IGIHE

Author: Publisher

  • 30 Killed in Fresh Ethnic Clashes in DRC

    30 Killed in Fresh Ethnic Clashes in DRC

    {Strongly condemning the fresh outbreak of deadly violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sparked by a dispute over cattle, the head of the United Nations mission there has called for an immediate end to the fighting and has deployed UN peacekeepers to work alongside local authorities to help restore calm. }

    The inter-ethnic clashes “caused many casualties”, leaving at least 30 dead and 15 wounded, said a press release issued by the UN Organization Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO), describing the aftermath of a cattle rustling incident last night that led to fighting between the Bafuliru and Barundi/Banyamulenge communities in Uvira, South Kivu.

    “This violence is unacceptable and must be halted immediately,” said Mission chief Martin Kobler, noting that on the ground, peacekeepers have evacuated the injured to health centers, while MONUSCO and Congolese forces, known by the French acronym FARDC, are actively supporting local authorities to restore calm.

    “Arrangements are being made to protect local populations with the deployment of peacekeepers in the town of Mutarule to strengthen the locally-based FARDC [troops],” confirmed Mr. Kobler.

    Chimpreports

  • URA impounds 700 cartons of macaronies from Rwanda

    URA impounds 700 cartons of macaronies from Rwanda

    {Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on Thursday raided shops in the city’s Kikuubo shopping lane and impounded merchandise which had been smuggled into the country. }

    According to URA law enforcement officer Moses Oguttu, a suspected smuggler, who is now on the run, imported the merchandise from Rwanda and evaded taxes worth about Shs30m.

    “You traders can do smart business conveniently when you pay taxes. Now the owner of this consignment of more than 700 cartons of macaroni has to pay taxes plus a fine for both the goods and the truck that has been used to transport the goods,” Oguttu told Kikuubo traders during the operation.
    Mr Oguttu said URA stepped up vigilance on smugglers and urged traders to pay taxes to avoid double losses.

    The suspect’s agent admitted before the URA officers that they had been smuggling but this time their luck ran out. “We buy a carton of macaroni at Shs38,000 and we sell it here at Shs46,000. Considering the taxes plus transport costs, if you don’t smuggle, you cannot make a profit,” he said.

    Late March, URA raided Kikuubo and seized 273 cartons, each containing 100 dozens of China-made batteries from a trader, who has in turn sued URA for alleged illegal seizure.

    Early March, a truck carrying 398 bags of undeclared rice concealed under packs of salt was impounded by URA enforcement officers as it was being offloaded in Mukono Central Market.

    Daily Monitor

  • Clinton Aides Weighed Fallout Of Calling Rwanda Killing ‘Genocide’

    Clinton Aides Weighed Fallout Of Calling Rwanda Killing ‘Genocide’

    {President Bill Clinton’s administration wondered what the legal consequences would be if the White House acknowledged that genocide was occurring in Rwanda in 1994, according to newly public documents.}

    In a May 26, 1994, email to Donald Steinberg, who handled the Africa portfolio in Clinton’s National Security Council, legal adviser Alan Kreczko wrote: “Concluding that genocide has occurred/is occurring in Rwanda does not create a legal obligation to take particular action to stop it.”

    Kreczko went on to write that while human rights groups had argued the contrary, “We would not agree.”

    “Of course, making such a determination will increase political pressure to do something about it,” he added.

    As The Associated Press notes: “The Clinton administration was slow to react to the mass killings and went to great lengths to avoid calling the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu ‘genocide.’ Clinton would later call the U.S. inaction among his biggest regrets.”

    In another document made public Friday, in a practice session for his 1996 State of the Union speech, Clinton railed against Republicans who he said wanted to shut down the Department of Commerce because its head, Ron Brown, was black.

    “The reason they want to get rid of the Commerce Department is they are foaming at the mouth that Ron Brown is better than all of those Republican corporate executives who got those cheeky jobs because they gave big money to Republican presidential candidates,” Clinton told aides.

    “And here is this black guy who is a better secretary of commerce than anybody since Herbert Hoover, which he was a success at,” Clinton said.

    Brown was killed later that year in a plane crash in Croatia.

    Source: wnyc.org

  • Raila Odinga Warns Uhuru of Showdown

    Raila Odinga Warns Uhuru of Showdown

    In Kenya’s Politics, a showdown is looming between the Jubilee coalition and the opposition after an MP allied to Jubilee issued an ultimatum to the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader Raila Odinga to substantiate on recent remarks where he warned President Uhuru Kenyatta of a ‘storm’ if he ignores talks with the opposition.

    Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a has now given the former Prime Minister seven days to tell the nation of what he meant by a ‘political storm’ saying that was tantamount to issuing threats and incitement which she said the government will not take lying down.

    Ng’a ng’a said the Jubilee lawmakers will not sit and watch as the opposition go around the country peddling lies and making remarks that border on incitement and malice.

    While speaking in Eastleigh on Thursday, Raila cautioned Uhuru of a ‘political storm’ should the Jubilee government continue to maintain a hardline stance against the national dialogue his team is seeking.

    “I urge Mr. Raila Odinga to tell the country what he knows and what they are planning to do if the dialogue they are seeking for doesn’t happen. If the opposition has an issue that they want to dialogue on let them use the constitutionally enabled structures,” the MP said.

    The lawmaker who spoke in Thika during the disbursement of bursaries to more than 1200 college and university students urged the opposition to stop using their public rallies to make alarming statements that may incite the youth.

    “The opposition should know the country is no longer in campaigns since the elections are over. Let them give the government a chance to deliver on its manifesto.

    They should wait for 2017 when another chance will be provided to the Kenyan people to make a choice,” said Ng’ang’a who is against the talks. Ng’ang’a alleged the aim of the opposition is to make the country ungovernable with a view of making it hard for the government to deliver on its promises.

    She instead told the opposition to be in the forefront in offering solutions to myriad of challenges facing the country instead of always being critical of the government without putting any solutions on the table.

    “They just want to create un-condusive environment for the governing of the country in order to discredit the government before the people that it has failed.

    The people of Kenya should say no to their mission,” she said. She said the Jubilee coalition also has followers who they can call to the streets but said that is not the way to go as responsible leaders.

    The law maker urged President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Inspector General of Police not to allow any more rallies by the opposition claiming their mission is just to incite the people with the aim of creating a revolution similar to the Arab spring.

  • Uganda Looks to Nuclear Energy

    Uganda Looks to Nuclear Energy

    Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has said his country is considering the use of nuclear energy to supplement hydro-power.

    Museveni noted that a developed Uganda would need a lot of energy (50,000 megawatts or more) which cannot be got from hydro-power even if all the sites that are not yet exploited are complete. This he said in the State of the Nation Address recently.

    “We shall have some more energy from the geo-thermal (may be 1,000 megawatts or there about). Yet a developed Uganda needs a lot energy ─ 50,000 megawatts or more.”

    “Meanwhile I prepare the country for the option of the nuclear energy because for that one, we have got endless supply. The composite growth for the whole economy has improved even before the bottlenecks have been removed,” Museveni said.

    He however, said that if the cost per unit for solar energy goes down, then the solar energy will be the solution.

    NV

  • Lupita Nyong’o to Star in Americanah Movie

    Lupita Nyong’o to Star in Americanah Movie

    {{Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o is to star in and produce an adaptation of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s acclaimed novel Americanah.}}

    It will be made by Brad Pitt’s company Plan B, producers of 12 Years a Slave – which won Nyong’o an Oscar in February.

    Americanah centres on two Nigerians who fall in love, but find themselves separated by immigration issues.

    In a statement, Nyong’o said it was an “honour to bring Ms Adichie’s brilliant book to the screen”.

    Americanah, which follows lovers Ifemelu and Obinze, won the prestigious US National Book Critics Circle Award in 2013.

    It was also on the shortlist for this week’s Baileys Prize for Women’s Fiction in the UK, but lost out to Eimear McBride’s A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing.

    { {{Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun has also been made into a movie}} }

    “Page after page I was struck by Ifemelu and Obinze’s stories, whose experiences as African immigrants are so specific and also so imminently relatable,” said Nyong’o.

    “It is a thrilling challenge to tell a truly international story so full of love, humour and heart.”

    Adichie’s award-winning novels include Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, which was recently made into a film starring Thandie Newton and 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor.

    Nyong’o became an overnight star with her performance in 12 Years a Slave, winning this year’s best supporting actress Academy Award.

    Earlier this week, it was announced that she was to join the cast of the latest Star Wars film.

    {Nyong’o recently at a beach in a sexy bikini}

  • Regional Electronic Bill in the Offing

    Regional Electronic Bill in the Offing

    {{At the just ended Sixth meeting of the 2nd Session, EALA has granted Hon Dr James Ndahiro leave to introduce a Private Members’ Bill on Electronic transactions. The Bill is known as the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill, 2014.}}

    The object of this Bill is to make provision for the use, security, facilitation and regulation of electronic communications and transactions, to encourage the use of e-Government service and to provide for related matters.

    According to the mover, Hon. Dr. Ndahiro, it has been established that the Community needs to maximally exploit the great resource of ICTs thus ensuring that businesses and institutions have access to these modern technologies.

    It is on the basis of such background that the EAC Electronic Transactions Bill, 2014 has been put together in order to meet the need of exploiting electronic transactions in the modern business transactions that have become common.

    The Bill further wants to promote technology neutrality in applying legislation to electronic communications and transactions; and to develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business and the governments of the Partner States to conduct and use electronic transactions.

    During debate yesterday, Hon Nancy Abisai noted that the Bill would promote investments in the region by enabling transactions of business to be realised.

    Hon Valerie Nyirabineza termed the Bill timely in the region’s quest to reduce bureaucracies while Hon Nusura Tiperu noted that the Bill was in line the desire to promote sharing of information and cooperation through technological advancement.

    Hon Mike Sebalu noted that the region had embraced the digital era and termed the Bill relevant to the transformation agenda while Hon Patricia Hajabakiga remarked that EAC stood to benefit through increased competitiveness.

    Article 59 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community empowers any Member of the Assembly to propose any Motion or to introduce any Bill in the Assembly.

    The same article is translated in the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and in particular Rules 26 and 64. Once ready, the progress of the Bill shall be carried out in the same way as that followed in respect of a Community Bill.

  • Rwanda Peacekeepers Conduct Umuganda in Darfur

    Rwanda Peacekeepers Conduct Umuganda in Darfur

    {{Rwanda Defence Forces peacekeepers (Rwanbatt 41) serving in United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has conducted community work to clean and protect environment in El Fasher town on 5th June 2014.}}

    During the community work, on the United Nations Environmental Day, the Peacekeepers planted 300 trees at El Fasher University, cleaned dirty places and collected used plastic bags in El Fasher, the Capital of Darfur, Province of the Sudan.

    Among the high profile participants were the Deputy Wali (Governor) of North Darfur Mr. Abu ABAS (bellow on the photo), Rwandan Contingent Commander Col Sam K BAGUMA and many others.

    The Deputy Wali thanked Rwandan peacekeepers for their encouraging turn up and their continued commitment to change a dessert place into a green environment.

    “Really you are showing us that, apart from being peacekeepers you are also concerned with our environment protection”, concluded the Deputy Governor of North Darfur.

    MOD

  • Police Moves Top Spot in Handball League

    Police Moves Top Spot in Handball League

    {{The two-time national handball league champions, Police Handball club has moved to the first place on the log to boost their chances of the trophy for the third time in just four league seasons.}}

    The Police side beat the Nyabihu-based, GS Rambura 47-24 on June 5 to topple ES Kigoma on top with 18 maximum points, two points ahead of the latter.

    Twelve-match-high strikes from Gilbert Mutuyimana plus nine and seven other goals from Gilbert Nzibonera and Norbert Duteterimana ensured that the Police Handball club continues the season’s unbeaten run.

    Team coach, Assistant Inspector of Police Antoine Ntabanganyimana hailed his side adding that they “treat each and every match equally.”

    “We don’t undermine any game or club. Our focus is to claim three points from all our opponents if we are to be crowned champions this season,” said AIP Ntabanganyimana.

    With just two matches left to start return legs, AIP Ntabanganyimana believes they are the favorites to finish on top.

    He also said that his side is well prepared for the Genocide Memorial Tournament which kicks off on June 6 in Kigali.

    This year’s memorial tourney features two foreign clubs, namely; Ngome handball club from Tanzania and Muzinga from Burundi.

    Police Handball club is in group A with APR, Ngome and UR-CASS.
    Those in group B are Gicumbi, ES Kigoma, Muzinga and UR-CE.

    RNP

  • Africa to Host First World Pension Summit

    Africa to Host First World Pension Summit

    {{The first ever World Pension Summit to be held in Africa will be hosted in Nigeria in July.}}

    The World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ will bring together leading figures from Africa’s pension industries, as well as from politics, business and finance, to exchange expertise and increase international cooperation on the continent.

    The event, taking place in Abuja, will also mark the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004, and the formation of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) as the regulator for pension matters.

    Since its formation, PenCom has worked to create a more conducive regulatory framework for Nigeria’s pension sector, which – with in excess of US$23bn of pension funds under management – will play a key role in Nigeria’s economic development.

    “We are delighted to bring the World Pension Summit to Africa,” said Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, acting director general of PenCom. “A number of African nations are experiencing strong economic growth supported by the rising investment in natural resources and robust private consumption.

    “As a result, the role of the pensions industry in providing a stable consumer savings vehicle for Africa’s growing middle classes, and the investment of capital from its pension funds, is of increasing significance.

    “The summit will be an opportunity for the continent’s pension professionals to share blueprints and practices with the aim of further developing Africa’s pension market over the next decade.”

    Many of Africa’s 55 countries will be represented at the summit, including South Africa, Botswana, Ghana and Kenya.

    The summit will enable global expertise to be shared on relevant topics and developments such as pensions administration and investment, risk management, regulatory essentials, technology, communication, and financial literacy.

    “Africa’s growth story, particularly Nigeria as its largest economy, has been well documented, but with such growth comes a responsibility, expectation and opportunity to leverage capital growth, using pension funds as an instrument for further economic and social development,” said Eric Eggink, founder and chairman of the World Pension Summit.

    “The summit represents a strong commitment to ensure sufficient pension provision across the continent, so that African workers reap the benefits of their countries’ successes with a future that is safeguarded in retirement.”

    The World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ will now be held annually on the continent.