UGANDA AIRLINES LAUNCHES MOBILE APP IN AN ON GOING AGGRESSIVE MARKETING DRIVE

 In order to consolidate its pole position in Uganda’s aviation industry and beyond , Uganda Airlines has launched its Mobile App to make it more convenient for travelers to consume the national carrier’s services.

“This launch is a key milestone as the airline strives to improve its service delivery, ensuring a convenient and user-friendly booking and ticketing process and an overall delightful buyer experience for its customers, “ Uganda Airlines CEO Ms. Jennifer Bamuturaki said at colorful launch event held at Sheraton hotel in the capital Kampala.

Bamuturaki said that besides a personalised travel experience, the App will streamline communication between the airline and its customers.

“When we go through third-parties such as travel agents to book passengers, there is a snag in the communication flow, because we don’t have access to basic information such as the clients telephone contacts. If we happen to have a service disruption for any reason, it will be easier for us keep our guests updated through the App,” she added.

The App has a flight tracking function of the carrier’s flights in real-time and travellers can pay for flights using the major international debit or credit cards, or the mobile-money wallets offered by telecom operators within East Africa, Bamuturaki explained further.

Speaking at the same event Chief Commercial Officer Adedayo Olawuyi, noted that airline guests rely heavily on their mobile phones for their regular activities, including travel, and it was  therefore, essential for Uganda Airlines to provide convenience with the new App in the palm of every traveler.

Adedayo Olawuyi also clarified that  the new  App was not in any way, intended to supplant travel agents services a complimentary tool for the traveler to have convenient means to book and track their  flights in real time .

“We are not against our partners in the travel trade, we still value the sales agents and shall continue to work with them. We simply realised that people are increasingly reliant on their mobile phones for regular activities including travel; hence the need for us to bring the convenience of this App within reach of their arm,” he explained.

“For example, once a customer has filled in basic details like their biodata and identity documents, they will not need to file them again when they book their next trip. All this will now be securely stored and automatically prompted for every time the customer logs into the App,” Don Mubiru said.

The App’s initial functionality will allow users to search for flights, make reservations, check-in and process digital boarding passes, as well as well as enrollment into the carrier’s Craneflyer frequent flyer programme.  Users can also indicate their meal preferences in advance.

About Uganda Airline ;

Uganda Airlines is Uganda’s flagship national passenger and cargo carrier that started in 2019. It provides scheduled air transportation services in East Africa and near-international markets.

Uganda Airlines was awarded the World's Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award, given by Ch-Aviation in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

For more information about the Company, visit: https://ugandairlines.co

The writer is a communications and media consultant/trainer and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

msserwanga@gmail.com

KCCA Dorothy Kisaka’s Tenure : Reduced Political Tensions ,Increased Potholes , Boda Boda Maniacs

 By Moses Sserwanga

Dorothy Kisaka’s  tenure at the helm of Kampala Capital City  Authority (KCCA) as Executive  Director is set to end on July 23rd, 2023 and there are mixed feelings about her performance .

While some people have credited her for having reduced the political tensions and flares between the executive arm of the city and that of the political leadership led by Mayor Elias Lukwago , others have noted that there isn’t much she has done to clean up the city , reduce congestion , manage the menace that are boda bodas and the potholes that Kampala has come to be known for .

President Yoweri Museveni through the Ministry of  Public Service surprised political and development pundits when in June 2021 appointed the little known Kisaka on a three  year contract to manage a disorganized , highly polluted and dirty Kampala city.

This after another technical head , the nonsense ,flamboyant Jenipher Musisi abandoned ship for a more lucrative and less stressing job at the elite  American University Havard.

After three years in charge , and with limited funding from the  central government , a struggling business community  after three years of Covid-19 lock downs , most parts of Kampala remain in darkness during night hours  and the city road network has completely broken down to the extent that citizens have taken to social media to carry out a “ Kampala City Potholes  exhibition” sarcastically  showing national leaders in boats to crossover the wide spread gullies .

The potholes exhibition went far and wide , drawing the attention of President Museveni who ordered for the immediate release of Ug.Shs.5bn to fix the problem .

Authorities at KCCA say that Ug.Shs.5bn was a drop in the ocean and they have thus managed to only carry out  selected soil patching, sectional repairs, grading and gravelling in a few areas of the  city .

The long awaited construction of the old tax park was completed and although it has slightly improved traffic flow in and out of the park, the facility  is still over-crowded with no clear escape routes in cases of an emergency. The markets are a story for another day .

Some 17 junctions were signalised under KIIDP2 and government  financing and these include  among others ,John Babiha (Acacia) Avenue, 5 along Nakawa Ntinda, 2 on Lukuli new road , 3  Kabuusu-Bunamwaya-Lweeza road, Ben Kiwanuka/Luwum Street and Kasubi junction.

Overall, there is public outcry for government to have the political will to fix the problems of Kampala city without fear of losing the vote in 2026 .

Besides , the ruling NRM party is yet to gain any significant support in Kampala city which has a mayor elected from the opposition for a longtime.

What has to be done to fix the nightmare that is Kampala city

Among the major issues that have to be tackled head-on by the next technical leadership at KCCA is to fix the road network in and around Kampala to properly manage and reduce traffic flow in and out of the  city.

Decongestion will  require  diversion and or creation of outskirt routes for heavy  trucks , introduction of bus lanes for both electric and less fossil fuels emitting ICE buses ; introduce a tax for small single occupancy cars that access the central district everyday (key study of London and other European cities ) .

Government should also have the political stamina to solve the problem of boda bodas in Kampala by creating specially gazetted areas and stages for their regulated operations , revamp the city train public transport system and lit the roads.

The city authorities should also come up with creative ways of better management and collection of garbage and protection of  the water channels and systems across the city by heavily penalizing those who are found dumping garbage in these water channels .

Recently, the First lady has come out and called for the removal of street kids another problem which the city authorities are yet to resolve .

Ugandans are longing for a smart , clean , well organized Kampala Capital City .

The writer is a media and communications consultant and Advocate of the High Court of Uganda

Editor: msserwanga@gmail.com  

 

Uganda Airlines registers another key milestone ,to transport Ugandan Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

By Moses Sserwanga 

Uganda Airlines- the national carrier has offered to transport Ugandan Muslim pilgrims for the annual Muslim pilgrimage that is held in the holy city of Mecca in South Arabia.

The Uganda Airlines maiden trip to Saudi Arabia will take place on June19, 2023 , officials have announced.

This is another key milestone to be registered by the Uganda Airlines which last operated the route more than 40 years ago.  “It is also a momentous occasion for pilgrims who will be performing this holy journey using their national carrier,” the national carrier management said in a statement issued to the media in Kampala.

This year, a total of 500 Muslims from across Uganda will be transported by Uganda Airlines aboard the Airbus A330, with the first flight from Entebbe to Jeddah.

The outbound flight, that will be operated using one of Uganda Airlines’ A330-800s, will depart Entebbe at 10:00 am local, arriving in Jeddah four hours later. The return flights will be operated from Medina to Entebbe in July 2023.

The official flag-off ceremony will be held at Entebbe Airport, officiated by the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, Muslim Leaders, Diplomats, and other State officials.

Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah (Oath to Allah & Muhammad PBUH), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving) and Sawm (Ramadan fasting). Hajj, the 5th pillar, is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia) that every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able must make at least once in their lifetime.

It is one of the most significant religious journeys for Muslims worldwide, gathering millions of Muslims from all over the World in Mecca and Medina to perform holy rituals and seek spiritual fulfilment.

 About Uganda Airline

Uganda Airlines is Uganda’s flagship national passenger and cargo carrier that started in 2019. It provides scheduled air transportation services in East Africa and near-international markets. Uganda Airlines was awarded the World’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award, given by Ch-Aviation in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Editor;msserwanga@gmail.com

Supreme Court judge, Stella Arach-Amoko dead at 69

 

By Moses Sserwanga

Celebrated Supreme Court Judge Stella Arach Amoko is dead. She was 69 years old . She  passed on at 4.00 am at  Nakasero hospital where she was being treated of cancer.

A distinguished jurist Hon. Lady Justice Stella Arach- Amoko who wrote many landmark decisions and precedents has been widely hailed for the growth of Uganda’s legal jurisprudence .

 Lady justice Arach-Amoko  joined the Judiciary in 1997 as Judge of the High Court and was elevated to the Justice of Court of Appeal in 2010. She was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2013, a position she served until at the time of her demise.

Her decorated career

Lady Justice Arach-Amoko with vast experience in the legal profession worked previously as a state attorney in the Attorney General's Chambers and rose through the ranks to a commissioner for civil litigation between 1979 to 1997. 

She served as a High court judge for 13 years from 1997 to 2010 prior to her elevation to the Court of Appeal. Prior to this, she also served at the East African Court of Justice, from 2006 until 2008, as a judge and from 2008 until 2013, as a Deputy Principal Judge of the First Instance Division. 

In 2010 she was among the candidates considered by the Judicial Service Commission who applied for appointment as the Chief Justice of Uganda. Between 15 April 2018 and 14 April 2020, Arach-Amoko served as the chairperson of the nine-member Management Committee of Uganda’s Law Development Center (LDC) where lawyers undertake a tough nine month course in legal practice before they are enrolled as Advocates of the High Court of Uganda. 

In her career, she has presided over several cases both criminal and civil cases, election matters, and presidential election matters. In 2006 she dismissed the petition in which National Resistance Movement’s Francis Babu had challenged Erias Lukwago’s victory as Member of Parliament for Kampala Central Division.

In 2012, at the Court of Appeal, she wrote the majority opinion that nullified NRM's Faisal Kikulukunyu's victory as the Member of Parliament for Butambala County. The ruling benefited Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, of the Democratic Party.

Lawyer and Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago has described Amoko as a soft-spoken, level-headed, and venerable jurist or sage who endeavored to uphold the judicial oath under very challenging circumstances.

Family woman

Justice Arach-Amoko is married to Ambassador Idule Amoko who, as of 2017, was serving as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Uganda Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Stella Arach-Amoko is also the mother of chess player Ivy Claire Amoko, the first woman to become a Woman Fide Master in East Africa.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com

 

UNICEF boosts Uganda’s justice system to protect victims, survivors and alleged child offenders

Before the use of audio visual links, it was intimidating and traumatizing for child victims to testify in court or provide evidence in open court while facing the perpetrator (accused person)

Uganda’s justice system has registered a major milestone with the installation of modern audio- visual technology that protects child victims and witnesses when giving evidence especially in sexual abuse cases. Cases of a capital nature include aggravated defilement which is rampant in the country.

In Uganda, defilement is considered aggravated if the victim of defilement is a girl aged 14 years old and below, the offender has HIV/AIDS, the offender is the victim’s parent or guardian, and the girl has a disability. The crime of aggravated defilement carries a maximum penalty of death upon conviction.

To date the Judiciary has received from UNICEF 10 audio visual links installed in eight High Courts (Arua, Kabarole, Mbale, Mbarara, Gulu, Kampala, Jinja, Family Division) and in two Chief Magistrates (Iganga, Kabale) that has eased taking of evidence from child victims, provided protection for the child victims and resulted in more child friendly court proceedings.

Before the use of audio visual links, it was intimidating and traumatizing for child victims to testify in court or provide evidence in open court while facing the perpetrator (accused person).

With the use of audio-visual technology, children who are victims of sexual violence offences have gained confidence to testify against the accused person(s) without being intimidated or fear of retribution.

The justice actors who include Judges and Magistrates, at all levels, plus prosecution officers from the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, (ODPP), have all openly embraced the new child protection visual- audio link facilities in courts of law across the country. 

As a result, many children who have suffered sexual violence crimes, have managed to successfully give evidence against their tormentors in aggravated defilement cases, helping the prosecution to secure convictions and sentencing of the offenders.

How the new technology works

The audio-visual link refers to giving or receiving of evidence through electronic means without a person (this time a child victim) physically appearing in court.

Under the audio -visual link technology arrangement, children who are victims of sexual violence sit in a separate and friendly room far from the traditional court room where their suspected tormentors are and can in turn, freely testify against them by the help of installed cameras and other electronic gadgets in the court room.

This innovation is aimed at shielding children who are victims of sexual violence from secondary victimization by not facing their alleged tormentors in the same courtroom.

In order for this technology to deliver high quality results, several equipment has been deployed with the support from UNICEF and this include, cameras, network video recorders, LED displays (TVs), column speakers, amplifiers, microphones, power inverters and racks for housing the equipment.

According to the Judicature Audio-Visual Rules No. 26 of 2016 in Uganda, a person can give evidence using audio-video link technology under the following circumstances:

1. For security reasons
2. For safety of a witness
3. When a witness lives outside Uganda
4. Where it is inconvenient for the party to give evidence in open court
5. For economic considerations
6. Due to health reasons

Courts are further allowed to use their discretion to allow witnesses where necessary to give evidence through audio-visual link.

The benefits of Uganda’s audio-visual technology for juvenile trials

Overall, the taking of evidence by audio-visual means has facilitated speedy trials of children cases and promoted child friendly procedures when courts are handling cases involving children.

It is also addressing the problem of further traumatizing victims or witnesses in open court, including challenges related to trials hindered by geographical impediments and fears associated with testifying in person.

The technology is helping to reduce the time spent in taking evidence from witnesses which has often led to delays in the administration of Justice.

Furthermore, the technology is helping courts to ease the process of taking testimonies from vulnerable witnesses like children, the elderly, whistle-blowers and dispose of cases quickly. This has facilitated the Judiciary to deal with the perennial problem of case backlog.

Challenges

However, with all the tremendous progress made to ensure that the criminal justice system in Uganda works and offers justice to child victims, there are still challenges to confront.

According to court users, some of the challenges include limited usage of the technology (a small percentage of courts) have these facilities installed, remand homes are not connected to the system and some of the child courtrooms are not furnished with child friendly equipment.

Background

Uganda is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified in 1989. The 1995 Constitution and the Children Act Cap 59, emphasize the upholding of the welfare principle. The principle provides for adherence to the best interests of the child while handling court cases involving juveniles.

UNICEF remains committed to the promotion and strengthening of the child protection system in Uganda, for children in contact with the law and juveniles to operate in the best interest of the child.

Therefore, justice for children is designed to benefit all children in contact with justice authorities to ensure that they are better served and protected. 

The goal of the justice for children approach is to ensure that all children coming into contact with the justice authorities including, alleged offenders, victims, witnesses or parties to non-criminal law procedures have access to Uganda ‘s justice systems (formal and informal) and are better served and protected.

The Writer is a media and communications consultant and advocate of the High Court of Uganda

Email: msserwanga@gmail.com

THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES REVOLUTION: WHY UGANDA NEEDS AN EFFECTIVE NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY POLICY

 

By Moses Sserwanga

 

President Yoweri Museveni has intensified efforts  to mobilise  international investments for Uganda’s nascent automotive industry especially now that the world is swiftly switching to electric mobility to among others - mitigate the widespread effects of climate change.

Luckily for Africa , several countries on  the continent have mobilized resources  to keep pace with the advanced global north – by deploying their home grown E- mobility technologies to ensure the mass production of - clean energy-efficient electric vehicles and phase out the internal - combustion engine (ICE) cars by the year 2030.

Uganda with its automotive flagship -Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Mauritius are among Africa’s early leaders in the EV market  projected to have  145 million electric vehicles on the road  by the end of this decade.

This is a vey encouraging  effort for a continent that is  hugely endowed with mineral resources but which has lagged behind in almost everything that is produced and consumed by the world’s population of 7.9bn people .

Uganda, together with other EAC regional governments, should seize the opportunity in 2023 to pronounce themselves  clearly-with well articulated  road maps and policy documents  on greening our cities by promoting clean and efficient e-mobility solutions. Kampala and many other African cities are ranked among the most polluted in the world due to the dumping of end-of-life secondhand used vehicles.

Why Uganda urgently needs  National  Automotive Industry  Policy

It’s now an open secret that Uganda’s automotive industry with automakers Kiira Motors Corporation in the lead -is emerging with the potential to contribute towards economic and social transformation of the country. This is evidenced by the growing regional motor vehicle market anticipated to reach sales of over 630,000 vehicles annually by 2030.

Coupled with government ‘s industrialization agenda –as a top priority to transform Uganda into a middle-income economy through innovation, utilisation of local raw materials, import substitution and export-oriented production there is an urgent need for government to put in place a robust automotive industry development policy to guide the nascent sector .

Global experiences have shown that government industrialization policies coupled with demand and skilled workforce play a leading role in the success of the motor vehicle industry.

Streamlined skilling and upskilling of the youth coupled with opening domestic and regional markets to guarantee demand is key to deepening value addition, and supporting the mineral-led industrialization agenda for import substitution and export promotion.

It can be argued therefore, that a healthy and sustainable domestic automotive industry is underpinned by the development of an elaborate ,practical  automotive policy to boost the industry for regional and global competitiveness.

The Automotive Industry Policy will provide the necessary instruments for promoting the nascent industry with multi-sectoral linkages placing emphasis on deepening automotive value addition to engender supply chain localization, import substitution and ultimately export promotion in the short, medium and long term.

Among the key potential linkages can  include energy – clean energy access for mobility (charging infrastructure –the Ministry of Energy should take note ) ; agriculture - fiber from banana stems, bamboo, leather and textiles for automotive interior parts and upholstery; minerals – automotive steel, silica – sheet glass for automotive, cobalt for batteries; ICT – digital mobility solutions such as ticketing and revenue management, Transport – providing sustainable solutions and eco buses for transport in cities to mention but a few.

This policy should also address other critical areas in the mobility eco-system to ensure  an enabling environment to spur innovation and value addition across the automotive industry value chain and enhance automotive standards.

A clearly thought through  National Automotive Industry Policy  should be the guiding government blueprint –for specific policy actions. It should offer policy makers, government, and private sector actors and or operators- a coherent direction for coordinated investment and implementation of the policy.  This will go a long away to avoid duplication and overlaps like it is in other sectors . It will also be the door –step for investors to understand the available opportunities and how they be harnessed without being bogged down in the wanton government red tape –which in most cases breeds corruption.

Finally , the National Automotive Industry Policy  should offer a certain degree of protection to the  already established industry players like Kiira Motors and other start-ups- Zembo, Safe Boad , International University of East Africa (IUEA) and Bodawerk among others -that have worked against all odds to bring the electric-car revolution to the streets of Kampala with the production of electric-vehicle fleets and motorcycles.

Government should in the year 2023  put in place a National Automotive Policy and other attendant laws to ensure proper coordination in the development of the nascent industry.

msserwanga@gmail.com

The writer is a media and communications consultant and advocate of the High Court of Uganda