- Hello to my African readers, It’s a while since I have gotten the time to write on here. But never the less I have been reading a lot of the contributions on here presented by the different reporters around the continent. Keep up the spirit. This morning or indeed today I come back on here to have a few queries about this China military issue that is disturbing the west espespecially the Americans. First of all I will say that China may not have the right to exceed its military capacity in this era where such weapons and mighty is not needed but it is obliged to do so. Reasons are many but let me expound on a few especially regarding the domestic and the outside frontiers.Domesti…

South Africa can surely lead the way for the rest of the black African continent. Yes the black Africa, because this is where most of the suffering is. Majority are illiterate, poor, and vulnerable as a result of the greed of Western powers and selfishness of the current leaders of sub-Saharan Africa. - It’s slightly a better experience for our colleagues in Arab-Africa say, in Libya, Egypt Morocco and others as at least basic facilities like health services, shelter and food are to a larger extent realized by the majority of the population. That’s why I stick my issues with sub-Saharan Africa. The recent arrest of the Rwandan envoy in Germany is indeed a big test for Africa a…

- A couple of months ago when I decided to join africanews.com, I was tasked to present a business article that would be the bench mark for my membership. Although I had no account of sorts in any bank here, I decided to write about the banking system here in Kampala and the “bad” policies that were hindering the peasants from saving even when we are told by the literate and” successful” in life that its only through savings that one can succeed. My main contention then was that, why ask for many requirements from a farmer who wants to keep his/her money with you. Records are good and necessary. But for most of our African society it’s still a long way to go…

- THE World Bank Group’s funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes has increased by 87% in the last year, a statement has said. The statement said $2.7b was used to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency commitments for the year ended June, 30. The funding includes carbon finance operations and co-financing from the global environment facility. A total of $1.192b was used for energy efficiency, $476m for renewable energy like wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydro-power projects, which are expected to produce 10MW each. Another $1.007b was invested in hydro-power projects with capacities of producing over 10MW per facility. The renewable energy…

A $206m investment plan has been injected into the joint concession railways of Kenya and Uganda to revamp the sector that has been dented with administrative wrangles. This follows recent changes in Rift Valley Railways’ management due to threats from both governments to withdraw from the deal. - Brown Ondego, RVR’s new Executive Chairman said the turnaround plan involves investment in new equipment and infrastructure, which will see purchase of new fleet of wagons and locomotives, and rehabilitation of the track and the existing ones. “This system needs a shock treatment of massive capital. I envisage capital investment in the first five years will be about $206 mi…

- Parliament has revised and approved the new government tax measures with a blanket tax waiver to taxpayers in the country covering all the outstanding debts accrued before 2002. On Thursday, the House passed the Finance Bill, 2008 whose purpose among other things is to grant tax waivers of about Shs66.7 billion in outstanding tax arrears, interest, and penalties since June 2002. “The proposal is important for improved tax administration and management as these tax arrears date back more than seven years and are evidently not performing,” Mr Gaudioso Kabondo, the chairperson of the Finance Committee of Parliament, said. “In addition, the waiver will help with complian…

The lives of more than 36,000 residents on 48 Islands in Kalangala district of Uganda is expected to improve when an oil mill factory opens next year, Bidco Uganda, a palm oil firm announced last week. The people have traditionally earned their livelihood from fishing on Lake Victoria. - “We anticipate larger crop yields earlier than expected which will be processed into crude oil and transported for refining in Jinja,” Kodey Rao, the managing director of Bidco Uganda said. He said the plan to grow oil palm on the island and to build an oil palm extraction and refinery plant, would reduce Uganda’s import bill for vegetable oil. The fresh palm fruit bunches must be proces…

- The village Dog Once beautiful and proud The village Dog A mother of three generations The village Dog Brown with a white robin, but now more skin than fur she’s got. The village Dog Its not age that this has befell her, but a strange disease. The village Dog Lost all her mates thru this illness The village Dog Stoned and beaten by people were eve…

- Inefficiencies along the Northern Corridor route of Mombasa to Kampala is contributing to about 40 per cent of the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of goods imported to Uganda and transit countries at large, a report on the movement of cargo on the route has said. A report from the Seamless Transport Services (STS), a committee set up to remove bottlenecks, barriers and ensure that cargo moving from Mombasa port to the hinterland moves without any hassles, said Mombasa port traffic is increasing at a rate of 16 per cent per year and is projected to increase due to poor take off and vibrant growth being experienced in the economies of the countries being served by the port. The…

- Expected to be complete by 2018, the Mombassa port development project is due to kick off later next year and to result into the port doubling its current container handling capacity. Officials from Kenya Ports Authority said that the port’s harbour channel will be dredged to an average depth of 15 metres, while the turning basin will be widened.“Apart from making this port a world class hub for the entire East African region, it will also enable it handle large vessels,” said an official from the Ports Authority. He further said that the terminal will be built on 100 hectares of land, next to Kipevu oil terminal.The port, which is used by over 5 countries of Uganda, Buru…

- After the fires that gutted a primary school here in Kampala brought to an end more than 19 innocent lives, many questions and sentiments are being raised by the society at large. The blame game is on and everyone is blaming the other for this. The parents are very furious and given an opportunity they would strangle every administrator at this ill fated school. The incident left the president of the nation shocked at what he saw at the scene, hours after the fateful night. He was forced to sit on the ground as he tried to comfort one of the survivors. The education minister is being called on to resign, which she has determinedly rejected. Mass prayers are being held everywhere fo…

- Burundi and Tanzania will benefit from a US $7m loan for development of their financial markets. This is as reported by the East African business extra. The finamces that have been provided by Madison Financial services Company Ltd (MFSL) of Zambia and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will be used to develop “a robust private financial and insurance sector that will contribute to sustainable economic growth in the two countries”. A recent statement from Madison Financial Services Ltd says that the firm will build on its business model in Zambia, and help entrepreneurs in the two countries benefit from modern accounting options. “After we have created a…

- Rwanda has completed plans to construct a 30MW thermal plant to cater for its rising demand in electricity. Government has made development of the energy sector its second priority after construction of roads, railway lines and bridges. “We are now looking at the construction of micro-hydroelectric stations, renewable energy industries and exploitation of methane gas for production of electricity to supplement the country’s energy deficit,” reads part of the statement from the ministry of finance, illustrating its priorities under the 2007/08 national budget. It says that the electrification master plan for Rwanda will also lead to installation of gas thermal station…

- The world Bank has stepped up plans to develop capital markets in East Africa b y designing programmes aimed at improving efficiency in securities market, expanding the debt market and increasing liquidity. The new initiative dubbed by the international Finance Corporation as Efficient securities Markets Institutional Development Initiative (ES-MID) is expected to boost global capital inflows, which are currently heading into emerging markets that have proved to be more profitable in recent times, because of high returns offshore investors are earning. Emerging markets have been averaging about 5% real GDP per year were growth in developed economies has been dropping over the past 30…

- The Ghanaian media should promote public accountability in helping to fulfill its constitutional role of promoting public accountability as in Article 162 (5) of the 1992 constitution. A two-day training workshop was organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and sponsored by the World Bank (Ghana office) dubbed “ Strengthening public accountability through improved media understanding of the budgetary process,”. This is considered necessary for the media to demand or hold public officials in the management of the economy accountable. The budget touches on every aspects of the public life and as such a good grasp of the budgetary process by the media in general wou…

- Its always a great opportunity for me to sit and write an article for this blog.And like before, I come back on here with my opinion and thought about how things should work especially on the African continent. This time again, having a glance at our beloved son of this continent and what he can do to change Africa, if he so wishes. Deep down my heart I believe that Mr. Barack Obama can do more and better for Africa than the USA where he is vying for the presidence.Indeed, it is in anyone’s dreams to be in the white house given an opportunity, let alone being the president of the states. But if really Barack is the Change that he preaches and passionately adores, it’s more v…

- Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic Of Congo have launched a massive joint conservation programme in the central Albertine rift. Embedded in a 10 year action plan, with a 30 year vision, the joint transbondary conservation programme aims at protecting the environment in the central Albertine rift and wild lives in it. The three countries have devotedly agreed to protect the worlds endangered species in the central Albertine rift which which is a major contributor to their tourism package. The joint transboundary conservation campaign that was recently launched in Kigali and attended by bosses of three wild life conservation authorities of Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo, seeks…

- The energy permanent secretary, Mr Patrick Nyoike has said the investment will complement ongoing efforts by the Kenyan pipeline company(KPC)to construct an LPG handling plant in Nairobi at a cost of $13.5 million.The project will also involve construction of 200 metric tonnes of storage bullets in the industrial town of Athi River, located in the outskirts of the Kenyan capital.  “We want to appeal to the private sector to extend our partisanships on the implementation of these vital projects that if completed would critically solve our energy crisis”, Nyoike said in the capital last week.The main LPG project is in Mombasa and will involve the construction of 6,000 metric…

- The Kenyan government is offering a stake into the planned construction of a liquefied petroleum gas(LPG)facility in Mombasa to private sector so as to ease the looming gas shortage in the country, The energy permanent secretary,Mr Patrick Nyoike has said the investment will compliment already ongoing efforts by the Kenyan pipeline company(KPC)to construct an LPG handling plant in Nairobi at a cost of $13.5 million. The project will also involve construction of 200 metric tonnes of storage bullets in the industrial town of Athi River,located in the out skirts of the Kenyan capital. *we want to appeal to the private sector to extend our partisanships on the construction of these vital…

- The first lady of Uganda is not sleeping back on the fight to attract investments to her country. She is mostly known here for her role in charity, women/orphans organizations, church attending and recently on a surprising note, she ventured into politics, were she now represents her native home district in parliament. Now she is taking her plight for this nation further by helping her husband, his excellence Museveni,on the battle of attracting foreign investors to Uganda. On officiating of an Arab women organization here last week, she stressed the need to invest in Uganda because of her many resources, good investment protection and incentives, not forgetting the stability in securit…

- The deal was sealed last week after a three-day meeting between Rwanda’s minister for industry, trade, investments, tourism and cooperatives, Protaris Mitali and his Tanzanian counterpart, Basil Mramba in Dar es Salaam.A source that has seen the copy said that both countries made the commitment to ease the transportation of petroleum products through Dar es sallam, including relaxation of transit charges.Speaking at the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Mramba was quoted by the media as saying that his country “has accepted to provide Rwanda with a route for petroleum products.” “The port authority will also ensure that goods to Kigali are not delayed”, Mital…

- Rwanda and Tanzania have signed an agreement that will allow the former to route its petroleum imports through Dar es Salaam port. The move would enable landlocked Rwanda to counter the escalating fuel shortage caused by the events in Kenya. Kenya recently went into turmoil following the disputed December 27 presidential elections that were won controversially by Mr. Kibaki.This brought about serious disruptions in the fuel supply to Uganda, Rwanda and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal was sealed after three days meeting between Rwanda’s minister for industry, trade, investments, tourism and cooperatives, Protaris Mitali and his Tanzanian counterpart, Basil Mramba in…

- Hello to you who enjoy reading my views and opinion on topical issues especially those concerning Africa. Like you may know or have realized, Im first an African before anything else. So the current trends of occurrences in Kenya really live me dumb. And for the moment no one seems to have any solution to the problem. Not even the politicians themselves who brought this to this beloved country, seen before as the real hope of democracy in Africa after South Africa of course. Kenya is up in flames as tribes go against each other, and I wonder why the world is not doing a lot to help. Yes Kofi Anan may be there, but just today, a legislator from the opposition ODM was shot dead, and more th…

- He said Uganda has a lot of potential in the agricultural sector which needs to be utilized to enrich Uganda and also improve the food baskets of other countries world wide. “You can also look at other investment opportunities in the country, in other sectors such as Agro-processing. Uganda would like to liberate man kind from bad foods which they eat. We have got very good foods which are not modified by inorganic fertilizers”, Museveni told sheik Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the chairman Warid Telecom, after launching the operations of Uganda’s 4th telecommunications operator at the commonwealth resort of Munyonyo, a suburb of Kampala city.Sheik Nahayan  is also cha…

- Africa is burning once again and like before, no one seems to mind about this precious piece of land with variety of both human and animals species that are uniquely divided in this vast green all year round motherland. As usual we are once again pitted against each other through tribal sentiments caused by people who are supposedly obliged to protect and help the continent to go forward. These children of this motherland, who inherited power from our colonial master, are actually turning out to be a million times worse than the people we deemed as colonialists who even up to today, we still criticize for our poor life conditions in Africa. I always say to myself that Africans we have our…

- Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) in partnership with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has introduced a single transaction tariff across its East African operations, in an effort to facilitate commercial activities by its merchant customers who routinely travel for business across the region. According to DTBExecutive Director George Mashashi, if one customer in Uganda was crediting an account in Kenya, the receiver does not to pay any fees. "We now have one single tariff such that we apply a single charge on one money transfer transaction," he said. This is the first such innovation in the banking industry in Uganda and might provide a measure of relief for exporters and Importers i…

- The final deal was signed on December 21 and takes immediate effect, according to the statement by the World Bank country manager for Uganda Ms Grace Yabdrudy.'We the close of contract negotiations between the Bujagali Energy Limited (EBL) and the project’s commercial investors as an example of partnerships that can make a difference in Uganda’s and Africa’s development" , the statement said on Friday.It added "the 250 mw project on the Nile river is an integral component of Uganda’s strategy to close an energy supply gap that seriously constrains the country’s social and economic development."The dam is expected to bring a more reliable and acc…

- Pan Africanism the way forward for the black people and Africa continent in particular.Sorry if I may sound racist here but deep down in my heart i believe that its through the pan Africanist movement that Africa and the black people can be redeemed. And in order to achieve this a few realities have to be reached. First we have to stop blaming those who participated in the slave trade that saw many of our colleagues shipped into the new world. And start to look for ways on how we can base on that(slave trade) to bring Africa out.Because to be real,if slave trade was to be brought back,many of us would willingly board those ships and planes and run away from this continent as far as pos…