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The Strategic Response on Environmental Conservation (STREC), a local civil society, has written a petition addressed to the WANG Dongjin, the Chairman and Secretary of Party Leadership of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Group and Chairman of CNOOC Limited protesting the manner in which the oil company is acquiring land in Kikuube district.

The petition signed off by Cirrus Kabaale, the Chief Executive Officer of STREC, represents the interests of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) whose land and property is being compulsorily acquired for CNOOC’s Kingfisher oil project in Buhuuka and Nkondo parishes in Kikuube district.

The petition requests the CNOOC boss to address the challenges the Host Communities have been facing from the time CNOOC started the process of compulsory acquisition of their land for the Kingfisher oil project in Kikuube.

The complaints that are contained herein were derived from the discussions and meetings with the Kingfisher oil project host communities, the petition reads in part.

Adding that the meetings and discussions, which STREC facilitated alongside other partners, took place in January, February, and March 2024 in Kyakapere A&B, Nsunsu A&B, Nsonga, Kyabasambu, Kyina, and Kyehoora upper and lower in Buhuuka and Nkondo Parishes in Kikuube district.

The petition reads: “Despite that the Kingfisher oil project is being advertised as an example of international cooperation to achieve development, CNOOC operations have violated Article 26 and 41 of the Uganda constitution, causing human rights violations, environmental degradation, and the disruption of community livelihoods in the region.”

“This is clearly in violation of Chinese policies such as Guidelines for Ecological and Environmental Protection of Foreign Investment and Cooperation Construction Projects issued in January 2022, which requires companies to ‘balance economic benefits with social and environmental benefits’, follow host country law (Article 17), and international best practices (Article 3,4,6,7). These guidelines also expect CNOOC to “strengthen communication with potentially affected communities” (Article 23).”

“While we acknowledge the importance of energy and natural resource development in the area, it is imperative that CNOOC strikes a balance between economic interest and long-term wellbeing of the local inhabitants of Buhuuka and Nkondo whose suffering is now being caused and exacerbated by the CNOOC oil operations in the region.”

“Therefore, through this petition, we implore your urgent intervention to address the grievances faced by Kingfisher PAPs due to compulsory land acquisition processes.”

The key concerns raised by Buhuuka and Nkondo community members regarding the Kingfisher oil project include the unfair compulsory land acquisitions, increased militarization and confiscation of local fishing equipment, forceful eviction of communities from their land, Noise pollution and Vibration from the oil rig, intimidation of Kingfisher Project Affected Persons, and Mistreatment of casual labour.

In the petition, STREC recommends that CNOOC respects and upholds the rights of affected communities and prohibit displacement of families without proper compensation and resettlement options.

It also recommends that CNOOC and the Ugandan government should comply with Ugandan laws and best international practices in respecting the rights of local communities, that CNOOC supports the fishing communities with alternative fishing areas, that  CNOOC and government compensates PAPs for the loss of their land and livelihoods.

Also, STREC recommends that CNOOC urgently establishes and prioritizes hiring the Buhuuka community for skilled labor positions, including skill development programs, that will empower the affected communities to be gainful employed and that CNOOC also establishes an independent, fair grievance mechanism within the community to facilitate open communication and allow the community members to voice their concerns regarding the project and access compensation.  

Fresh Dairy has announced a ten percent (10%) Back-to-school discount on its flavoured milk slim pack -12 and 24-pack cartons. Fresh Dairy Flavoured milk is popular for being an on-the-go ready-to-drink snack and offers great refreshment for school time, during and post sports work-out activities.

Marketing Manager Fresh Dairy – Vincent Omoth said, “Fresh Dairy resonates with the costs that revolve around back-to-school season. We have therefore discounted all our flavoured milk – 12 pack cartons by 10%, an offer which is valid for a two months period starting 25th January to 31st March 2024.”

Omoth added that this back-to-school promotion follows the recent introduction of a new flavoured milk slim pack that is easy to hold, sleek and trendy for that pupil or student at school.

Omoth noted that Fresh Dairy’s flavoured milk comes in three (3) amazing flavours – Vanilla, Strawberry and chocolate; offers 2 carton options – 24 and 12 pack cartons and 2 pack sizes – 500ml and 250ml. “I urge parents to stock up Fresh Dairy’s flavoured milk for their children, for that quick refreshment during this back-to-school season,” said Omoth.

Omoth concluded by noting that for order delivery of Fresh Dairy’s flavoured milk, consumers can place orders Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm by simply calling Fresh Dairy’s customer care toll free on 0800 100 020/21 or WhatsApp 0715 744 664.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba, has confirmed that over 290 Ugandans are stranded in India, Egypt, and Myanmar, after being trafficked out of the country.

Mulimba who made the confirmation on the floor of parliament Thursday afternoon said there are fears that some of the victims have been recruited into rebel activities.

The minister said: "The traffickers recruit desperate Ugandans via fictitious Websites. Most victims respond to an online advertisement for highly paying jobs in Thailand and Malaysia.” 

“When they embark on the journeys either by air or by boats via the ports of Mombasa, they are received by traffickers at the designated places. They are then transferred to Myanmar via boats or road to rebel-controlled areas.” 

"Currently, the known records of Ugandans in rebel territories are 30. They are held in 2 camps namely; 16 persons in Bailo compound - Kayin state and 14 in UK Compound.”

“Some of the migrant groups have already submitted approximately 60 Ugandans in need of evacuation and stating that they were unable to meet the conditions set forth by the Egyptian Government.”

“The exact number of Ugandans staying in Egypt is unknown mainly because Ugandans don’t register their presence with the Mission, and secondly, because those who are illegally in the country cannot have their records updated by authorities." 

“Current reports from the Uganda High Commission in New Delhi indicate that they have up to 200 stranded Ugandan ladies mostly victims of human trafficking who want to return home but are unable due to lack of funds to purchase air tickets. The Mission does not have adequate space to accommodate them. They were trafficked under the guise of jobs, which are not there."   

President Yoweri Museveni and the former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) - led Nairobi Peace Process on Wednesday met at State House in Entebbe, Uganda, to discuss the regional mandate alongside recent developments in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Leaders of the EAC member states are trying everything in their means to end insurgencies in DRC. Recently, the EAC has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability to the eastern region of the DRC.

The EAC Secretary General (Dr.) Peter Mathuki said that the lessons learned from the deployment of the EAC Regional Force (EACRF) present opportunities for the Community to strengthen its role as the primary guarantor of peace and security in the region through the Institutionalisation of the EACRF’s achievements.

The Neycha Accelerator & Fund, a joint initiative by the Biovision Foundation, SHONA, and SHONA Capital supporting agroecological enterprises (AEEs) in Kenya and Uganda, has announced that applications are now open for the second cohort of the program.

Launched in 2023, Neycha provides capacity building, capital, and connections to help growth-oriented AEEs scale their impact and transition food systems towards agroecology.

"Being part of the Neycha program is transformational for our business," said Geoffrey Okoth Yoga, Founder & COO of Papoli Farmers' Limited, a cohort 1 participant from Uganda.

"The training and mentorship so far are helping us strengthen our operations and strategy. It is an eye opener to the applicability of agroecological principles and a reaffirmation that some of what we already do is agroecological, but we aim to do better."

To qualify for cohort 2, businesses must be legally registered in Kenya or Uganda, at least 3 years old, and generating over USD 40,000 in annual revenue. Applicants are assessed for their commitment to integrating agroecological approaches.

“We have made tremendous progress with our first cohort of 20 Agroecology Entrepreneurs (AEEs) from Uganda and Kenya,” said Lucy Asiimwe, Program Manager, SHONA Group.

“We were thrilled with their enthusiasm and response towards improving the practice of agroecology in their business models. We are committed to continuously provide tailored capacity and connections, coupled with access to financing through the Neycha Accelerator & Fund.

Now we are eager to build on this momentum by bringing a new group of dedicated agroecological entrepreneurs into the 2nd cohort of the Neycha program."

Fabio Leippert, Co-Lead Policy & Advocacy at Biovision, said, “We are thrilled to see Neycha performing and advancing. By embarking on a second cohort of enterprises, we hope to further fuel the momentum for a just and sustainable food system transformation through innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in Kenya and Uganda.”

Participants will gain access to expert training, coaching, and mentorship on tailored “Good Business” growth aspects while embedding agroecology principles. They will go through a deep selection process and a thorough Agroecology Assessment to be selected among the 20 AEEs. Following their selection is an intensive training and “Good Business” growth planning process during the boot camp activities, followed by 1 year of mentorship and coaching support.

Capital investment between USD 10,000 and 50,000 in affordable debt financing for AEEs is an integral part of the program. Additional to that are connections to markets, strategic partners, and alternative investors/financiers. Neycha ultimately aims to catalyse the growth of commercially viable, impact-driven agroecological enterprises across East Africa.

“Agroecological enterprises are key to transforming food systems. With Neycha, our goal is to accelerate their growth and impact by addressing key barriers like a lack of finance and business skills,” said SHONA Capital Investment Manager, Daniel Opio.

“By connecting investors, development partners, the government, and of course AEEs themselves, we can help consolidate knowledge and accelerate the transition to sustainable, equitable food systems in the region,” remarked Asiimwe.

How to Apply

Interested agroecological enterprises in Kenya and Uganda can apply through the Neycha website (www.neychaaccelerator.co) before the March, 4^th, 2024 deadline.

The Office of the President of Namibia on Sunday 4 February 2024 announced that President Dr. Hage G. Geingob had died at Lady Pohamba Hospital where he was receiving medical treatment from his medical team.

At his side was his dear wife, Monica Geingos, and his children, the announcement by Dr Nangolo Mbumba, the Acting President of the Republic of Namibia, said.

“His medical team, as I informed the nation only yesterday has been trying its best to ensure that our President recovers. Regrettably, notwithstanding the team’s spirited effort to save his life, sadly, fellow Namibians, President Geingob passed on,” Dr Mbumba.  

Dr Mbumba said, “The Namibian nation has lost a distinguished servant of the people, a liberation struggle icon, the chief architect of our constitution, and the pillar of the Namibian house.”

“At this moment of deepest sorrow, I appeal to the nation to remain calm and collected while the Government attends to all necessary state arrangements, preparations and other protocols. Further announcements in this regard will be made,” he added.

“While keeping the President’s bereaved family, and you, dear fellow Namibians, in our thoughts and prayers, Cabinet will convene with immediate effect in order to make the necessary state arrangements in this regard,” he further added.  

EAC Ministers in charge of Health have endorsed a regional policy framework aimed at promoting antibiotics production and a collaborative mechanism for information exchange in the production and supply of antibiotics across the region.

The 44^th EAC Ordinary Council of Ministers endorsed this framework following multistakeholder consultations at the national and regional level as well as sensitization meetings with senior officials including Permanent Secretaries of Ministries responsible for health and industry. The project engaged over 300 stakeholders from both public and private sectors across the region.

This significant development came to light during a closeout meeting of the EAC-UNCTAD project, "Investment Incentives for Local Production of Essential Antibiotics in East Africa," held in Nairobi in December 2023. The meeting, attended by representatives from the EAC and its Partner States, UNCTAD, GIZ, and GFA Consulting Group, provided a platform to unveil the Council's approval of these essential policy documents.

Since 2019, the EAC Secretariat has collaborated closely with UNCTAD to develop and support the implementation of these critical policy documents. Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, the Director of Productive Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, emphasized the impact of the approved Policy Framework on Production and Supply of Antibiotics.

"The framework introduces incentives that address current bottlenecks in local antibiotic production, while the cooperation mechanism facilitates regular updates on essential antibiotics facing shortages, supply interruptions, excessive pricing, and other challenges,” he said.

Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Industry in the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, acknowledged UNCTAD's support and highlighted the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in the region.

Dr. Mukhwana emphasised the urgent need for EAC Partner States to implement policy incentives to attract investments, considering the region's heavy reliance on imported medicines.

Mr. Bruno Casella, UNCTAD’s Senior Economist and Chief of the Intellectual Property Unit commended the project's success and emphasized its alignment with UNCTAD's strategic focus on global research and policy work in pharmaceutical local production and regionalism.

The implementation of the EAC Regional Policy Framework and Cooperation Mechanism will necessitate a multisectoral approach, bridging health, trade, industry, and investment. Existing implementation structures at both regional and national levels will be leveraged, but capacity enhancement will be a crucial component of the policy implementation process. The implementation will also require policy and regulatory changes, the introduction of new practices, and rigorous monitoring and reporting.

This milestone marks a significant stride towards strengthening the regional capacity for antibiotics production and supply, with potential far-reaching impacts on public health and economic resilience within the East African Community.

The East African Community (EAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki said that the lessons learned from the deployment of the EAC Regional Force (EACRF) present opportunities for the Community to strengthen its role as the primary guarantor of peace and security in the region through the Institutionalisation of the EACRF’s achievements.

Dr. Mathuki said that the EAC will seek to strengthen its ability to respond to peace and security challenges of Partner States by the reinforcement of the successes of the regional force through the formulation of appropriate policies, guidelines, frameworks and instruments pegged on best global practices.

“The development of key instruments will further enable the EAC to respond more effectively to regional peace and security challenges through holistic conflict management,” said Dr. Mathuki.

“From this experience, the EAC has proven to be adaptable to handle security challenges and can be relied on as an able partner to respond to complex conflicts affecting the region.

Dr. Mathuki was speaking at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania during the hand-over ceremony of the flag by the EACRF following the end of the peacekeeping mission to DRC on 21st December 2023.

The Secretary General hailed the EACRF members as gallant soldiers who had put their lives on the line for the sake of ordinary East Africans residing in eastern DRC, adding that the peacekeeping mission had been highly successful despite some challenges it faced on the ground.

The EACRF Force Commander, Major General Aphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, handed over the flag to the Secretary General.

Speaking at the event, Major. Gen. Kiugu said that the mission had registered various successes key among them the protection of civilians, a core function of the mandate that was achieved through the facilitation of the ceasefire between the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group.

Maj. Gen. Kiugu said that the partial opening of the main supply routes of Goma-Rutshuru, Bunagana-Rutshuru, Sake-Mushake and Sake-Kitchanga-Mweso, enable the free movement of goods and persons.

“Further, EACRF deployment helped defuse direct physical threat to Goma and Sake towns,” said the Force Commander.

“The sum effect of these actions was the gradual return of internally displaced persons to their homes, especially in Sake, Kirolirwe, Kitchanga and Mweso, within Masisi territory and in Kibumba, Rumangabo, Kiwanja and Bunagana in Nyiragongo and Rutshuru territories.

Maj. Gen. Kiugu further said that humanitarian agencies’ activities increased with close collaboration between EACRF and humanitarian organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC).

“Additionally, EACRF through coordinated Civil-Military Cooperation activities was able to offer limited humanitarian assistance to the local population in their areas of deployment, including medical care and casualty evacuation.