they) taught how we can transport dangerous goods, ammunitions or other hazardous materials. This course will help us to know how we can cart our cargo and personnel safely and ensure any transport of any essential items."

Consisting of three separate courses, this second phase of ADAPT focuses on a train-the-trainer concept where BNDF soldiers learn how to instruct other soldiers in their home units. In Phase III, the top graduates here will return, teach the class and share lessons learned with U.S. Soldiers.

"There is a big benefit for (us) because if you did not train well, then you cannot do your job," said the captain. "Now we can do our job to the required standard."

Overall, the goal of ADAPT is to allow the BNDF to train and stand up their deployments independently, said U.S. Army Master Sergeant Derek Gill, 110th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, an ADAPT instructor.

"I was thoroughly impressed with the Burundian soldiers who picked up on some of the more technical aspects immediately," Gill added.

By and large, the motivation and dedication of the BNDF unit movement control officers were evident to the instructors.

"The stuff you would think most would need to practice a little, they picked it up immediately, which is very impressive," noted Gill.

The ongoing military-to-military engagement with Burundi, a troop-contributing country to the African Union Mission in Somalia, is in support of Combined Joint Task Force Force-Horn of Africa's mission to strengthen the operational capabilities of East African partner-nation militaries to promote security throughout the region.

KENYA: Kenya gets first Somali woman as foreign minister

KENYA: 

Kenya gets first Somali woman as foreign minister


Amina Mohamed appointed as the new fireign minister of Kenya

Nairobi (RBC) Kenya’s newly elected President Uhuru Kenyatta has unveiled the first four ministers out of the 18 members of his Cabinet late on Tuesday getting the first Somali ethnic woman as foreign minister, RBC Radio reports.

Amina Jibril Mohamed, from the northeastern region is appointed as the next Kenyan foreign minister during a ceremony at the state house in Nairobi on Tuesday. She is also the first woman to lead Kenya’s foreign mission.

Ms Mohamed was the Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Director General for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She has also served as the Kenyan ambassador to the UN’s headquarter in Geneva.

According to local media, Amina has been one of the front-runners for the top World Trade Organization.

The other three ministers are Fred Matiang’i as the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, James Wainaina Macharia as the Health Minister and Henry K. Rotich as the National Treasury.

The appointment of Amina Mohamed followed the recent presidential election in Kenya which Mr Kenyatta has won. Somalis in Kenya were the most who voted in favor for Uhuru and analysts were expecting such top position for Somali ethnics on Kenya.

Meanwhile Kenya has sent its troops into Somalia to pursue Al Shabab group as the country hosts more than 60,000 refugees from Somalia since 1991 after the collapse of firmer Somalia central government.

The new government of Somalia which lauded the victory of Uhuru Kenyatta now expects new ties with the its neighbor.

RBC Radio

Tanzania: UK commits US$13.4 million for agric devt in Tanzania

Tanzania:

UK commits US$13.4 million for agric devt in Tanzania

Copyright : APA

Tanzania has received a grant of US$13.4 million from the British government for the implementation of a four-year agriculture development projects in 18 of the 30 regions in the country.Speaking at the launch of the project in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the Tanzanian Livestock and Fisheries Development minister, Dr David Mathayo, said the project was vital for the national socio-economic development and would employ millions of Tanzanian youths.

“We are going to create millions of jobs for Tanzanian youths, and these jobs will benefit farmers, livestock keepers, traders and others,” Mathayo said.

The project labelled “Livelihood Enhancement through Agriculture Development (LEAD)” will be implemented by BRAC, an international non-government microfinance organization based in Bangladesh.

According to Mathayo, the implementation of the project is a notable development as the government struggles to solicit funding for the agriculture sector which is the backbone of the country’s economy.

The project aspires to boost agricultural yields and productivity, increase rural income, build capacity for small scale farmers and food security.

Dr Mathayo said LEAD will include agriculture and livestock (poultry) and directly engage 48000 poultry farmers in the country.

The project also will address the constraints facing farmers, build their capacities, assist them to access high quality farming inputs and create marketing facilities for their produce, he added.

“In the course of implementation, a total of 105,000 people will benefit directly from the project,” the minister noted.

Furthermore, the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Diana Melrose, said BRAC has successfully implemented projects in different countries, which contributed impressively in transforming the lives of the poor.

The diplomat express optimism that the same results would be seen in the current BRAC-managed agricultural project in the country.

“UK government hopes the organization will do the same and even better in this project aimed to change economic and social life of many Tanzania, especially those living in rural areas,” Melrose revealed.

Copyright : © APA

Tanzania: Kim Comes With Young Stars

Tanzania:
Kim Comes With Young Stars

ENGLAND's Barnsley FC ace Kennan Ngoma is among 30 players who have been named in the newlyintroduced national soccer team set-up dubbed the 'Young Taifa Stars.'

The new youth team, the first of its kind, is part of the 2013-2016 Technical Development Plan inaugurated recently by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).

Unveiling the inaugural 'Young Taifa Stars' squad, national team coach Kim Poulsen said it was meant to be the production line for the senior side, the Taifa Stars.

"The Young Taifa Stars is the connecting link between the youth and the senior team - it is the back up team for the Taifa Stars," Poulsen told a press conference held at the TFF headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said the majority of the team will be young talented players, but there would also be a place for a few senior players that will need to be assessed prior to being incorporated into the Taifa Stars squad. Poulsen believes the Young Taifa Stars will help bridge the gap that existed between the U-20 team and the Taifa Stars and give the senior team more stability.

"If we want to have success at Taifa Stars, we need to groom young players through the U-15, U-17, U-20 and the Young Taifa Stars teams," the Danish tactician said. Poulsen said the country's football was moving forward as reflected in the FIFA rankings and the performance of Taifa Stars in the World Cup qualifiers and various international matches.

He underscored the importance of safeguarding the success through a good succession plan. "Why are we moving forward? It's because there are abundant talents in Tanzania, we have a team that is doing well but it can do better. We need to protect this achievement, while trying to get better and better.

We need to have a pipeline," he said. And among those making the first Young Taifa Stars is Barnsley defender Ngoma, who is completely a new name among the country's football fraternity as well as Young Africans first-choice goalkeeper Ali Mustafa. Poulsen said he had enough details regarding Ngoma.

"He had been at Manchester City academy, I hope he's good player. He's very eager to come; he's Tanzanian and has got the passion to play for the team." On Mustafa's inclusion, Poulsen said:

"Ali has been doing good job for Yanga and this is the extra room to see him closely. He has not been in the national team for quite sometime and this is the platform for him to get back into the team, it is the same with Vincent Barnabas, who has been in and out of the team."

Speaking during the event, national youth team coach Jacob Michelsen, thanked TFF for investing in youth, whom he asserted that they are the future of Tanzanian football. Michelsen said the country's football was experiencing steady development and underscored the importance of youth football programmes for a sustainable growth of the game.

"When I came down here, Tanzania was 142nd in the FIFA rankings, but now we're 116th. We need young players for the future of Tanzanian football. We want to identify many young players and develop them in a right way." Poulsen revealed the players will be put in residential camp between May 2 and 6.

"After the camp we can identify some players who will join the senior team, which will be moving into the camp at the end of May." The full squad includes goalkeepers Aishi Manula (Azam), Hussein Shariff (Mtibwa Sugar) and Ali Mustapha (Yanga).

Defenders are Kessy Hassan (Mtibwa Sugar), Kennan Ngoma (Barnsley FC, Uingereza), Himid Mao (Azam), Ismail Gambo (Azam), David Mwantika (Azam), Miraji Adam (Simba), Mohamed Hussein (Kagera Sugar), Waziri Salum (Azam), Samih Nuhu (Azam) and Emily Mgeta (Simba).

Midfielders are Haruna Chanongo (Simba), Edward Christopher (Simba), Mudathiri Yahya (Azam), William Lucian (Simba), Jonas Mkude (Simba), Hassan Dilunga (Ruvu Shooting), Jimmy Shoji (JKT Ruvu), Abdallah Seseme (Simba), Ramadhan Singano (Simba), Farid Mussa (Azam) and Vicent Barnabas (Mtibwa Sugar). Strikers are Hussein Javu (Mtibwa Sugar), Jerome Lambele (Ashanti United), Zahoro Pazi (JKT Ruvu) and Twaha Hussein (Coastal Union).

- Tanzania Daily News (Dar Es Salaam)

Uganda: Besigye Attacks Museveni in New Article

Uganda: 

Besigye Attacks Museveni in New Article

After a pause to rest and recharge, Dr Kizza Besigye has reemerged with a harsh dossier calling for the impeachment of President Museveni for allegedly sabotaging the development of Uganda's energy sector. In a two-page article published in today's The Observer, the former FDC president says Museveni's hand is pervasive in all the scandals that have dogged the sector, from the first attempt to build Bujagali hydro-power dam in the late 1990s to the current procurement saga surrounding Karuma dam.

"MPs should revive the impeachment proceedings against the "president" under Article 107 (a) and (b). They should start by drawing up the many, very clear, and incontrovertible charges of abuse of office and misconduct (including acts of commission and omission) as provided for in the Constitution," Besigye writes.

In March this year, two opposition MPs tried and failed to raise an impeachment motion against Museveni for what they called economic crimes that had led to financial hardships in the country. Aruu County MP Odonga Otto and Lubaga South's John Ken Lukyamuzi had hoped to use the motion to make a strong statement about fighting corruption.

But Besigye warns that without Parliament taking a critical stance over Museveni's conduct, Ugandans will continue paying heavily for the huge scandals in the energy sector. He notes that the subversion and corruption evidenced in the energy sector vividly displays Museveni and his regime's "unpatriotic and perfidious intentions."

Besigye notes that over the years, government has entered into contracts with foreign firms to develop various power projects. But these agreements, he notes, have remained a secret to the public. This has given rise to corruption and bribery and in part, it accounts for the power crisis in the country over the years.

He says Uganda has vast renewable energy resources such as solar, geothermal and wind, which government has deliberately refused to develop. Besigye's article appears to be a direct response to Museveni's persistent criticism of the opposition that it sabotaged earlier efforts to develop power projects.

Besigye writes: "There's [will be] no end in sight to the power crisis in Uganda unless a more accountable, transparent and patriotic government takes charge."

Currently Uganda has an installed capacity of 814MW of hydro electric power although accrual generation is estimated at 500MW. According to Vision 2040 launched last week, government's target is to generate at least 42,000MW, within 30 years, to spur economic growth.

- The Observer (Kampala).

Uganda: Ugandan leader donates sack of cash, drawing ire

Uganda:
Ugandan leader donates sack of cash, drawing ire

• Associated Press/Uganda Presidency - In this photo taken on Saturday, April 20 2013 and released by the Uganda Presidency, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, left, and State Minister for Youth and Children
  
  KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — It's become an infamous photo in Uganda. The country's leader looks on in bemusement as a young man bends low to carry a sack filled with a donation from the president — almost $100,000 in cash.The money is a donation from President Yoweri Museveni to a partisan group of youths in eastern Uganda, where he struggles to win votes in national elections, and activists and opposition politiciansare seizing upon the moment as a blatant example of political corruption in Uganda.
  
  The picture, which was distributed by the president's office after the event last weekend, was meant to highlight Museveni's generosity toward a group of youth. Instead it has focused attention on Museveni's profligacy during political tours and what some say is his role in fueling graft in the East African country that he has led since 1986.
  
  Museveni has long been accused of using public money at his disposal to build the patronage networks that have kept him popular in some parts of the mostly impoverished country. He makes many promises at campaign rallies and distributes brown envelopes to supporters who beg for his help at campaign stops.
  
  But donating a sack filled with Ugandan bills hit a raw nerve among critics who say it makes the president look like he's actively buying support. Others say it sets a bad example in a country that depends on foreign donors to finance about 25 percent of its budget.
  
  "It's not generosity; it's patronage," said Bishop Zac Niringiye, a retired Anglican cleric. "The level of patronage is also related to regime longevity. He's stayed in power for too long and he thinks he can do things and get away with them."
  
  The political success of Museveni, who took power by force in 1986, has been built in part on the idea that he is the generous, moderate politician who rescued Uganda from brutal dictators. But some also see a desire to stay in power at all costs. In 2005 Museveni had term limits removed from the constitution so he could run for office again, and Ugandan police routinely block the opposition from holding rallies. The ruling party, citing indiscipline, last week expelled four lawmakers who persistently criticized official corruption.
  
  Museveni, who was re-elected in 2011, has not said if he will run when his current term expires in 2016, by which time the president who is now in his late 60s would have ruled Uganda for three decades. The substantial cash gifts he's giving out suggest he's looking forward to the next election, some opposition politicians and activists say.
  
  "This is the new form of corruption that we need to talk about ", said Geoffrey Ekanya, an opposition lawmaker. "It's actually theft of public resources."
  
  Ekanya said giving garden tools and seeds to the jobless youths would have been a more meaningful gesture than giving out cash that will be fought over.
  
  The president's office defended the cash gift, saying "donations" are budgeted for. Frank Tumwebaze, a government minister for presidential affairs, said the rest of the money comes from entertainment per diems that Museveni doesn't claim for himself. The president's office said the sack had 250 million Ugandan shillings in it, just shy of $100,000.
  
  Because some of the money is given in sealed envelopes, it's hard to tell how much Museveni donates. The lack of transparency has often brought his office into conflict with lawmakers who are asked to pass supplementary budgets after the presidency runs out of cash midway through the year. Lawmakers approved $23 million for the president's official household in the last budget, but at least $74 million has already been spent and more will be needed before the year is up, according to lawmakers handling the presidency's latest budget proposal.
  
  Museveni, who has two official residences, flies in a Gulfstream private jet. This year he added two new Mercedes Benz limousines to his motorcade. In a country that is short of nurses and doctors, and where teachers have recently gone without pay, some say such expenditures are unacceptable.
  
  Jackie Asiimwe-Mwesige, an anti-corruption activist, said she hopes Ugandans will now "smell the coffee."
  
  "Which president walks around with kilograms of money? It looks so pedestrian. It doesn't augur well for his stature," she said.

Kenya: Kenyan shilling firms against dollar

Kenya:

Kenyan shilling firms against dollar

Nairobi, Kenya: The Kenyan shilling was slightly firmer early on Wednesday, lifted by dollar inflows from tea exporters a day after the president nominated a senior finance ministry economist as finance minister.

Traders said the market had confidence in President Uhuru Kenyatta's choice of Harvard-educated Henry Rotich, whose nomination must be approved by parliament.

At 0646 GMT, commercial banks quoted the SH83.60/80 per dollar, slightly stronger than Tuesday's close of Sh83.70/90. It has gained 3 percent so far this year.

"There is some dollar flows from the tea guys after the auction on Wednesday," said Dickson Magecha, a trader at Standard Chartered Bank.

Tea is Kenya's leading foreign currency earner and is sold in the port city of Mombasa every Tuesday.

Exporters typically then convert their earnings into shillings to pay farmers and cover operational expenses.

Traders said the market was eyeing dollar inflows from foreign investors buying five- and 15-year Treasury bonds worth a total Sh25 billion ($298.5 million) at an auction on Wednesday.

Demand for Kenyan assets has increased since the March 4 presidential election, which went off peacefully.

"We still expect the shilling to continue gathering more momentum in the course of the day with the anticipation of testing Sh83.50 levels," said Bank of Africa in a daily report.

-Reuters

In Kenya, technology revolutionizes TB management

Kenya:

Technology revolutionizes TB management in Kenya

Photo: Edgar Mwakaba/IRIN

Saving lives with mobile phones

NAIROBI, 18 avril 2013 (IRIN) - The use of technology is revolutionizing the way Kenya manages tuberculosis (TB). Through a computer- and mobile-phone based programme called TIBU, health facilities are able to request TB drugs in real-time and manage TB patient data more effectively, health officials say. They also use the platform to carry out health education.

“One of the challenges we have had with TB treatment is people defaulting [on treatment], but this will reduce significantly because through TIBU we will be able to track down patient treatment progress,” Joseph Sitienei, head of the Division of Leprosy, TB and Lung Disease at Kenya’s National AIDS Control Programme, told IRIN.

“By being able to track a patient, the health workers can send them reminders on their mobile phones when they fail to appear for drug refills,” Sitienei added.

Information sharing

In Kenya, a dearth of information on TB among patients and poor management of patient data have always been a challenge.

“People at times default not because they want to but because they lack information, and health facilities do not share patient data and history. Now the government is beginning to appreciate the relevance of technology in managing diseases such as TB,” said Vincent Munada, a clinical officer at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

Sitienei noted that TIBU - which is Swahili for “treat” - has also helped health facilities better manage drug supplies.

“Initially, health facilities used to request for TB drugs manually, but with this new system, they can ask for the same and the request is relayed to the ministry headquarters immediately. That way, drugs are supplied on time,” he said.

Kenya is ranked at 15 on the UN World Health Organization (WHO) list of 22 countries with the highest TB burden in the world, and it has the fifth-highest TB burden in Africa.

The government says an estimated 250 district hospitals, out of the country’s 290, are using the programme, which was launched in November 2012.

The government is also using the technology to support multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients living far from medical facilities, sending money to patients via the Mpesa mobile phone money-transfer system to cover transport costs.

Enormous potential

Mobile phone platforms like TIBU could have even wider life-saving potential.

A recent report by multinational firm PricewaterhouseCoopers noted that mobile phone applications such as short text messages could, over the next five years, help African countries save over one million of the estimated three million lives lost annually across the continent to HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and pregnancy-related conditions.

“SMS reminders to check for stock levels at the health centres have shown promising results in reducing stock-outs of key combination therapy medications for malaria, TB and HIV. For HIV patients, simple weekly text reminders have consistently shown higher adherence amongst the patients,” said the report.

According to the report, Kenya alone could save some 61,200 lives over the next five years by embracing mobile-based health information management.

On TB, PricewaterhouseCoopers said: “TB is a largely curable disease, but requires six months of diligent adherence to the medication regime. mHealth [mobile health] could help control TB mortalities by ensuring treatment compliance through simple SMS reminders.”

The report noted that mobile phone-based care for patients could reduce emergency visits to health facilities by up to “10 percent.”

“You know, at certain times, a patient doesn’t even need to come to a facility. You simply share what you have with them over the phone. It saves patients time and relieves the health worker to attend to other pressing issues,” Kenyatta National Hospital’s Munada said.

A 2012 study in Kenya found that the use of mobile phones between patients and health workers improved antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV.

In one mobile health project, community health workers were able to track their patients’ conditions through the use of text messages.

ko/rz
Source: irinnews.org

Kenya: KCB, Western Union launch ABMT service in Kenya

Kenya:
KCB, Western Union launch ABMT service in Kenya

Western Union, a global payment service, and KCB Group, East Africa's indigenous bank, announced the launch of Account Based Money Transfer service (ABMT) for its customers in Kenya and the region allowing them to receive and send money from more than 200 countries around the world.
KCB customers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi can direct their Western Union international money transfers into their bank accounts via online banking, mobile phone banking, call centre as well as through the retail branch network. Similarly, KCB Customers can also send Western Union international money transfers via the same banking channels vice versa.

The new electronic service launch is an extension of the two companies' successful collaboration across East Africa to provide seamless money transfer services on real time. Account-Based Money Transfer (ABMT) allows recipients to move funds directly into their KCB accounts in minutes once it has been sent from any of Western Union's 510,000 agent locations worldwide; allowing KCB's customers to access their funds 24/7 at any KCB branch within the markets in which we operate as well as from KCB Mtaani Agents.

Richard Malcolm, regional vice president, Southern & East Africa, Western Union, said, "Western Union is pleased to strengthen this mutually productive and beneficial relationship with the inclusion of banking channels that are customer-centric and technologically advanced. This partnership with KCB demonstrates Western Union's continual commitment to providing reliable and convenient world-class money transfer services in addition to expanding our user base."

Providing seamless services

KCB Group's chief executive officer, Joshua Oigara observed, "Our customers, at home and abroad, now have three options to choose from that allows them to receive money from Account Based Money Transfer Services (ABMT). The money transfer services can be done through the contact centre, mobile banking, internet banking and at the teller counter enabling our customers to enjoy faster services, extended banking hours and convenience."

"In addition, our focus for our customers this year is to provide seamless and value-adding banking and financial services in the markets in which we operate. As a bank we do believe that leveraging on partnerships is the way to go in facilitating access to banking services for both banked and non-banked customers taking financial inclusion to the next level," he said.

Over the years Diaspora remittances have recorded steady growth - according to the Central Bank of Kenya Report, Diaspora remittances inflows reached Kshs 8.7 billion (US$ 102.4 million) in February 2013.

KCB Group entered into collaboration with Western Union in 2005 to offer Western Union services in Kenya. Since then, Western Union services have been introduced in KCB Bank Tanzania, KCB Bank Uganda, KCB Bank South Sudan, KCB Bank Rwanda and KCB Bank Burundi.

Source: bizcommunity.com

Rwanda: Bayigamba Plans to Build Olympic Site

Rwanda:
Bayigamba Plans to Build Olympic Site

The newly elected Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) president Robert Bayigamba plans to construct an Olympic Site during his first four-year term in office.

In his first exclusive interview with Times Sport, the former Minister of Sports and Culture laid out his plans and targets during his first four years in office.

"My first priority is to improve sports infrastructure because it's what the country lacks most, I am well aware of that and it is possible to have things like an Olympic site," said Bayigamba, who replaced Brig. Gen. Charles Rudakubana.

He continued:"It's my responsibility to take our sports to the next level, it's a hugely challenging task but with full cooperation from everyone concerned, we can together make a very big difference."

"I can not accomplish this task alone, and no one can, which means I'll need everyone's support and advice, mainly from people in the Rwandan sports fraternity. This (RNOC) is a very big and important office and we need to work hand in hand to develop our sport and elevate it to a higher level," he explained.

According to Bayigamba, the Olympic Site, which will also be home to the National Olympic Committee and some sports federations, will be constructed in Gahanga in Kicukiro District.

Asked where he intends to raise the money for the project from, the soft-spoken RNOC chief said: "From the International Olympic Committee and other sources."

"This project (Olympic Site), if all goes according to plan, should be complete in my first four years, it's expensive but I believe we can do it," he added.

He said his immediate assignment was to ensure that the country produces athletes who will compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I will start from where the outgoing committee had reached with a view of taking Rwandan sports to another level".

Self-reliant federations

To realise his ambitions, Bayigamba plans to work with the national sports federations and district authorities to bring through young talents, whom he says are the future of Rwandan sport.

But, first he wants to make sure the federations are self-reliant and not dependent on government supports for survival.

Source: AllAfrica.Com

Rwanda: Rwanda Opens Order Books For Its First Bond sale

Rwanda:
Rwanda Opens Order Books For Its First Bond sale

Rwanda has opened order books for investors on its highly anticipated first bond sale, one of the banks managing the deal said Wednesday. The landmark issue looks set to satisfy investors' hunger for yield and help the landlocked Sub-Saharan country towards financial independence.

The country aims to raise $400 million through a bond with a 10-year maturity. Regardless of demand, the size of the deal isn't expected to rise.

Investors can now place their early orders for the bond.

Officials from the country have been meeting investors in Asia, Europe and the U.S. for a week in preparation for the 10-year dollar-denominated bond.

The proposed deal follows five other bond sales from African countries this year, as investors scrambling for yields are increasingly looking to the continent for higher, if riskier returns than they would get in more developed markets.

The issuer is rated B by both Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings. BNP Paribas and Citigroup are managing the deal.

Write to Serena Ruffoni at serena.ruffoni@dowjones.com
Copyright © 2013 Dow Jones Newswires

Burundi mobile phone subscriptions leap 17 Per Cent

Burundi:
Mobile phone subscriptions leap 17%

(Reuters) - Increasing competition between Burundi's mobile phone operators helped to boost the number of subscriptions in the country by 17 percent last year, telecoms regulator ARCT said on Wednesday.

Mobile phone subscriptions in the central African country rose to 2.24 million in 2012 as competition between the five operators reduced prices.

Constaque Hakizimana, who is in charge of mobile networks at ARCT, said the cell phone had become a basic need for many, thanks in part to cheap internet browsing and additional services such as money transfers.

The coffee-producing nation of more than 8 million people had only 270,000 mobile phone users in 2007.

Hakizimana said that subscriber numbers are expected to keep growing but he did not provide a specific forecast.

U-com, owned by Egypt's Orascom, controls 64 percent of the Burundi market. The other operators are Econet, a subsidiary of Econet Wireless, Lacell SU from Nepal, Africell, owned by VTL Holdings of Dubai, and state-owned ONAMOB. (Reporting by Patrick Nduwimana; Editing by Duncan Miriri and David Goodman)

Source: Reuters.Com

Burundi: Agriculture Sector Taps Into Belgian Funds

Burundi:
Agriculture Sector Taps Into Belgian Funds

Bujumbura — The international donor community is showing signs of renewed interest in Burundi's research and development (R&D), with a Belgian initiative aiming to rebuild human capacity and research facilities in a major agricultural sciences institute.

The Burundi civil war brought research activities across the country to a standstill when it broke out in 1993, according to Nkurunziza Gelase a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ISABU), Burundi.

During the war, Gelase tells SciDev.Net, seven ISABU research centres across the country were inaccessible, compromising research activities. Some research centres were burnt down and important hybrid crop varieties such as 'Kitale maize' were lost.

Since the war ended in 2005, R&D funding has been trickling back into the country. A number of donors are funding research projects and institutions.

One such project is the Institutional and Operational Support Programme for the Agricultural Sector (PAIOSA), an initiative by the Belgium Technical Cooperation - the Belgian development agency - to provide ISABU with institutional and operational support for the agricultural sector.

The project, which kicked off in December 2012 and will last until 2017, aims to rebuild the institute's human capacity and research facilities. Some of its priorities include buying new equipment and building new laboratories.

"We intend to create stronger human and infrastructural capabilities at ISABU [to enhance] organisational effectiveness," says Valerie Claes, international technical assistant for the programme.

BTC has also established a competitive research fund of more than US$220,000. To tap into this, researchers are expected to come up with innovative research ideas to address national agricultural problems.

According to Denis Manirambona, UN consultant on food security in Burundi, the competitive research fund component is a welcome move as it will encourage researchers at ISABU to come up with good research ideas to help address the problems facing agriculture.

The programme will also enhance information dissemination from the institute.
Source: AllAfrica.Com

Rwanda Clarifies DRC Position On Cessation Clause

Rwanda:

Rwanda Clarifies DRC Position On Cessation Clause
Rwanda has dismissed media reports suggesting that DR Congo does not approve of the implementation of the cessation clause which removes refugee status on Rwandan refugees spread across the world.

The DRC North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku told MONUSCO's Radio Okapi yesterday that his government had rejected the Pretoria resolutions at the Ministerial meeting in South Africa on April 18 where Rwanda renewed its desire to have all refugees returning home or remaining in host countries as nationals not refugees.

According to Radio Okapi, the North Kivu Governor said that his country had refused such agreement, because it would automatically turn the Rwandan refugees into Congolese.

Speaking on American broadcaster VOA Tuesday morning, Rwanda's Minister of disaster management and refugee affairs, Ms Seraphine MUKANTABANA said the media reports were wrong and misleading. The minister added that the Radio Okapi report was "shocking" as she had not heard anything like that officially from DRC.

Minister Mukantabana said the DRC official delegation to Pretoria had instead indicated that it would seek the guidance from the Congolese parliament on how to deal with the cessation clause issue. Congo's delegation was led by interior minister, Richard Muyej.

Responding to critics of Rwanda government who have been wondering why the cessation clause program favours only Rwandans who fled the country from 1959 to 1998, the Minister said those are refugees who fled on general cause like genocide while the rest are in exile due to individual problems which could be also attended on individual basis.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR and countries hosting Rwanda refugees agreed in December 2011 that the refugees would no longer be called so after June 31, 2013. Among the options provided was repatriation back to Rwanda and local integration in host countries.

Rwanda also told a UN conference reviewing the status of Rwandan refugees living in different countries that it will provide them with national documents so they seize to be called "refugees".

At the Ministerial meeting in Pretoria (South Africa) on April 18, Rwanda renewed its desire to have all refugees choosing their country. However, considering that most of the refugees have established their lives in host countries, it will not be necessary to return to Rwanda.

"Rwanda's delegation outlined a number of steps it has taken and will continue to implement to support the respective solutions including the issuing of national passports for Rwandans who opt to stay in their current host countries," said UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards at a press briefing on April 19, 2013. In her VOA interview, Minister Mukantabana said there is outstanding cooperation between Rwanda and the DRC as it is with other 12 countries on refugee affairs - arguing that what the North Kivu governor claimed was not known to Rwanda.

"I do not know where, how and who says that DRC refused to cooperate... I know that Congo agreed to work with us and that it would take the issue to the Legislature for review and approval," she said. There have been developments of settling refugee Affairs in Rwanda since 2003, when the national dialogue conference was introduced including Diaspora delegations attending various programs which have been put in place to facilitate Rwandans living outside to remain in constant contact with their country.

This has resulted into the returning of most Rwandans to their country including the recent 12,000 mainly from Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source: AllAfrica.com

Tanzania: Kikwete Blames Colonial Legacy for Africa's Conflicts

Tanzania: 

Kikwete Blames Colonial Legacy for Africa's Conflicts

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has slammed policies of former colonial masters for most of present internal and cross-border conflicts in Africa, noting, however that the continent is better-off at present than it was in the past two decades.

"Boundaries drawn by the colonialists between African countries and policies such as divide and rule have resulted into quarrels along tribal, ethnic and religious lines," Mr Kikwete said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The president made the remarks in his address to the 368th African Union (AU) ministerial meeting on the Peace and Security Council held to discuss the political situation in Madagascar, ahead of elections slated for that country in July.

"There are people of same culture and background but still kill one another because of trivial matters and this is because they were divided by the colonialists," Mr Kikwete noted with concern. He also blamed what he described as a class of politicians in Africa who because of greed for power and wealth, collaborated with the former colonialists to fuel conflicts on the continent.

Mr Kikwete was bitter that the class of politicians was willing to sell their people for power and wealth and subject the population in their respective countries to sufferings. Nevertheless, the president was happy that almost all conflicts in the continent are either under resolution or being managed at various levels.

"Africa is better today than it was over the past two-decades, military coups that were the order of the day during that time as well as unconstitutional and undemocratic change of power are at present not tolerated," he noted.

At the same occasion, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, hailed Tanzania for its contribution to the liberation struggle. "Equally, Tanzania still plays an active role in the solving and resolution of conflicts in Africa.

I would also like to commend President Kikwete for his commitment to solving conflicts in the continent," Ambassador Lamamra said. He cited the clashes in which President Kikwete had a role in solving as the post-election violence in Kenya after the 2007 General Election in that country as well as unrests in the Comoros and Ivory Coast, among others.

And as the AU is set to mark the 50th Anniversary next month, Amb. Lamamra said the Golden Jubilee should be used to consolidate peace and manage ongoing conflicts in Africa. The predecessor of AU, the then Organisation of African Union (OAU) was formed in 1963. Regarding Madagascar, he said all stakeholders have been engaged in mediation, noting, however, that despite progress which has been attained there are still challenges which need to be addressed.

Speaking earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Bernard Membe, who is also the current Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council, said the meeting was among interventions by the AU to finding a lasting solution to political stalemate in Madagascar. The meeting will be briefed by former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano on the progress of ending disputes among conflicting parties in that country.

Chissano has been a mediator in the conflict under the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Established in the year 2004, the council is charged with prevention, resolution and management of conflicts in the African continent.

BY ALVAR MWAKYUSA
Source: allafrica.com

Kenya at a crossroads in quest for stronger ties in global commerce

Kenya:
Kenya at a crossroads in quest for stronger ties in global commerce



Workers prepare fruits for export at the Eldoret International Airport. The new government is expected to sign new agreements to boost trade. FILE


President Uhuru Kenyatta’s inaugural speech made it patent that enhancing regional integration and promoting Kenya’s external trade would be a priority of the new government.

However, with the pressure brought about by the confirmation of the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreement negotiating deadline as October 2014, one of the more pressing challenges now facing Kenya’s government is how to resolve the cleavage among East African Community (EAC) States on whether to ratify their 2007 Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

The five EAC States initialled an EPA in 2007 but further efforts towards ratification have stalled. While Kenya, propelled by its classification as a non-Least Developing Country (LDC), has been individually impelled to ratify the EPA, other EAC States — all of which are classified as LDCs — have been reluctant to sign the EPA.

Kenya has thus been pressed between maintaining solidarity with the region, and a considerable risk of being relegated to a less favourable GSP trading regime by the EU. But now that EU Parliament has endorsed the council’s compromise proposal on Regulation 1528, Kenya has to act.

Can these two contesting objectives — the need for EAC solidarity in external trade agreements and maintenance of Kenya’s preferential market access to the EU by ratifying its EPA agreement — be reconciled? Perhaps.

Kenya has two options. It can opt out of the EAC solidarity and ratify an individual 2007 ‘interim’ EPA with the EU, or it can prevail upon both the EU and its EAC partner States to sign a minimalist EPA that sticks to the essential legal requirements of World Trade Organisation (WTO) compliancy and discard 2007 agreements on ‘WTO plus’ issues — export taxes, bilateral safeguards for infant industry, most favoured nation (MFN), trade in services, and development (liberalisation compensation) —which now hold back the EAC-EU EPA agreement. The first option would be outright unpopular with the rest of the EAC.

The second option would be unpopular with both the EAC and the EU. But it would be in line with the EU Council Regulation 1528 article 3 (b) of 2007 and perhaps could be used to contain disruption in regional (political) integration.

The exigencies of a looming negotiating deadline make it almost inevitable that Kenya will go for option one. Both options are unpalatable for Kenya’s regional relations and the new government must up its economic diplomacy now in containing the inevitable political fallout expected from its exigency to sign an EPA.

First it would be important to clarify that even though Kenya is expected to lose out on custom revenues if it ratifies an EPA, those fiscal losses are more precise and manageable than the negative multiplier effects of preference erosion.

Kenya would suffer more from preference erosion (over 50 per cent of its exports would face a tax hike of up to more than 20 per cent) while suffering low custom revenue losses of between 0.4 per cent and 4.29 per cent as a percentage of total tax revenues.

The GSP tariff imposition would raise the cost of dutiable Kenyan exports by about 5.8 per cent, potentially wiping out present margins for exporters.

Besides Kenya now faces even stiffer competition in the horticulture industry from countries such as Colombia and Israel which already have Free Trade Agreements with the EU.

Therefore, faced with the choice between fiscal or trade losses, Kenya would be hit less by the fiscal losses than by the trade losses. In any case, the EPA is estimated to generate about Sh10.4 billion annually in increased trade.

If Kenya wanted to use any little negotiating capital it may have left to try and save EAC solidarity, then it would be to persuade both parties, the EU and the rest of the EAC States, to abandon those areas of their 2007 interim agreement that are subsidiary to a basic goods-only FTA.

This would entail discarding agreements reached in WTO-plus areas such as development funding, export taxes and MFN, infant industry safeguards and so on.

Source: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com

Uganda: 

China Waives Tax On Uganda Goods

Kampala — Business people exporting goods to China, will this year benefit from a waiver of customs duty and tariffs.

The Chinese Ambassador to Uganda ,Zhao Yali, disclosed this during a Media reception at the Chinese Embassy in Kampala last week.

Zhao said, "From this year, 95% of Uganda's goods exported to China can enter the Chinese market with no customs duty and tariff."

He added, "Our economic cooperation has over the years developed smoothly and in 2012, bilateral trade (between Uganda and China) increased to $538 million, an increase of 34.6% from 2011."

He was also quick to point out that last year alone, 45 Chinese enterprises registered in Uganda with planned investments amounting to $86 million.

China has in recent years surged forward as one of Uganda's biggest trading partners with the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) estimating that between 1993 and 2012, 310 Chinese enterprises were registered in Uganda with planned investments of $683 million and creating 33,000 job opportunities for locals in the process.

According to statistics from the Chinese Embassy, China issued 10,000 visas to Ugandans, China also offered 40 government scholarships and 404 slots for training courses for Ugandan government officials.

Last year, the China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) signed a farm down agreement with Tullow Oil for the exploration of oil in the country.

China's Export and Import Bank during the year also agreed to provide $350m buyer's credit for the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe Express Highway.

The China Road and Bridge Construction Company is also undertaking various projects in the country including the construction of the first ever tarmac road in the Karamoja region in North Eastern Uganda.

The Ambassador also revealed that China is committing $20 billion of credit to Africa on transnational and trans-regional infrastructure development in areas like agriculture and manufacturing as well as the energy sectors.

BY EMMA ONYANGO
Source: AllAfrica.Com

Uganda: Export Promotions Board probed over corruption

Uganda:
Export Promotions Board probed over corruption

The Procurement Authority has written to police probing alleged corruption in the Uganda Export Promotions Board (UEPB), to ensure that proper procedures were adhered to in the procurement of certain contentious items by the entity.

In a letter to the criminal intelligence and investigations directorate boss dated February 26, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) noted that it was important for the investigators to ascertain that procurement procedures had been adhered to.

The letter follows an earlier request by the police seeking guidance on a number of issues under probe, among them the procurement of a mural for an exhibition at sh12.7m; procuring services for content development and translation services at sh6.4m and the hiring of cultural performers to entertain guests at sh3.1m.

In the response signed by Cornelia Sabiti, the Executive Director PPDA directed the police to among others task that procurement unit of the board on the matter.
"The procurement and disposal unit is required to confirm that the items are provide fro in the entity's procurement plan and are budgeted for in the approved budget for the financial years in accordance with the PPDA Regulation 105," the letter signed by Sabiti reads.

The letter also noted that the authority was required to initiate procurements using PP form 20 in keeping with PPDA regulations, which were contravened. The board used competitive bidding in relation to murals deal and direct bidding for the services of a Chinese translator, which police say, basing on the guidelines stipulated by PPDA was wrong.

CIID boss Grace Akullo could not be reached for comment as she was reported away attending a national function. However, police sources yesterday said detectives probing the alleged scam had established after questioning members of the disposal unit that procedures had been seriously flouted.

According to investigation the mural was procured at sh12,746,400 for the Chinese Expo 2010, to depict the theme: a better city a better life while the content development and translation services were procured at sh6,422,650 and the cultural performers to entertain a Chinese delegation that visited Uganda at sh3,119,500.

The police last year launched a probe into the export promotions board over allegations involving several top officials, including the executive director, Florence Kata estimated at over sh50m, part of a wider probe into money spent on various trade fairs abroad.

The money was spent in the financial years 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 and allegedly misused. The alleged flouting of procedures, sources said, adversely affects three top officials of the board-Kata, who also doubled as the accounting officer; the director finance Fred Kibedi and the procurement officer, Anne Karungi.

In the period under probe, the board participated in three expos-the Shanghai Expo in China, the International Trade Fair and exhibition in South Sudan and the Yeosu Trade Fair in South Korea.

Kata is also being probed over allegations that she irregularly appointed William Babigumira as her deputy without the consent of the board which investigators say amounts to abuse of office.

"They have sought the interpretation of the director of public prosecution (DPP) over the matter. Kata and Babigumira have since appeared before the police in connection with the allegations.

The police are also probing allegations that Kata's son, Lionel Barigye was among the people the board funded for a trade fair in Germany, culminating in his company receiving a refund of sh 2m as a 50% refund of fund used in travel and accommodation.

Barigye's company, Cyber Agricultural Produce (CAP) International Limited, received about sh2m as a 50% refund of funds used for travel and accommodation to attend the Fruit Logistica fair from February 8 to 10, 2012 in Germany.

By Steven Candia
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug