Author: Wanjiku Njugunah

• The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) decongest the Central Business District (CBD) by removing boda boda riders and reducing public service vehicles
• Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Opendi said the CBD needs to have less motorised activity
• Stella Atyang (NRM, Moroto District) suggested that KCCA needs to build tram lines where the drainage channels run as one way to decongest the city

The parliament in Uganda has tasked the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to decongest the Central Business District (CBD) by removing Boda Boda riders and reducing public service vehicles.

In a meeting of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Tororo District Woman Member of Parliament, Sarah Opendi said the CBD needs to have less motorised activity.

“This report is silent about the boda boda riders. What is the plan? Should they be left to work outside the CBD?” Opendi asked.

She noted that over the years, KCCA …

• Ministers of Agriculture from Africa and the Americas committed to working together to develop a cooperation agenda
• The ministers also agreed that the two continents face common challenges and opportunities regarding transforming their agri-food systems to make them more sustainable and inclusive
• Other topics of common interest that emerged from the debate were the recovery of degraded soils, efficient water management, and the promotion of more open, fairer, and more transparent international food trade

Africa and America agriculture ministers meet

Ministers of Agriculture from Africa and America meet and committed to working together to develop a cooperation agenda and agreed that the two continents face common challenges and opportunities regarding transforming their agri-food systems to make them more sustainable and inclusive.

The agreement was reached during the First High-Level Roundtable between Africa and the Americas, convened and organised by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the …

• UNWTO reports a 4% rise in international tourist arrivals in 2021
• However, 2021 was another challenging year: arrivals were still 72% down on pre-pandemic levels
• Recovery needs stronger coordination and increased vaccination rates

Global Tourism Pandemic

Global tourism experienced a 4% upturn in 2021 to reach 415 million arrivals, compared to 2020, During Pandemic which saw arrivals drop to 400 million.

However, international tourist arrivals were still 72% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to preliminary estimates by UNWTO. This follows on from 2020, the worst year on record for tourism when international arrivals decreased by 73%.

The first 2022 issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows that rising rates of vaccination, combined with easing of travel restrictions due to increased cross-border coordination and protocols, have all helped release pent up demand.

International tourism rebounded moderately during the second half of 2021, with international arrivals down 62% in …

• President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the strong bilateral ties between Kenya and Hungary but regretted the low volumes of trade and investment flow between Nairobi and Budapest
• Kenyatta said Kenya had intensified efforts to promote greater linkages and networks between the private sector and business communities in the two countries
• Kenya and Hungary signed four bilateral agreements for cooperation in the health, water, education and diplomacy sectors.

Kenya Hungary trade ties

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the strong bilateral ties between Kenya and Hungary, saying economic cooperation, trade and investments mainly drive the relationship.

However, Kenyatta regretted the low volumes of trade and investment flow between Nairobi and Budapest over the last five decades despite substantial commercial potential.

“To address the low trade volumes, we have to intensify efforts to promote greater linkages and networks between the private sector and business communities in the two countries. We also encourage them …

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO drought in the horn of Africa) estimates that over $138 million in urgent funding is needed to assist 1.5 million vulnerable people in rural communities in the Horn of Africa whose fields and pastures have been hard hit by an extended drought.

FAO made the announcement while it released a comprehensive response plan calling for a range of support for agriculture in the region.

The organization revealed that the region, which is already prone to food insecurity associated with weather extremes, natural resource limitations, and conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020-21 locust invasion, has stretched the coping capacities of rural communities to the limit, undermining agricultural productivity.

Now the third season of drought driven by La Niña is raising concerns that a large-scale hunger crisis could break out if the region’s food-producing rural communities do not receive adequate help …

• Investors have taken more than half of the land available for investment in Phase 1 of the Konza Technopolis project 
• The revelation comes when the development of Phase’s horizontal infrastructure will be completed by the end of this year
• The completion of the works, which entail the construction of streetscapes and drainage works, paves the way for the vertical construction works to be undertaken by the private sector

Investors have taken up seventy-two percent of land available for investment in Phase 1 of the Konza Technopolis project in Kenya.

In a statement, the firm said this represents 106 out of 147 land parcels demarcated for uptake by investors in Phase 1, which comprises 1,703 acres of land, including wildlife and nature parks.

The revelation comes when the Phase’s horizontal infrastructure development will be completed by the end of this year.

The completion of the works, which entail the construction of …

• MPs in Uganda have been urged to address budget shortfalls in the roads docket 
• The ministry of works and transport said that majority of the running projects are being undertaken in arrears, saying that some projects have suffered major budget cuts

In Uganda, the Minister of Works and Transport, Edward Katumba Wamala, has warned Members of Parliament that unless the budget shortfalls of the ministry are addressed, projects under the works sub-sector in the National Development Plan (NDP) III will not be timely implemented.

“It will be difficult to start new projects before completing the ones that were started,” he said.

Katumba Wamala was appearing before the Committee on Physical Infrastructure on Thursday, 13 January 2022 to respond to issues raised in Budget Framework Paper (BFP) for Financial Year 2022/2023.

He said that majority of the running projects are being undertaken in arrears, saying that some projects have suffered …

• MPs in Uganda have been urged to spare the tourism ministry, departments and agencies (MDAs) from budget cuts in order to revive the COVID-19 hit sector
• The State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities minister said the dock is under funded 
• The tourism sector has over the last two financial years lost over US$ 567,063 on account of budget cuts on consumptive items

Uganda parliament tourism budget

The Uganda parliament has been asked to exempt the tourism ministry, departments, and agencies (MDAs) from budget cuts in order to revamp the COVID-19 hit sector.

Bahinduka Martin Mugarra, the State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities said he was shocked by the persistent underfunding and budget cuts on consumptive items on tourism.

“The appropriation to the tourism sector has historically been below the threshold required for the industry to perform its role meaningfully. A sector that generates about 10 per cent …

• Bolt receives its largest-ever funding round, amounting to €628 million (US$716 million) to fast-track the mission to have cities move in more affordable and sustainable ways
• The company said part of the funds will speed up the expansion of its new and existing mobility and delivery products across Eastern African markets
• The investments will also boost ride-hailing services in Kenya, with emphasis on enhancing the safety features on the platform for drivers and passengers

Bolt receives funding for expansion

On-demand transport firm Bolt receives its largest-ever funding round for expansion, amounting to €628 million (US$716 million) to fast-track the mission to have cities move in more affordable and sustainable ways.

In a statement, the company said part of the funds will speed up the expansion of its new and existing mobility and delivery products across Eastern African markets.

The investments will also boost ride-hailing services in Kenya, with emphasis on …

• The High Court in Kenya has suspended a planned move by local insurance firms to hike motor vehicle insurance covers
• The court told insurance companies not to implement the hike, following a petition by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
• Justice James Makau also suspended the firms from refusing to offer comprehensive cover for older vehicles
• The ruling comes after the commission took the country’s insurance regulator to court for not protecting Kenyans

High Court vehicle insurance cover

The Kenyan High Court has suspended a planned move by local insurance firms to hike motor vehicle insurance cover by 50%.

On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, the court told insurance companies not to implement the hike, following a petition by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).

Justice James Makau also suspended the firms from refusing to offer comprehensive cover for older vehicles.

Insurance companies had planned to decline, offering comprehensive covers to …