TECHNOLOGY – KMAUPDATES

Mar32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Facebook Launches ‘LeadHERs: Life Lessons From African Women’ – a Book Spotlighting Female Leaders from across Africa

AFRICA, EAST AFRICA, Facebook, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, South Africa, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, UN Women

Available for free in digital and physical formats, the book provides inspirational real-life stories for future generations and young leadersJOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 3, 2021/ -- As part of its celebration around International Women’s Month, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) today announced the launch of ‘LeadHERs: Life Lessons From African Women’, a collection of beautifully inspired stories & life advice from 19 women who are breaking boundaries in fields such as media, entertainment, politics, education and business.Available for free in digital and physical formats, the book provides inspirational real-life stories for future generations and young leaders. Each chapter focuses on a personal experience and life lesson around how these women have navigated their path to success, ...

Mar32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

FirstWave signs Level 1 Partner Agreement with pan-African technology company Moja Access

AFRICA, Australia, Business, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, KENYA, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

Neil Pollock, CEO, FirstWave Cloud Technology J2-1Download Please find attached release titled “FirstWave signs Level 1 Partner Agreement with pan-African technology company, Moja Access” in consideration for publish. Leading Australian-headquartered, FirstWave has announced the signing of a three-year Level 1 Partner Agreement with Moja Access, part of CSquared Group, a pan-African technology company. With the goal to make commercially driven investments to improve and increase connectivity and internet access in Sub-Saharan Africa. Internet users across these African nations can now be protected on CSquared’s network from cyber intruders, on a consumption basis, at an affordable monthly price. In the initial phase of this partnership, FirstWave has deployed its recently...

Mar22021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Canon Central and North Africa ‘African Frontiers of Innovation’ Series Explores the Sounds of the Future

AFCON U20, TECHNOLOGY

Canon Central and North Africa ‘African Frontiers of Innovation’ Series Explores the Sounds of the FutureThe LIVE Facebook and LinkedIn streaming allowed audiences a glimpse into the experiences of artists, producers and the African music industry at largeDUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 2, 2021/ -- The world over experienced an abrupt end to live performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The spirit of African musicians were not deterred, instead they innovated to keep music lovers entertained to the beat of their music. Expert panelists at the second session of Canon’s (www.Canon-CNA.com) ground-breaking thought leadership series delved into the highs and lows of Africa’s musical innovations and what it spells for the future.Headlined Sound of the Future: Making Music in Africa Today ...

Feb272021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Local Content Rises to Top of Mozambique’s Developmental Agenda (By Charné Hundermark)

AFRICA, EUROPEAN UNION, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Mozambique, Oil, TECHNOLOGY, WORLD

By prioritizing local content and capacity building, Mozambique seeks to transform foreign direct investment into long-term, sustainable socioeconomic growthOPINION PIECEMAPUTO, Mozambique, February 25, 2021/ -- By Charné HundermarkMozambique is experiencing an influx of investment across energy, agriculture, tourism, construction and mining sectors, positioning the country for transformative economic growth. The benefits of ongoing megaprojects, however, have the potential to extend beyond government revenues and critical infrastructure and to local capacity building and the assurance of sustainable socioeconomic improvement. In a bid to increase country-wide living standards and boost local participation in expanding sectors, Mozambique is prioritizing the expansion of local content pol...

Feb242021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Who is Yolanda Cuba, the Newly appointed Vice President for the Southern and East Africa MTN Market?

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, MTN, South Africa, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

At the tail end of last year, MTN group announced changes to the regional structure and the Group Executive Committee in which Ms. Yolanda Cuba was appointed as the MTN Group Vice President for the Southern and East African (SEA) MTN markets effective 1 January, 2020. This announcement coincided with yet another Woman rising to the position of Vice president; H.E Kamala Harris and similarly to her story of firsts, Yolanda Cuba is also the first woman to be confirmed in this position in MTN history! Yolanda Cuba, The new MTN's Vice President for the South and East African Markets Named one of the youngest CEOs of a JSE-listed company at the age of 29, Yolanda Cuba has gone on to become one of the Key business leaders in Africa today. As a young group CEO of the publicly listed Mvelap...

Feb242021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Minister of Works & Transport General Edward Katumba Wamala addressing the Press on the New Process for Issuing Driving Permits.

AFRICA, BREAKING NEWS, EAST AFRICA, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

Uganda is moving away from a private operator to Government of Uganda facility to issue all security related identifications such as passports, national IDs, driving licenses among others. The driving license is for 5 years as opposed to the 3 year’s driving permit that was existing & will be allowed in the East African region. One can decide to pay for 1 year or 5 years for the driving license. That’s one advantage not to inconvenience the customers. It can be used within Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as well. It’ll also show your National ID information. The operations of Uganda Security Printing Company which will issue the new licenses will kick off work on 1st March, 2021.

Feb232021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

PM RUGUNDA LAUNCHES THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL RISK AND VULNERABILITY ATLAS OF UGANDA

AFRICA, Disaster Preparedness, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, UN, UN Women, UNDP, UNHCR, WORLD

The Prime Minister of Uganda, RT Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda has today launched the first of its kind National Risk and Vulnerability Atlas for Uganda at the Office of the Prime Minister headquarters in Kampala. The National Risk and Vulnerability Atlas is a key instrument designed by the Office of the Prime Minister, with support from the United National Development Program (UNDP) to enhance understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions; including hazards, exposure and vulnerability in all the 122 Districts of Uganda. While giving his remarks at the launch, PM Rugunda said that the National Atlas will enable policy makers and practitioners in government, private sector, media and the general public to understand and make informed decisions on planning and implementing disaster...

Feb222021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MTN Uganda Announces the MTN Foundation Youth Empowerment Program Winners

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, MTN, South Africa, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

MTN Foundation Uganda has selected 100 youths for its Youth Empowerment Program. A call for applications was put up at the end of last year and close to 2000 applicants took a shot at the exciting offer. The full list of winners is available at https://www.mtn.co.ug/impact/youth-program. The Program that will be conducted by Ubunifu systems, a software Development firm, will equip the selected youths with the technical skills to empower them to solve communities’ pressing challenges using technological expertise. The Five MTN #ForGood winners will be the pioneer beneficiaries of this intensive program that is a building block to Uganda’s Fourth Industrial revolution. Monday 19th February 2021- Kampala, Uganda: At the end of last year, the MTN Foundation Uganda launched an exci...

Feb202021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

NEW PRAU GOVERNING COUNCIL TAKES OVER OFFICE

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, PRAU, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

KAMPALA UGANDA: The Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) had the new Governing Council take-over its leadership at a handover function held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday, 19th February 2021. The new Prau governing Council led by their President Mr Stephen Mwanga (left) with the Minister of Information,Communication and National Guidance Hon. Judith Nabakooba.PRAU Photo The handover ceremony was graced by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Nabakooba Nalule Judith who applauded PRAU for being a strong association that has been successfully governed for the last ten years the Minister of ICT & National Guidance has been patron. Ms Yvonne Mpanga being sworn in as the Director,Discipline as Juma Yusuf K. Walusimbi (Mr) Past President and C...

Feb192021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

OPEC Fund extends $50m for poverty reduction in Tanzania

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, TECHNOLOGY, WORLD

The project will build rural infrastructure to boost economic opportunities and improve access to social services for more than 900,000 peopleVIENNA, Austria, February 19, 2021/ -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) (https://OPECFund.org) has signed a US$50 million loan with Tanzania to finance the ‘Fourth Tanzania Poverty Reduction Project’. The project will build rural infrastructure to boost economic opportunities and improve access to social services for more than 900,000 people.Although Tanzania has made progress in reducing poverty over the past decade, around 26 million people – close to half the total population – live on less than US$1.90 per day. The Tanzanian government has launched a number of programs to tackle this challenge, including so...

Feb152021 by Ronald Kabuubi1 Comment

Commentary:

AFRICA, Banking World, Housing Finance Bank, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Standard Chartered Bank, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD, World Bank

“The Bank of Uganda held its policy rate unchanged at 7.0% as expected – however, there are some risks to our expectation of an early tightening. While the BoU is mindful of fiscal risks, it nonetheless sees inflation as ‘benign’, and expects to see a further deceleration in core inflation. The BoU also notes that the economic recovery has lost some of its earlier momentum, amid rising COVID cases. Somewhat predictably, it has taken the decision to extend COVID credit relief measures for 6 months from April 1st, when the extraordinary measures were otherwise due to come to an end. The Covid-19 Liquidity Assistance Program will also be kept in place, although this will be reviewed from ‘time to time’ as the pandemic evolves. Razia Khan The market implications of this decision are ...

Feb122021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MTN Foundation Lights up More Schools across Uganda

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, EDUCATION, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD, World Health Organization

The MTN Uganda Foundation, together with Fenix International Uganda as an implementing partner are set to light up other 56 schools with 200 kits in 24 districts under their “Light up A Village Project”. Under this project, the MTN Foundation has donated an overall total of 560 solar kits worth 380 million. Fenix International Uganda will install and maintain the kits. Acute power shortages even when connected to the national grid is the biggest challenge that students face especially when they have to study at night. Thursday, 11th February 2021- Kampala, Uganda: The MTN Uganda Foundation in partnership with Fenix International Uganda are set to light up more schools in an ongoing project dubbed “Light up a village”. With an extra donation of 190 solar kits, 56 schools from 24 d...

Jan192021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Emirates Group rolls out COVID-19 vaccination programme

AFRICA, Business, DUBAI, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY, UAE, UGANDA, WORLD

Dubai, UAE, 18 January 2021: The Emirates Group on January 18th, rolled out a COVID-19 vaccination programme for its substantial UAE based workforce in coordination with the Dubai Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The inoculation drive began yester morning, with priority being placed on its frontline aviation workforce, including Cabin Crew, Flight Deck and other operationally focused roles. The airline, along with dnata, are among the first transport and air services organisations in the world to offer employees the option to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Over the course of the pandemic, Emirates and dnata have implemented multiple layers of safety measures, to ensure the health and safety of customers, employees and the communities served...

Jan182021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Microsoft working on fix for nasty NTFS corruption bug

INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY

There has been a nasty NTFS corruption bug present in Windows 10 for nearly three years. It is also present in some older Windows XP versions. Just ahead of the weekend The Verge highlighted that a user browsing "a specially crafted line inside a ZIP file, folder, or even a simple Windows shortcut," in Explorer is enough to trigger the bug which will corrupt your file system. Bleeping computer also looked at the bug and tested how it works. Security researcher Jonas L has warned about this NTFS vulnerability several times, starting H2 2020, before it was picked up by media and Microsoft announced that it is "aware of this issue and will provide and update in a future release," for Windows 10. Microsoft added that anyone wishing to do any malicious works via the bug would have to re...

Jan182021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Critical engine test for NASA’s Space Launch System megarocket shuts down earlier than planned

INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY

NASA fired up the core stage of its massive new rocket — the Space Launch System (SLS) — on Saturday (Jan. 16) in a critical test that ended prematurely when the booster's engines shut down earlier than planned. Smoke and flames billowed from the four RS-25 engines that power the behemoth rocket's core booster, a centerpiece of NASA's Artemis moon program, as it roared to life atop a test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Ignition occurred at 5:27 EST (2227 GMT), with 700,000 gallons (2.6 million liters) of cryogenic fuel flowing through the engines as they roared for just over 1 minute, much shorter than planned. The test was supposed to run for 485 seconds (or just over 8 minutes), which is the amount of time the engines will burn du...

Jan182021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Technology Sovereignty and Realpolitik

COVID-19, HEALTH, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY

Sovereignty used to be perceived as a geographic and military concept where dependence and coercion was exercised through military might-writes Dr Hermann Hauser. However, COVID-19 revealed our dependence on China for masks and PPE. President Trump demonstrated how US technology and payment systems can be weaponised. Thus Technology Sovereignty has become a defining issue of the decade. If Vice-Admiral Eugene H. Black III, commander of the US 6th fleet, were to make a request of the Prime Minister and referred to the positions that his fleet had taken up in the Channel, most people in Britain would object to this interpretation of the special relationship. However, when Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State requested that the Prime Minister stop using Huawei 5G products impl...

Jan132021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

INDIA: Govt to charge solar, wind power companies for weather data

Business, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY

The Ministry of Earth Sciences is in the process of formulating a policy to charge solar and wind energy companies that it provides weather data to. The policy is likely to be announced in another months’ time, say officials, adding that the same is being formulated keeping in mind the expected surge in production of renewable energy over the next few years. The ministry has so far been providing data for wind and solar to companies for free. “Most of the data and information that we provide is for free. Such as information on hurricanes, even to neighbouring countries. But this is on humanitarian grounds. There is no reason why this should be done for private companies and so we are bringing in a policy to charge them for the services that they use,’’ explains Dr M Rajeevan, Secretary...

Jan132021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

SERVICE RESTRICTION ORDER

AFRICA, EAST AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, MTN, TECHNOLOGY, Twitter, UAE, UGANDA, Uganda Law Society, USA, WORLD

Wednesday, 13 January 2021 - Kampala, Uganda: MTN STATEMENT. MTN Uganda informs its esteemed customers and other stakeholders that National Telecommunication Operators in the country, have received a directive from Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to immediately suspend access and use, direct or otherwise of all social media platforms and online messaging applications over the network until further notice. MTN Uganda has, in compliance with its National Telecommunications Operator License and in accordance with MTN’s group-wide Digital Human Rights due diligence framework implemented the directive. MTN Uganda will continue engaging with the relevant stakeholders to limit the scope and duration of the service disruption.

Jan132021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBER2 Comments

UGANDA POLLS 2021: United States Condemns Uganda Social Media Shut Down

AFRICA, BREAKING NEWS, EAST AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, USA

The United States has condemned the government of Uganda’s act to shut down social media as the country heads for general elections this Thursday 14th January. “We are concerned by reports that the government of Uganda has ordered Internet service providers to block social media platforms, messaging apps and select content in the runup to general elections,” said Tibor Nagy, the top US diplomat for Africa.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged respect for human rights in the run-up to the presidential election noting that such restrictions undermine human rights and fundamental freedoms. Uganda ordered a shutdown of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp ahead of Thursday’s vote in which Uganda chooses the next President. However, the statement comes...

Jan132021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Twitter condemns social media shutdown in Uganda

AFRICA, EAST AFRICA, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY, Twitter, UGANDA, USA

Social networking service, Twitter has condemned the shutdown of the internet in Uganda ahead of the Thursday general election as hugely harmful, violate basic human rights and principles of Open Internet. On Tuesday, it was alleged that the Uganda communication commission executive director, Irene Sewankambo in a letter ordered telecommunications companies to “immediately suspend any access and use” of social media and online messaging platforms. Several social media users in Uganda have reported the inability to access Facebook and Twitter, among other social media platforms as the country braces for a tense election that has been marred with violence. Last evening President Museveni confirmed that the government had closed social media channels ahead of Thursday’s poll. Acc...