Ten Years Into The Constitution, Rwanda Pushes Forward In Delivering For Citizens

By Chimp Corp

This constitution was a first in many regards. It was the first time citizens had been consulted. All four previous constitutions had been set up without consultation or participation.

It was also the first time the constitution guaranteed the rights and freedoms of citizens. Rwandans would be free of all forms of discrimination, whether by ethnic group, gender, political or religious affiliation.

A country united

After decades of bad politics based on divisionism, Rwandans voted for a Constitution that clearly provides for mechanisms that do away with the discrimination and impunity that led to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Speaking at the occasion of the anniversary,Prof Shyaka Anastase, CEO of Rwanda Governance Board said that after the genocide, Rwandans through the constitution, said never again and established democratic institutions, which today form the bedrock of their development.

“We set fundamental principles and established a free and fair electoral system, which saw Rwandans across the country have their voices heard in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2010 and 2011. We resolved to build a State governed by the rule of law; a nation which respects the rights of each and every one of its citizens, engages

"State Communication Surveillance Undermines Freedom Of Expression"

By www.unog.ch

“Who are the authorities mandated to promote the surveillance of individuals? What is the final destiny of the massive amounts of the stored information on our communications?” he said. “These questions urgently need to be studied in all countries to ensure a better protection of the rights to privacy and the right to freedom of expression.”

Mr. La Rue’s findings contained in a report* on the implications of States’ surveillance of communications on the exercise of the human rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and expression, which was presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Concerns about national security and criminal activity may justify the exceptional use of communications surveillance,” he said. “Nevertheless, national laws regulating what constitutes the necessary, legitimate and proportional State involvement in communications surveillance are often inadequate or simply do not exist.”

“The surveillance of human rights defenders or journalists in many countries has been well documented,” the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression noted.

According to the report, States possess multiple instruments to breach communication privacy today: “Access to the stored content of an individual’s

Rwandan Youth Vow To Fight The Genocide Ideology

By Chimp Corp

Edouard Bamporiki speaking to Kirehe residents

YouthConnekt Dialogue is one of the activities planned during YouthConnekt Month kicked off in the beginning of May; the dialogue is an idea being implemented in collaboration of a group of artists ‘Arts for Peace’.

Aline Mugeni, a young people living in Kirehe District said that now Rwandan Youth are ready to fight the genocide ideology and they see themselves as the pillar for a brighter Rwanda.

Edouard Bamporiki, the chair of Arts for Peace and an award-winning film maker, actor and poet reveals to the Youth his testimony and urges them to look for better thing and work hard to shape the better future of our country.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rosemary Mbabazi said that “YouthConnekt Dialogue it’s a process and will be an annual event we have to continue, it is very inspiring that there’s a mindset change that is what motivating and I like even how they talk about we love our country, we’ll work for it even if it means to give our lives we’ll do that, that is patriotism.”

The main purpose of the dialogue is to create a chance, opportunity and a platform for young

Museveni’s Letter To Namugongo Pilgrims

By Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni is represented by The Vice President, His Excellency Edward Ssekandi. Below is President Museveni's special message:

Dear Ugandans, I greet you all.

We salute the Uganda Matyrs. They died for freedom of conscience and against traditional tyranny.

Christianity and Islam played a role in the modernisation of Uganda.

Unfortunately, on account of misguided beliefs, some people misused the new religions to bring about sectarianism based on religion.

This is why NRM has been decampaigning sectarianism whether of religion or tribe and fought against discrimination of women and children.

In the Bible we are told that Jesus Christ preached the gospel but also worked as a carpenter with his foster father Joseph. He must have worked to contribute to household income.

Therefore, I urge you all to emulate him and religious leaders to guide Ugandans how to earn better incomes for their homes alongside preaching.

I wish you a blessed day.

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

President of the Republic of Uganda

June 3rd, 2013

Asteroid 1998 Qe2 Flies Past Earth

By Rebecca Morelle Science reporter, BBC World Service

At its closest, the asteroid will pass within a distance of about 6 million kilometres

The space rock, which is called 1998 QE2, is so large that it is orbited by its own moon.

It made its closest approach to our planet at 20:59 GMT (21:59 BST), but scientists had said there would be no chance it would hit.

Instead it kept a safe distance - at closest, about 5,800,000 km (3,600,000 miles).

That is about 200 times more distant than the asteroid "near-miss" that occurred in February - but Friday's passing space rock is more than 50,000 times larger.

Prof Alan Fitzsimmons, an astronomer at Queen's University Belfast, said: "It's a big one. And there are very few of these objects known - there are probably only about 600 or so of this size or larger in near-Earth space.

"And importantly, if something this size did hit us one day in the future, it is extremely likely it would cause global environmental devastation, so it is important to try and understand these objects."

Dark visitor

This fly-by gave astronomers the chance to study the rocky mass in detail.

Using radar telescopes, they were due to record a series of high-resolution images.

They want to find out

Newspaper Vendors Rejoice As Media Houses Are Reopened

By Nixon Segawa

Charles Okello a newspepaper vendor at caltex in Gulu town (Internet photo)

The two newspapers had been under police siege for eleven days over the publication of Gen. David Sejusa’s .controversial letter calling for an investigation into reports of planned assassination of army officers opposed to Brigadier Kainerugaba Muhoozi rise to presidency.

One newspaper vendor commonly known as Maama Barbra, operating along Kyagwe Road on the streets of Kampala said the re-opening of the two publications will help to boost their income which had began diminishing when the papers were closed.

She noted that Red Pepper is one of the most selling newspapers along the streets of Kampala given the fact that it always digs out the hidden information and follows up stories.

 “This is followed by The Daily Monitor which is commonly trusted by non-government employees who believe that it publishes factual stories,” she said.

Maama Barbra noted that though they earn very little profits from selling newspapers, it is a source of livelihood.

She said they sell most when there is a big story being run by the most trusted papers.

“We don’t need capital to operate this business. The only thing needed is having connections with different newspaper agents who will ensure you have a continuous supply and pay

Getting Uganda Back On The Rails: What Is At Stake?

By Sam Waswa

Along the old rusty rails, women lay bunches of matooke, cassava, and ‘Nakati’ eagerly awaiting their esteemed customers. It is a local market for foodstuffs and other small household materials.

Such is the state of close to 80 percent of Uganda’s railway infrastructure today, whose operation and glory took to a steady downward trend since the 1970’s.

As of now, an articulate tale of life aboard a passenger train as a regular mode of transport may not be told by anyone below the age of 30.

Indeed looking at what is left of the once famous “Lunatic Line,” it is difficult to believe it at one point commanded the national transport sector that is imports, exports and passenger freights
across the region.

From the 70’s the railway experienced problems as traffic fell away, finances dropped and conditions of truck and rolling started to deteriorate.

Hence in 1992, passenger services were discontinued while the Pakwatch-Kasese and Busoga lines were ‘temporarily closed.’

Efforts to resurrect operations of the great ‘iron snake’ culminated in a concession signed in 2006 in which Rift Valley Railways [RVR] was entrusted by Uganda government with management of the railway taking over from Uganda Railway Corporation.

The lines

Weekly Feature: New Business Perspectives In Africa

By Martin Kalhöfer

Volkswagen production in Uitenhage (© picture-alliance / dpa)

Although still treated somewhat negatively by the media just a few years ago, perceptions about the continent are swiftly changing. High growth rates, branches with potential above and beyond the raw materials sector, and more stable framework conditions are attracting a lot of attention.

Even if the risks continue to exist on the neighbouring continent, what currently counts are the opportunities. China is already intensely involved in availing itself of Africa’s economic potential, and other countries like Brazil, the United States, India and also Turkey are following suit, ensuring tough competition among the business partners.

Since the year 2000, sub-Saharan Africa has almost always achieved real growth rates of five percent in its gross national product. And the high revenues for the raw materials sector are not the only reasons. In many African countries the value added is also increasing, even in the agricultural sector, and new roads, railway lines and harbours are being built.

The telecommunications sector in particular is booming, creating new jobs such as in mobile banking in Kenya. Large companies are placing their hopes in a growing middle class and investing in shopping centres and consumer goods. Africa is especially suited for the use

Bitature Wows MUBS Graduates With Inspirational Speech

By Brian Kwesiga

Patrick Bitature

The institution is well known for its quality business courses and well trained graduates.

Bitature is a respected businessman and considered among the top ten wealthiest Ugandans.

Bitature’s father was brutally murdered by Dictator Idi Amin in the 1970s, a horrific incident that saw the well off family lose the better part of its wealth.

From scratch and rags, Bitature has managed to build a huge business empire.

He runs the Simba telecom franchise, Kampala Protea Hotel; heads the Uganda Investment Authority and is an advisor to President Yoweri Museveni.

Here are Bitature’s remarks at MUBS.

To the Chancellor of Makerere University, VC, members of the Board of Mubs, members of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all, the graduates of this academic year:

The first thing I would like to say is ‘thank you.’ to Mubs for giving me the distinguished honor by inviting me to give the keynote speech today. I am indeed humbled by the gesture and accept it with a great deal of humility,I wish I were one of you graduating here today, instead of a 50 year old man, giving a speech, you will certainly have forgotten when you wake up – from

Nothing Should Stand In Way Of Energy Investments In Uganda

By Morrison Rwakakamba

Morrison Rwakakamba, Chief Executive Officer Agency for Transformation

I was happy with the court decision. This is because a combination of parliamentary and technocratic oligarchy, lengthy procedures, bureaucratic red tapes and other illicit ‘due diligences’ have before frustrated efforts to deploy investments in energy and continue to threaten strategic investment especially where private individuals are investing and risking their own money.

This stand should not be confused with the rule of law debate or fight against corruption and routing for transparency activities in Uganda. In fact as we continue to debate ourselves tirelessly, businesses are losing money, investors are looking elsewhere, jobs are shedding, blackouts and surging electricity bills are constraining our livelihoods.

For example, Ugandan firms continue to incur a high cost composition of Energy as part of the overall productions costs ranging from 15-65% compared to acceptable global range of 2-5%.

You see, any actions, deliberate or incidental which will increase further the costs of electricity will undermine the competitiveness of Ugandan producers, slow growth and in particular value addition in the agricultural sector and by implication affect revenue generation and creation of millions of jobs.

Indeed, in 2012 the Private Sector Foundation(U) reported that consultations with companies operating in Uganda revealed