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Tag: Office of the Prime Minister

  • Sironko District Woman MP, Hon. Mafabi, calls for quick action to relocate people in landslide prone areas

    Sironko District Woman MP, Hon. Mafabi, calls for quick action to relocate people in landslide prone areas

    The Sironko District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Mafabi Aisha Nabulo has called on the office of the Prime Minister to urgently relocate over 1,645 victims still stuck in landslide prone areas in Sironko District and Elgon Region. She has raised concern over the continued threat of landslides in Sironko within the Elgon region, warning that thousands of residents remain at risk.

    Hon. Mafabi Asha Nabulo speaking on the floor of Parliament today
    Hon. Mafabi Asha Nabulo speaking on the floor of Parliament today

    Hon. Mafabi made the alarming call while speaking on the floor of Parliament today (Wednesday) adding that Sironko District has suffered repeated landslide disasters over the years, resulting in the loss of lives, livestock and productive farmland.

    She revealed that a total of 1,645 landslide victims affected by past disasters are yet to be relocated, despite existing cracks in the affected areas continuing to widen.
    She called on the Office of the Prime Minister to speed up plans already recommended by district officials to relocate the said people.

    Hon. Mafabi Asha Nabulo wants government to act quickly and relocate people in landslide prone areas in Elgon Region

    Hon. Nabulo cautioned that the anticipated El Niño rains in the coming months could worsen the situation, as heavy rainfall increases soil erosion and the risk of further landslides in the fragile Elgon terrain.

    She appreciated government’s interventions so far saying expediting the relocation process completely would ease the threat among the population.

    Her concern adds to repeated warnings from Bugisu Members of Parliament in landslide-prone districts, who have consistently cautioned that disaster response cannot wait until lives are lost

    Hon. Mafabi has asked government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, to act before the situation turns into another emergency.

  • OPM launches resettlement of landslide victims in Elgon Sub-region

    OPM launches resettlement of landslide victims in Elgon Sub-region

    The Office of the Prime Minister has launched the resettlement of landslide victims in the Elgon sub-region in Giriki, Kween District. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja was the Chief guest at the event and called for proper use of the funds given to the victims.

    Each verified household will receive a Shs10 million grant (not a loan) + 2 acres of land to rebuild with dignity.

    State Minister for Refugees Relief and Disaster Preparedness Hon. Lillian Aber said the launch is part of government’s broader plan targeting over 10,000 households in high-risk areas.

    “We urge beneficiaries to use these funds prudently for a secure future. While voluntary, it is concerning that some communities are declining due to cultural/religious reasons. We call on all to take early warnings seriously and cooperate,” Hon. Lillian Aber said.

  • Minister Lillian Aber hands over completed water system by URCS

    Minister Lillian Aber hands over completed water system by URCS

    The Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Refugees and Relief, Hon. Lillian Aber, has today officially handed over a newly completed water system in Ajia Sub-County, Arua District, constructed by the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and partners to Arua District Local Government.

    The system will serve over 3,100 people across six villages and provide safe water to Ayayia Health Center II, Ayaa Primary School, and Ayayia Primary School.

    This project strengthens resilience against water-related risks and brings Uganda closer to achieving Vision 2040 and SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.

    “I commend the Uganda Red Cross Society, the Netherlands Red Cross, the Arua District leadership, and the community for their dedication. Let us all work together to ensure sustainability through ownership, responsible use, and routine maintenance. Special thanks to the Government of Uganda for prioritizing last-mile service delivery and supporting transformative projects like this especially H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Office of the Prime Minister,” Hon. Lillian Aber said.

    Hon. Lillian Aber also doubles as Kitgum District Woman MP and she is set to seek for another term in 2026 for the same post. She is one of the most performing legislators in the 11th Parliament as well as in cabinet.

  • KIU hosts 9th UVCF Conference tagged Higher Education in Uganda

    KIU hosts 9th UVCF Conference tagged Higher Education in Uganda

    Kampala International University (KIU) today hosts the 9th Uganda Vice-Chancellors’ Forum (UVCF) Conference, under the theme ‘Higher Education in Uganda’.

    The event which is being held at the Iddi Basajjabala Memorial Library (IBML), in her main campus in Kansanga-Ggaba Road, Kampala, had Vice-Chancellors and other management staff from various universities (including public and private universities) across Uganda in attendance.

    The Vice-Chancellor KIU; Dr. Mouhammad Mpezamihigo took participants present round the IBML for a tour around the Library facility, after which he welcomed all participants to KIU for the 9th UVCF Conference in his opening remark.

    Showcasing an overview of other facilities of KIU in pictures including her Western campus in Ishaka-Bushenyi, which houses the University’s Medical School and the newly built Engineering Laboratories, Dr. Mpezamihigo recounted the giant feats the university has achieved in recent times, especially, KIU being the only university in Uganda with its own teaching hospital as well as an emerging HUb of Science in East Africa with the most recent accreditation of 12 Engineering programmes for the university by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

    “KIU is the only medical school with its own teaching hospital in Uganda,” Dr. Mouhammad Mpezamihigo proclaimed.

    Addressing the participants, the Minister of General Duties, Office of the Prime Minister; Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut, who is the Guest of Honour, expressed her delight for being present at the 9th UVCF Conference. She, therefore, stated that the journey of higher education in Uganda has thrived, compared to how it all started.

    “We can see where we are, the journey has been great.”

    Minister of General Duties, Office of the Prime Minister, Republic of Uganda.

    Hon. Okurut, specifically, acknowledge and appreciated all the partners of higher education in Uganda such as the World Bank and the entire donor community that has joined hands with the government to take higher education in Uganda to where it is today.

    On their own, the two presenters for the day: Dr. A. B. Kasozi; Research Fellow, Makerere Institute of Social Research and Professor John Mugisha; Vice-Chancellor Cavendish University, both in Uganda, spoke on the theme – ‘Higher Education in Uganda’. After their presentations, both speakers proposed a way forward for the Ugandan higher education system with regards to scrapping A-Level education system in Uganda and combining disciplines from arts and sciences for students in secondary schools up to entry-level at the universities, so as to embrace a wholesome education for her citizens in the present academic revolution.

    Government Should Consider Private Universities For Research Grants

    While appreciating the government for the loan scheme initiative in higher education, KIU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs; Professor George Nasinyama in addition to other participants, called on the government to also invest funds across boards in the higher education system in Uganda, stating that not only government but private universities inclusive should be considered as beneficiaries of the loan scheme and/or grants from the government of Uganda, as they all add to the academic quota of the country in one way or another.

    Before closing the meeting, Hon. Dr. J.C Muyingo; Minister of State for Higher Education, made his remarks where he urged all Vice-Chancellors and other university leaderships present to think of what they can do for themselves before seeking for external help from international agencies.

    “We should think of what we can do for ourselves before we seek external help … before we broaden our search for international assistance. For example, quality control should start with us.”

    KIU To Allow Students From Other Universities Enjoy Research Based Facilities At Her Main Campus Library

    Speaking about KIU, Hon. Dr. Muyingo appreciated the university, through the leadership of Dr. Mpezamihigo and other management team, for their good initiative of intending to open up its facilities to students from other universities and the general public, for academic and research purposes.

    More so, the Minister for Higher Education thanked the organizers of the conference for such a great meeting with a pool of ideas, as well as all Vice-Chancellors for using the Forum to strengthen the university systems and for solving other social economic problems in the country, going by the resolutions from the conference. The Minister, therefore, declared the 9th UVCF Conference formally closed.

  • Government, opposition agree on 2016 general elections

    Government, opposition agree on 2016 general elections

    On Friday, government and opposition agreed on practical steps for ensuring that the 2016 general elections are free and fair.

    The government was represented by the Prime Minister Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda while the opposition was led by Hon Wafula Oguttu.

    Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda

    Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda

    After the talks, Right Hon. Prime Minster released a statement in regard to the outcome of the meeting. The statement is a below; RT Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda;

    Friends, On Friday, 23 October 2015, delegations from Government and the Opposition met at my office to agree practical steps for ensuring that the forthcoming elections are conducted in a free, peaceful and secure environment.

    The Government side was led by myself, while the Opposition was led by The Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon Wafula Oguttu. [adrotate banner=”3″]

    Our discussions were conducted in a cordial, candid and respectful manner. At the end of the meeting, we were all in agreement that peace, stability and security of our country is a common good that must be jealously guarded by all to sustain democracy and development.

    We appreciated the initiative of the meeting, and agreed to continue holding them on a regular basis to track progress.

    We tasked the Attorney General to work with his counterpart in the Opposition and other stakeholders to come to a common understanding and interpretation of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) and advise the Police to implement it accordingly.

    We noted that it is important for civility, mutual respect and adherence to rule of law be the hallmark of interactions of Police, leaders and the general public.

    We also agreed that there is need to put in place an enabling law to guide the recruitment, training and operations of Community Policing.

    It was proposed that the ongoing training of Crime Preventers needs to be reviewed.

    We also agreed that we will not tolerate the formation of militia groups. Groups believed to be militia will be disbanded.

  • Prime Minister Rugunda in Kigali for Transform Africa Summit

    Prime Minister Rugunda in Kigali for Transform Africa Summit

    Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has arrived in Kigali Rwanda to represent President Yoweri Museveni at the Transform Africa Summit.

    PM Rugunda(R) received by Ambassador Kabonero (2nd R) and other officials on arrival at Kigali international Airport on Tuesday

    PM Rugunda(R) received by Ambassador Kabonero (2nd R) and other officials on arrival at Kigali international Airport on Tuesday

    The Premier was received on arrival at Kigali International Airport by Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ambassador Richard Kabonero. The theme of the three day summit is “Accelerating Digital Innovation”  [adrotate banner=”3″]

    The Summit brings together over 2500 participants including Heads of State from Smart Africa Member States, Members of UN Broadband Commission on digital Innovation, Top academics, Policy makers and Chief Executive Officers of leading technology companies.

    The Summit aims at devising new ways to deliver on the Smart Africa promise of raising United States dollars 300 billion in ICT investments in Africa by 2020.

  • Museveni wants manufacturers to embrace innovation for sustainable development

    Museveni wants manufacturers to embrace innovation for sustainable development

    President Yoweri Museveni has said trade and not aid was the correct strategy Uganda must adopt as the key to transforming society through sustained growth.

    The President said trade was the greatest stimulus for enhancing creativity, innovation, employment creation, economic growth, and social transformation for market development. “Innovation is the key to sustainable development. Without new innovations, businesses outlive their usefulness and they perish,” the President said.

    PM Rugunda cutting the tape to officially open 23rd UMA international trade fair on Tuesday (Photo by PMPU)

    PM Rugunda cutting the tape to officially open 23rd UMA international trade fair on Tuesday (Photo by PMPU)

    Museveni’s remarks were contained in a speech read for him by the Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda who represented him at the official opening of the 23rd Uganda manufactures international trade fair at UMA show grounds in Lugogo on Tuesday.

    President Museveni said the theme for this year’s trade fair, “Enhancing creativity and innovation for market development”, enhances Uganda’s zeal for creativeness and innovation as a driver for market development and competitiveness on the global scene. He said the big number of participating countries demonstrates the confidence Uganda was gaining as a viable economy. [adrotate banner=”3″]

    Mr. Museveni said Uganda’s investment climate was very favorable and diverse in several sectors across the country coupled with peace and security. He said the NRM Government was focusing on key priority sectors as flagship for economic development and these include: energy, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and industry.

    “We need to revamp and up-grade the railway system to standard gauge; bitumize much of the road network; utilize the water transport system; develop our oil and gas resources; implement the flagship projects of the phosphates in Tororo, the iron-ore project in Muko etc,” said Museveni. The President said opportunities are enormous in these sectors for investment adding that Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the prime source of new jobs and play a crucial role in income generation, especially for the poor.

    PM Ruhakana Ruganda and Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde with some of the traders

    PM Ruhakana Ruganda and Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde with some of the traders

    He said the workers in the informal sector should particularly be supported to have production skills for quality products for domestic and external markets. Museveni said the East African Federation had come with a vast opportunity for negotiating with other countries adding that it will enhance our bargaining power on the global scale. “The GDP of Uganda will soon be US$ 25 billion.

    That is the same size of GDP as Nigeria was in the year 1992 or twice the size of the GDP of Kenya in the year 2006/07,” Museveni said. He said by adding value to the raw materials being exported and consumed, the size of Uganda’s GDP could grow to US$ 300 billion, bigger than the size of Singapore’s GDP of US$ 276 billion in 2012.

    The Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambade said her Ministry was focused on developing and implementing policies which enhance the business environment in the country. She urged manufacturers to focus on producing quality products, branding them and also taking advantage of the large regional and international market.

    The Chairman UMA, Amos Nzeyi said this year’s trade fair has attracted 300 foreign and 1000 local exhibitors. He thanked Government and President Museveni for creating a conducive business environment. Nzeyi however, appealed to Government to consider subsidizing on high power tariffs for the manufacturing sector among other incentives to keep afloat amidst the depreciating Uganda shilling against the United States dollar.

    He also requested Government to consider allocating the manufactures a piece of land owned by Luzira prisons for expansion of their industries and easy access to water which will in turn create more jobs and more taxes. The best overall exhibitor this year was Movit products. Other best exhibitors in various categories were Jude colour solutions, Samona group, Uganda Bati, Mukwano group, Roofings group and Kinyara sugar among others.