Mpuuga announces new political formation ahead of 2026 elections
December 6, 2024 4:58 pm
Former Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Mathias Mpuuga, officially announced a new political formation, the Democratic Alliance (DA), on Friday.
This development follows his fallout with the National Unity Platform, a party he co-founded with other members ahead of the 2021 general elections.
The announcement was made during an event in Kampala, where Mpuuga outlined the vision and objectives of the new political group.
“The leading opposition political party in Uganda is in deep slumber, how does that happen?” Mpuuga wondered on Friday.
The Democratic Alliance is expected to be formally registered as a political party once it fulfills the requirements set by the Electoral Commission.
At the same event on Friday, musician Patrick Mulwana, popularly known as Alien Skin, pledged his support for the new group in the upcoming 2026 election campaigns.
Minister urges KCCA suppliers to ensure timely deliveries
December 6, 2024 3:55 pm
The State Minister for Kampala Metropolitan Affairs, Kyofatogabye Kabuye, has urged suppliers of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to prioritize timely delivery of goods and services to prevent contract cancellations.
Speaking at the KCCA’s 4th Suppliers Conference in Kampala on Friday, Mr. Kabuye emphasized the importance of timely delivery.
“Every contract signed and every project implemented presents an opportunity to build local capacity,” he stated.
He commended the suppliers for their patience in the face of challenges such as delayed payments. However, he urged them to maintain quality and timeliness in their deliveries to empower communities.
Mr. Kyofatogabye also encouraged contractors to utilize local labor to address youth unemployment issues.
World food prices reach 19-month high, UN says
December 6, 2024 1:15 pm
BY REUTERS
The United Nations’ world food price index rose in November to its highest level since April 2023, recording its biggest gain in 19 months on the back of surging vegetable oil prices, data showed on Friday.
The price index, compiled by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to track the most globally traded food commodities, increased to 127.5 points last month from a revised 126.9 points in October, the highest level in 19 months and up 5.7% from a year ago.
The vegetable oil index jumped 7.5% above levels seen a month ago and 32% above those seen a year earlier, driven by concerns over lower than expected palm oil output due to excessive rainfall in Southeast Asia.
Soyoil prices rose on stronger global import demand, while rapeseed and sunflower oil also increased.
Other food price indexes declined.
Cereal prices dropped 2.7% from October thanks to weaker wheat and rice prices, while sugar fell 2.4% from October as India and Thailand began crushing and concerns over Brazil’s crop prospects eased.
In a separate report, the FAO trimmed its forecast for global cereal production in 2024 from 2.848 billion metric tons to 2.841 billion, a 0.6% decline from last year but still the second largest output on record.
World cereal utilisation, meanwhile, is set to increase 0.6% to 2.859 billion tons in 2024/25 thanks to growing consumption.
As a result, the FAO expects the cereal stocks-to-use ratio to fall to 30.1% at the close of the 2025 season from 30.8% previously, but still indicating a “comfortable level of global supply”.
Govt urged to prioritise Muslim women's inclusion in public life
December 6, 2024 11:20 am
The Muslim Centre for Justice and Law (MCJL) has called on government institutions to establish policies that promote the inclusion and participation of Muslim women in public life and leadership roles.
Speaking at an annual conference hosted by the MCJL at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala on Thursday, MCJL President Umar Nyanzi highlighted the lack of targeted policies addressing the inclusion of Muslim women in government programs and decision-making roles. He argued that this lack of targeted policies leads to their underrepresentation.
“The presenters have revealed that there is a problem of participation of women and they have called for inclusive policies such as the acceptance of the Muslim women in public space,” he said.
Nyanzi emphasized the need to dismantle structural barriers that hinder women’s active engagement in public spheres. He noted that Muslim women often lack the necessary support to play significant roles in societal development.
Combating gender-based violence
December 6, 2024 7:58 am
Patrick Kamara hosts Uganda Police’s Ruth Kintu and Emmanuel Kashaija on KFM’s Hot Seat show for a discussion on combating gender-based violence (GBV).
Listen to the podcast version below;
Morocco to get loan for 2030 World Cup infrastructure
December 6, 2024 7:40 am
BY REUTERS
The African Development Bank plans to lend Morocco 650 million euros to develop transportation infrastructure for the World Cup in 2030, MAP state news agency quoted the bank’s head as saying on Thursday.
Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said financing to develop Morocco’s rail and airport infrastructure for the World Cup would be put to the board for approval.
Morocco will host 2030 World Cup jointly with Spain and Portugal. It will be the second African country to host the World Cup after South Africa in 2010.
The North Africa country has begun plans to develop air, road and rail infrastructure projects.
Morocco also plans to build a large stadium in Benslimane, near Casablanca, and upgrade six others, the government said last year.
