Airtel Uganda, the Smartphone Network with the widest 4G coverage in Uganda, has been named the most admired Telecom brand in the 2022 Brand Africa top 100 event organized at Protea Hotel, on 3^rd June 2022.

Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands is a consumer-led survey that seeks to establish brand preferences across Africa, running for the 12th year. This survey which is the most comprehensive survey on brands in Africa was conducted in 28 countries covering all economic regions in Africa and collectively accounting for more than 85% of the continent’s population and Gross Domestic Product.

To feature on the list, brands had to be recalled in at least one country other than their domicile market.

Commenting on the achievement, Airtel Uganda Head of Marketing, Henry Njoroge appreciated the award organizers for championing and celebrating the excellence of industry players through forums like the Brand Africa Survey where Airtel Uganda was recognized as the most admired Telecom brand in Uganda. 

“Airtel’s positioning as the Smartphone Network in Uganda and across the region inspires us to constantly innovate and introduce products and services that offer what the market needs, by connecting families to their loved ones, businesses to their clientele, as well as enabling access to affordable mobile financial transaction on the Airtel Money platform,” said Njoroge.

While handing over the accolade, Thebe Ikalafeng, the Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa and Brand Leadership, noted, “We celebrate Airtel, among other participants that were recognized in the 2022 Brand Africa Survey.”

He added, “Despite the pandemic, African brands have increased their share of the Top 100 most admired brands by 4% to comprise 17% in the 2022 survey. Brand Africa top 100 awards seek to recognize brands that create a positive image for Africa, showcase its diversity, and drive its competitiveness.”

The recognition came in at the time when Airtel was recognized as the fastest mobile network at the mobile world congress in Barcelona, Spain as the company works towards bridging the digital inclusion gap in Uganda based on the belief that access to the internet and affordable calls has the power to change lives and promote innovativeness among the youth in Uganda and the region.

Teachers  in Kazo district have joined the rest of the country to champion the fight to ensure that they get what has been promised to them since 2017.

Teachers in Uganda under their umbrella, the Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU), have today laid down tools over what they describe as proposed discriminatory salary enhancement.

“The leadership of the teachers Union countrywide has unanimously ratified the resolution of the standing committee that sat on May 23 to enter into an industrial action effective June 15 if there is no satisfactory feedback on the issues pertaining to teachers’ salary increment across the board for the financial year 2022/2023,” said Unatu in a June 11 letter signed by the Union’s general secretary, Filbert Baguma.

According to Innocent Ahimbisibwe, the UNATU Chairman Kazo Branch, all teachers are called upon to join the struggle without fear to enable the body to have one strong, uniform voice; adding that no teacher should hold a lesson until the Government intervenes positively.

Mugabi Medard ,the  Unatu Kazo  Branch  Secretary   says  that  they ‘re not  doing this just  because they  hate the learners or their  jobs but they are tired of low salaries and empty promises by the Gov’t.

Medard states that they want the Government to consider them as follows;

Principal Comprehensive Schools/NTC, UCC    UI-SE    12,200,000

Principal PTC, Tech schs/ Deputy Principal NTC    U1-E    10,000,000

Head Teacher (Secondary)    U1-E    10,000,000

Deputy Head Teacher (Secondary)    U2    7,400,000

Science Teachers at Principal Level    U2 SC    7,800,000

Science Teachers at Senior level    U3 SC    6,000,00

Arts teachers    U3    5,400,000

Science Teachers at Graduate level    U4 SC    4,800,000

Arts Teacher    U4    4,500,000

Science teachers at Diploma level    U5-SC    3,000,000

U5 Arts teacher    U5    2,700,000

Head Teacher (Primary) U    U4    4,500,000

Deputy Head Teacher (Primary)    U5    2,700,000

Senior Education Assistant    U6    1,600,00

Education Assistant    U7    1,350,000

Non-Formal Education Teachers     U8    500,000.

Story by Mwebaze Deus

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Territorial police in Kamuli District have arrested a private security guard identified as Daniel Muwandane who allegedly stole over UGX 30m from a church.

Muwandane reportedly broke into the offices of Ground-breaking Ministries located at Namwenda Road in Northern Division, Kamuli Municipality, Kamuli District and stole the money which was meant for the training pastors in the region.

Muwandane was tracked down by the District Crime Intelligence team with the help K9 dog up to his home district in Amolatar where he had escaped to. He was arrested with UGX 27.2m which was exhibited.

In another related incident,

Police in Kiira region have arrested two men suspected to have robbed UGX 280million from Bhavin Prajapati, the finance officer of Victoria Nile plastics Ltd.

The suspects who were traveling in a Toyota Wish REG No. UBA 032N are said to have waylaid Prajapati and a colleague as they returned from Bank of Baroda, Jinja Branch, to the factory in Njeru municipality, Buikwe District.

The robbers reportedly blocked the duo, put them on gunpoint and ordered them to surrender the bag in their possession. The victims quickly alerted the Police of Njeru, Kayunga and Jinja who traced the bag using a GPS device. The suspects were arrested at Rainbow Guest House in Wakitaka on the Jinja-Kamuli Highway, where they were allegedly found feasting on beers.

Police recovered an AK-47 assault rifle belonging to the UPDF, with serial number UG-UPDF-UH-3113, with 28 rounds of live ammunition, a hammer, pair of pliers & harmful drug substances.

James Mubi, the Kiira Region Police Spokesperson said that upon concluding investigations, the suspects who are currently detained at Jinja Police Station, will be charged with aggravated robbery and possession of illegal firearms under case reference CRB569/2022.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched the “improved goat project” in Karamoja under the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs; aimed at supporting rehabilitated karachuna (youth who have abandoned rustling).

President Museveni who arrived in Karamoja Sub Region on Sunday June 12^th 2022, handed over 71,550 goats under the improved goat project to the Karamojong communities to help in the fight against poverty and promote nutrition in Karamoja.

 “As part of the ongoing exercise appraising the security situation in areas affected by the criminality of cattle rustling, we are also telling the leaders to interest wanainchi in alternative activities that will guarantee prosperity,” said President Museveni via his Twitter handle.

While handing over the goats, President Museveni said that the project is aimed at supporting youth who have abandoned rustling to re-integrate into the society adding that the Law to end cattle rustling is in the pipeline.

“In Karamoja region, government has come up with a resettlement package for youth who volunteer out of this mess. We have started with a number of goats (16 per person), and 26 iron sheets to facilitate permanent structures,” said Museveni.

The president’s visit to Karamoja is part of his country wide tour to assess and address the re-emerging cases of cattle rustling that have become a major threat to the security especially in Eastern Uganda.

President Museveni urged the people of Karamoja sub-region to drop their guns and further assured them that cattle rustling must be put to an end in order for the area to develop and prosper.

He warned them that soldiers would hunt for anybody with a gun, arrows, and bows, and arrest all the suspects and collaborators.

By Racheal Nuwahereza

Parents and Teachers have faced backlash after a viral video of students allegedly having sex in broad day light aboard Midland High school bus was circulated on social media.

In the video that has since gone viral on social media, the school bus was filmed by passersby in the city jam, with students who appeared as though they were coming or going on a trip.

The female students on board are seen through the transparent windows visibly twerking on the laps of their male counterparts with netizens concluding that they were having sex.

The video has caused an uproar with different social media users calling for an internal review in regards to discipline and rules enforcement at the school in question.

However, Midland High School management has come out to distance itself from the students and their actions. The school says their only fault in this is owning the bus.

FX Kyasa, the head teacher of Midland High School clarified that the students in the bus are not from Midland but rather from Lubiri High School.

“We, Midland High School, have very unfortunately, been appraised of happening on our school bus hired by another school (LUBIRI HIGH SCHOOL) for an agriculture tour to Jinja today, Friday 10th June 2022. These were not students of our school,” noted Kyasa.

Kyasa clarified that the school has been hiring out their bus from time to time but it was an oversight not to screen the users.

“Midland High School is a school built on a very strong Christian foundation and strongly condemns behaviors of this kind. We very rigorously control our learning and living environment to ensure that behaviour of this kind is not given an opportunity to thrive. We will support our bus-hire customers to ensure they manage this very unfortunate incident in the most appropriate manner,” said Kyasa

 “Our bus hire services will continue with a more rigorous screening of our clients and their on-bus passenger management,” he said.

Lubiri High School management is yet to comment on the viral video