20 vandals arrested over stealing Northern bypass furniture

Police and the army have apprehended 20 suspected vandals accused of damaging road furniture along the Northern bypass.

The operation involved deploying covert personnel, later reinforced by uniformed police officers and soldiers in the Masanafu and Busega areas, where the highest incidents of vandalism have been recorded. Road guards, security camera poles, and signposts are the most affected furniture. 

The operation commenced with the apprehension of Umar Kitimbo, who, not only confessed to participating in road furniture vandalism but also cooperated with investigators by leading them to his accomplices. Kitimbo implicated Jonan Abigaba, an employee of Katooke Metal Scrap, stating, "We sell whatever we vandalize to these people. Some of our colleagues are Lubigi, and Abigaba knows them." 

Subsequently, the joint efforts of the police and military led to the apprehension of several suspects, including Obedi, Eric Sanyu, John Obama, Junior Ainembazi, Bashir Kalangi, Wilson Muhumuza, and Rashid Mpugu.

Luke Owoyesigyire, deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson identified additional suspects as Edward Byabashaija, Paddy Ssebunya, Monday Mukasa, Erasto Kagada, Shaban Mugarsi, Emmanuel Sande, Arinaitwe Muwamadani, and Evelyn Mujuni.  

“We shall continue to investigate and carry out operations on incidents of damaging and vandalizing road furniture, security rights, and signals. This was after we registered incidents of vandalism on the Northern bypass where metals used for road guards have been vandalized,” Owoyesigyire said. 

Earlier, Allen Kagina, executive director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra), expressed concern over the substantial costs incurred in restoring vandalized and damaged road furniture along the Northern bypass. 

She urged drivers and residents living along the Northern bypass to actively participate in protecting the road furniture, emphasizing their installation for proper road use and prevention of accidents. Owoyesigyire stated that the arrested suspects face charges related to damaging public property.

Additionally, it was noted that Kisenyi is a known centre where vandalized road furniture, electric wires, and angle bars are sold as scrap. The collaborative efforts aim to curb such incidents and maintain public infrastructure integrity.

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Consumers toast to drop in sugar prices as cane farmers curse

The price of sugar in Uganda has dropped from Shs 5,500 to Shs 5,000, bringing a smile to consumers and sleepless nights to sugarcane farmers.

Moses Aturinda, an economist, says January witnessed a global sugar surplus of approximately 0.5 million tonnes, driven by Brazil’s increased production.

"The main reason for the low prices of sugar in Uganda is that the international price of sugar has come down," said Aturinda.

He added: "The Kenya sugar industry is producing again after being shut for four months."

Due to factors like increased sugar production in Brazil, a significant player in the global sugar market, sugar prices are currently at an eight-month low. Brazil set a new record for sugar production in November 2023, marking the highest monthly output ever recorded.

On the other side, India is focusing on producing more sugar and less ethanol this year, hence a potential increase in production. The low global price of sugar has compelled all sugar factories in Uganda, including Kaliro, Lugazi, Mayuge, GM, Bugiri Sugar and Kinyara, to reduce prices for sugarcane.

Kaliro Sugar, on January 29 informed outgrowers that, "As we plan to start the factory after shutdown, management is hereby informing you all that the sugar prices in the market have continued to go down, which has forced us further to revise our sugarcane prices."

The notice added: "The purpose of this note is therefore to inform all the stakeholders that, as we start the plant, our sugarcane prices will be Shs 170,000 with effect from January 30, 2024. We also promise all our stakeholders that management will continue to review the sugarcane prices depending on the sugar prices on the market."

This development has unsettled farmers in Busoga and Bunyoro. The chairperson of the Uganda Sugarcane Growers Association (USGA), Isa Budhugo, said the new sugarcane price is below the breakeven point of a farmer at Shs 210,000.

"We have taken out loans from the banks to grow sugarcane; we are worried the banks will come after our collateral if the sugarcane prices don’t rise in the coming weeks."

Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association (USMA) chairperson Jim Kabeho also attributed the drop in sugarcane prices to increased illegal imports of sugar in Uganda.

"There is too much sugar being illegally brought into the country through the porous border points in eastern Uganda," said Kabeho, adding, "Consumption of our sugar is very low; so, once its prices go down, cane prices will also be at risk."

Cases of smuggling large quantities of sugar into Uganda via Kenya have been on the rise in recent months. In December 2023, Uganda Revenue Authority customs officials impounded 800kg of sugar that had been smuggled into Uganda through porous border points in Mutukula.

Smuggling duty-free sugar not only hurts the sugar industry but also the outgrowers of sugarcane, whose livelihoods entirely depend on the supply of sugarcane to the factories.

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Former South African President Zuma suspended from ANC party

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has suspended former President Jacob Zuma’s membership after he campaigned for a different political party.

The suspension, the latest incident in a feud between Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa, came after a press conference in December in which Zuma announced he would vote for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party because of Ramaphosa’s leadership.

In a statement, the ANC said Zuma was “irreconcilable” with the party’s constitution. Ramaphosa’s ANC has been in power for the 30 years since apartheid rule ended in South Africa. From 2007 to 2018, Zuma headed the ANC, leading Africa’s most advanced economy.

In 2018, Zuma was forced to step down amid corruption allegations that he is still reckoning with today. Ramaphosa succeeded him with plans to clean up the party, and the two have clashed ever since.

Zuma is being tried on multiple corruption charges for an incident that occurred when he was deputy president more than 20 years ago. The charges pertain to a multibillion-dollar arms deal between the South African government and French weapons manufacturer Thales.

Zuma has pleaded not guilty to all counts and has insisted the trial is politically motivated. Despite the fraud allegations, Zuma still retains some support in South Africa. After he was sent to prison in 2021 for refusing a court order to provide evidence, mass protests ensued, leaving more than 300 people dead.

The ANC is now facing a difficult election year amid rising poverty, increasing unemployment and claims that the party has failed to deliver on its promise of a better life for South Africans. The party may be forced to join a coalition as polls suggest it might fall below 50 per cent of the national vote for the first time in its history.

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Pictorial: upgraded Entebbe airport arrival and departure terminal

Ahead of the recently concluded Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77 (G77) + China South Summits the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) upgraded the arrival and departure terminal. Nicholas Bamulanzeki captured the upgraded terminal on camera.

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Celine Dion documentary to explore her rare illness

  Pop megastar Celine Dion, who is suffering from a rare neurological disorder, is hoping to raise awareness about her condition with a new documentary that will soon stream on Amazon Prime Video. “I Am: Celine Dion,” a feature-length film from Amazon MGM Studios, will offer a “snapshot” of the singer’s life and career as […]

UWEP beneficiaries urged to leverage upcoming funds

Kampala Lord Mayor, Mr. Erias Lukwago, has asked beneficiaries under the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) to put to proper use the Shs369 million they are set to receive in the next financial year. He emphasized this during a physical verification exercise of UWEP beneficiaries, where he engaged with 37 women groups from across Kampala’s five divisions. Mr. Lukwago reiterated his call for a policy change to transform the revolving fund into a seed capital grant. Meanwhile, the Deputy Lord Mayor and head of the gender docket at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ms. Doreen Nyanjura, urged women groups to ensure inclusivity and that no member is left behind in accessing the programme’s benefits. Nyanjura also expressed concern over the increasing […]