By Reporter
Diana Agaba – ISC2 Uganda Chapter, Andrew Walusimibi – Uganda Bankers Association, Cyrus Barigye – Financial Intelligence Authority & Angella Tugume – Nita Uganda
The National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U) has today held a Cyber Security Awareness Conference aimed at increasing the public awareness and vigilance about the day-to-day cyber threats.
Dubbed the “Do Your Part, #BeCyberSmart”, the conference brought together different key players in cybersecurity including Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Uganda Bankers Association, Uganda Police Force, Financial Intelligence Authority, Internet Society Uganda, (ISC)2 Uganda Chapter, ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) Kampala Chapter and the National Data Protection Office.
Ms Stella Alibateese – Director PDPO
Speaking at the Conference, the Executive Director NITA-U, Dr. Hatwib Mugasa called up on stakeholders to come together and address cybersecurity concerns. He observed that due to the rapid growth in internet users in the country, there is a much-needed purpose of raising awareness about the cyber-related threats and to empower the Ugandan citizens with the knowledge and sense of shared responsibility to practice a safe and informed decision while using the internet.
“We need to remember as technology users that safeguarding the Internet is a responsibility, we all share. Digital technologies and the Internet have transformed our everyday lives since we can now access information, conduct business, keep in touch with family and friends, and engage online, but we need to remember cyber-attacks are becoming more common and devise means to raise awareness and address them.” Dr. Mugasa said.
Arnold Mangeni – Director Security – Nita
Arnold Mangeni – Director Information Security at NITA-U said that the Government of Uganda through NITA-U is committed to enhancing cyber security in all sectors of the economy and such conferences are a good way to involve all stakeholders in the process.
“Government of Uganda acknowledges the importance of creating an environment that allows secure and safe digital transactions for Ugandan citizens. Government has put in place the National Information Security Framework which provides for minimum security guidelines for every Government agency and the Critical Information Infrastructure each entity is required to maintain. This includes incident response and crisis management largely focused on a prevention and proactive approach. I’m happy to report that we have recently completed the enhancement of the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).”
With the launch of the Cyber Security Awareness Campaign “Be Safe Online” NITA-U continues to deliver on its promise of safeguarding the Ugandan people every step of the way.
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Diaspora based Uganda gospel singer Julie Mutesasira has released her song and unlike her usual releases, Talibeera Nze is not a gospel song but rather a message said to have been directed to her ex husband and now new wife. Julie Mutesasira divorced her then hubby, Pastor Steven Mutesasira 5 years ago in 2016.
The leader of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue ( NEED) Joseph Kabuleta has rallied political losers in Bukedi sub region to sensitize and mobilize the area residents to fight for their vast natural resources.
Kabuleta urged the leaders of the region to wake up from their slumber and stand up to fight for their wealth which is being systematically stolen by a few political elites who have now used their connections to acquire square miles of resource-rich land in the region.
To be able to discern and articulate great from lackluster wine quality is rare. Even more scarce in Uganda are sommeliers; the seasoned type whose palates wield professional capacity wine tasting verdicts. The ones who can effortlessly catch a whiff of good (or bad) life just by sniffing off the edges of a wine glass. Which is why when launching in Uganda, the team of Avaland Wine, a premium wine sought out the services of a select few sommeliers from the different high-brow societies of Uganda. The result was a sequence of great dining and wining experiences. After what seemed like a country wide tour, many attested to the fact that Avaland wine is, indeed, a premium wine made for the noble.
Avaland Wine is a premium fruit wine manufactured with high quality local sourced fruits. The premium wine is packaged in two forms, White Sweet and Red Sweet. It is available in select supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and bars across the city. It is also available for ordering on Jumia. To order online for deliveries, call 0706513514.
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO) Ambassadors work globally to spread the WEDO grassroots mission and message to empower women and girls to become active participants in the economy by igniting a network of women leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion and advance communities around the world. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, WEDO builds and catalyzes the vital networks of like-minded individuals and organizations that women business leaders need to realize their full potential and change the world.
She is an Alumna of Harvard Business School where she specialized in Executive Leadership. Also, she holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France, with a specialization in Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Management. Damali is an accountant by training and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and an affiliate of the Institute of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
WEDO is making a difference! Ambassador achievements include funding 500 Syrian refugee girls to attend high school in Jordan. Saudi Arabia WEDO team hosted a nation-wide entrepreneurship training program for 60,000 female college students and early-stage entrepreneurs and 25 young women received funding to launch their own businesses. In New York City at the United Nations, WEDO donated 500 microloans to impoverished women so they can start their own business. In Oman, our WEDO ambassador announced an initiative to empower women and girls by using their votes against arranged marriage. And in Uruguay, a partnership with a local university offered 20 scholarships to the girls present at the WEDO summit. Our Philippines team educated 1000 rural women with financial literacy – all over the world WEDO’s Ambassador team is making an impact! 
The new generation vocal King Kibalama Duncan famously known as Harrison Fire has released brand new music album titled “1000 songs “ under Reserved management.
The a 1000 Songs EP creation came up as a result of the idea to create endless music. Life is an adventurous journey, full of stories of which Harrison Fire capitalises on to create the sweet vibes along side other Artists and Producers. The 1000 songs EP is a selected Playlist of 5/1000 songs That were recorded during the Covid pandemic namely:
Born of the Late 90s in Central Uganda, Harrison fire aka. Kibalama Duncan Mukuye is a Muganda, who professionally joined music In 2019, following his carrier of Medical Lab profession. He was introduced to the Industry by Izak Rebel, Nephew and Mentor. Now working with Reserved management, he officially has released 2 Singles and an EP of Five songs called 1000 Songs. Harrison fire is a Song writer, Singer and Performer of Afro beats, Zouk and Afro Pop.
The construction of Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) is in the final stages of completion.According to Roko Construction spokesman, Bernard Muhangi, the client Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSU) is happy with the quality of works, refuting allegations made over the weekend that the Government was in the final stages of terminating the contract over shoddy work.Roko has a running contract with the Government of Uganda represented by Private Sector Foundation Uganda to construct the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) phase one.“Notably, the client had secured funds for phase 1 which constituted Construction of a Hotel block, a demonstration kitchen, laundry house, Gate houses, power house, external works and electrical reticulation, garbage collection house and mechanical reticulation,” Muhangi said.He added “Roko is currently finalising with phase one works and the remaining 10% of the works shall be deferred to the additional second floor works.”Muhangi said the allegations published in the local media on Monday 8th November alleging shoddy work and progress at 50% are untrue but ‘targeted towards tarnishing Roko’s reputation’. “It’s really very disturbing to note that a building whose electricals, finishes and civil works are complete is at 50%. This is not a standard engineering measure; It’s absolutely not true that progress is at 50%.”“Current progress is at 90% and this can be clarified by the consultants’ progress reports to the client,” he said. He revealed with additional funding, the client expressed interest to construct an additional floor (second Floor) of approximately 2,010 m2 with the associated civil works, mechanical and electrical installations.“With the additional floor, some works couldn’t be completed as they shall be affected during construction of the new floor and such works shall be deferred to the additional floor works (Phase one Additional Floor works) for example the finishes to some rooms, stairs, corridors and other access areas, mechanical installations and equipment that can only be installed on the completed second floor roof slab plus the ducting and conduiting, electrical final fixes and external finishes,” Muhangi explained. On quality issues, the mouthpiece said Roko Construction Limited would never, compromise on quality as ‘this is our core value and that’s what we stand for’.“Stating that the building is of poor quality is utterly false as there are always processes of getting samples and approvals as well as test reports for whatever material that is installed or fixed.”
Muhangi said Roko is ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) certified. He said there is a team of consultants who are professionals in the construction industry and have been monitoring and inspecting works executed and have not raised any red-flag to do with the quality of works. “There are always quality checks made for all the structural components and finishes as well as services on this project. We condemn such statements that are intended to tarn Roko’s reputation in the market,” he warned.He admitted that Roko like any other company in the world has had some challenges as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic.However, he quickly noted that despite such challenges, the company has never compromise on quality. “There were delays on completion for which extension of time claims were evaluated and granted accordingly. Extensions are never granted without good contractual reasons,” he added.The company also dissociated itself from a one Benson Blasi who has been making statements in the media.“Blasi has never worked for Roko and can’t represent the company interests. This is fraudulent and intended to spoil our reputation. We condemn and demand that such statement with ill intentions targeting Roko without any basis and facts be retracted immediately,” he said. BACKGROUND In 2018, government of Uganda received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP), and it applied part of the proceeds (UGX11bn) of this credit to payments under the Contract for the Construction of the Uganda Hotel Tourism and Training Institute (UHTTI) on Plot 3 and 5 Nalufenya Road, Jinja, Uganda.Roko Construction Ltd (Main Contractor) entered into a contract with the Government of Uganda represented by Private Sector Foundation Uganda to construct the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) phase I on 7th March 2018.The site was handed over to Roko on 10th April 2018 for commencement of works for a construction period of 12Months and completion by 10th April 2019. Extension of time awards at no cost were given to 30th August 2019, 13th December 2019 and 14th February 2020 respectively due to Variations and additional works to the contract.Furthermore, due to the effects of Covid-19, restrictions and directives, the contractor’s operations and cash flow was affected and extension was granted with no costs up to 30th September 2020 and 9th January 2021 to implement mitigative measures, completion was further jeopardized by the second wave of Covid-19 in the country and the expected completion of phase 1 works is this year.
Fast rising cultural singer Irene Namutebi continues to drop new music with a brand new cultural song dubbed “Nkaadi”.