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@observer Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:42:12
Zahra Food, JICA launch breakfast bars made with ingredients from refugees
Agro-processor Zahra Food Industries Ltd has partnered Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Uganda to launch the Blossomz revive breakfast bars, a cereal bar uniquely made with ingredients sourced from the refugee communities in Uganda.
The Blossomz revive breakfast bars are made from 100 per cent natural breakfast ingredients, including cereals, tropical fruits, nuts and honey with more than 50 per cent uniquely sourced from refugee communities in Uganda.
Every bite not only rises to the occasion of the most important meal of the day as it restores essential nutrients for the body and mind, it also cements solidarity with the refugee communities in regaining their economic independence. The project dubbed Travel Beyond Bars aims to improve the livelihood of refugees and their host communities.
“We firmly believe that addressing social impact requires substantial, structural change rather than merely addressing surface symptoms,” said Quresh Fidahu- sein, founder at Zahra Food Industries.
“Through this transformative project, we are committed to empowering refugee communities, providing them with sustainable opportunities for economic self-reliance and thereby contributing to their long-term resilience and well-being.”
CONTEXT
As the refugee crisis peaks world over, the funding is dipping due to other competing global events such as Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza conflicts. In Uganda, this has led to a decline in refugee assistance in terms of cash allowances and land allocations, both critical to their survival.
There is therefore a growing interest among governments and international organizations in the private sector’s potential role as an alternate source of funding and delivery of refugee support.
While integration of refugees into commercial activities by the private sector, especially by social enterprises is not entirely new, most of these interventions have been on a smaller-scale and in non-food sectors focussing on crafts and textiles to harness the immense talents and expertise of refugees, especially that of women.
Refugees in Uganda widely engage in agricultural activities since the key settlement strategy in the country is to allocate parcels of land to steer them to self-reliance.
A private-sector initiative that centers on value-addition within agriculture therefore is innovative and has the potential for a more wide-scale impact; not to mention the opportunities that it creates towards the advancement of food security.
At the inception stage of the Travel Beyond Bars project, Zahra Food Industries Ltd is working with refugees and their host communities at the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement located on the shores of Lake Albert.
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@matookerepublic Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:01
Minister Norbert Mao and Beatrice Kayanja tie the knot at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Gulu City
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, and his longtime fiancée, Beatrice Kayanja, have tied the knot in a glamorous wedding ceremony in Gulu City. The couple walked down the aisle this morning at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who is among the many notable figures at the event, is […]
The post Minister Norbert Mao and Beatrice Kayanja tie the knot at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Gulu City appeared first on Matooke Republic.
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observer.ug
@observer Sat, 01 Jun 2024 05:57:42
Uganda to engage US on Anita Among sanctions - minister Oryem
The Ugandan government has responded and objected to the latest US sanctions imposed against speaker of parliament Annet Annita Among and other officials.
On Thursday this week, the US State Department placed travel and financial sanctions on Among and her spouse Moses Magogo for what it called significant corruption tied to her leadership position.
Others sanctioned were ministers Amos Lugolobi and his spouse, and former Karamoja ministers; Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Kitutu and her spouse for allegedly misusing public resources and diverting materials from Uganda’s neediest communities. The sanctions also target Lt Gen Peter Elwelu for his role in clashes between Ugandan security forces and a local militant group that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.
In response, Uganda state minister for Foreign Affairs Oryem Okello said the US government’s action is really targeting Among.
"My belief is that this is an insult and undermines our judicial system,” Okello said.
“The sanctions are unjust. They are punitive,” he said. “They are bullish because they know that we cannot do anything against it. And it’s just deliberate to punish the speaker for her role and leadership to fight LBGTQ and homosexuality in Uganda.”
He argued that all the ministers who were sanctioned are currently facing Ugandan courts of law, which have yet to find rule on the cases.
The US State Department said it stands with Ugandans advocating for democratic principles, a government that delivers for all its citizens and accountability for actions committed by those who abuse their positions through corruption and gross violations of human rights. Ugandan political analyst Mary Anne Nanfuka said that those people targeted by the sanctions are not acting on their own and that sanctions never work as a deterrent.
“I see that these Western countries want to pander to their electorate,” Nanfuka said.
“They know very well that they need the government to cooperate with them in certain areas. So, once push comes to shove, they will let it pass. Yes, it’s a gesture, but no, we are still not impressed,” she said.
Chris Obore, the head of public affairs in the Ugandan parliament, said the corruption allegations are political and vendetta-driven, otherwise they would have targeted the entire Ugandan cabinet.
The State Department specifically mentioned a giveaway of iron roofing sheets that were meant for a poor community but were instead shared by top government members among themselves.
“It is a sign of their latent anger against the speaker for presiding over the anti-homosexuality law,” Obore said. “It is clear that the UK, US, Canada have been putting pressure when that law was being debated here. Because it is not about iron sheets. How did the speaker personally benefit from those iron sheets when public schools that were roofed are there?”
Okello said Uganda will engage US government officials and get to the bottom of how the State Department decided to approve the sanctions.
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@observer Sat, 01 Jun 2024 05:08:10
Another 10 civilians killed as M23 rebels, DRC army fighting rages on
Heavy fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army on Thursday left at least 10 civilians dead.
The fighting occurred near Sake town, about 27 kilometres from Goma City, North Kivu province. Lt Col Ndjike Kaiko Guilaume, Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) spokesperson for North Kivu said that the army and coalition managed to stop M23 rebels from advancing to capture Sake town in Masisi territory.
But later on Thursday night, the M23 rebels’ political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement accusing FARDC soldiers and coalition of targeting densely populated areas with bombs. Kanyuka claimed that the bombs dropped by FARDC soldiers and coalition left 10 civilians dead and an unspecified number of others injured.
Kankuya also claims that in the form of repelling FARDC and coalition bombings, M23 captured two armoured personnel carriers (APC) and an IVECO truck from FARDC and coalition from Luhonga Hill near Sake.
Meanwhile, a yet-to-be-identified man was lynched by a mob in Mugunga camp of the displaced. The man, together with two others, was accused of allegedly filming the heavy guns of FARDC as they fired into the positions of M23 rebels.
The fighting continued into Friday near Kanyabayonga town, north of Rutshuru territory causing mass displacement of civilians. The civilians fled after they saw FARDC soldiers withdrawing from the town.
Earlier, on Monday, 10 people including eight civilians were killed and nine others injured by bombs fired by FARDC soldiers and coalition forces in Kikuku area, northern part of Rutshuru territory.
In March 2022, M23, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and General Sultan Makenga, initiated a conflict against the government. The DR Congo government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, although both Rwanda and M23 vehemently deny these claims. The rebels assert that they are fighting against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the leadership of DRC.
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@observer Sat, 01 Jun 2024 04:47:47
2021 Kampala bombing suspect shot dead by security in Mityana
One of the 2021 Kampala bombing suspects, Yasin Ddamulira aka Musubuzi has been shot dead in Mityana by security.
Ddamulira was allegedly mentioned by another suspect Musa Kabanda alias Akman that he was part of the planning meeting alongside Abas Sekimpi and Sulaiman Nsubuga. Kabanda is currently on remand alongside Sekimpi while Nsubuga was arrested on April 27, 2024.
According to Col Deo Akiiki, deputy defence public information officer, Ddamulira was on Tuesday tracked down while talking on the phone in Mityana. He said the joint security comprised of CMI, Mityana police and counter-terrorism (CT) tracked and established Ddamulira’s location.
“On the same night, counter-terrorism forces and police in an attempt to arrest Ddamulira Yasin, resulted in a fire exchange, he was finally put out of action and 01 SMG recovered,” Akiiki said.
Bombs at Kampala Central police station (CPS), Digida Pork Joint in Komamboga and Parliament Avenue near the Jubilee building left at least five civilians and one policeman dead. Although three suicide bombers died in the terror acts, security forces were able to arrest many of their alleged colleagues and accomplices.
The 2021 bombs were one of the reasons Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) cited as they launched an armed assault on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, ADF has continued their terror activities in Uganda despite UPDF’s presence in DRC which is their renowned hideout to the extent of killing more than 70 people in 2023.
Security forces barely three weeks ago found bombs abandoned in a Komamboga rented house. UPDF spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said 14 ADF terrorists had sneaked into the country and it suspected Ddamulira who has now been killed was among them. Kulayigye urged Ugandans to be alert since the ADF terrorists can strike at any time.
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