UgandaHigh CommissionLondon

Uganda’s High Commissioner, H.E Prof Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda Presents Credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

H.E Prof Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, Uganda’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of St James’s, formally presented her credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 20th November 2013.

H.E Prof Kikafunda, who arrived in London in mid July 2013, was accompanied at the ceremony by her spouse, Dr Joseph Kikafunda-Twine, and members of her diplomatic staff. The group were collected from the Chancery at Uganda House, Trafalgar Square by Her Majesty’s Marshall, Mr. Charles Gray and were ferried to Buckingham Palace on horse-drawn state landaus that have been used since 1872. Uganda being a member of the Commonwealth, the Carriage was drawn by 4 horses. 

Prof Kikafunda conveyed to the Queen the best wishes of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his government’s keen desire to promote the very strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between Uganda and the United Kingdom. They also discussed matters related to the High Commissioner’s assignment in the UK.

Following the ceremony, Prof Kikafunda hosted a Vin d’Honneur Reception at the Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill that was attended by Her Majesty’s Director of Protocol and Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, Ms Anna Clunes OBE, other British government officials, and heads of several missions and other diplomatic colleagues. The venue, The Churchill Hotel, was purposively selected as it was the great Winston Churchill who declared Uganda the ‘Pearl’ of Africa in early 1900s.

In her remarks, Prof Kikafunda highlighted the excellent relations that exist between Uganda and the United Kingdom and promised to take them to another level during her tour of duty. She stressed the fact that UK and Uganda are significant development partners. ‘To us in Uganda, United Kingdom is not just another foreign country, we have shared history and shared values’, she said. Her Excellency the High Commissioner identified her priorities for the bilateral relations as increasing further the robust bilateral economic ties, particularly on investment and trade; promoting stronger political cooperation and high-level interaction.

AfDB and African Virtual University discuss benefits of e-learning

The African Virtual University (AVU) Project very critical to the effort to improve access to higher education in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 26, 2013/ -- “We consider the African Virtual University (AVU) Project very critical to the effort to improve access to higher education in Africa and are pleased to learn that the deliberations on the integration of e-learning and open education into mainstream education programs was fruitful,” concluded Stefan Muller, Lead Economist of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) East Africa Regional Resource Center (EARC) during the first international conference African Virtual University organized from November 20-22, 2013 in Nairobi.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png

Under the topic “Integrating eLearning and Open Education to Increase Access to Quality Education and Training”, the conference brought together more than 100 participants including Ministries of Education and 22 universities from the Multinational AVU support project** as well as the private sector. The main objective of this first gathering was to discuss the future of e-learning in Africa and the role of Open Education Resources (OERs) including the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the ICT learning revolution.

“The conference is very timely, it is taking place at a time of ICT revolution in Africa. It is critical for the Bank to ‘seize the moment’ and ensure that regional member countries harness ICT technologies that will result not only in increased access, but also facilitate quality and relevance of education,” said Ruth Charo, Principal Social Development Specialist, AfDB EARC. “OERs, including MOOCS, have the potential to enhance access to quality education. However, certification and accreditation for the OERs has to be looked into. In all countries, especially in Africa, certification as an evidence of one having acquired training is almost mandatory. Networking and partnerships among institutions in Africa and the West will be critical to achieve this,” she added.

In addition to OERs and MOOCs, discussion also centered on ICT infrastructure including access to e-learning and mobile learning; accreditation and quality assurance in e-learning; management of e-learning; and gender aspects in e-learning.

Benefitting from AfDB funding, the AVU Capacity Enhancement Program (ACEP) launched a training on November 18, 2013 to equip AVU’s partner institutions with e-learning skills in areas such as ICT instructional processes, technology support and management of e-learning. AVU is also considering the delivery of the ACEP program on MOOCs. To this purpose, a feasibility analysis is being conducted to ensure issues such as certification and quality assurance are given the necessary attention. The ICT-enhanced curriculum structures for Teacher Education Program in Maths and Sciences have been shared with the universities for review after which the specific ICT-enhanced modules authoring will begin. The professional development program offers today 13 learning modules for open distance and e-learning programs, including materials development and instructional design, governance, management and financing of open, distance and e-learning programs .

Background

The AfDB has been an active partner in the creation of AVU since 2004 through investment and technical assistance. The African Virtual University (AVU) is a pan-African intergovernmental organization that has established the largest distance and e-learning network in over 27 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and produced more than 40,000 graduates. It hosts 219 open educational modules ranging from mathematics and science, teacher education, and ICT skills – available free of charge in English, French and Portuguese. The AVU’s interactive portal is accessed beyond Africa in 142 countries with a majority from Brazil and the United States. AVU continues to gain international recognition by increasing access to quality education for thousands of Africans. It was awarded the top prize for Best Emerging Initiative (http://education-portal.com/articles/Vote_Online_for_the_2011_OCW_Peoples_Choice_Awards.html) by over 4,000 people in the first OpenCourseWare (OCW) People’s Choice Awards.

** AVU works with universities in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

 

Ndugu  zangu ,Kuna taarifa mitaani kwamba  hii  shuhuli  haitofanikiwa na  kwamba   usiku haipo.Tunapenda  kuwafahamisha  wote  wale  mnoa  tuamini na  kututhamini kwamba  shuhuli  ipo  kama  tulivyo  kusudia  panapo  na  majaliwa .Shuhuli itaanza sa  4 ahsubuhi  hadi  usiku  saa 10.Wanaopenda  maendeleo  na  mshikamano  wa  jamii karibu sana  .Ahsanteni  sana

25 November 2013, Dakar – The overall continental framework for promoting, nurturing, strengthening and consolidating democracy and governance in Africa – the African Governance Architecture, also known as AGA, kicked off its 2^nd Annual High Level Dialogue this morning in Dakar, Senegal. The opening ceremony took place in the presence of Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, Mr. Pierre Buyoya,former President of the Republic of Burundi, Mrs. Aminata Toure.  Prime Ministers of Senegal, Mr. Edem Kodjo – former Prime Minister of the Republic of Togo and former Secretary General of the OAU, Mr. Anicet George Dologuele, former Prime Minister of the Central African Republic, Barrister Akere Muna, Chair of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) panel, Mr. Lebogang Motlana, Director of the UNDP Regional Center of Africa, and Dr. Vera Songwe, Representative of the vice president of the World Bank among others dignitaries.

Speaking on behalf of the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi noted that AUC and its organs are committed to improving and accelerating democratic governance on the continent. She underscored that the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) is central to deliberations over the next days and thus urged Member States who are yet to ratify the charter to do so.  “The Charter has very specific provisions on access to and exercise of state power in accordance with the constitution of the State Party and the principle of the rule of law; separation of powers; and condemnation and total rejection of unconstitutional changes of government” she added. 

On the occasion, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director, African Governments/Institutions Liaison at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Dakar Office, expressed his optimism noting the general positive trend on the continent. “Countries that have experienced overall governance improvement since 2000 are today home to 94% of people living on the continent.  The remaining 6% live in: Madagascar, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, Libya and Mali”.  Presenting the Mo Ibrahim Foundation report of year 2013, Mr. Janneh indicated that, “the largely positive trends at the overall governance level mask the differing performances between and within categories, and between countries.” Finally, he pointed out that the challenge is how to secure sustainable progress. “More than ever, equitable allocation of resources must be a priority for policy and decision making.” he said.

The President of the Republic of Senegal, Dr. Macky Sall, graced the dialogue not only with his presence, but also expressed his gratitude to the AUC for holding annual conferences on African democracy and governance.  According to him, although the instrument on democracy and governance are being ratified by the Member States, its implementation remains a challenge. He reaffirmed the commitment of his government to strengthening law and order, constitutionalism, as well as strengthening the norms and standards of the democracy and governance instruments. “ It is illusionary to talk about democracy and rule of law in a context where democracy is jeopardized” he underlined. The President added that “we have to do away with unconstitutional change of government while ensuring peace and security in the continent”

Dr. Aisha Abdulahi seized the opportunity to commend Senegal’s commitment to continental integration, unity and prosperity through strengthening governance and consolidating democracy is legendary. “This country has not only been central to the African Union agenda, but also was a significant role player in the crafting of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance whose norms and standards guide the AU and Member States in the promotion of democracy and good governance”.

The dialogue will continue until 27 November 2013.  It is expected to outline better ways of going about democracy and governance in Africa.  The High Level Dialogue is an annual event and is hosted by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Republic of Senegal, and partners.  

Benin seeks ECA support for 10 million-souls, 10 million-trees project 

Warsaw, Poland, 21 November 2013 (ECA) - Benin's minister for environment and forestry, Mr. Raphael Edou, says his country will look towards every relevant regional institution, including the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), to realize President Yayi Boni's dream of getting each souls in his country plant a tree each year. 
Mr. Edou told Ms. Fatima Denton, Coordinator of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) and Officer in Charge of the Special Initiatives Division at the ECA that the project duped “10 million souls 10 million tree” which is a special initiative by Benin’s leader was launched last July and has already seen 4 million trees plant across the country. 
In a meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate change conference which opened in Warsaw last week, Mr. Edou and Ms. Denton discussed possible cooperation avenues between the ECA and Benin with a view to securing technical assistance from the former through its climate policy centre. 
As from next year the tree renewal process will continue again and repeated each year for as long as there are demands for forest products, the minister revealed. 
Mr. Edou explained how dear the project is to President Boni, saying seedling farms had been opened up in all the 546 council areas of Benin and that the private sector is taking an active part in the innovative initiative. 
“No logging company can be issued an authorization in Benin unless it shows proof of participation in the project”, he said. 
He said that Benin had sent a formal request for technical assistance to ECA. Ms. Denton assured him of the commitment of the Mr. Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of ECA to concrete actions on sustainable development in general and climate change in particular. 

African businesses should be equipped to compete in new environment, says Afreximbank at factoring workshop

Dr. Benedict Oramah, Afreximbank Executive Vice-President (middle) with other presenters at the opening of the factoring workshop.

Douala (Cameroon), 24 Nov. 2013 –African businesses must equip themselves in order to compete effectively in the new environment resulting from the adoption of open account systems in many markets across the world, Dr. Benedict Oramah, Executive Vice-President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in charge of Business Development and Corporate Banking, has said.

Since open account terms had become standard practice in many markets, concerted effort was needed to equip African businesses to compete under  such an environment, said Dr. Oramah in an address at a one-day workshop on “Factoring as an Alternative Trade Finance Instrument in a Competitive World,” organized by Afreximbank in Douala, Cameroon, on 22 November.

 “As the use of letters of credit as a trade payment assurance instrument dwindles and as trade with new markets blossom, African businesses have to find ways of adapting to the new challenges and opportunities,” he said. Factoring offered the required solution because it provided businesses with access to credit without the requirement for collaterals or other security other than the receivables that were generated in the normal course of business.

According to Dr. Oramah, factoring is a very important tool for promoting non-commodity exports in a highly competitive world and has the capacity to place African businesses at near equal footing with others in global markets.

Driving home the importance of promoting factoring in Africa, Dr. Oramah said that in 2012, factors advanced 300 billion Euros to some 500,000 clients, but Africa accounted for only 1.2 per cent of world factoring transactions.

The workshop featured presentations on various aspects of factoring by Peter Brinsely, Director of PoinForward Consulting and Chairman of the Education Committee of the International Factors Group. Mr. O.S. Vinod, Director of Blend Financial Services Ltd., discussed the successful establishment of a factoring business by Jamii Bora Bank in Kenya while Frederic Mao of Afreximbank outlined the Bank’s support for the development of factoring in Africa.

About 50 participants, representing businesses engaged in factoring activities across Africa, took part in the workshop.

     

Ayoub  mzee with  Psqaure

 Novemba 24,2013-Jumapili
Aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa chama kikuu cha upinzani nchini, Chadema, Zitto Kabwe Zubeiri anasema, licha ya hali ya kutoelewana ndani ya chama chake, hatojiondoa na kwamba hizo ni hisia tu za watu.
Ameweka bayana yamoyoni mwake leo Jijini Dar es Salaam alipoongea na waandishi wa habari na koongeza, "...kwa sababu watu wamezoea kwamba watu wakigombana, wasipoelewana ndani ya vyama, basi ni lazima mtu atoke ajiunge na chama kingine. Kwa hiyo Siondoki Chadema na ninaendelea kua mwanachama wa Chadema."

Mh.Zitto Kabwe(Kulia) Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini akiongea katika mkutano na waandishi wa habari mapema leo Jijini DSM, wakati akitoa taarifa yake kuhusu kuvuliwa nyadhfa mbalimbali ndani ya Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) pamoja na aliyekuwa Makamu Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho Dk Kitilya Mkumbo(Kushoto pichani) katika Hoteli ya Serena Jijini hapa.

Mbunge huyo alisema ni jambo la kawaida kwa watu kutoelewana na kwamba kuna tofauti ya mitizamo ndani ya chama. Anasema kuna tofauti za mitizamo kuhusiana na suala la demokrasia ndani ya chama,kuhusu uwajibikaji ndani ya chama, kuna suala la kuheshimiana ndani ya chama lakini siyo tofauti za kumwezesha kukihama chama hicho.

Zitto anasema "sikujiunga mimi na Chadema labda kwa sababu nilikwenda kwenye kura za maoni za chama kingine nikakataliwa ndipo nikapata hasira na nikajiunga na Chadema, hapana. Nilijiunga na Chadema kutokana na kuamini misingi ya Chadema, walakini ni wazi kabisa kwamba ni lazima ifikiye wakati viongozi inapokua hamuelewani, ni lazima moja apishe nagfasi ya wengine watekeleze majukumu yao."

                        Pichani ni Dk Kilya Mkumbo naye akitoa yake ya Moyoni katika mkutano huo leo.

Zitto amesema ikiwa ataondoka, basi ataondoka kakutoka uwongozi lakini si uwanachama. Na anasema hamini nadharia ya kuhama chama, kama vile alivyo pinga kuhama kwa Thomas Kashilila na kujiunga na NCCR Mageuzi.

 Please  kindly  note  that  this   event has  moved  to: The  Royal Regency,Manor  Park,London  E12 6TH.
Bus :86,25  from  stratford  station

AFRICAN AND ARAB HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT COMMENCE THEIR MEETING IN KUWAIT

Kuwait City, 17 November 2013- A meeting of the Africa Arab partnership is ongoing at Heads of State and government level in the State of Kuwaiti. The meeting will review progress in the partnership to date and endorse concrete proposals to advance political, peace and security; economic, trade and finance; agriculture and food and security; and socio-cultural cooperation between the two regions for the mutual benefit of their people. Being held under the theme “Partnership in Development and Investment”, the summit is being attended by over 60 countries from both regions. It comes after preceding preparatory meetings by ministers and experts from both regions.

African speakers at the summit’s opening ceremony today advocated strongly for Africa as a continent that has overcome many hardships and that has potential for growth and investment.

“We are the only continent whose working age population is set to grow rather than shrink….. Returns on investment (in Africa) in virtually every sector are higher than any other part of the world… Africa remains endowed with mineral, energy and other natural resources”, said AU Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

African Union Chairperson and Prime Minister of Ethiopia Mr. Hailemarian Desalegn, who is also co-chairperson of the meeting, spoke of an Africa that has moved on from being considered a “basket case” to one that now offers new markets for growth opportunities. “With vast arable lands, water and other resources, Africa has huge potential to satisfy the food needs of the Arab world” he said.

Both Dr Dlamini Zuma and Mr Desalegn however conceded that the continent faces some challenges, such as conflict, aggression and terrorism. Mr Desalegn strongly highlighted the issue of migration and migrant labour, saying “It’s our collective responsibility”, and urged both sides to give serious and urgent attention to the issue.

The Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah who is co-Chairperson of the summit used the occasion to announce two major developments.

“….I directed officials of the Kuwaiti Fund to offer soft loans to African countries in the amount of 1 billion dollars over the next five years, he told his peers.” He also announced the intention by the State of Kuwait to earmark an annual financial award of one million dollars focusing on development research in Africa.

The 3rd Africa Arab summit will emphasize the link between stronger economic cooperation and regional integration. It will endorse private sector engagement in translating political objectives into concrete results. It will also call for increased economic cooperation. At the meeting, the Heads of State will be given an overview of the successes and challenges since the Sire meeting of 2010, which adopted a new partnership strategy and action plan 2011-2016.

At its conclusion on 20 November, the summit is expected to adopt the “Kuwait Declaration”, which will underline the determination of the heads of state and government from the two regions to achieve results across the four pillar of the partnership i.e. political, peace and security; economic, trade and finance; agriculture and food and security; and socio-cultural cooperation.

Deepened business relations helps Africa tackle financing challenges, Afreximbank President says at seminar

Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra (left) in an exchange with Executive Vice President Dr. Benedict Oramah, during the seminar.

Douala (Cameroon), 19 Nov. 2013 – Deepened business relationships and partnerships among African banks and other trade financiers, resulting in credit information and risk sharing and in pooling of expertise to structure complex trade and project finance deals, is enabling Africa to address the trade and project finance challenges facing it, Jean-Louis Ekra, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) said today.

In an address at the opening of the annual Seminar/Workshop on Advanced Structured Trade Finance organized by Afreximbank in Douala, Cameroon, Mr. Ekra said that many bankers in Africa were beginning to use innovative structured trade finance instruments and structures to support trade development on the continent.

“We have also observed, over the last decade, a steady improvement in quality of deals being submitted to the Bank for financing by our trade and project finance intermediaries spread across the continent,” said Mr. Ekra, who noted that “Afreximbank introduced the annual seminar in 1999 to give African bankers and other players in the financial sector the capacity to structure trade and trade-related project finance deals under the difficult market conditions in Africa.”

According to the President, the seminar equips participants with the technical skills and knowledge to structure bankable trade and project finance deals and provides Afreximbank with a platform to strengthen business relationships with its clients and partner institutions.

Presentations covering various aspects of trade finance structuring were made on the opening day by speakers, including Rajiv Shah of BNP Paribas, Dr. Benedict Oramah, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, David Franklin of the law firm of Franklin and Franklin, and Anne-Marie Woolley of Standard Bank, U.K.

The seminar participants consist of senior executives from African banks and financial institutions, hedge funds, Africa country funds and venture capital institutions, corporate entities engaged in trade, manufacturing and privatized infrastructure projects, Afreximbank’s trade finance and project finance intermediaries and African law firms.

     In addition to a two-day four-session seminar segment on 19 and 20 November, the event, which is being organized in cooperation with the Central Bank of Central African States and the African Capacity Building Foundation, includes a one-day workshop on credit risk analysis on 21 November. They will be followed on 22 November by a one-day workshop on factoring.

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About Afreximbank:

The African Export Import Bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors, and non-African investors to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. Its two basic constitutive documents are the Establishment Agreement, which gives it the status of an international organization, and the Charter, which governs its corporate structure and operations.  Since 1994, the Bank has approved more than $25 billion in credit facilities in support of African trade, including $3.71 billion in 2012. Afreximbank is headquartered in Cairo. For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com

A cross section of the seminar participants.

Adams College celebrates 160 years with AUC Chairperson as Guest Speaker

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 20 November, 2013: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will today, 20 November 2013, at the Adams College, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa deliver a keynote address as part of celebrations to mark its 160^th anniversary this year, at Legacy dinner.

The Adams College is one of Africa’s oldest educational institutions that trained some of Africa’s finest liberation movement leaders.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma is expected to use the occasion to call for a revival and strengthening of educational institutions in Africa, given that it is their principal responsibility to prepare and groom future leadership.

She will take this opportunity to call on the Adams College and other African education institutions to train leaders with refined characters ready to uphold the value system of Ubuntu, and yet sophisticated enough to understand the structures, processes and dynamics of global political economy.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma, the first female Chairperson of the AU Commission, is one of the continental luminary leaders Adams College has produced. Some graduates of outstanding leadership statue from within South Africa and other parts of Africa include: Milton Obote, first Democratic President of Uganda, Joshua Nkomo, Founder of Zimbabwe’s liberation movement ZAPU, Sir Seretse Khama, first Democratic President of Botswana, Dr JL Dube, first ANC President, and Chief Albert Luthuli, first African Nobel Peace Winner, amongst others.