Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for MTN Uganda.

A statement released by MTN on Thursday evening reveals that the appointment of Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge as Chief Executive Officer is effective from October 1, 2022.

Charles Mbire, the MTN Group Chairman of the Board of Directors said that he believes that Mulinge’s experience will be beneficial to MTN Uganda.

“I would like to welcome Sylvia Mulinge to MTN Uganda. I believe that her experience will be beneficial to MTN, particularly given her alignment to our strategic intent of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress. The Board is confident that Ms Mulinge will continue the work of growing the Company as a leading provider of telecommunications and digital solutions.” said Mbire.

“Mulinge joins MTN from Safaricom Plc where she currently is Chief Consumer Business Officer. In this role, she is responsible for driving the consumer telecoms business, managing the overall brand, and leading the transformation of Safaricom to become a digital lifestyle enabler of consumers’ lives,” added the board.

Mulinge who is a graduate of the University of Nairobi, Kenya, where she received a Bachelor of Science first-class honours degree first joined Safaricom in 2007 and has over the years occupied various senior roles including Head of Retail, Head of Sales, and Director of Consumer Business.

Sylvia Wairimu Mulinge replaces Wim Vanhelleputte, who according to the company will cease to be the CEO of the Company effective July 31, 2022, when his contract ends.

Vanhelleputte will be remembered for overseeing some major changes at the telecom giant where he served for six (6) years.

The MTN Group chairman and board of directors highlighted that Vanhelleputte successfully delivered the renewal of MTN’s NTO License, the separation of the mobile financial services business from the telecom business and the initial public offer and listing of the Company on the Uganda Securities Exchange.

“Vanhelleputte has been promoted to a regional role as Operating Executive for the WECA Markets of Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, and Congo-Brazzaville within the MTN Group effective August 1, 2022,” said Mbire.

In the interim, Andrew Bugembe, the current MTN Uganda Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as Acting CEO effective August 1, 2022, until September 30, 2022.

In another development, Mitwa Ng’ambi the current MTN Rwanda CEO, will become CEO of MTN Cameroon, replacing Stephen Blewett, who is leaving the group while Mapula Bodibe, the Chief Consumer Officer at MTN South Africa will take over as CEO of MTN Rwanda.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the £60million signing of Everton forward Richarlison, with the Brazilian agreeing a five-year contract.

The 25-year-old becomes Antonio Conte‘s fourth summer signing after already landing the likes of Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma, as Spurs continue to rebuild their squad ahead of a return to the Champions League.

Spurs are expected to commit to an initial package in the region of £50million, with a further £10m in add-ons bringing the total outlay to around £60m.

Kane and Son already provide plenty of goals for Spurs, but now they have legitimate secondary scoring arriving at the club, which could help out with the extra games of the Champions League once again this campaign. 

Conte’s side have had to beat off competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea to capture his signature, after both sides also expressed an interest in the Brazilian international.

Richarlison is expected to be a good option for the Italian across the front line, with him being able to play on either flank, and even fill in down the middle for England star Harry Kane.

Airtel Uganda in partnership with Mbale City Authority, has today launched the newly remodeled Mbale Clock Tower to enhance the City’s look and reserve the it’s symbolic Icon.

Located in the Eastern part of Uganda, Mbale City is among the few cities that have showcased resilience over the years. In 1980, Mbale was acknowledged as the cleanest city in Uganda and East Africa. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

While officiating the launch of the remodeled Mbale Clock Tower, Henry Njoroge, the Marketing Director at Airtel Uganda revealed that Airtel takes pride in supporting communities through their passion points and preserving key historic regalia like the Mbale Clock Tower which is a symbolic monument in the city for travelers and residents, adding that it will also attract more people to visit Mbale, given that the City is one of Uganda’s top tourist destination regions.

“Our role as a telecommunications company is not only to provide services that support our customers to ease their daily communication and mobile financial services, but to connect, transform and develop communities into modern Cities,” said Njoroge.

Cassim Namugali, the Lord Mayor of Mbale City and Guest of honour noted that Mbale was a municipality until 2019 when it was elevated to a city status.

“We are impressed by the growth it has registered over the years. Upgrading to a city status presents various opportunities that can be explored in boosting socio-economic growth based on the different activities that are implemented within and beyond the region,” said Namugali.

According to Namugali, there are a number of youth in Mbale and across the country who are employed in Airtel Service Centers and Agent points, which translates into economic growth through income generation avenues, and commended Airtel Uganda for boosting the telecommunications sectors through the investments made over time.

“Collaborating with sector players like Airtel Uganda enhances government’s role in stimulating development through uplifting communities, and businesses as a whole,” Namugali concluded.

Police at Entebbe have arrested two suspects following the Murder of a three-year-old child identified as Onyait Simon from Nalugala-Mawugulu zone, Katabi Town Council in Wakiso District.  

Akello Anna Kevin, the victim’s mother says that on Wednesday, she left her child with the stepfather a one Onyango Francis at his work but upon returning home in the evening, the child was missing.

The area Residents together with local authorities mounted a search and the body of Onyait was found in one of the rooms in an unfinished building.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy Police Spokesperson Kampala Metropolitan says when Police were informed, they responded to the scene where they found the deceased’s body with two stab wounds.

The Police have since arrested the child’s Stepfather Onyango Francis and another suspect identified as Kasawuli to help with the ongoing investigations.

The deceased’s body has been conveyed to city mortuary Mulago for Postmortem. 

Buganda Road Chief Magistrate on Tuesday sent two pastors and three bar proprietors on remand after they were arrested and arraigned in court on charges of noise pollution.

 
The two pastors identified as Edward Mukisa and Herman Ssebunje from Nkumba Miracle Centre in Bendegere village in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District and the proprietors of Hide Out Bar and Lounge in Kololo, Sisay Beruke, Tigsti Melkamu and Steven Ssetumba, appeared in court the on charges of noise pollution and pleaded not guilty.

According to a statement from National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) dated June 29, 2022, the suspects were arrested last week in an ongoing operation against noise pollution in the country triggered by numerous public complaints.

The National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2003 defines noise pollution as “the release of uncontrolled noise that is likely to cause danger to human beings or damage to the environment.”

Prosecution said that since 2019, the two pastors have engaged in Church activities including singing clapping, Yelling and using Loud Speakers that resulted in aggravated disturbance or pollution of the Environment.

The suspect were hence charged with “failure to undertake an environmental and social impact assessment, engaging in activities that result in or aggravate pollution, discharging and emitting pollutants into the environment, failure to implement regulatory measures, orders, notices and environmental easements as required by the National Environment Act, 2019.”

Tony Acidria, the senior public relations officer at NEMA said the suspects were arrested during the latest operations for being notorious noise polluters and some of the loudspeakers were also impounded from the church.

“They are repeat offenders because the noise levels when measured were above the permissible level of 60 decibels during the day and 40 decibels in the night for places of worship in residential areas,” said Acidria.

According to NEMA, the measurements showed that the church was emitting noise levels in the range of 60 and 86 decibels, above the permissible noise levels upon inspection by officials from NEMA led by Isaac Mugabi.
The law defines daytime as running from 6am to 10pm and night hours as running from 10 pm to 6 am.

Acidria said NEMA had severally sensitized the pastors and other church administrators and warned them to control the noise from their church in vain. 

NEMA requires establishments such as places of worship, recreational and production activities either submit project briefs or undertake environmental and social impact assessment to enable relevant authorities to guide their operations to ensure that aspects of the environment including noise, air, and water pollution are not compromised.

If convicted, the suspects face a fine not exceeding fifty thousand currency points, the equivalent of UGX 1 billion, or a maximum jail term of 15 years, or both.     

An 87-year-old identified as Aloise Otieng’ Ominang’ombe from Teso South Constituency in Busia County has bought a new coffin where he would like to be buried after his death.

Prior to this, he bought two others coffins in 2009 and 2012 which he says are now out of fashion and will be turned into pieces of firewood during his funeral, as the new one becomes his final resting place.

While rehearsing inside the brand new coffin for his future burial, Aloise Otieng’ Ng’ombe, a father of 18 revealed that the move is a deliberate effort to teach his community at large that death in inevitable and it is only wise to prepare for such unprecedented times.

“I want this to go as a lesson to my community at large. You may lack basic needs when you are alive. But when you die, people will slaughter bulls, buy you nice clothes and shoes yet you will be long gone. That is why I decided to plan for a send-off befitting my status in society,” said Ominang’ombe.

Ominang’ombe disclosed that his newly purchased coffin is worth Ksh.58,000 (approximately UGX 1.8m) and has been stored at his shop in Obekei area.

The incident has sparkled mixed reactions from members of the public, with some supporting his decision while others are opposed to the old man’s plans as they insist that it is against religion.

Police in Amuria district are holding a 39-year-old man for slapping the State Minister for Works and Transport, Hon. Musa Ecweru.

ASP Ageca Oscar Gregg, the PRO East Kyoga, said the incident happened on Sunday, June 26, 2022 during Sunday service at St. Micheal Catholic church in Wera parish, Wera sub-county in Amuria district.

The suspect identified as Okurut Micheal, 39, is said to have walked to the altar like other congregants, knelt down and got his blessings after which he got up and slapped the minister as he was giving his sermon.

The suspect was immediately arrested and is currently detained at Wera Police station where a case of assault was opened and inquiries and investigation into the matter have since commenced.

Rwanda welcomed more than 5,000 Commonwealth organization delegates to its capital Kigali last week for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held under the theme, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, to discuss shared priorities that will shape the work programs of the organization.

The four-day event attracted dignitaries from Commonwealth forums on youth, women, business and civil society, presidents, prime ministers and their representatives from across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Europe who assembled at the Kigali Conference Centre for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally and delayed the meeting for two years.

Established more than 70 years ago, the Commonwealth organization started with the objective of upholding democracy, rule of law and good governance around the world.

Two years after Uganda became the first country on the African continent to host the CHOGM, Mozambique and Rwanda joined the organization comprised of mainly former British colonies with Rwanda becoming the last country to join the Commonwealth, in 2009.

Speaking during CHOGM on Friday, Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda said; holding the meeting in Rwanda, a new member with no historical connection to the British Empire, expresses the host country’s choice to continue reimagining the Commonwealth for a changing world.

“The Commonwealth we need is on the frontlines of global challenges, not on the peripheries, watching events unfold. Our special strength is to bring issues into focus that might otherwise be overlooked,” said Kagame.

The Prince of Wales, who represented Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth, emphasized the need to “respond to climate change and biodiversity loss that threatens our very existence … as we build back from the pandemic that has devastated so many lives.”

During the same meeting, Patricia Scotland retained her position as the Commonwealth secretary-general after she was re-elected with 27 votes against 24 of Kamina Johnson, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Jamaica.

Scotland who in 2016 became the first woman to hold the Commonwealth secretary-general post said that she is determined that when the role of Secretary-General rotates to Africa, two years from now, she will hand on the baton with a stronger and more effective powerful Commonwealth than ever before.

Other new guidelines launched by HRH, the Duchess of Cornwall for Commonwealth countries include stopping and preventing violence against women and girls.

Globally, one in three women and one in six men have experienced a form of domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime.

“In the strength of our unity, we, the women and men of the Commonwealth, stand with victims and survivors, who, despite the temptation to hide away in silence, speak up so that others know they aren’t alone—whether in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific or the Caribbean and Americas,” The Duchess of Cornwall said on Wednesday, adding, “In so doing, we have the opportunity to end gender-based violence and those laws and practices that discriminate against women.  And each one of us must take personal responsibility not to let this opportunity be lost.”

About the Commonwealth:

Key facts

Full name: Commonwealth of Nations

Member states: 54(+ 2 new)

Head of the Commonwealth: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

Secretary-General: Patricia Scotland (since 2016)

Population: 2.5 billion

Area: 30 million square kilometres

Foundation of modern Commonwealth: 1949

Headquarters: Marlborough House, London

Focus: Development, democracy, climate change

Landmark events

1926: Balfour Declaration. Declared the UK and the dominions as equal in status as members of “the British Commonwealth of Nations”.

1931: Statute of Westminster. Established legislative independence for the dominions and set the basis for the relationship between Commonwealth realms and the crown.

1949: London Declaration. Birth of the modern Commonwealth. Allowed republics as members, to allow independent India’s continued membership. “British” dropped from title.

1971: First Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Singapore.

1991: Harare Declaration. Sets out Commonwealth’s core values.

2020: The Maldives becomes the Commonwealth’s 54th member after application for re-admission was approved.

Population, area, GDP 

Countries drawn from: Africa (19 + 2 new), Caribbean and Americas (13), Pacific (11), Asia (8), Europe (3).

Biggest country by population: India (1.4 billion).

Smallest country by population: Tuvalu (11,000).

Biggest country by area: Canada (9,984,670 square kilometres).

The Commonwealth also admitted Gabon and Togo (former French colonies) as its 55th and 56th members respectively. It follows formal expressions of interest by Gabon and Togo and consultation with member countries.

Leaders accepted applications by the two West African countries at the closing session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Samoa was also selected as the host of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that will be held in 2024.

The Commonwealth, which began as eight nations in 1949, has grown to 56.