AFRICA – Page 2 – KMAUPDATES

Jul112020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – South Africa: Gauteng Premier David Makhura tests positive for Coronavirus COVID-19

AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 11, 2020/ -- On Wednesday 08 July 2020, I experienced some mild symptoms. On Thursday 09 July 2020, I decided to self-quarantine and test for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure. Today, Friday 10 July 2020, I received my test results confirming that I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am now in self-isolation, in line with the WHO protocols and will work from home over the next 14 days whilst monitoring my health. Given the fact that I only have mild symptoms, I will continue to ensure that the Provincial Executive Council and Provincial Coronavirus Command Council respond adequately to weather the storm of the pandemic in order to save more lives. The MEC’s will later today give a weekly update on COVID-19. The primary focus of our response is to li...

Jul112020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

SA PARLIAMENT: COMMITTEE ON AG SEES A NEED TO ZOOM INTO MUNICIPAL FINANCES

AFRICA

Parliament, Friday, 10 July 2020 – The Standing Committee on the Auditor-General believes that there is a need to scrutinise the serious problems plaguing the municipalities by zooming into their finances. The committee said it is important for the responsible oversight bodies to scrutinise these municipalities closely. The Auditor-General (AG), Mr Kimi Makwetu, briefed the committee today on the 2018/19 local government audit outcomes. The briefing painted a grim picture of the municipal finances and called for a different approach to be taken when dealing with the municipalities. It became clear that it is not enough for the oversight bodies to just raise concerns, as the expression of concerns has been clearly meaningless and made no impact on the conduct of the municipalities. Acc...

Jul112020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – South Africa: Appropriations Committees – Ministers of Finance, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to address critical challenges in Local Government

AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 11, 2020/ -- As part of the processing the 2020 Division of Revenue Amendment and Adjustment Appropriations Bills, joint meetings of the Standing and Select Committees on Appropriations over the past two days have received briefings from the National Treasury (NT), the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga). The committees are concerned about the state of local government in light of the Auditor-General’s (AG) report, tabled on 1 July 2020. The report revealed that, among other things, municipalities have spent more than R1 billion on consultants, more than R32 billion in irregular expenditure, there is a deficit of R6.2 billion and some municipalities are insolvent. The committees recognise the imp...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: 4 Charged, 8 suspected killers of Tegu released

AFRICA, UGANDA

Four people including a local councillor and student have been charged with the murder of Emmanuel Tegu, a third year veterinary student of Makerere University.They are Charles Oigu, 34, a local councillor, Balam Nyeko, 33, a security guard, Johnson Kakuru, 24, and Moses Sekitoleko, 21, both residents of Makerere, Kampala.All the four were charged with murder at Law Development Centre Magistrate’s Court and remanded to Ssentema Prison in Wakiso District. “Their actions were supported by the post-mortem report which revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma, due to open wounds along the back, multiple cane marks on the back of the right elbow and abrasions along the abdomen and the entire back of the victim,” police spokesperson Fred Enanga said in a statement yesterday.The arre...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Military intelligence seals off city safe houses under ISO

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA – A combined force of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and other forces have on Friday morning reportedly sealed off city safe houses run by the Internal Security Organisation (ISO). Reports emerging on Friday July, 10 morning indicate that the military operation against the installations under ISO was being spearheaded by sister agency, the military intelligence. UPDF Spokesman Brig-Gen Richard Karemire was not readily available for comment. However, two months ago, officers from military intelligence arrested a senior operative at Internal Security Organization (ISO) on allegations of attempting to interfere with a UPDF-led operation. The operative, Simon Peter Odong, also accused of releasing information smearing members of the First Family to a city onlin...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

Coronavirus – Tunisia: UNHCR Tunisia Flash Update #1 COVID-19

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, TUNISIA

GENEVA, Switzerland, April 7, 2020/ -- In line with the announcement by the Tunisian National Security Council of the extension of the general lockdown until 18 April, UNHCR Tunisia will continue to rely on alternative working arrangements, to adapt and sustain existing activities, and to step up support to refugees and asylum seekers to meet current and emerging challenges.UNHCR declared a global internal Level 2 emergency on 25 March, in order to facilitate the response by activating emergency procurement, partner selection and other procedures.Essential support continues to be provided, such as emergency medical care, protection monitoring, psycho-social support, shelter, cash and food assistance, as well as legal assistance for urgent cases (i.e. arrest) and in detention. In-person ac...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Parliament calls for investigations on Nsambya barracks status.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, has directed the Minister of Internal Affairs to investigate the state of affairs at the Nsambya Police Barracks in Kampala. The directive was prompted after Hon. Maurice Kibalya (NRM, Bugabula County North) raised a matter of national importance in regard to the living conditions in the barracks. “It is a sad state of affairs as the barracks does not have water or power. If this week there is water, then the following week, there will be no power. These officers are committed to serve the country but their environment is not appealing. We need to look into this matter,” he said. Kibalya added that the children of the Police officers using television and radio sets for learning during the Covid-19 pandemic, like their other counterparts,...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Nyanzi bailed out following her arrest over lockdown protests.

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA- Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has granted Dr Stella Nyanzi, the former Makerere University research fellow. She is facing charges of being a common nuisance to society. Dr Nyanzi who was nominated on Monday, to contest for Kampala District Woman Member of Parliament on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket, appeared before Magistrate Ketty Acca and denied the charges. Others on the charge sheet are Mr Godfrey Katongole and Mr Newton Isaac, who are businessmen in Kampala. They denied the charges. After taking plea, the three suspects were granted a cash bail of Shs200, 000 after presenting credible sureties. Prosecution stated that the accused and others still at large, on July 8, at Nakasero Market in Kampala City, behaved in a manner that inconven...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Oxfam Warns of Hunger escalating amid the Pandemic.

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Oxfam has warned that hunger linked to COVID-19 could kill as many as 12,000 people a day by the end of the year, potentially claiming more lives each day than the disease itself. ‘The Hunger Virus,’ reveals how 121 million more people (globally) could be pushed to the brink of starvation this year as a result of the social and economic fallout from the pandemic including through mass unemployment, disruption to food production and supplies, and declining aid. In the Horn, East, and Central Africa (HECA) region, over 47 million people were already food insecure due to the triple crises of floods, locust infestation, and now COVID-19. Lydia Zigomo, Oxfam’s HECA Regional Director said: “DRC, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan were all already facing humanitarian emergencies...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Court has remanded Eight for attempted Minister Assasination

AFRICA, UGANDA

Court has remanded eight people accused of attempting to murder Energy minister Mary Goretti Kitutu and her family members.The suspects are Nathan Wanda, John Mugoya, Emmanuel Wanzira, Samuel Muhulo, Manuel Kimenya, Rose Muzaki, Irene Neumbe, and Emmanuel Kitono.They are charged with threatening violence, conspiracy to commit a crime, cyber harassment and cyber stalking.This group appeared before Buganda Road Court Magistrate Marion Mangeni and denied the charges. Court remanded them after the State Prosecutor, Mr Ivan Kyazze, submitted that inquiries into their case were still ongoing.The magistrate adjourned the case to July 21 for bail application.Prosecution contends that the accused persons between May 22 and June 11 in Mbale and Kampala with intent to intimidate and annoy Ms Kitu...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Ruling Party NRM Committee to meet Sunday ahead of the 2021 Elections.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party top organ, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) will on Sunday at State House Entebbe hold their third meeting to decide on the format of electing their flag bearers. The CEC has already met twice previously and members have failed to agree on a number of issues including, elections for national leaders, leaders for special interest groups of the party as well as electing party flag bearers in relation to the Electoral Commission road map. The EC introduced scientific campaigns, a new format of campaigns that are expected to hamper internal activities of political parties, especially the NRM, that holds majority membership subscriptions around the country. According to sources, the NRM CEC is expected to maintain the National a...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: Zimbabwe Fires Health Minister for Alleged Embezzlement

AFRICA, ZIMBABWE

Dr Obadiah Moyo, Zimbabwe's Minister of Health and Childcare, has been fired following his involvement in a US$60-million deal for the procurement of Covid-19 medical supplies by Drax International, a company allegedly linked to the first family. A statement issued on 7 July by the Chief Secretary to the president and cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, reads: "Please be advised that his excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa has removed Dr Obediah Moyo [sic] from the office of Cabinet Minister with immediate effect... for conduct inappropriate for a government Minister." Dr Moyo is currently out on bail of Zim$50,000 (US$2000). Dr Moyo is expected to appear in court on 31 July 2020. After he was arrested on Friday 19 June over allegations of attempting to embezzle government funds by awar...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: President Kenyatta has Ordered Registration of All Pregnant Teens for Natal Care

AFRICA, KENYA

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that all pregnant schoolgirls be registered to ensure they access free pre and post-natal care, Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia has revealed. He told the Nation the directive is contained in a presidential directive issued recently, including an order that the national crime research centre come up with a report on high incidence of child abuse in the country. "All the chiefs and their assistants have been directed to register all the pregnant schoolgirls and ensure they do not fail to access maternal healthcare," he said, adding that the presidential communication to that effect has since been relayed to all County Commissioners. Mr Kinuthia said the president is worried that due to the social stigma most of girls in t...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

AFRICA: Malawi president under fire for family appointments to cabinet

AFRICA, MALAWI

Malawians on Thursday voiced anger after newly-appointed President Lazarus Chakwera unveiled a cabinet that they said was tainted by family ties. Chakwera, 65, comfortably beat Peter Mutharika with 58.5 percent of the vote last month, marking the first time in African history that an election re-run led to the defeat of an incumbent. On Wednesday night the new president announced a 31-member cabinet that included six figures who are related to each other, although not to the president. The new labour and health ministers are brother and sister, while the incoming information minister is the sister-in-law of the new deputy agriculture minister. Chakwera's former running mate in the 2019 elections, Sidik Mia, will serve as the transport minister while his wife will be the deputy...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: Police arrest four COVID-19 escapees in Rwanda

AFRICA, CORONAVIRUS, RWANDA

Rwandan police on Thursday arrested four people who had escaped from a COVID-19 treatment centre in Eastern province. The quartet, who contracted the disease and were receiving treatment at the centre set up at a secondary school in Ngoma district, escaped on Wednesday evening after breaking iron window bars, the Ngoma district police said in a statement. Security organs and local leaders worked together to locate their whereabouts and arrested them following a tip-off from people who saw them, the statement said. Security officers and medics are tracing their likely contacts, including their families, according to the statement. The police urged those who could have had contact with the quartet to come forward for tests and due treatment to prevent the spread of the pandemic....

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Bishop Lwere warns Pastors protesting on Closure of Churches, COVID-19 should not be a point to settle scores.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The leader of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in Uganda, Bishop Joshua Lwere has warned pastors distressed by continued closure of Churches, to desist from attacking leaders and deviating from Godly ways as they demand for re-opening of Churches. This follows recent calls from religious leaders especially in Kampala City, calling on government to consider re-opening of Places of Worship as the country moves to lift the partial lockdown due to the covid-19 pandemic. Born-again pastors recently intensified agitation for re-opening of Churches in Uganda with a section of pastors attacking their leaders for not doing enough to push government to open the churches. This week, a group of pastors in Kampala City were seen putting on sack-cloth in protest of the c...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: ‘Ugandans are poor because they spend much time politicking instead of work’, Minister Kasolo.

AFRICA, UGANDA

The State Minister for Microfinance, Haruna Kasolo has said most Ugandans are poor because they spend a lot of time politicking instead of working. The minister made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while officiating at a sensitization program for locals in Entebbe municipality to form saccos and save money as part of the Emyooga presidential initiative. “Many people want to politick yet they don’t gain anything from it. You should leave it for us politicians because we are paid for it and you earn nothing out of it,”Kasolo said. “Many of you escort politicians as well as abusing others(politicians) but at the end of the day, you earn nothing. Politicians hoodwink you to join the struggle but the truth is that it is their struggle and their families and not you. You had better w...

Jul102020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Libya: African Development Bank grants $0.5 million emergency relief assistance for personal protective equipment (PPE) protection against COVID-19

AFRICA

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, July 10, 2020 --The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) have approved a grant of $480,000 to Libya under the Special Relief Fund (SRF) for the procurement of much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) intended for treatment of cases of infection of the novel Coronavirus. The Bank’s funding will contribute to supporting the country’s national Response Plan for COVID-19. The assistance is intended to focus on infection prevention and control and to shield communities, particularly those most vulnerable including the health workers. The $480,000 grant, is considered the first granted to the North African nation under the SRF since 2014. It was approved following a request from the Libyan government. The operation is a resul...

Jul102020 by Kayongo Brian TimothyNo Comments

UGANDA: Top OPM officials to face Anti-corruption Court

AFRICA, UGANDA

Four top officials in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), accused of fraudulent practices in connection with the procurement of relief food to people affected by Covid-19 lockdown, have been sent to the Anti-Corruption Court for trial. The officials include permanent secretary Christine Guwatudde, undersecretary and accounting officer Joel Wanjala, commissioner disaster preparedness and head of the Covid-19 taskforce Martin Owor, and Fred Lutimba, the assistant commissioner in-charge of procurement. The Grade One Magistrate at Buganda Road Court, Ms Doreen Olga Karungi, yesterday directed that the case file be transferred to the Kololo-based Anti-Corruption Court for trial. Reason for the transfer“There is a specialised court to handle these matters. So this case file is here...

Jul102020 by KATENDE SHARIFNo Comments

Coronavirus – South Africa: Tourism Committee welcomes the Readjusted Budget of the Department of Tourism

AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 10, 2020/ --The Portfolio Committee on Tourism has expressed its full support for the Department of Tourism’s efforts to reopen the tourism industry. Committee Chairperson, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, thanked the department for its commitment and effort to save the industry, while balancing the pressure both from industry stakeholders and the Covid-19 pandemic. The department has been commended for heeding the call to include the promotion of villages, townships and small towns in the District Development Model. “We all have a role to play in defeating coronavirus and rebuilding the tourism industry and our economy. Therefore, you have the full support of this committee to appropriately manage the controlled opening of the tourism industry in line with broader...