tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84942277068747092812024-02-07T10:25:39.800-08:00Nile Fortune, "Expanding your Business Beyond Horizons"Our Brand is Nile fortune magazine
Strap line: Expanding Business beyond the Horizons
“We are proudly The only Business Magazine linking Nile Basin Countries”
The Nile Fortune Magazine Circulates in the 10 Countries that form Nile basin organization of Southern Sudan and North Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi, Egypt and DR Congo with the circulation of over 50.000 copies.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-47363593959527597102010-01-24T01:11:00.000-08:002010-01-24T01:11:47.264-08:00FROM STREET TO SAVING LIVESBy Mugume D. Rwakaringi<br />
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A Former street child himself, Innocent Byaruhanga started Save Street Children Uganda (SASCU) NGO which has provided hope to many former street children. <br />
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His touching story starts from when he left home at tender age to find some thing to do on the streets of Kampala as a result of poverty. While on street, his image emerged in public consciousness – a grubby urchin in a tattered T-shirt, begging, stealing and sleeping on the street or sometimes in a shark. He was a resilient, hard working person and very cognizant about the life of his fellow street children. He had a dream to help the street children some day. <br />
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At his age of twelve (12) he was picked from street by a very loving lady (Mrs. Rita Nkemba ,Executive Director Dwelling Places) who became his foster parent and took him to school where he acquired skills that helped him to achieve his dream (restoring hope for the ex-street children, street children and other vulnerable children). <br />
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SASCU having been funded in 2005 with 9 children now assists 84 children who have been nurtured and transformed in many different ways which has made them very productive members of their own community. Among the 84 children, 68 children have been taken back to school, out of which 24 of them are in secondary school, 40 are in primary school and 4 are in vocational institute. These children have also been able to learn various life skills that have enabled them to raise funds to raise money for the organization. <br />
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Some of the activities they are involved in include art and crafts, they are taught to make paper beads, music, dance and drama that they also use to reach out to other street children. These activities are mainly for leisure and income generating. <br />
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<blockquote>“Doing this work is however not been easy”, says Innocent. “We operate on a big budget but with little finances available for us”, he elaborates. <br />
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<b></b></blockquote>.He is proud to contribute t the improvement of lives of children who had no hopes. Staying at Mawanda Road , these children have been provided by the house where they sleep. One of my visits to their residence I find girls easily playing soccer with their male counterpart. One of the girls I later learn is Aisha Magaya, 15 years has learnt football skills and easily controls a ball like a boy. “I like playing football having started playing with my friends when I was still in Mulago area”, a senior 3 student smilingly says. Her dream is to be a Lawyer so she can fight for other people’s rights. She is a single orphan having lost her father at an early age.<br />
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14 years old Edward Byamukama’s dream is to be aided to know how to read and write then he can learn vocation skills which will help him help his only parent, his mother.<br />
Mbabazi Shalon a senior two student from El Shadai says her dream is to become a doctor and help the sick. She says SASCU has given her hope through care and love.<br />
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<b>In many regions of the world, the phenomenon of street children is unabated while it is emerging in others where it was unknown so far. Behind every street child lie highly vulnerable families and communities, many struggling to come to terms with economic liberalization and growing inequalities. <br />
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In Uganda , the problem of street children began in the 1970s and continues to be a problem because of civil war, poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. UNICEF estimated the number of street children all over the world to be about (30) thirty million. According to the UNDP Human Development report 2000, there are over 100 million children living or working in the streets today .25 million of these children are believed to be totally homeless. And according to Caritas (2001), currently there are over 10,000 street children in Uganda and 85% of these are homeless. <br />
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Innocent Byaruhanga the founder of the organization left home at tender age to find some thing to do on the streets of Kampala as a result of poverty. While on street, his image emerged in public consciousness – a grubby urchin in a tattered T-shirt, begging, stealing and sleeping on the street or sometimes in a shark. He was a resilient, hard working person and very cognizant about the life of his fellow street children. He had a dream to help the street children some day. <br />
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At his age of twelve (12) he was picked from street by a very loving lady(Mrs. Rita Nkemba ,Executive Director Dwelling Places) who became his foster parent and took him to school where he acquired skills that helped him to achieve his dream (restoring hope for the ex-street children, street children and other vulnerable children). <br />
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In the year 2005 he started up save the street children Uganda (SASCU) with 9 children and currently the organization has a total of 84 children that it is taking care of. These children have been nurtured and transformed in many different ways which has made them very productive members of their own community. Among the 84 children, 68 children have been taken back to school, out of which 24 of them are in secondary school, 40 are in primary school and 4 are in vocational institute. These children have also been able to learn various life skills that have enabled them to raise funds to raise money for the organization. One of the children living under SASCU’s care since the NGO started, Waluga Ezekiel nicknamed Paidha (selfless person) says had it not been SASCU he would no t have managed to complete secondary school. “I have now completed O’Level having been found helpless after my Primary Seven”, Paida appreciates. His dream is to become an engineer. He also plays football in First division club Super Heroes based in Mulago zone.<br />
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Some of the activities they are involved in include art and crafts, they are taught to make paper beads, music, dance and drama that they also use to reach out to other street children. They also have two soccer teams under 17 and under 10years of age which is mainly for leisure and income generating. <br />
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Innocent says that the major challenge in Uganda is that many people who work as foster parents do not have enough skills hence may not know how to treat street children. Having been a street child like many of his staff is a tool he uses to do his work. He appeals for many NGOs local and International to come and aid NGOs that help street children.<br />
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The Writer is also a Law Lecturer at IMS-Southern University, Juba-Sudan.<br />
EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-34465930932520335032010-01-16T04:19:00.000-08:002010-01-16T04:19:57.056-08:00WE DON’T FEAR COMPETITION- KCB’s MAVINDU• KCB to open branches in 10 South Sudan States<br />
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The Managing Director for Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Mr. Daniel Mavindu has said that despite the entrance in market of other banking institutions in South Sudan, his bank will beat off the competition and continue being the leading bank. The KCB MD also revealed that despite the economical crisis that hit the World early this year, his bank has been able to make profits. He had an exclusive interview with Nile Fortune, below are the excerpts:<br />
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Nile Fortune: What was the motivating factor for KCB to come to South Sudan?<br />
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Mavindu: there are various reasons; over the years we were providing Humanitarian support for Southern Sudanese especially those in Kenya as refugees and also those who were in South Sudan. Again there has been good relationship between South Sudan and Kenya so we had an obligation to come and provide our services. We also had also a strong belief of the availability of virgin market in South Sudan.<br />
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Nile Fortune: How have you been able to cope-up with the global-economic crisis?<br />
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Mavindu: We also had our share of the consequences of global economic downfall since our clients were affected in the last nine months. We however managed to cope thanks to our favourable loan policy and mortgaging. <br />
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Nile Fortune: The Southern Sudan investment law obliges the investor to employ at least 80% local staff, how will you fulfill this requirement?<br />
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Mavindu: KCB Sudan employs 75% local staff. We are optimistic that we will have achieved 80% requirement before the end of next year. Pauses… in fact as an MD, I will be pleased when KCB Sudan has a Southern Sudanese as the Chief Executive Officer in the next few years, we will beat 80% minimum. KCB has capacity building as one of its objectives.<br />
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Nile Fortune: Which Social responsibilities do you provide to Southern Sudan?<br />
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Mavindu: One of our values is to give back to the community. We support education in line with achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We have renovated and built several Primary Schools in Juba and Lainya since 2007, the recent being a Four Classroom primary School at Buluk and Jaraba whom we gave learning materials for the school and other facilities. We also support other areas such as health and environment.<br />
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Nile Fortune: How far in the housing project and how is it expected to impact Southern Sudan?<br />
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Mavindu: Well, this program is still on, we have completed the submitted our proposal to the Ministry of Housing and it is waiting approval by the cabinet and allocate land, once approved which we expect by next year, we will kick start. The houses will be constructed and mortgaged to Locals who will also be allowed to benefit from long term soft loans. Also the government will acquire these houses and also give them to people.<br />
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Nile Fortune: There has been the arrival of other Banking institutions in Southern Sudan. How will KCB be able to compete?<br />
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Mavindu: As KCB, We don’t fear competition. We have been operating in the region for over 100 years and we have our internal strategies in form of market leadership. We are the best importer friendly bank in the region, our money transfer systems is the best. We are not afraid at all about the competition. We are professionals providing the best services thus our customers cannot leave us for else where. <br />
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Nile Fortune: How can KCB client with an Account in KCB Burundi benefit from KCB while for example in Juba?<br />
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Mavindu: As KCB group, we are working on at harmonizing our services where by our client can be able to access his account in any country in the region. This has already been started for example inform of ATM where you can withdraw from your account from any branches. By June next year (2010) we will be having a common banking system (T 24). Our transfer system is already working; you can withdraw from your account in any of our branches in the region.<br />
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Nile Fortune: How many customers is KCB South Sudan presently having?<br />
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Mavindu: KCB South Sudan so far has 15000 clients but we are looking at the 800, 000 which we are optimistic on attaining.<br />
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The KCB Managing Director also revealed that KCB is planning to have many branches opened in South Sudan. Early next year there will be four branches in Juba while KCB is to have at least one Branch is each of the other nine States in Southern Sudan notably in Yambio, Bor, Wau, Aweil, Ajok and also a boarder branch at Nimule (on Uganda boarder with South Sudan).<br />
Mr. Mavindu also called on the population to learn to start banking so as to benefit from loans, interest and other benefits provided by the bank.<br />
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Kenya Commercial Bank reported a marginal one per cent increase in pre-tax profit for the third-quarter….<br />
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Mr. Daniel Mavindu has a bachelor’s degree in Bachelors degree in Commerce specialising in accounting from Nairobi University. Has a 20 year experience in banking and other professional accounting certificates from institute of Public accounting, Kenya.<br />
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KCB (Sudan) Limited was incorporated in December 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kenya Commercial Bank and started operating May 2006.<br />
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BY MUGUME D. RWAKARINGINile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-34580399452217322902010-01-16T04:18:00.000-08:002010-01-16T04:18:10.321-08:00MISS MALAIKA AJONG AJANG TO PREACH LOVELIFE STYLE<br />
by Mugume D. Rwakaringi<br />
Age: 21 years<br />
Hobbies: Design and Fashion, Basket ball and Listening to Music especially R n B<br />
Best advice: To love every one<br />
Role Model: Mother<br />
Maital Status: Single<br />
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The newly crowned Miss Malaika Ajong has said that she will dedicate all her reign to preaching Love among Southern Sudanese.<br />
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The ever-smiling Miss Ajong while speaking to Nile Fortune in an exclusive interview said that she is going to embark on a 10 States tour all over South Sudan while preaching Sudanese to love each other. “Loving everyone is the best advice I have ever received in my life”, Ajong said. “I want Southerners to love each other.”<br />
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Ajong 1.78 Ft, won the contest from the 13 other finalists who were selected from the 25 contestants from all 10 Southern Sudan States. According to one of the Judges Mr. Daniel Deng; self composition, presentation, motivational speech and Traditional culture dance were the major points where Ajong won the 9 persons panel of Judges.<br />
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This she explained is crucial for bringing Unity and reduce the tribal tension that has characterized South Sudan.<br />
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Ajong says she is going to visit all the 10 States while studying first hand problems people are facing. <blockquote>“You cannot get to know well the problems someone is having unless you come closer to him/her”, </blockquote>Sudanese new queen explained.<br />
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A translation Student from Juba University, Khartoum, Ajong will have to forego studies this year if she is to achieve her objectives.<br />
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“I don’t think I can now manage to sit for my exams as well as fulfill my obligations as Miss Malaika”, Ajong who hails from Jonglei State explained.<br />
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Asked about her relationship Ajong smiles and jokingly says she is now engaged to her Country South Sudan. “I have to fulfill my responsibilities because I am a role model for many Sudanese girls”, She explains. Am now engaged to Miss Malaikaship, she politely answers.<br />
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The outgoing Miss Malaika Ms Nok Nora Duany expressed confidence in her replacement saying Ajong will very well fit in her shoes. “She is a student and willing to learn, she will surely deliver”, said Nok before adding; I will keep working with her.<br />
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<b>Ajong says the best advice is from her father who advised her to love everyone. Her role model is her mother because of her responsibilities.<br />
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She says she will work to perfect her work such that parents can always support Miss Malaika. One of her key areas of focus will be to strive for girl’s education. Ajong says she is against bleaching because it deprives of African black beauty.<br />
Miss Malaika is the name given to Miss South Sudan. Malaika means an angel.<br />
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M.D.R/NILE FORTUNE MAGAZINENile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-82439742314103384252009-12-26T03:23:00.000-08:002009-12-26T03:23:01.167-08:00WHAT'S ON?COMPILED BY RUGAYA RICHIE<br />
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<b>BA OFFERS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS FARES</b><br />
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British Airways has now launched its Christmas sales with a fare to London – no details are available for other European destinations – of US$ 349 return. However, the often criticized taxes and other charges drive the actual price of the ticket to approximately US$ 875, more than double than what the net cost of the ticket is. Outbound travel can take place on December 23, 25, and 26 while the return journey has to be completed by January 31, 2010. It could not be established if the recent introduction of yet another tax on air travel by the UK’s labor government is responsible for the extraordinarily high element of taxes and other charges on the ticket, which if true, may make the use of other carriers preferable, as they are not subject to the new fees at its home airports across Europe.<br />
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<b>AIR UGANDA MOMBASA FLIGHTS UPDATE</b><br />
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U7 flights from Entebbe to Mombasa started on December 1 are going to be nonstop and will operate with CRJ aircraft every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday afternoon. This will allow passengers from Uganda to avoid changing flights at the crowded Nairobi airport and fly straight in and out of the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, where customs and immigration procedures are taking place for travelers to and from the Kenyan coast. The special start-up promotion will offer a ticket at US$299 per person return, plus regulatory taxes and related charges of US$130, making it a total of US$429 overall. A companion fare is available for the time being, where a spouse booked at the same time and on the same flights only pays the regulatory taxes and related charges of US$130 for the return trip, i.e., a couple traveling together will then only pay US$279.50 per person, which constitutes quit an extraordinary value and makes holidays to the coast rather more attractive than they have been. It is understood that Air Uganda will work together with Serena Hotels to offer package deals for the Mombasa Serena Resort and Spa, but other probably even more eye-catching offers from a large number of resorts and hotels along the Kenyan coast will undoubtedly now open new options and generate fresh interest in visiting the white sandy beaches along the Indian Ocean shores. <br />
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<b>NALUBALE TO OFFER WEEK-LONG RAFTING TRIPS</b><br />
March 2010 will see the launch of a new rafting product by Nalubale Rafting, offering for the first time an 8-day trip down the Victoria Nile. The 300-kilometer run down the river and across Lake Kyoga will open new opportunities for rafting aficionados. Grade 5 (and lesser) rapids, papyrus swamps, and stretches of meandering river will make the week-long trip interesting, as will the changing landscapes and different camp sites every night. The very first trip will go at US$1,200 per person, considering it is still sort of a trial run, while subsequent tours will sell at about US$2,200 per person. The price includes all meals and drinks, overnight in the “fly camps” or on the rafts, and the required gear like life vests and helmets. It is recommended that every client makes arrangements for travel insurance directly with a company of his/her own choice. Every tour member will be expected to participate in the various chores, which includes rowing, cooking meals, setting up overnight camps, and washing dishes. The trip will commence just below the Owen Falls dam in Jinja and end above the Karuma Falls, from where the participants will return by vehicle to Jinja. The expedition will be led by Reuben Connolly of New Zealand, who has over 9 years of international and local experience as a river guide and who has already done exploratory work on the new route. Write to thomas@nalubalerafting.com for bookings, itinerary details, and related information.<br />
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<b>HORSERIDING SAFARIS NOW POSSIBLE INSIDE LAKE MBURO PARK</b><br />
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The Mihingo Safari Lodge, located just outside the Lake Mburo National Park on private land, has confirmed that they have signed a concession agreement with Uganda Wildlife Authority to extend its horseback safaris into the national park proper with immediate effect. Up until now, the guides took tourists to areas around the lodge, but still outside the park boundaries, which were frequented by game, giving a real safari experience from an unusual angle. This way of seeing game is now being extended into the park, and Mihingo even organizes overnight trips with all meals taken at scenic picnic spots while the clients, guides, and horses for that matter, stay at a specially-prepared camp site overnight. It is gradually becoming more common now that walking safaris and even horse riding inside the protected areas of eastern Africa are being permitted by the wildlife management bodies, a trend which had taken root in southern Africa a very long time ago but took until now to break down the resistance of traditionalists among the managerial cadres, who could only think inside the box, i.e., permitting daylight game drives and shutting out walks or night game drives. It is, therefore, important to not only acknowledge the initiative of Mihingo Lodge to introduce horseback safaris to make visits to Lake Mburo National Park more exciting, but also commend UWA for its acceptance of new products demanded by the market. Mihingo presently has 7 trained horses and 4 Ethiopian ponies available for riding safaris, and while the one-, two-, and three-hour excursions will still stay outside the park boundaries, due to the time involved to reach areas rich with game inside the park, the half-day, full-day and over-night trips can now, as clients wish, go into the national park. Visit www.mihingolodge.com for more details or bookings.<br />
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<b>BRUSSELS AIRLINES PREPARES FOR STAR ALLIANCE CELEBRATIONS</b><br />
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The Kampala office of Brussels Airlines is in high gear to prepare for the formal joining of the airline of Star Alliance, the global industry leader of airline alliances. Initially started by Lufthansa and United Airlines, the group grew swiftly, and when Brussels Airlines joins on December 9, the value of membership by frequent travelers under the Miles and More program will yield rich benefits for the various categories of membership. Options of even wider network connections, use of more airport lounges for the airline’s Business Class travelers or those with enough miles to their credit, priority check in, choice of seats, preference for stand-by bookings on full flights, and a lot more will ensure customer loyalty more than ever, leave alone the enhanced options to earn and burn miles under the frequent offers sent to card holders by email. Brussels Airlines in Kampala apparently plans a major PR, sales, and marketing offensive around the time of the formal entry of SN into Star to brief travel agencies, corporate accounts, the diplomatic corps, the business community, and last but not the least the all important travelers on what’s new when flying with SN to Brussels and beyond. Meanwhile, the airline also reiterated its code share arrangements with RwandAir on the route to Kigali and with Air Uganda, which permits passengers from Juba to join SN flights, while passengers from Entebbe can travel with Brussels Airlines via U7’s Nairobi evening flights on those days when SN does not serve Entebbe directly. The airline presently flies 4 times a week between Brussels and Entebbe, but under the code share arrangement with Germany’s Lufthansa on this route, there is expectation and hope that SN will add more flights in the coming seasons. <br />
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<b>SHERATON KAMPALA RELEASES FESTIVE SEASON PROGRAM</b><br />
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As the big hotels in Kampala have already done, the Sheraton recently released its festive season program, including an offer for an over-night stay on the December 31 for US$125 per single room or another US$25 for a second person, inclusive of a full American breakfast, the use of the spa and sports facilities, and the all-important, late checkout - as late as 1500 hours. Should anyone wish to consider spending either Christmas or New Year’s in Kampala, this is undoubtedly one of the places to be. Write to reservations.kampala@starwoodhotels.com for bookings. Other popular hospitality hotspots in the city and its environs for the festive season are the Kampala Serena Hotel, the Speke and Commonwealth Resorts in Munyonyo, and the place with the best view over the lake and city, Cassia Lodge on Buziga Hill, which just celebrated its second birthday. <br />
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<b>BRUSSELS AIRLINES SEEKS 5TH A330 TO ADD TO FLEET</b><br />
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Brussels Airlines has been in the process of procuring a 5th A330-200 aircraft to add to its fleet ahead of a planned network and frequency expansion to the African continent, as the world is coming out of the long global recession, which has impacted on the performance of many airlines. In eastern Africa, SN serves Entebbe, Bujumbura, Kigali, and Nairobi but has no 5th freedom rights for its triangular flights, which always include a waypoint, while in west Africa the respective governments were happy to extend this privilege to the carrier to enhance connectivity between major cities.<br />
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SN’s partnership with Lufthansa and its code-shared operations to both west and east Africa has also enhanced its traffic base and may be a major factor to add another long haul aircraft to its fleet<br />
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<b>WORK TO START AT JKIA IN EARLY 2010</b><br />
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Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which was opened in 1978 to relieve the old Embakasi Airport – now the home base of Kenya Airways – has since long exceeded the limits of passenger and aircraft movements it was initially designed for. The airport is now handling nearly 5 million passengers per annum, twice the number it was meant to process, and regular users will affirm that during rush hour, now lasting most of the day for that matter, passengers have to push their way through the ever-growing crowds and lounges are often filled to capacity, the public areas filled to the brim – made all the worse whenever flights are delayed. The controversial expansion of the airport terminal however – with many allegations made in the early stages of the planning and tendering process – now at last seems to be set to go underway in December, after a Chinese construction company was selected to carry out the work, which is expected to last approximately 2 years. When complete, the expanded airport will be able to handle about 10 million passengers per year, twice what it is now doing, while there will also be added aircraft parking areas catering for growing traffic. There has, however, been no word about a second runway, as JKIA presently depends on a single runway, while future growth of air traffic may soon require a second one to be used concurrently or even as an alternate, should the present one be unserviceable. It is not clear at this time if Kenya Airways will go ahead with plans to build its own terminal, which would most likely also handle its Sky Team alliance partners KLM and Air France and which could provide facilities for both international and domestic operations from under one roof, avoiding the lengthy trek from international to connecting domestic flights, and vice versa, as is presently the case, instead of leaving that to the other airlines to cope with. It was mainly KQ’s success, which in recent years added to the ever-growing numbers and the all-important transit passengers from the wider region and western Africa, which is of special concern to Kenya Airways, as poor transit facilities and crowded public areas can be perceived badly by connecting passengers and may prompt them to opt for other airlines flying to and from their originating airports across west Africa. <br />
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<b>EAST AFRICAN COMMON MARKET PROTOCOL SIGNED</b><br />
Heads of state of the five East African Community member states signed the long-awaited protocol for a common market into effect, providing the legal basis for the free movement of labor, goods, and services between Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Effective January 2010 the internal customs tariffs will reduce to zero, and from July 2010 onwards, the provisions of the newly-signed protocol will become effective, ringing in major changes for the eastern African people. Beginning in mid 2010, four of the member states will permit the use of ID cards for citizens when crossing borders, except Tanzania, which has asked for more time to get ready. The East African Community, now 10 years old, is expected to develop into a major regional trading block with a common currency and also hopes to develop a stronger voice on the international diplomatic scene, while the emerging domestic market of over 120 million people across eastern Africa is already showing results in largely increased trading volumes between the five countries, keeping prosperity in the region at the expense of lesser growth of imports from further abroad. During the summit in Arusha, President Kikwete of Tanzania also assumed the annually rotating chairmanship of the EAC, taking over from President Kagame of Rwanda.<br />
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<b>LAKE MANYARA PARK TO DOUBLE IN SIZE</b><br />
The present expanse of the Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania is set to grow from about 330 square kilometers to nearly 650, encompassing the entire lake. Presently, only a section of the lake is under the management of TANAPA, while the other half remains outside the park. Some farms and, in particular, mines must now first make way for the park expansion, a task made difficult by the issue of compensation for miners and mine owners, some of whom reportedly still have operating licenses valid until 2014, and consultations are presently ongoing to attempt to find a solution without any side having to resort to force. Lake Manyara is famous as one of the few locations where tree climbing lions can be found; the other places in east Africa being the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park, as observed and documented in the past by this correspondent. Many visitors coming to the northern circuit stop over at Lake Manyara, before proceeding to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, where accommodation is available on top of the escarpment with sweeping views across the lake and this part of the Great African rift. No dates have been given at this stage as to when the new boundaries will be enforced and the mines and farms will be closed down, although it has already been confirmed that one village in particular will remain where it is at present. <br />
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<b>MWANZA TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS MEET</b><br />
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“We need to put ourselves on the map,” was the underlying tenor of discussions at the tourism stakeholder forum, held some days ago in Mwanza, the lakeside municipality on the shores of Lake Victoria. The recent addition of scheduled flights by Precision Air, linking Mwanza directly with Nairobi – and for several years now with Entebbe, too – has brought renewed hope and enthusiasm to Mwanza’s tourism stakeholders, now hoping to promote the municipality and nearby attractions with greater ease and tap into the tourist dollars. The two-day meeting and workshop was made possible through the cooperation of the Mwanza Municipal Council, Dutch development agency SNV, and supportive tourism companies, among others. The Serengeti National Park can be reached with ease from Mwanza by air, making it attractive for tourists to fly in from Nairobi and Entebbe and board their connecting charter flight to one of the lodges and safari camps, but Lake Victoria also holds tourism attractions, which have yet to be tapped into. Diversification and the addition of new products and attractions will hold the key in future years for sustainable tourism developments in new areas of Tanzania to stay attractive for repeat business.<br />
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<b>KILIMANJARO MARATHON SET FOR MARCH 2010</b><br />
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The annual Kilimanjaro marathon will, according to sources in Arusha, be held in March next year. No dates could be ascertained yet, but this column will publish the details just as soon as they are available. This sporting event joins a host of other major long-distance races in the region, like the recently-concluded annual MTN Kampala Marathon, which attracted 17,000 participants from Uganda, the wider region, and from further abroad.<br />
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<b>NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENT FOR KIGALI</b><br />
A new 5-star property, estimated to cost about US$60 million, is apparently in the offing for Kigali, following the ground breaking recently . The hotel, to be comprised of 240+ suites and rooms, is expected to be managed by Marriot Hotels, adding another illustrious hospitality name to the region and joining such other global hotel groups like Kempinski, Intercontinental, and Hilton. The entry by Marriot is also thought to be an opener for them as it may well eye not only more management contracts for existing properties when they come up for grabs at the end of its contractual periods, but may also muscle into the market by vying actively for the development of new hotels, resorts, and safari properties. Dubai World had previously signed a contract to do exactly this in Kigali, plus establish an adjoining golf course, but the deeply financially-troubled, state-owned corporation of Dubai is not expected to become a major player in the regional hospitality market anytime soon, while they undertake financial restructuring and have to learn like everyone else to live within a limited resource envelope. <br />
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<b>RWANDA NOW ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER</b><br />
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The Rwanda Development Board/Tourism and Conservation, has announced that the country is now represented on Twitter and on Facebook under the following links: http://twitter.com/TravelRwanda and www.facebook.com/TravelRwanda . <br />
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<b>RWANDAIR OBTAINS US$40 MILLION LOAN FACILITY</b><br />
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With the arrival of the airline’s own CRJ200 aircraft now imminent - some sources speak of a matter of days before the first of the two aircraft purchased from Germany’s Lufthansa will arrive in Kigali - the airline has formalized its capital requirements and obtained a long-term loan facility with the PTA Bank. The funding will pay for the two CRJ aircraft, which comes with complete spare and maintenance packages and may also be used to purchase additional aircraft or at least pay the required deposits. It was also confirmed that RwandAir intends to also acquire a 130 to 160-seater aircraft by the middle of next year, which will then be deployed on the route to Johannesburg and to other destinations where the 50-seater CRJs are considered too small to cater to demand. The Bombardier built CRJs will join a Dash 8 turboprop, all of which will be deployed on the present domestic and regional routes to Kilimanjaro, Entebbe, and Nairobi while also permitting network growth and added frequencies during high-season travel months. <br />
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<b>KIGALI SERENA COMPLETES EXTENSION</b><br />
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Sources in Kigali confirmed that the Kigali Serena Hotel has now opened their new wing comprising some 44 extra rooms, a bonus for the city, which has in the part often struggled to accommodate visitors in quality accommodation during large conferences and regional/continental meetings. It was also confirmed that the new spa and a remodeled leisure area, including a newly-designed pool, are now also open for guests, while the restaurant extension is also complete. It is understood that the old rooms of the hotel will be refurbished in due course to bring them in line with the comforts and standards of the new wing. Until some years ago, the hotel was managed by a South African hospitality group under the Intercontinental brand, but after the Rwandan government terminated the contract, the hotel came under the Serena brand together with the Lake Kivu Hotel, which has also seen upgrades in the recent past.<br />
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<b>KIGALI INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION ADDS TOURISM MASTERS DEGREE COURSE</b><br />
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The KIE has announced that they will add 5 masters degree courses to its present degree program, most notably one related to the tourism sector. Starting in January 2010, the institute, in conjunction with the Indira Gandhi National Open University, will offer an MA degree in Tourism Management, aimed to further support the growing sector in Rwanda and create added skilled manpower at a higher level, capable of effectively managing the tourism industry in coming years. Supported by the Indian government, the Indira Gandhi National Open University is partnering with African universities to promote tertiary education and cooperation and presently supervises some 1.5 million students in affiliated programs abroad. <br />
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ENDSNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-86019534462681622562009-12-26T03:09:00.000-08:002009-12-26T03:09:09.148-08:00$2.6 Million Provided to Improve Regional HealthNile Fortune<br />
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USAID/East Africa has provided two African partner organizations, the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA-HC), based in Arusha, and the Regional Center for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC) in Kampala, with two, one-year grants totaling approximately $2.6 million. This support will strengthen African health and HIV/AIDS leadership, systems, service provision and outreach, and will improve the quality of health care and life for Africans living in East and Central Africa.<br />
ECSA-HC will use approximately $200,000 in part to: a) develop policy for the management of post partum hemorrhage; b) support countries to develop and implement roadmaps to reduce maternal mortality and improve neonatal survival; c) analyze issues that create barriers to maternal and child health service access and examine how to make health care more affordable; and d) help promote improved food fortification and micronutrient interventions.<br />
RCQHC will spend approximately $2.4 million to: a) build regional skills in pediatric HIV care; b) contain the regional threat of Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB); c) improve delivery of community based postnatal care; safe deliveries and child health; and d) increase access to Family Planning services to vulnerable and marginalized populations.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-57341725673115981262009-12-26T03:06:00.000-08:002009-12-26T03:06:47.155-08:00Building Long Lasting Insecticidal Net Production Capacity in TanzaniaNile Fortune<br />
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First Manufacturer in Africa to Produce One Million Nets per Year<br />
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With technical support from USAID/EA, Sunflag Ltd IN Tanzania, has become the first manufacturer in Africa to install the capacity to produce polyester long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs). In response to the urging of the Government of Tanzania and the Roll Back Malaria movement to increase the production of LLINs in Tanzania, Sunflag made the decision to convert its polyester net production into LLINs. In June 2007, Sunflag imported 4 industrial washers, dryers, and chemical feed systems from India at its own expense and installed them in its mosquito net factory in Arusha. Supported by USAID/EA, NetMark textile engineers from Anovotek LLC then went to Arusha in July to help Sunflag staff integrate the washers and chemical feed systems, optimize the process of treating nets with the LLIN formulation, and train Sunflag staff in all aspects of operations, maintenance, and environmental safety.<br />
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While Tanzania remains the only African country manufacturing LLINs, companies in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria are in various stages of adopting the NetMark LLIN process. MossNet Kenya is awaiting final approval from the International Finance Corporation for a loan to purchase machines to produce one million nets/year to start. NetMark helped the Ethiopian government conduct a feasibility study on LLIN production with the participation of two companies—with one of them ready to install an LLIN capacity. USAID/EA funds will be used for the technical assistance required to help Ethiopia and Kenya develop an LLIN production capacity and to finalize the setup at Sunflag/Tanzania. <br />
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EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-9584171483809044202009-12-26T03:04:00.000-08:002009-12-26T03:04:03.039-08:00Constructors demand industry regulationBy Ndigabasa Francis<br />
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Construction companies have called on government to intervene and regulate the building industry.<br />
The managing director of Pearl Engineering Company, Eng. Birantana Gumisiriza said regulation would make the industry free from quack construction companies. <br />
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He was reavealed this to Nile Fortune in his office ahead of celebrations to mark fifteen years of the existence of Pearl Engineering Construction Company .<br />
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He said government should institute stringent penalties to curb the activities of such companies. <br />
He decried the escalating prices and the infiltration of substandard building products in the market.<br />
For the last five years, there has been an increase in the number of collapsing buildings particularly in Kampala. <br />
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President Museveni recently said construction companies that do not heed to the guidelines governing the industry should be punished. The sector in Uganda is still growing. Most vibrant companies involved in the construction of major projects in the country are foreign. <br />
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He said government should take lead in the fight against the supply of substandard construction products in the market. A recent survey done by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards revealed the industry has not been spared in counterfeited products. <br />
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Industry players say the problem of counterfeited building products emanates from the massive exportation of construction material to neighboring countries. <br />
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Uganda exports a lot of building materials like cement, iron bars ,roofing material and Southern Sudan has remained Uganda’s primary recipient .<br />
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The Uganda Dental Association is urging the government to review its policies to ensure delivery of better dental services in the country. <br />
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The association has developed guidelines, which highlights where the gaps are in the delivery of dental services countrywide. <br />
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The General Secretary of Uganda Dental Association, Dr Davis Nturume says there is need for the government to prioritize the dental sector, whose services have remained undermined by lack of equipment, especially in public hospitals.<br />
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Dr. Nturume says the country has over 200 qualified dental surgeons whose efforts have been largely frustrated by poor facilitation in the hospitals.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-91623347699673316762009-12-26T02:59:00.000-08:002009-12-26T02:59:18.614-08:00GOAL builds 1,000 houses for poor in UgandaNile Fortune<br />
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GOAL has just completed the construction of their 1,000th home for vulnerable families in Southern Uganda.<br />
Since it was established three years ago, GOAL's housing support programme has rehabilitated or provided new homes for thousands of orphans and families who have been affected by HIV or AIDS in the east African country.<br />
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Prior to taking ownership of their new brick-built homes, families had been living in makeshift shacks, grass houses and leaking mud huts. Without access to latrines or clean water, poor health and disease was rife. <br />
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Re-housed families are now residing in multi-room homes, which provide shelter, warmth and water and sanitation facilities. New home owners are also equipped with household goods, including stoves, mattresses and blankets, while mosquito nets are also supplied to help prevent family members from contracting malaria.<br />
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The new houses cost just €4,500 to construct and GOAL CEO John O'Shea is encouraging Irish businesses, groups and people to fundraise or club together to buy a house for a needy family.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-3055566060092306892009-12-24T07:57:00.000-08:002009-12-24T08:07:39.535-08:00TIPS FOR JOB INTERVIEW PART II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JxOBH95W_5CvNPGmwOZ9fZrdM4_62_SrJrSrPX-oRckzyA5AaqpsXsOqk2t5HOUDnBveiiEkIoUWv-TlW8jPETr-mSurcS8U-Eif-FRVnjB0JZI40FzGt54gNmBH98R4f3Iw6RWl0JQ/s1600-h/Fareed+Musa+Fataki.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JxOBH95W_5CvNPGmwOZ9fZrdM4_62_SrJrSrPX-oRckzyA5AaqpsXsOqk2t5HOUDnBveiiEkIoUWv-TlW8jPETr-mSurcS8U-Eif-FRVnjB0JZI40FzGt54gNmBH98R4f3Iw6RWl0JQ/s400/Fareed+Musa+Fataki.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418834412293261554" /></a><br /><br /><br />By Fareed Musa Fataki<br /><br /><br />Liking means more than talent. The days of standing in line and putting decals on widgets are over. People don't hire you because you're capable. They hire you because they want to work with you. If you don't get along, and get along well, the interview will probably be fruitless. Unless, of course, you applied for the "Assistant Placer of Decals on Widgets" position...<br />Actions speak louder than words. Your actions in the past -- relayed in story form -- will tell the employer much more than any generic response. Your stories will give the interviewer the tangible examples he or she seeks, and they will convey a very strong sense of your individuality, making you stand out more.<br />The most important first step to getting a job interview is getting past the recruiter.<br /><blockquote>Recruiters are usually your first contact with a potential employer. And they often decide whether your resume/ CV lands on the hiring manager's desk or in a far-off filing cabinet.</blockquote>While it's important to know the basics of what recruiters do, you also need to know what they DON'T do. After all, you don't want an inappropriate request to ruin your chances for an interview.<br />Here are four things you shouldn't ask of a recruiter.<br />Don't Be Overly Friendly<br />Sure, recruiters are usually warm, friendly and helpful. After all, it's their job to put you at ease and guide you through the hiring process. But they're professional colleagues, and it's crucial that you never forget it.<br />Think of the recruiter as a respected coworker and treat them accordingly. Be friendly, but not overly casual or familiar. It's wise to keep personal conversations, jokes and physical contact to a minimum.<br />After a tough interview with a hiring manager, you may be relived to see a recruiter's smiling face. Don't be tempted to let your guard down though; you're still "on," even if the interview has ended.<br />A useful rule of thumb: Don't say or do anything in front of a recruiter that you wouldn't say or do in front of your boss (or your mother).<br />Don't Expect Career Coaching<br />Bring an insane amount of (intelligent) questions. Nothing feels worse that not being prepared. If you don't bring loads of questions, you're not prepared. At some point, the interviewer will ask you what you want to know. For the record, you want to know everything. Be curious. Be interested. Be engrossed. Ask your question, and then get ready to listen. Don't think of what you're going to say next. Just soak up every word like a giant sponge. The more questions you ask, the more you'll get out of the experience. And as a bonus, they'll know you care deeply about their business. When you care about what they care about, you both start to align, and that's when the magic happens. The recruiter's goal is not to help you get a job. It's to help you navigate the hiring process at one specific company.<br />Recruiters aren't career coaches. It's not appropriate to ask them to help you craft your cover letter, edit your resume or plan your career path.<br />You can ask questions about the company or industry in general, but try to relate your questions to the job you're being considered for. And save your best, most thoughtful questions for the hiring manager -- that's who you need to impress most.<br />Don't Ask for Insider Information<br /><blockquote><strong>There's only one job candidate you really need to worry about: You. Be persistent. It's incredibly easy to get lazy, give up and feel sorry for yourself.</strong></blockquote> People will turn you down, never call you back, and forget your name over and over again. None of that matters. What matters is perseverance. If you can't handle losing a few battles along the way, you're in for a tough road ahead. Getting a job is like winning a war. It takes patience, planning, time, effort, dedication and a little bit of luck. The chips will fall your way sooner or later. If you stay persistent, you'll at least give yourself a chance to catch them.<br />Though it may be hard to resist, don't ask about who you're up against for a job. Recruiters generally won't share information about other candidates. And asking for specific details about the competition makes you look insecure in your own skills.<br />However, questions about the hiring process or the position itself are fair game. Here are a few questions you can feel comfortable asking:<br />• Are you still interviewing candidates? <br />• How large is the current pool of candidates? <br />• How would you describe the ideal candidate for the job? <br />• Is there anything I can do to make myself a stronger candidate?<br />The best way to get an edge on the competition? Make yourself a more competitive candidate.<br /><br /><br />Don't Request Special Treatment<br />Although you may wish you were, you're probably not the only candidate for the job.<br />And, while recruiters are often happy to help, their aim is not to be your advocate to the hiring manager. Their aim is to fill a position.<br />Never ask a recruiter to put in a good word for you with the hiring manager. If they think you're a strong candidate, they'll probably sing your praises anyway.<br />Also, don't ask them to relay a message to the hiring manager for you. Instead of saying, "Tell So-and-So it was very nice to meet him ...," send a thank you note.<br />Taking the initiative and speaking for yourself shows the hiring manager that you're capable, confident and conscientious.<br />Remember, if you treat the recruiter well, chances are they'll treat you the same way.<br />Focus on their needs, not yours. It's tempting to sell ourselves, to talk about how great we are, and to show off our past experiences. But guess what. No one cares. What they really care about is how your "amazing ness" will translate into success for their company. Don't focus on your talents; focus on what your talents will do for them.<br /><br />Blogging will give you a HUGE leg up. Blogging forces you to analyze, collaborate and create solutions. It also gives you plenty of ideas for improving customer experiences, businesses and relationships. These skills (among countless others) will give you confidence, poise, energy and know-how when it comes time to explain yourself. Your insights will be sharper, your thinking will be deeper, and your ability to express your opinions clearly and concisely will be much stronger. <br />These few tips are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more we can learn from each other about the interview process as a whole, so please feel free to share.<br /><br />I will be more than happy to receive your comments, suggestions, and subtractions before my next article. My sincere appreciation for those who shared a line with me when compiling this Article; all I can say is keep it up, we have a duty to show our young generation the right way and approach to getting the desired job. Thank you for your comments in the last artcle.<br /><br />The writer is the Deputy Director for Establishment/ Human Resource, with the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation; he is also a Consultant in Peace and conflict resolution as well as a Researcher. You may contact him through email: kotokafareed@yahoo.com or call him hi on +249(0)955001557/+249(0) 126689429.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-49806883748069838622009-12-24T07:53:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:56:49.756-08:0010 BEST WAYS ON HOW TO MAKE SAVINGS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcywof7iEZQ_woPpg675X6okINeAm8438lw3vKP7iSEOC6WVfc4As16oK1S48GGIlthd44oGCe753lnoLgLBWD_pls0jeihLyBWvQry1r7bHnTchjqL5aGWpVIH_QZYLt5QJi9HG22no/s1600-h/Dola.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcywof7iEZQ_woPpg675X6okINeAm8438lw3vKP7iSEOC6WVfc4As16oK1S48GGIlthd44oGCe753lnoLgLBWD_pls0jeihLyBWvQry1r7bHnTchjqL5aGWpVIH_QZYLt5QJi9HG22no/s400/Dola.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418832117208379490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZJfP3Bpj-BEzm5ZRXSvDsG32Zm80Z5ULNaHXldLQofMu9Hu18FRIYdtZ9i2dU6lSl5W-t1H8_58gG8_ZgjJjlmj2u7z-NLGkrWalIJfYOe0ch9Y-uwVz-DpA1S282SXZZKxHEZZjqAE/s1600-h/Buy+in+bulk+save.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZJfP3Bpj-BEzm5ZRXSvDsG32Zm80Z5ULNaHXldLQofMu9Hu18FRIYdtZ9i2dU6lSl5W-t1H8_58gG8_ZgjJjlmj2u7z-NLGkrWalIJfYOe0ch9Y-uwVz-DpA1S282SXZZKxHEZZjqAE/s400/Buy+in+bulk+save.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418832114207960562" /></a><br /><br />PERSONNAL FINANCE <br /> <br />By Our Financial Expert<br /> <br />The World economic Crisis hit almost everyone both the poor and the rich; small income earners, middle income earners and high income earners of all currencies. Like any economic hardship, it hit hard those with little or no knowledge on saving habits. Nile Fortune however gives you tips on how you can be able to save money.<br /><br />It should be noted that saving money and being more frugal is neither a science nor an art; rather it is somewhere in between and requires your commitment and hard work. Saving money takes time to develop, needs to be learnt, and brings benefits that will endure for the rest of your life. <br /><br />Begin saving money today. Do not put it off. Saving money is within your control and can bring you huge benefits. You will reap the rewards of saving money for years to come. Below are the <br /><br />1. Spend Less:<br /><br />This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? Can you do without those coffees you buy at break time everyday - would a flask of coffee taken to work save you money? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for ways to spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money. <br /><br /><br />2. Establish a personal budget: <br />This is essential for families and individuals. You will not be able to save money unless you know how much money you have coming in, and how much money you have going out. Once you have prepared a budget of incoming money and outgoing money, you will be able to identify areas where you can save. It is MUCH more difficult to save money over a long period of time (the rest of your life?) without a budget. <br /><br />3. Make a list and stick to it – planning is important: <br />You can make the list based on what you need plus what is on sale by looking at the circulars for where you are going.<br /><br />4. Buy in bulk/buy ahead, but not more than you’ll use:<br />Bulk is good. Think about shopping and buying in bulk. You can also save money by cooking in bulk. This is a real way you can save money with little preparation and almost no extra outlay. Always purchase generics when you can. Prepared foods and convenience foods will always be much more expensive than the generic ingredients needed to make the food. Preparing food in bulk and in advance also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and be more accurate in your budget. Save Money by buying in bulk whenever you can. If you buy in bulk, make sure that this should not be on items that can easily expire as it can be wasteful. Buying in bulk is not only a good way to save money it is also a good strategy for coping with and surviving emergencies. <br /><br />5. Do Price research:<br />Make sure a sale is a sale. By this I mean do your price research before you commit to making an expensive purchase in a retailers money-off sale. You have to be sure the sale really is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of the store to encourage you to spend your money without thinking. Once you have researched the true price of a product (any product) you are in a good position to take advantage of a sale, special offer or discount and really save money. "Buy one get one free", "50% off", and "Huge Discount" will only help you save money if the actual price you pay is lower than you would pay somewhere else for exactly the same product. <br /><br />6. Buy used:<br />Buy used. Sure, we all like to buy new. But there are huge money savings to be made in buying used. Typically cars lose one-third of their value in the first 24 months from new. Why not buy a car 24 months old? Other items such as clothes can be worth even less just the day after new. Look for ways to buy "as good as new" items and save money. Typical products you might consider buying used to save money include: cars, clothes, electrical goods, garden items... tools and sheds, household items... pots and pans, the list of used goods where you can save money is endless. <br /><br /><br />7. Save Money:<br />No, I mean really save some money. Each week or each month get into the habit of putting an amount, however small into your savings. You could start by saving a very small fixed amount each time and then move to putting in larger amounts once you begin to save money from your other money saving strategies. You will find that by saving money on a regular basis you will quickly build up a store of reserve money and also feel motivated to save more. The hardest part is to take the first step and start saving money - so START TODAY and save some money NOW! If you find it impossible to save money once you have it, consider having money deducted from your paycheck direct each month. This can be a great way to save money rapidly as once it is set up you will not notice it is being collected and your savings will grow with no more effort from you. <br /><br />8. Shop Wisely:<br />Consider markets, superstores, farmer's markets, local shops, marts and stores. Anywhere is worth checking out to see if you can save money. Farmer's Markets can be particularly good places to save money. Typically you are buying direct from the producer of the product so the savings are passed on to you. Use your bulk buying strategy here - farmer's markets often offer opportunities to save money by buying larger quantities of staples, for instance potatoes, rice or corn. Save money and shop wisely. <br /><br />9. Eat in rather than out:<br />This is a huge area where you can save money. A cup of coffee taken out could easily cost you TWENTY times (or more) what it would cost you to make it at home. So think before you drink when you are out. Eating is the same. Fast food restaurants are counting on you eating food that you perhaps don't really need at that time but buy just because it is quick. Why not wait until you get home and have a more nutritious meal and save money at the same time. <br /><br />10. Use less:<br />This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money. Huge savings in energy can be made which will save you money and be good for our planet and the other people on it. <br /><br />There are other ways how you can be able to save large sums of money which include never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, not to be afraid to make substitutions and going alone- avoiding going places with friends, children as they may influence you to but what you would have otherwise avoided.<br /><br />Wherever you are, what ever you do, no matter how much money you are earning; if you do not discipline yourself and start making some savings-NOW, you will live to regret. It is important to make savings when you are now making money because you never know what may befall you, it could be the only last chance you are having for saving some money.<br /><br />Ends.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-14574671772267157472009-12-24T07:32:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:50:09.156-08:00Rwanda the Switzerland of Africa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcwvCmFpnpE7TMC_tylHrSdpzUmnDw1ar_OPMD6p2puWeTz3PbyEJvjoxvJME4bA1XUVtrYgmibEa3bI3L3DCjnn4YBMNasZURdJ0Nh1-vYyflnQFWoz9hXeYsMJ_69_TPUQJScxIFlg/s1600-h/RWANDA.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 105px; height: 69px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcwvCmFpnpE7TMC_tylHrSdpzUmnDw1ar_OPMD6p2puWeTz3PbyEJvjoxvJME4bA1XUVtrYgmibEa3bI3L3DCjnn4YBMNasZURdJ0Nh1-vYyflnQFWoz9hXeYsMJ_69_TPUQJScxIFlg/s400/RWANDA.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418829961637944738" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HMqefSgz2aT5qsYavg17dTLocfhIPp0HE1PDx3WugsNC9u_5S9pxFDq1jEs7bnfxJqFFS2538c1M0JC0DT9ZG3jut6idEvJ3iIAgDXt2rv5y70BPNpBXBSAGiM1hETJ-4rtZKTE2Prk/s1600-h/KIGALI+CITY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HMqefSgz2aT5qsYavg17dTLocfhIPp0HE1PDx3WugsNC9u_5S9pxFDq1jEs7bnfxJqFFS2538c1M0JC0DT9ZG3jut6idEvJ3iIAgDXt2rv5y70BPNpBXBSAGiM1hETJ-4rtZKTE2Prk/s400/KIGALI+CITY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418828700853655666" /></a><br /><br />By Mugume D. Rwakaringi<br /><br />Rwanda is always referred to as ‘the Land of a Thousand Hills’ or the “Switzerland of Africa”. This is because its beautiful hills the country harbors. Despite its proximity to the equator, the climate in Rwanda is cooled by the high altitude. It is warm throughout most of the country but cooler in the mountains. <br /><br />The Gorillas and Birds:<br /><blockquote>Interestingly the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic of Congo commonly have a share of the rare mountain gorilla whose main sanctuary is the Virunga</blockquote>. The Virunga Conservation Area, on the upper slopes of the Virunga volcanoes form three neighboring national parks namely, Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Parc des Virungas in DR Congo. Over 350 mountain gorillas (half of the world population) live in this region. <br /><br />Genocide Memorials:<br />Genocide Memorials also form one of the Tourism attractions. The Gisozi memorial site is located in Kigali City. There are two other memorials south of Kigali, both accessible as a day trip. The church at Nyamata, about 30 km from Kigali, was the scene of a horrific massacre and Ntarama church, about 5 km down a right-hand fork, which branches off the Nyamata road roughly 20 km outside Kigali. There are other genocide sites in the Country such as Kabgayi Church Museum and the National University of Rwanda Museum.<br /><br />Nyungwe Forest:<br />Among the major sources of attraction is Nyungwe Forest which protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in East or Central Africa. It is a remarkably rich center of biodiversity, harboring, among other things, 75 mammal species, 275 birds, 120 butterflies, and more than 100 varieties of orchid. The main attraction of Nyungwe Forest is its primates. Chimp tracking can be arranged at short notice and relatively minor expense. Several other monkeys are readily seen.<br /><br />Akagera National Park:<br />Akagera national park is named after the Akagera River which runs along its eastern boundary. It is relatively warm and low-lying, and its undulating plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland interspersed with lighter acacia woodland and patches of rolling grassland and other mammals such as buffalos and hippos. <br /><br />Best time to visit Rwanda:<br /><br />Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year. The long dry season, June to September, is the best time for tracking gorillas and hiking in Nyungwe, since the ground should be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched are minimal.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Rwanda recognizes her potential in tourism and steps up to consolidate her position in Tourism.</blockquote> Last Month, the Country launched the Standards Criteria for Classification of Accommodation, Restaurants and other tourist facilities in conformity with the newly approved East African Community (EAC) standards. <br /><br />The classification helps also tourism sector administrators to maintain an inventory for policy and planning purposes.<br /><br />The efficient organization Rwanda has in her Tourism industry has paid dearly with the Country winning major international Tourism and Travel awards.<br /><br />Rwanda recently was the only African country to be honored with one of the seven outstanding awards at the World Travel Market (WTM) Exhibition in London as Best Stand Personnel award beating other 600 selected exhibitors. This award was attributed to the excellent Customer service, professionalism and doing business atmosphere at the stand. <br /><br />"This is a tremendous achievement for the country coming six years after Rwanda was re-launched at the same expo”, confirms the enthusiastic Rosette Rugamba, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board- Tourism and Conservation. <br /><br />For the third time in a row Rwanda also emerged as The Best African Exhibitor at the world’s premier tourism trade fair, Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB-Berlin) 2009. <br /><br />Tourism revenues have consequently increased by 50% to an estimate of USD 209M compared to USD 138M, in 2007. International visitor arrivals in 2008 increased by 18% to 980,577 visitors from 826,374 visitors in 2007. <br /><br />Rwanda was named among the hot top 10 travel destinations for 2009 by Lonely Planet (one of the worlds most credible travel guides). <br /><br />It is thus not surprising that Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner for Rwanda. Rwanda recorded 120,809 international visitors during the first quarter of 2009.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-6146167892286968402009-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:002009-12-18T08:39:23.870-08:00EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN SOUTH SUDAN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg2ZhRktOsABWp9RKgJaPQsn2wHgKYLCba8zb6GtmMXU1vZKjFks_e9DSBT-kJY6YXlGVRCqAQ_4w6AZPANlK3ojl_L1jYLDzyvsjyC2H7DZxkAW3zp_WF7buy2IYAMKAlNecmbFr1gw/s1600-h/Diplomats+during+the+launch+of+European+Film+festival+at+Havanna+Hotel.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg2ZhRktOsABWp9RKgJaPQsn2wHgKYLCba8zb6GtmMXU1vZKjFks_e9DSBT-kJY6YXlGVRCqAQ_4w6AZPANlK3ojl_L1jYLDzyvsjyC2H7DZxkAW3zp_WF7buy2IYAMKAlNecmbFr1gw/s400/Diplomats+during+the+launch+of+European+Film+festival+at+Havanna+Hotel.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416616186022571938" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Some of the diplomats who attended the Launch<br /><br />Leisure/Diplomacy/South Sudan<br />Our reporter<br /><br />Various new Movies and documentaries were available at Nyakuron cultural center courtesy of European Film Festival from 7th-11 December 2009.<br /><br />Talking to Nile Fortune during the launch of the Festival, Ms Monika Neuman (Sweden) explained that the European festival was also brought to Juba so as to allow people of South Sudan to get to know about the European lifestyle.<br /><br />“These festivals have been taking in Sudan but only in Khartoum, now it’s a chance for people of Juba to share with us”, Neuman noted.<br /><br />Showing at Nyakuron, Viewers had a chance to have some of the award winning films and documentaries which include; Krabat (German), Seraphine (France), Non Pensarci (Italy), La Flaqueza (Spain), Let the right one in (Sweden), Love is all (Netherlands), Slumdog Millionaire (UK) and Fighter (Denmark).<br /><br />The Festival is a selection of most creative and entertaining films coming out of Europe recently. “It’s a chance to reconnect with European filmmaking and at its best” said H.E Carlo De Filippi, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of European Commission to Sudan and H.E Mr. Jan Sadek, Ambassador of Sweden, in a joint statement.<br /><br /><br />EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-20982093264963897312009-12-18T07:58:00.000-08:002009-12-18T08:16:36.797-08:00IMPACT OF STRONG CURENCY AGAINST DOLLAR<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFjWUa4IzwLkBQC55MeSdhF5TGNoriodU184J9_gs_uuMp6Ddd6qVynHJvgykkigf3Yn4iPKkYWxxEalUOQgaMy-x37De65_Vw2b0NWkOqSvBXyyWj5bQePn87N9N2c4Lt8j41bHBIqM/s1600-h/ug+shs+20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFjWUa4IzwLkBQC55MeSdhF5TGNoriodU184J9_gs_uuMp6Ddd6qVynHJvgykkigf3Yn4iPKkYWxxEalUOQgaMy-x37De65_Vw2b0NWkOqSvBXyyWj5bQePn87N9N2c4Lt8j41bHBIqM/s400/ug+shs+20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416610312635976370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4UoofrBBogYhl2n2oPpRw-aMSlmjVhwK6dPdBUVcgivjnirPAt1VwaAogvhQBwJUq3iHOjzt2yKkmCuoU0YPpy-sFpU1XHB98x1wNL2pJiUeiYS6PU5p4sJrfC2Wc2PgCavYdc38EZA/s1600-h/ug+shs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4UoofrBBogYhl2n2oPpRw-aMSlmjVhwK6dPdBUVcgivjnirPAt1VwaAogvhQBwJUq3iHOjzt2yKkmCuoU0YPpy-sFpU1XHB98x1wNL2pJiUeiYS6PU5p4sJrfC2Wc2PgCavYdc38EZA/s400/ug+shs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416610314409370626" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrM8vhEiFoyWijDpD4e12d57Fibbpom8garl7SZzPmFZWPswdP64P84j0AeRdZj5Ld0L5etCWFkRJ4Lx-xsRjULmnZiQXjCYNvrPBOht5wUmq43HIk1-aVS9hhsXYBtj-jUck05oOSgM/s1600-h/ug+shs+20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrM8vhEiFoyWijDpD4e12d57Fibbpom8garl7SZzPmFZWPswdP64P84j0AeRdZj5Ld0L5etCWFkRJ4Lx-xsRjULmnZiQXjCYNvrPBOht5wUmq43HIk1-aVS9hhsXYBtj-jUck05oOSgM/s400/ug+shs+20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416610309116021474" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq18J7TVasewczALuusPuTjC4MFbiA3N4BK8r_V3d1ivXnZrEx0IosEZS1enDRjEpBU_vg-r-MWl3zjqEUEZlfQEFFhsSpUqzLSXpqEVxNEA_lXApmYEEQIURoPtcbvAPIiA3I8kTG8E/s1600-h/ug+shs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQq18J7TVasewczALuusPuTjC4MFbiA3N4BK8r_V3d1ivXnZrEx0IosEZS1enDRjEpBU_vg-r-MWl3zjqEUEZlfQEFFhsSpUqzLSXpqEVxNEA_lXApmYEEQIURoPtcbvAPIiA3I8kTG8E/s320/ug+shs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609773226930290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2aaBnY1OQ32FDINmx4avkrollOInVL4k8uj9K-7LzKSzpi7pi_zXSk1W8hCuJIPlTNAOXyi8n1IdvhchYcyp0jsrSJCsDH3tkWzkyriaw5g1ID_eJOGIAhzkMlq0Ex06ueojUKx9uhQ/s1600-h/ug+shs5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 111px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2aaBnY1OQ32FDINmx4avkrollOInVL4k8uj9K-7LzKSzpi7pi_zXSk1W8hCuJIPlTNAOXyi8n1IdvhchYcyp0jsrSJCsDH3tkWzkyriaw5g1ID_eJOGIAhzkMlq0Ex06ueojUKx9uhQ/s320/ug+shs5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609770195464146" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGfgl4nCl9I7EDkoKXz11XFLoe7FSlQg5huXoSyWocDRzKU6UEmEscyVa62krTPv0kEe0jGcrs4zfvtyfX3FQkaETwxA1AlhalLrtJsK-Xlor72q-OktgjvjsP1oGN6ChgO_JMaVVLzE/s1600-h/ug+shs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGfgl4nCl9I7EDkoKXz11XFLoe7FSlQg5huXoSyWocDRzKU6UEmEscyVa62krTPv0kEe0jGcrs4zfvtyfX3FQkaETwxA1AlhalLrtJsK-Xlor72q-OktgjvjsP1oGN6ChgO_JMaVVLzE/s320/ug+shs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609768292305346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TRBIhhmygCNHt_qiwoBwLr1uqUiRRlVdghxmR0E_nq9sKgp5_7kXR2eoTWBSKowlKp5Ub0QQlp2UGxEoAbWhItWvia___pxRVCzHD1KyPkisq0gR3qf9xd6hhBKQB142AT9PHFn0p3I/s1600-h/ug+shs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TRBIhhmygCNHt_qiwoBwLr1uqUiRRlVdghxmR0E_nq9sKgp5_7kXR2eoTWBSKowlKp5Ub0QQlp2UGxEoAbWhItWvia___pxRVCzHD1KyPkisq0gR3qf9xd6hhBKQB142AT9PHFn0p3I/s320/ug+shs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609761472845938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiRkgvCBw5aCnNwSYazyYHu91dZ8sToaQFiekTE1aWT4p3uG9LSKosjSwmasUjM6yCiuabPviI6Jx0IRE-pn27h4hytosyKFjZwHfYc6JnDqw_xTXpFjtTlSc01Sc8Bj1olnqqclnv4E/s1600-h/ug+shs1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiRkgvCBw5aCnNwSYazyYHu91dZ8sToaQFiekTE1aWT4p3uG9LSKosjSwmasUjM6yCiuabPviI6Jx0IRE-pn27h4hytosyKFjZwHfYc6JnDqw_xTXpFjtTlSc01Sc8Bj1olnqqclnv4E/s320/ug+shs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609327523570258" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShWsmwEz73r5iKfHiXDOCJkNs6qNVMXcYJFlqZUf7FQBuYhvOVRulZyW1ScrAA6ltWl2y_GEbIQdo4JCLPOGn7e3lRk6smen-QYfZi9_tkD3NX74fqA911Ag6WKxh3V9iDnQ8kddZqJk/s1600-h/ug+shs.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 81px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShWsmwEz73r5iKfHiXDOCJkNs6qNVMXcYJFlqZUf7FQBuYhvOVRulZyW1ScrAA6ltWl2y_GEbIQdo4JCLPOGn7e3lRk6smen-QYfZi9_tkD3NX74fqA911Ag6WKxh3V9iDnQ8kddZqJk/s320/ug+shs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416609153246792642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5w7JIWnO2Zs_BhEMpU_a6cjsDgn3WdT-86c18w0TVI4oYqAZxeTK-TlmaeF70tRgF_hSfrbhyHm2NxYHWxFeMo7jZwOG-C4z4STQGhT4_QOLMW5Ac0X4-OlYr58uSrNojmL3lFdtCu4/s1600-h/ug+shs+50k.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5w7JIWnO2Zs_BhEMpU_a6cjsDgn3WdT-86c18w0TVI4oYqAZxeTK-TlmaeF70tRgF_hSfrbhyHm2NxYHWxFeMo7jZwOG-C4z4STQGhT4_QOLMW5Ac0X4-OlYr58uSrNojmL3lFdtCu4/s320/ug+shs+50k.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416608956539202386" /></a><br /> <br />Strong shilling hits local tax revenue<br />Kampala-Uganda<br />THE strong shilling has hit customs revenue collections, resulting into an estimated loss of sh39.39b in the first quarter of the financial year, a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) report shows. <br /><br />The revenue body had projected tax collections based on a weaker shilling against the dollar. <br /><br />“Using the annual estimated average exchange rate for 2009/10 of sh2,292.9, customs tax revenue will have been sh193.77b, sh181.79b and sh180.53b for July, August and September 2009,” noted the report. <br />However, due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, customs revenue was lower than predicted. <br /><br />“Therefore, the estimated revenue loss as a result of the appreciating shilling was sh9.27b, sh13.99b and sh16.13b for July, August and September. <br /><br />“Therefore, the exchange rate coupled with other factors affect tax revenue.” <br />Contrary to URA’s projections, the shilling has since June appreciated against the greenback, trading at 1,860/1,870 to the dollar after shedding off over 35% of its value between August 2008 and May 2009. <br /><br />It traded around 1,945/1,950 rate around the same period last year. <br />The central bank attributed the appreciation to a combination factors including dollar inflows from offshore investors who have returned to the market, remittances from Ugandans abroad, increased export receipts boosted by improved regional trade and commercial banks unwinding their long dollar positions. <br /><br />But the governor Tumusiime Mutebile announced recently that the central bank was planning more frequent interventions in the foreign exchange market to minimise the negative impact of a fast-appreciating shilling on the economy. <br /><br />“In addition to intervening to smoothen out volatility, we will until further notice intervene to stop excessive appreciation of the exchange rate,” he said. <br /><br />Mutebile said the central bank was determined to ensure that the appreciation of the exchange rate would not lead to an unnecessary reduction in aggregate domestic demand. <br /><br />“I have said before that we are not committed to a particular exchange rate in the economy, but because of the problems that are happening now which lead to a reduction in domestic demand, Bank of Uganda will for some time now attempt to ensure that the appreciation of the exchange rate does not worsen the situation regarding aggregate demand,” he explained. <br /><br />Following these comments, the shilling shed some of its gains to trade at a three-month low of 1,935/1,940 per dollar over the weekend. <br />The shilling depreciated due to US currency purchases by offshore investors and telecom companies. Commercial banks also made purchases to cover their short dollar positions. <br /><br />Dealers said the central bank intervened on Tuesday, buying an estimated $10m from the market. The local unit had opened trading at 1,914/1,919 to the dollar but the central bank action pushed the rates to 1,925/1,930. <br /><br />“Following the central bank previous comments on frequent interventions, their action to buy dollars is sending a signal that the local unit will head lower,” said Denis Mushabe, a trader with Standard Chartered Bank. <br />Market sentiment is for a weaker shilling trading in the 1,950-2,000 range. <br /><br />While a strong shilling favours importers, exporters suffer because for every dollar earned, they get fewer shillings. <br /><br />The dollar is one of the major currencies that affect Uganda’s trade with the rest of the world and resultant fluctuations in foreign exchange market impact on trade and tax revenue. <br /><br />URA, however, expects the impact of the stronger shilling to boost import trade since importers bring in more goods at lower prices. <br /><br />“Assuming all factors remain constant, a strong shilling is expected to lead to increase in the volumes of imports and subsequently tax revenue from international trade in the short-run, while these gains will also be felt in the domestic taxes after trade in the domestic market has taken place.” <br /><br />Performance of imports <br />Importers have brought in more goods in the run up to the festive season with home consumption goods for the August to October 2009/2010 financial year up at sh1,897.05b compared to sh1, 466.95b over the same period last year. <br /><br />However, on a month-on-month basis, imports have been in a declining trend. <br />For example, imports for August were at sh515.76b before declining to sh480.20b in September and to sh469.33b in October. <br /><br />URA said the top 17 imports were classified as raw materials, plant and machinery and petroleum. <br />Some of the major raw materials imported included wheat and melsin for the milling and bakery industry, palm oil for the edible oil industry as well as cane or beet sugar for the beverage industry. <br /><br />Indicating increased activity in the services sector, plant and machinery imported over the same period included base stations, electrical transformers and drilling equipment, structures as well as telecommunication and transmission machinery. <br /><br />Vehicle imports dip <br />Data shows that the total number of motor vehicles imported between August and October was 8.8% lower at 11,280 compared to 10,283 imported over the same period last year. <br /><br />“This decline was reflected in all the classes of motor vehicles with the exception of trucks and trailers, whose growth could be attributed to incentives on importation of goods vehicles,” said the report. <br /><br />However, the month-on-month figures, show that the number of motor vehicles for August and October were less by 1.3% and 11.2% respectively compared to the same months last year. <br /><br />On the other hand, September car imports were higher by 21.6 % compared with 2008. <br /><br />The vehicles imported included tractors, passenger service vehicles, saloons, trucks, special purpose vehicles and trailers. <br /><br /> <br />Adopted from New VisionNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-78408927638856061242009-12-18T06:23:00.000-08:002009-12-18T06:40:25.068-08:00SSBL OPENS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTH SUDAN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQbNalpFCh7woIyt7NqEa_5xcusmo0n89CXQx965DsPVuqMLEbcXDz4z2Wxhat63s7apwxxroCb7cqn5q0lUcCLUxopI58YYmLfEw7C1lYBYNf6yf4f6JYxMFLg0MjbtQizNbKGONPJA/s1600-h/MR.+DENG+MADING,+SSBL+CORPORATE+AFFAIRS+DIRECTOR+EXPLAINS+TO+JOURNALISTS+HOW+THE+FACTORY+WORKS.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQbNalpFCh7woIyt7NqEa_5xcusmo0n89CXQx965DsPVuqMLEbcXDz4z2Wxhat63s7apwxxroCb7cqn5q0lUcCLUxopI58YYmLfEw7C1lYBYNf6yf4f6JYxMFLg0MjbtQizNbKGONPJA/s320/MR.+DENG+MADING,+SSBL+CORPORATE+AFFAIRS+DIRECTOR+EXPLAINS+TO+JOURNALISTS+HOW+THE+FACTORY+WORKS.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416584457727816690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4SQGYt0QDsm6o57NhGqKrTONyDGUdNLda7OReXrq5yJyM6Cv_YUeKx-WencyRi9XdZeaI2Ij67xTvPgYzpQ8MrCErFOHXU7T-PwJglwQcvg9sMC3qBUeKFrb3pVAf_Flc4xo5xB0NsE/s1600-h/SSBL+MANAGING+DIRECTOR+MR.+IAN+ALISORTH.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4SQGYt0QDsm6o57NhGqKrTONyDGUdNLda7OReXrq5yJyM6Cv_YUeKx-WencyRi9XdZeaI2Ij67xTvPgYzpQ8MrCErFOHXU7T-PwJglwQcvg9sMC3qBUeKFrb3pVAf_Flc4xo5xB0NsE/s320/SSBL+MANAGING+DIRECTOR+MR.+IAN+ALISORTH.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416583395050277650" /></a><br />BUSINESS<br />• Invests USD 50 Million<br /><br />By Mugume D. Rwakaringi<br /><br />INVESTMENT/JUBA-SOUTH SUDAN, DEC 2009<br /><br />The managing Director for South Sudan Beverages Limited (SSBL) a subsidiary of SABMiller plc, Mr. Ian Alisorth has praised South Sudan as a conducive Country for investment noting the existence of virgin market, Nile Fortune has reliably established.<br /><br />With less than one year since SSBL started production, the sales and production has more than doubled.<br />Mr. Ian said that SSBL will benefit the government through taxes and citizens directly by providing employment opportunities to citizens.<br /><br />“We directly employ in our factory over 1200 workers who include 200 factory technicians and 500 distributors and stockers”, noted Mr. Ian.<br /><br />SSBL has also promised to encourage farming in a bid to have food security in South Sudan in particular for those communities neighbouring the factory. <br /><br />He added: “We give the factory waste inform of manure to the farmers such that they can be able to improve their livelihoods”.<br /><br />The community has been advised to invest in agricultural products which will fetch ready market for this factory.<br /><br />Soghurm, Cassava and Sugar Canes have been earmarked as the mostly needed raw materials for SSBL.<br /><br />SSBL makes about 3000 litres of beer per hour when operational which generates a growth income of at least 2.5 Million SDG per month. SAB Millers through Southern Sudan Breweries Limited (SSBL) a looping Fifty Million worth of United States Dollars ($ 50 M). The factory donates 0.50 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) from each Litre of beer sold by SSBL as a sign of giving back to the community.<br /><br />“Our production has now more than doubled within this short time”, said a seemingly happy Mr. Deng Mading Mijak, SSBL Corparate Affairs Director in an exclusive interview with Nile Fortune as he shows me around the factory.<br /><br /><br />Tasked whether these investors are not scared by similar products especially those imported from other Countries and other Companies with related products, SSBL Managing Director Mr. Ian expressed confidence since he believes that they (SSBL) stand a comparably bigger advantage by providing quality products at an affordable price. <br /><br />“We are a multinational company thus have a comparative advantage”, noted Mr. Ian quickly adding that they also lobby from GoSS to protect them especially protection against dumping.<br /><br />SSBL started with White Bull lager (Beer) but has now started producing soft drinks (Club Minerals) and plans are underway for bottled water (commonly known as Mineral water). It also supplies other SAB millers plc products from her sister companies from other countries such as South Africa, United States and South Africa a move aimed at providing quality.<br /><br />SSBL becomes a Largest manufacturing Investor in South Sudan with fifty Million United States Dollars ($ 50 M USD) and is optimistic to making profits after pioneering a beer factory in South Sudan.<br /><br />“We have as international standard laboratory in South Sudan”, noted Bismark Oroma, SSBL Quality control Manager (QCM) while pointing at a $ 200.000 Alicoliser Beer Plus (ABP)which is used to control the level of alcohol in beer. <br /><br />Mr. Deng Mading noted that SSBL should be credited for coming at this time to invest such amount of money in South Sudan. “This becomes a good example for other intending investors in South Sudan”, he explained.<br /><br />SSBL donates 0.5 SDG from each litre sold to benefit the surrounding community as a give back to the community.<br /><br />It also provides safe drinking water for the community and pays different taxes to both Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Central Equatoria Government (CES).<br /><br />“We allow students and other experts to use our laboratory facilities”, noted Mr. Wadada Davidson. Adding that Students and other researchers in Sudan should feel free to come and do their experiments in SSBL Factory without any costs.<br /><br />SABMiller plc, is one of the world’s leading brewers with operations and distribution agreements across six continents with group revenue including the attributable share of associates’ and joint ventures’ revenue of US$4,509 million as per September 2009 unaudited report.<br /><br />In Africa, SABMiller has brewing or beverage interests in 32 countries in addition to South Africa. This includes 18 countries through a strategic alliance with the Castel group, and several countries where SABMiller is a Coca-Cola bottler, including Angola, Botswana and Zambia.<br /><br />South Sudan has had a relative stability after the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which brought an end to over two decade war between mainly Sudanese People’s Liberation Army/Movement and the Khartoum government. South Sudan remains depending on imported goods especially from her neghbouring Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia and others from Khartoum.<br /><br />EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-66851103774957774752009-12-16T08:43:00.000-08:002009-12-16T09:10:38.948-08:00UN OFFICIAL CALLS ON PROTECTION OF CHILDRENLAW AND SOCIETY<br /><br />it is everyone responsibility to act<br /><br />By Mugume D. Rwakaringi, JUBA/SOUTH SUDAN<br /><br />Ms. Radhika Coomaraswami, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has reaffirmed United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNHCR), United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and other UN agencies commitment to sensitise all the stakeholders in Southern Sudan in an effort to have Child abuse eliminated.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqFdHYf9NFJZIbBtvz3CTW7KXuYA1gEfuIKHn-iZ_st9270mEp7EOy8R98cYAc85d-kaCVNgyMksUt_kanVKqYLl2PCzjDL9lt8LooNQd2NsuWEBy-0G7V9Mcv4vWCvc3CCOVrGtMsN4/s1600-h/Girl+children+are+the+mostly+affected+during+conflicts,+everyone+has+a+responsibility+to+protect+them.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqFdHYf9NFJZIbBtvz3CTW7KXuYA1gEfuIKHn-iZ_st9270mEp7EOy8R98cYAc85d-kaCVNgyMksUt_kanVKqYLl2PCzjDL9lt8LooNQd2NsuWEBy-0G7V9Mcv4vWCvc3CCOVrGtMsN4/s320/Girl+children+are+the+mostly+affected+during+conflicts,+everyone+has+a+responsibility+to+protect+them.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415881127408491794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqFdHYf9NFJZIbBtvz3CTW7KXuYA1gEfuIKHn-iZ_st9270mEp7EOy8R98cYAc85d-kaCVNgyMksUt_kanVKqYLl2PCzjDL9lt8LooNQd2NsuWEBy-0G7V9Mcv4vWCvc3CCOVrGtMsN4/s1600-h/Girl+children+are+the+mostly+affected+during+conflicts,+everyone+has+a+responsibility+to+protect+them.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqFdHYf9NFJZIbBtvz3CTW7KXuYA1gEfuIKHn-iZ_st9270mEp7EOy8R98cYAc85d-kaCVNgyMksUt_kanVKqYLl2PCzjDL9lt8LooNQd2NsuWEBy-0G7V9Mcv4vWCvc3CCOVrGtMsN4/s320/Girl+children+are+the+mostly+affected+during+conflicts,+everyone+has+a+responsibility+to+protect+them.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415881127408491794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZGsT9cBguRdUl9B6JmtV9isXOQXEN75knaGgOftmICEs99Cxz_Uk9cSngOCdbbxDNd5mbQWYlk2DY7jaf1Ekms1ktNH5HKWRsHQKtdCuPtEp0oPg3hTKaWDhtK5vFxX3VwOpjLPJI4M/s1600-h/Ms.+Radhika+Coomaraswami,+UN+Secretary-General%E2%80%99s+Special+Representative+for+Children+and+Armed+Conflict..jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZGsT9cBguRdUl9B6JmtV9isXOQXEN75knaGgOftmICEs99Cxz_Uk9cSngOCdbbxDNd5mbQWYlk2DY7jaf1Ekms1ktNH5HKWRsHQKtdCuPtEp0oPg3hTKaWDhtK5vFxX3VwOpjLPJI4M/s320/Ms.+Radhika+Coomaraswami,+UN+Secretary-General%E2%80%99s+Special+Representative+for+Children+and+Armed+Conflict..jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415877837012940466" /></a><br />Ms. Radhika Coomaraswami, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children, girl Children are the most vulnerable during armed conflicts <br /><br />Radhika whose mission last month addressing Journalists at UNMIS headquarters on her trip to Sudan where she had a number of meetings in Khartoum, Darfur and Juba, focusing on issues pertaining to children and armed conflict on the invitation from the Government of Sudan.<br /><br />Ms Radhika added that UN and other agencies are however affected by targeting of humanitarian workers and the denial of humanitarian access by rebels such as Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), SLA-Free Will, the JEM Peace Wing, the SLM-Abdulgassim and inter-tribal conflicts in Southern Sudan.<br /><br />She however expressed optimism in combating the situation saying that this will be possible because UN has managed to get key commitments from parties. “The Action Plan calls for the release of children, for the verification of that release by United Nations agencies, and the reintegration of children according to that”, noted Ms Coomaraswami.<br /><br />The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict also added that Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda army who are fighting the LRA get many children, has accepted to enter into a protocol on immediate release of these children once they rescue them. They will enter into a protocol with UNICEF and the Ministries of Social Welfare in Yambio and other such affected areas. <br /><br />She was also pleased with Ministry of Justice commitment that there would be no executions of children in Sudan.<br /><br />Consequent from inter-tribal conflict, 370 children have been abducted in the last few months. <br /><br />She also applauded The Southern Sudan Child Protection Act 2008 saying it will help the protection of Child rights in Southern Sudan.<br /> “This is a positive move but this (Child Act) to be effective, there must be cooperation of all stakeholders including Media”, Ms Radhika noted.<br />Ms. Speaking on the same occasion, Ms Silivia Pasti, UNICEF Child Protection Officer said that UNICEF will be working closely with other UN agencies to ensure that the rescued children immediately start receiving help.<br /><br />Coomaraswam has a long-standing history as a human rights advocate, with a particular focus on advocating for children and women issues and has occupied human rights positions both in Sri Lanka and internationally. <br /><br />She was appointed by Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon as Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.<br /><br />Her visit to Sudan was mostly concerned with child soldiers; rape and sexual violence and killing and maiming of children. <br /><br />An estimated 300,000 child soldiers - boys and girls under the age of 18 - are involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide. Child soldiers are used as combatants, messengers, porters, cooks and to provide sexual services. Some are forcibly recruited or abducted; others are driven to join by poverty, abuse and discrimination, or to seek revenge for violence enacted against themselves and their families.<br /><br />The 2002 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict outlaws the involvement of children under age 18 in hostilities.<br /> <br />During armed conflict, girls and women are threatened by rape, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual humiliation and mutilation. Use of rape and other forms of violence against women has become a strategy in wars for all sides. Investigative reports following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda concluded that nearly every female over the age of 12 who survived the genocide was raped. During the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, more than 20,000 were estimated to have been sexually assaulted. <br /><br />Of the 25 countries with the highest proportion of children orphaned by AIDS, about one-third have been affected by armed conflict in recent years. Of the 10 countries with the highest rates of under-five deaths, seven are affected by armed conflict.<br /> <br />Children in armed conflict also routinely experience emotionally and psychologically painful events such as the violent death of a parent or close relative; separation from family; witnessing loved ones being killed or tortured; displacement from home and community; exposure to combat, shelling and other life-threatening situations; acts of abuse such as being abducted, arrested, held in detention, raped, tortured; disruption of school routines and community life; destitution and an uncertain future.<br /><br />The Writer is also a Law Lecturer at IMS-Southern University, Juba.<br /><br /> Tel: +249-955003929 <br />EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-52343115217242867052009-11-29T06:44:00.000-08:002009-11-29T07:10:26.065-08:00U.S. forces missed chance to get bin Laden in 2001<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyfirAchrZFiFur7hJK-TH9yzxrXmWKrMu71VOe9soBKqlpZWRl36PI8nKdyWQ-jpKoivCoMH9XuKEfiH5D4dkwGFmsgkRQ4oxukKxIoRei8U2KXzABjtD-7slMMcuTDYe3V1cGK3h-o/s1600/Bin+Laden.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyfirAchrZFiFur7hJK-TH9yzxrXmWKrMu71VOe9soBKqlpZWRl36PI8nKdyWQ-jpKoivCoMH9XuKEfiH5D4dkwGFmsgkRQ4oxukKxIoRei8U2KXzABjtD-7slMMcuTDYe3V1cGK3h-o/s320/Bin+Laden.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409541802576502498" /></a><br /><br />The U.S. military could have captured or killed Osama bin Laden in 2001 if it had launched a concerted attack on his hideout in Afghanistan, according to a report prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.<br /><br />The report, written by staff working for the Democratic majority on the committee, said the al Qaeda leader's escape was a lost opportunity that altered the course of the war and paved the way for insurgencies in Afghanistan and in Pakistan.<br /><br />"Removing the al Qaeda leader from the battlefield eight years ago would not have eliminated the worldwide extremist threat," the report said.<br /><br />"But the decisions that opened the door for his escape to Pakistan allowed bin Laden to emerge as a potent symbolic figure who continues to attract a steady flow of money and inspire fanatics worldwide."<br /><br />U.S. soldiers and Afghan militia forces launched a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains in 2001 in pursuit of bin Laden, believed to be hiding in the region with supporters after the Taliban government was removed from power.<br /><br />U.S. military leaders allowed Afghan militiamen to spearhead the assault and bin Laden managed to escape.<br /><br />The report said U.S. commanders rejected requests for more troops to launch a rapid assault in the area, relying instead on air strikes and the Afghan militias to lead the attack and Pakistan's Frontier Corps to seal off escape routes.<br /><br />"The vast array of American military power, from sniper teams to the most mobile divisions of the Marine Corps and the Army, was kept on the sidelines," it said.<br /><br />The report was especially critical of military leaders under former President George W. Bush, including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his top military commander, retired General Tommy Franks.<br /><br />Democratic Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the committee, has argued the Bush administration missed a chance to get bin Laden and his top lieutenants in Tora Bora just months after the September 11 attacks on the United States.<br /><br />Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election to Bush.<br /><br />The report was issued just days before President Barack Obama was expected to announce the United States would send about 30,000 more troops to secure population centers and train Afghan security forces.<br /><br />There are about 68,000 U.S. troops and 42,000 allied soldiers in Afghanistan.<br />Source: ReutersNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-36224206293882303282009-11-17T03:44:00.000-08:002009-11-17T04:32:23.973-08:00Miss “Malaika”: An Angel brightening for hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZJ5hxUkVMbUC13lnHJPW9n0yrtlJgaLlHfFbN1osVKqn7NmcctbJQpqSJgQCroJe1FlgA9V3own22-qLYTnerLEvFXipwl_S6abBi57HRnfIC4qAliUaHnUrQgMILSMx8FOfyAdbGj4/s1600/Miss.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZJ5hxUkVMbUC13lnHJPW9n0yrtlJgaLlHfFbN1osVKqn7NmcctbJQpqSJgQCroJe1FlgA9V3own22-qLYTnerLEvFXipwl_S6abBi57HRnfIC4qAliUaHnUrQgMILSMx8FOfyAdbGj4/s320/Miss.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405047420660606690" /></a><br /><br />By Mugume D Rwakaringi, Juba-Sudan<br />Size: 6'0", 1'81CM <br />Hobbies: Meeting friends, Travel and watching movies & Football (Especially Premier League) <br />Education: Masters, Accounting & Finance <br />Miss Malaika, Nok Nora Duany 25 was born in Juba but spent most of her time in USA where she acquiring her masters in accounting and Finance from Georgetown University. <br />She has worked for GoSS and operates private business. With the help of her family, the reigning Malaika started Sports Revolution, which organises basketball tournament and other sporting activities for young Southern Sudanese where local talent is spotted and sent for further training abroad. <br />The outgoing Miss Malaika 2009 will end her reign with a 5/10 KM walk/race which which will start at Nyakuron cultural center on November 21, 2009.<br /><br />Miss Malaika 2009, Nok Nora Duany will use this race as a kick-off start to raise funds which will be used for girls’ education promotion in Southern Sudan under her founded NGO Sports Revolution Girls.<br /><br />Foreigners to participate in this event will part with 50 SDG where as Sudanese nationals will pay 10 SDG with all precedes going for this charity.<br /><br />There is on going registration taking place at The Ministry of Commerce and Industry which will continue up to the event day.<br />Malaika is a swahili word which means an angel! EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-68853452827208856632009-11-14T02:23:00.000-08:002010-01-03T09:29:43.205-08:00TIPS FOR JOB INTERVIEW PART ITIPS FOR JOB INTERVIEW PART I<br />
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<br />
By Fareed Musa Fataki<br />
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Am inspired to write this article because of the experiences I have gone through both as in interviewee and interviewer for the last ten years. Most times we loose the job not because we are not good enough but because of simple mistakes that we could avoid. <br />
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We often fail to create or give the best impression pf ourselves to the employer by being timid and fearful, not being sure of our selves, or yes I know some interviewers can mean to be intimidating but always relax and listen to the question attentively and take your time to answer it, this way, you build confidence in you and to the employer and remember to always beg the pardon for any question not clear to you before answering it. This way you win the show and you create good impression before your potential employer. <br />
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Note that, the employer is looking for the best candidate for the job in less than an hour and that you are not alone, therefore, convince the panel members that, you are the best that there is by the way you talk, the way you answer the questions, be honest and save time by saying I do not know the answer rather than giving wrong answer to a correct question during the interview, rely more on your strength but also, show them your weaknesses and prove that, you are a first leaner who can turn these weaknesses into strength within short period of time<br />
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Before we proceed, note that, an interview is not an interrogation; it's a conversation. Thus, I believe the best way to prepare for an interview is to come armed with a multitude of small stories about the job advertised and relate this stories to your personal life. <br />
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It is important to relax and feel at home. Interviews are not really interviews at all. They're conversations. Treat them like conversations, and the tension will slowly dissolve. Remember: when you walk into that office, you don't have the job to begin with. In theory, you have nothing to lose. You either come out way ahead or back where you started. If you approach the situation with a "win-draw" mentality, most of the pressure will fall by the wayside. <br />
You should start by developing your stories around these areas:<br />
• Examples of when you either made money or saved money for your current or previous employer. <br />
• A crisis in your life or job and how you responded or recovered from it. <br />
• A time where you functioned as part of a team and what your contribution was. <br />
• A time in your career or job where you had to overcome stress. <br />
• A time in your job where you provided successful leadership or a sense of direction. <br />
• A failure that occurred in your job and how you overcame it. <br />
• Any seminal events that happened during your career to cause you to change direction and how that worked out for you.<br />
Always know what you are being interviewed for and what type of interview you are going to be subject to. This trick is always in the terms of reference for the job contained in the advert. Always remember all that is asked for in the adverts and compare the required skills to what you have, this way, you will asses your strength and weakness and before anything, prepare to answer questions on your weaknesses more than your strength. Give clear and specific response to how you are going to work round your weakness and turn them to strength and be open to discuss weaknesses.<br />
Competency-based interviews, as opposed to traditional interviews, have become more common today. In a traditional interview, the interviewer will ask you questions focused on whether you have the skills and knowledge needed to do the job. A competency-based interview goes further by asking you additional questions about your character and personal attributes that can better determine whether you fit their corporate culture. These are called "behavioral competencies." <br />
A competency-based interviewer will spend about half the interview on your job skills, and about half on your behavioral competencies. He or she will be looking for evidence of how you have acted in real situations in the past. So having your stories ready to go, and discussing them during a conversation between two equals, plays very well for this type of interview.<br />
.Attitude is everything. If you're smiling, excited and optimistic, you've already won half the battle. If you're cold, distant and uninterested, you've already lost 99% of the battle.<br />
No matter what credits are in your resume or <br />
how nice your CV is written, always try to be yourself. If you act like someone else and they like you, they don't actually like YOU. They like the person you're pretending to be. If you end up getting a job there, you won't be able to keep up the facade for very long anyway. Honesty and authenticity are very appealing characteristics. If both parties stay true to themselves, they'll know if they're right for each other. And in the end, that's usually what matters most.<br />
Appearance counts. Before you meet people, virtually the only judgment you can make is based on aesthetics. What you're wearing matters. What they're wearing matters. How you sit, stand, shake hands, hold your pen and walk up the stairs counts. Not enormously, but enough. First impressions are huge. Also, how does the building look? Is the lobby clean and organized? Are the cubicles bunched together? Is the ceiling high or low? Does it look like a fun place to work? Does it invite you to come back?<br />
All the smartness, good skills and high experience in the job mean nothing without the right fit. If your values aren't aligned with those of the company, you're doomed. If you like to have fun and they're always serious, don't even bother. Seriously. The more you fit in, the more you'll want to come back every day and bust your butt. If you're always at odds with your coworkers, you're going to hate your job. And my simple advice is for you to look for another job.<br />
DON’T MISS THE FINAL TIPS IN OUR NEXT EDITION<br />
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The writer is the Deputy Director for Establishment/ Human Resource, with the Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation; he is also a Consultant in Peace and conflict resolution as well as a Researcher.<br />
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EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-1247803076122641472009-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:002009-11-10T23:27:15.590-08:00BLACK MARKET OUR PROBLEM, MEX AL MUSTAQBAL MANAGERBLACK MARKET OUR PROBLEM, MEX AL MUSTAQBAL MANAGER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXd8zFAEm4F_IL9k0qFhTYNkMchKUrvcbT_Npuw9Gyq3pq8LkWVwp_vpEqRxUpEafucW5SO8ZhkrAvrWGYq7bRB6eTy50jeYFrzwvChhhDYsCCxoEHa-P9WlzBJAEgjSv4KYFXG2m7Zk/s1600-h/clip_image001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXd8zFAEm4F_IL9k0qFhTYNkMchKUrvcbT_Npuw9Gyq3pq8LkWVwp_vpEqRxUpEafucW5SO8ZhkrAvrWGYq7bRB6eTy50jeYFrzwvChhhDYsCCxoEHa-P9WlzBJAEgjSv4KYFXG2m7Zk/s320/clip_image001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402744034235264386" /></a><br /><br />Mr. Samuel Justo, Manager MEX<br /><br />BLACK MARKET OUR PROBLEM, MEX AL MUSTAQBAL MANAGER<br /><br />Mugume D. Rwakaringi, Juba <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />The General Manager of Mex Mustaqbal Company for Exchange, Mr. Samuel Justo Beitelmal (above) has decried the presence of the “black market” dealers as the major stumbling block to their dealings in the foreign exchange business and money transfer systems, Nile Fortune has reliably established.<br /><br />In an exclusive interview with the Nile Fortune, Mr. Samuel said that the black marketers (unregistered money changers) sometimes keep a lot of money thereby making it very difficult for the Central Bank; Bank of Southern Sudan (BoSS) to control.<br /><br />“These people (black marketers) keep a lot of money which would be normally in circulation”, noted a concerned Samuel.<br /><br />This he explained is also affected by the already presence of many Foreign Rxchange Bureaus and Money transfer Offices in Juba.<br /><br />“You can’t imagine that we have about 18 registered Forex bureaus and other 3 yet to be approved yet Khartoum the largest the capital city of the entire Sudan also has 18. <br /><br />He also added that because of the presence of many expatriates in South Sudan also becomes a problem especially when these expatriates are returning back home who demand for a lot of money which may not be available for them.<br /><br />“These people (expatriates) definitely cannot carry bags of money when they are traveling and they also need to take their money either in their local currencies or the International currency (United States Dollar).<br /><br />Mr. Samuel Justo however noted that the government of Southern Sudan through the concerned Ministries and BoSS is striving to curb the problem.<br /><br />This is just a growing economy; I am hopeful that everything will stabilize when South Sudan has gained many local manufacturing factories.<br /><br />Mex Mustaqbal Company for Exchange other than dealing with forex services also transfers money to other destinations notably to East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania), Europe (London, United Kingdom) and in United States of America.<br /><br />Sudan has currently been hit hard by the economic crisis because of overdependence of on oil as a major source of national income. The price of oil has dropped from US$147 per barrel in July 2009 to US$50 per barrel since February 2009. <br /><br />South Sudan continues to lose large amounts of money through profit repatriation. Over 90% of day to day commodities like vegetables, fruits and fish are imported from neighbor countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Also imported from these Countries are building materials since South Sudan is rebuilding her infrastructures.<br /><br />Meanwhile South Sudanese are massively registering for the forth coming elections that will start in April2010. The same registers are expected to be used for the Referendum elections in 2011.<br /><br />EndsNile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-32254879101001837392009-11-02T07:44:00.000-08:002009-11-02T07:46:16.471-08:00Health Calamity! South Sudan has only one opticianHEALTH<br /><br />Health Calamity! South Sudan has only one optician<br /><br />By Lodiong Morris<br /><br />Early in the morning patients have gathered in the optical ward (eye unit) waiting for the only optician in the country. It’s not only the locals within Juba but tens of thousands coming from all the ten states of southern Sudan.<br /><br />This is at Juba teaching hospital, the country’s oldest hospital that served during the 21 years of civil war between the South and the North. It was the only major hospital that was working despite the upheaval the staffs were undergoing when Khartoum government backed militias in Juba penetrate into the hospital the nurses were not spared they were caned, flog, for not treating those from operation the nurses were accused of being pro the then rebel termed to be thugs then.<br /><br />Today the twist is different the past days have gone life has to get on with open access to medical assistance those using herbs then now come for treatment in the country’s biggest hospital.<br /><br />In the eye unit the nurses were not so rude may be because they were not pressured or paid promptly there was no much work ones the South Sudanese optician who lives and work in Zimbabwe leaves there was no much work to worry them, only the task was to sit and tell patients who have travelled miles away from Juba that the doctor will be coming or has travelled.<br /><br />Paul Loke Lokoro around 65 years old opshalneric clinical officer said they only have one optician dealing with surgery Dr. Wani Mena. He comes home to his country to voluntarily help the patients that dearly needs him.<br /><br />Loke said they receives a total of about 25-25 patients daily from different states but not all were operated because the doctor doing that cannot handle the great number that comprises of all the age sects as he voluntarily work and could always be demanded by his employers in his second country.<br /><br />He said they were only three ophalneric clinical officers in the whole of South Sudan, one Baranda Mach Kangi works in Buluk School of the blind, Juba he treats some of the sight problem in the school while the rest work in Juba teaching hospital with hardly any knowledge to operate.<br /><br />One other biggest challenge he said was lack of transport facility for them to move to all the ten state main hospitals to carry out the medical treatment to avoid the mobility of the citizens whom poverty will force them to be blind.<br /><br />Christian blindness vision the only organization helping the blind in Juba teaching hospital stocks the pharmacies according to the clinical officer the support wasn’t enough as more cases were reported.<br /><br />“Our pharmacy is being stock by Christian Blindness vision but its providing not much because the demand is too high many people are reporting sighting problems from all the states we need more assistance” he said<br /><br />South Sudan sight problem according to Dr. Wani Mena were being cause by diseases like Cataract, trachoma, onchocerachas, reflective error and childhood blindness with majority case from Western equatoria and western Barhel Gazel States however these states lack professional health personnel to treat the sickness patients thus travel to Juba for the treatment. <br /><br />Mena also said the only treatment they give to patients was the evisceration (Eye washing), surgery in some cases and the use of eye glasses.<br /><br />At the age of 25 Charles Peter from Munduri East, Western Equatoria State said he had been suffering for seven years, according to him he moved to several health centers in the state including the state’s main hospital but there was no proper treatment for his eyes.<br /><br />Peter said it took him lot of money contributed by the family and well wisher to come to Juba. He was optimistic that his problem would be rectified because he learnt that many people operated have been relieved.<br /><br />“I come from Munduri I cannot see well the disease has taken seven years I cannot see well, I moved to all the hospitals including Yambio state main hospital but I did not get the right medicine for the disease they told me to come for operation” Ruati said.<br /><br />Achol Mary a patient from Yirol appealed to the government of South Sudan and any humanitarian body to extend the service near because there were other patients back who cannot afford to travel to Juba for the operation.<br /><br />“There many people there they cannot come up to Juba let our government should take this service near because most people cannot afford to come up to Equatoria here” she said.<br /><br />South Sudan medical field is virgin the few doctors present are engage in their various activities just like the teachers in government schools they too have deserted the field blaming the government for failing to pay them on time including poor condition of work.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-62113693514512786212009-11-02T07:13:00.000-08:002009-11-02T07:28:09.131-08:00RWANDA, FROM GENOCIDE TO AN INVESTMENT HAVEN<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipffW_INfyRrAupiVRwMV2028phdDOSRjPe7_rhLnohYXHTtuNTof-RxqEXnN8dnD-i2qtxlhHt8Yby7KL7NYfbfnhEgvweAmIGl-j1PV9ljxTQOG4XYMUUEx-P59AkyGk6aZ_WaJM7-M/s1600-h/KAGAME1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399525582342157330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 294px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipffW_INfyRrAupiVRwMV2028phdDOSRjPe7_rhLnohYXHTtuNTof-RxqEXnN8dnD-i2qtxlhHt8Yby7KL7NYfbfnhEgvweAmIGl-j1PV9ljxTQOG4XYMUUEx-P59AkyGk6aZ_WaJM7-M/s320/KAGAME1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>RWANDA, FROM GENOCIDE TO AN INVESTMENT HAVEN<br /><br />By Mugume D Rwakaringi<br /><br />Barely a decade and a half after a turmoil that led to genocide which led to about 1000.000 losing their lives and the breakdown in all sectors of development, Rwanda’s economy and Investment climate has had a steady development. The recent Doing Business report conducted by World Bank ranked Rwanda as the best business reformer, after jumping spectacular 76 places to establish herself among the 100 best reformers at the 67th position.<br /><br />Rwanda President: Paul Kagame:</div><div> </div><div>Rwanda is popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’ because of its many hills which form tourist attractions. The landscapes in this green country are truly incredible.<br /><br />People who have got a chance of visiting Rwanda have admitted that the Country is well endowed with natural beauty especially the nature of Rwanda’s mountains, its climate is also a remarkable one; blessed with a relatively cold climate-not so cold though, no wonder Rwanda has been termed as the Switzerland of Africa.<br /><br />This is evidenced by a wide variety of wildlife. The Volcanoes National Park, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers.<br />The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is crowded with wildlife both large and the hospitable people who have a great respect for foreigners.<br /></div><div><br />It is however not this natural beauty that has led to Rwanda’s steady growth but rather the political climate for example of no tolerance to corruption, Transparency International recently recognized Rwanda’s strong commitment to fighting corruption.<br /><br />It has however not been easy for this land locked Country. In 1999, the Rwandan economy stagnated due to a combination of factors, including the increase in world oil prices, a decrease in world coffee prices.<br /><br />Recently while Rwanda’s President H.E Paul Kagame remarked that for Africa to attract more business and move forward in its on-going transformation, the continent must embrace good governance that promotes accountabiltility. This singles out that Graft has been the major hindrance to Africa’s development and Investment attraction.<br /><br />Surprisingly even with the present World economic crisis, Rwanda has had a stable growth quoting a GDP of almost double figures (9%) in the last quarter with per capita incomes for individual Rwandans growing above $500.<br /><br />Rwanda introduced major reforms in several areas, according to Doing Business 2009. It streamlined construction permitting for the second year in a row by combining the applications for location clearance and a building permit in a single form and introducing a single application form for water, sewerage, and electricity connections. This reduced both the number of procedures and the time required for dealing with construction permits.<br /><br />The time and cost to register a property also fell. A new fixed registration fee was introduced, and centralization of the tax service reduced the time to obtain a certificate of good standing, the report noted.<br /><br />Rwanda facilitated trade by extending the opening hours of the customs border offices, implementing an electronic data interchange system, and introducing risk-based inspections. Together with growth in the transport sector, this reduced the time to export by five days and the time to import by 27 days—a 40 percent reduction.<br /><br />Finally, commercial courts began operating in three locations, in Kigali and in the Northern and Southern Provinces, making it easier to enforce contracts.<br /><br />The Rwanda Investment Capacity which is facilitating improvement in doing business by supporting efficient enforcement of contracts, registration of property and starting a business was allocated Rwf11.9bn (approx. US $ 20 million for a three-year programme designed to reduce the cost and risk of doing business in the country.<br /><br />The condusive investement climate is paying dividends to Rwanda with a number of reputable companies such as Equity Bank, Prime Bank, Kencall, Nation Media Group and Contour Global company which is ready to invest up to USD 300 million in the energy sector willing to start investing in the Country as early as 2010.<br /><br />Rwanda’s development according to Vincent Karega, Rwandan Minister of State in charge of trade and investment is not a one’s man show but a combination of all people from different areas of Rwandan society: central and local government technicians, representatives of the private sector and civil society.<br /><br />Rwanda has seen a dramatic rise in investment inflows, according to the World Investment Report (WIR) 2009. The report released recently said that inflow increased from $16m in 2006 to $67m in 2007 and $103m last year, surpassing for the first time giant Kenya only one position better than fragile-post conflict Burundi that attracted only $1m in foreign investment.<br /><br />Although Rwanda’s economic structure is characterized by an overwhelming majority of population being employed in agriculture which is limited by scarcity of land, Rwanda’s friendly industrial policy has contributed to the general improvement of Rwanda’s economy.<br /><br />With the scarce land problem, the government intervened by intensification, land consolidation, fertiliser application, introduction of good variety of seeds and an intensified terracing exercise programs which have yielded remarkable dividends.<br /><br /><br />The Minister’s advice should not be only for Rwanda, a country with a significant development despite the limited resources available but should be a message for all Africa and for every individual as we strive to attain the MDGs in 2015. With everyone’s effort towards attaining development implemented, then Obama’s slogan “Yes we can”-Develop, can be achieved.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ENDS<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-76101272789609902332009-10-31T07:01:00.000-07:002009-11-02T07:30:04.318-08:00RWANDA, FROM GENOCIDE TO AN INVESTMENT HAVENRWANDA, FROM GENOCIDE TO AN INVESTMENT HAVEN<br /><br />By Mugume D Rwakaringi<br /><br />Barely a decade and a half after a turmoil that led to genocide which led to about 1000.000 losing their lives and the breakdown in all sectors of development, Rwanda’s economy and Investment climate has had a steady development. The recent Doing Business report conducted by World Bank ranked Rwanda as the best business reformer, after jumping spectacular 76 places to establish herself among the 100 best reformers at the 67th position.<br /><br />Rwanda is popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’ because of its many hills which form tourist attractions. The landscapes in this green country are truly incredible.<br /><br />People who have got a chance of visiting Rwanda have admitted that the Country is well endowed with natural beauty especially the nature of Rwanda’s mountains, its climate is also a remarkable one; blessed with a relatively cold climate-not so cold though, no wonder Rwanda has been termed as the Switzerland of Africa.<br /><br />This is evidenced by a wide variety of wildlife. The Volcanoes National Park, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers.<br />The Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is crowded with wildlife both large and the hospitable people who have a great respect for foreigners.<br /><br />It is however not this natural beauty that has led to Rwanda’s steady growth but rather the political climate for example of no tolerance to corruption, Transparency International recently recognized Rwanda’s strong commitment to fighting corruption.<br /><br />It has however not been easy for this land locked Country. In 1999, the Rwandan economy stagnated due to a combination of factors, including the increase in world oil prices, a decrease in world coffee prices.<br /><br />Recently while Rwanda’s President H.E Paul Kagame remarked that for Africa to attract more business and move forward in its on-going transformation, the continent must embrace good governance that promotes accountabiltility. This singles out that Graft has been the major hindrance to Africa’s development and Investment attraction.<br /><br />Surprisingly even with the present World economic crisis, Rwanda has had a stable growth quoting a GDP of almost double figures (9%) in the last quarter with per capita incomes for individual Rwandans growing above $500.<br /><br />Rwanda introduced major reforms in several areas, according to Doing Business 2009. It streamlined construction permitting for the second year in a row by combining the applications for location clearance and a building permit in a single form and introducing a single application form for water, sewerage, and electricity connections. This reduced both the number of procedures and the time required for dealing with construction permits.<br /><br />The time and cost to register a property also fell. A new fixed registration fee was introduced, and centralization of the tax service reduced the time to obtain a certificate of good standing, the report noted.<br /><br />Rwanda facilitated trade by extending the opening hours of the customs border offices, implementing an electronic data interchange system, and introducing risk-based inspections. Together with growth in the transport sector, this reduced the time to export by five days and the time to import by 27 days—a 40 percent reduction.<br /><br />Finally, commercial courts began operating in three locations, in Kigali and in the Northern and Southern Provinces, making it easier to enforce contracts.<br /><br />The Rwanda Investment Capacity which is facilitating improvement in doing business by supporting efficient enforcement of contracts, registration of property and starting a business was allocated Rwf11.9bn (approx. US $ 20 million for a three-year programme designed to reduce the cost and risk of doing business in the country.<br /><br />The condusive investement climate is paying dividends to Rwanda with a number of reputable companies such as Equity Bank, Prime Bank, Kencall, Nation Media Group and Contour Global company which is ready to invest up to USD 300 million in the energy sector willing to start investing in the Country as early as 2010.<br /><br />Rwanda’s development according to Vincent Karega, Rwandan Minister of State in charge of trade and investment is not a one’s man show but a combination of all people from different areas of Rwandan society: central and local government technicians, representatives of the private sector and civil society.<br /><br />Rwanda has seen a dramatic rise in investment inflows, according to the World Investment Report (WIR) 2009. The report released recently said that inflow increased from $16m in 2006 to $67m in 2007 and $103m last year, surpassing for the first time giant Kenya only one position better than fragile-post conflict Burundi that attracted only $1m in foreign investment.<br /><br />Although Rwanda’s economic structure is characterized by an overwhelming majority of population being employed in agriculture which is limited by scarcity of land, Rwanda’s friendly industrial policy has contributed to the general improvement of Rwanda’s economy.<br /><br />With the scarce land problem, the government intervened by intensification, land consolidation, fertiliser application, introduction of good variety of seeds and an intensified terracing exercise programs which have yielded remarkable dividends.<br /><br /><br />The Minister’s advice should not be only for Rwanda, a country with a significant development despite the limited resources available but should be a message for all Africa and for every individual as we strive to attain the MDGs in 2015. With everyone’s effort towards attaining development implemented, then Obama’s slogan “Yes we can”-Develop, can be achieved.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Women poorer than men in Rwanda, says UN<br /><br />The UN agency charged with campaigning for women rights says governments are not doing enough to establish mechanisms that protect women from rampant abuse, urging Kigali to do more on poverty as it is hitting the women hard.<br /><br />Closing the gender gap is crucial because it is symptomatic of an accountability crisis that exists now, according to UNIFEM Executive Director Inés Alberdi, who joined Rwanda First Lady Jeannette Kagame in Kigali to launch the 2008/09 global report on women progress.<br /><br />The report released on a two-year period says women are outnumbered 4 to 1 in legislatures around the world. Over 60 percent of all unpaid family workers globally are women and women still earn on average 17 per cent less than men. It takes note of the fact that Rwanda has more than 56 percent women parliamentarians.<br /><br />About one-third of women suffer gender-based violence during their lives. In some parts of the world, 1 in 10 women dies from pregnancy-related causes even though the means for preventing maternal mortality are cost-effective and well known.<br /><br />Governments and multilateral organizations have a responsibility to do a better job of answering to women, the document demands. It points out that accountability mechanisms work for women when they can ask for explanations and information from decision makers, and, where necessary, initiate investigations or get compensation.<br /><br />The agency’s officials said Tuesday that Rwanda is well past setting up systems that cater for the woman’s needs. “Rwanda has many lessons to share on the theme of gender and accountability” says Josephine Odera, Regional Program Director of UNIFEM Central Africa Regional Office.<br /><br />“It is our duty to ensure that women know, understand and utilize the accountability structures in place in Rwanda.”<br /><br />In Rwanda, the report says accountability for addressing gender-based violence (GBV) has been included in household surveys - traditionally called Imihigo - against which district leadership is to be evaluated. This signals a widespread commitment to prevent violence against women in an explicit form.<br /><br />As one District Mayor explains in the document; “We included the fight against GBV in our performance contracts because security organisations showed us important statistics about the problem of GBV in our area [...] Imihigo is a response to the problems in our community.<br /><br />However, the UN notes that poverty in Rwanda still carries a “female face”. Of the households living under the poverty line, the majority are female headed. More than 80 % of agriculture workers are female, yet they have limited control over assets and suffer from food insecurity. Women have limited access to social and economic services compared to men and gender based violence is still a daily threat to too many women and girls in Rwanda.<br /><br />The First Lady said there cannot be meaningful development without the active participation the women - who are the majority, based on the 2002 census estimates.<br /><br />Even though in the last decade the number of women parliamentarians at the national level has increased by 8 percent to a global average of 18.4 percent, developing countries will still not reach the “parity zone” of 40-60 percent until 2045, the UN agency said.<br /><br />Women hold an average of 19.3 percent of parliamentary seats in countries that applied some form of electoral quota, compared to 14.7 percent in countries with no quotas.<br /><br />Rwanda News Agency (RNA)Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8494227706874709281.post-64789752628011446282009-10-26T11:54:00.000-07:002010-01-19T03:15:59.871-08:00Nile Fortune MagazineNile Fortune Magazine<br />
Our Brand is Nile fortune magazine <br />
Strap line: Expanding Business beyond the Horizons<br />
“We are proudly The only Business Magazine linking Nile Basin Countries”<br />
The Nile Fortune Magazine Circulates in the 10 Countries that form Nile basin organization of Southern Sudan and North Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi, Egypt and DR Congo with the circulation of over 50.000 copies.<br />
The Nile fortune Magazine is a monthly color magazine that does in depth and analytical coverage of the Nile Basin businesses and information dissemination. It is the first of its kind in Nile Basin member countries. It mainly runs along with the e-Fortune websites whose contents are developed together with the business leaders and other stake holders of the Nile Basin. The Nile fortune Magazine and the website advertise the economic resources, business that attract investments in the Nile Basin Countries. Also the Nile Fortune magazine and e-Fortune will showcase the effectiveness, timely, relevant and reliable information that is locally applicable and user friendly to the development of business in the local governments. We are a magazine of choice for procurement, advertising, marketing, promotion and communication practitioners as well as ordinary users.<br />
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Why Partner With Us<br />
Associating with Nile Fortune Magazine is required for any business operating in Africa or wanting to venture into the Continent particularly in the Nile Basin region.<br />
The Nile Fortune Magazine aims at Promoting investments in the region by making Business news and information accessible to Investors and consumers who amount to over 350 Million People through effective mass communication and collaboration with all development partners in the region and Africa in general.<br />
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Vision: To be the leading business development Communication publication in the Nile Basin. <br />
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OBJECTIVES<br />
MAIN OBJECTIVE: Sustainable social-economic development within Nile basin region and Africa in general.<br />
The overriding objectives that underpin the vision of The Nile Fortune Magazine are as follows:<br />
• To contribute to the dissemination of accurate and timely development and Business information in the region and Africa in general.<br />
• To create a forum for sustainable flow of development information.<br />
• The Nile Fortune Magazine aims to turn Nile Valley Region into a Silicon Valley of Manufacturing, Trading and investment through reliable, accurate and incisive analysis on the region.<br />
Editorial policy: Information dissemination for Development of Nile Basin Members.<br />
Primary target: Policy makers; Governments in the Nile Basin, International and local Investors, Private sector and the upcoming middle class, local communities, International Humanitarian and relief agencies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Government Institutions, The business community.<br />
Secondary Target: General public and ordinary users.<br />
Mission: Sustainable social-economic development within Nile basin region and Africa in general.<br />
Values:<br />
Team work, integrity, passion for results, customer focused, valued investment info.<br />
What is our Target?<br />
Our target market is the business in the Nile Basin local government policy makers, parliament, private sector and civil society organizations. We reach out by using the government catchy magazine and e-fortune website information dissemination, development news, stories and then distribute the gathered compacted information to the governments, private sector, the civil society and the general public. We also have an active website. www.nilefortune.com <br />
What is our strength?<br />
We are aware that the media landscape in Nile Basin with a population of more than 350 Million people is awash with publications in excess of 1,000 covering diverse spectra like food, fashion, politics and other areas. The main strength of fortune magazine is that it is based on in-depth research and business analysis for purposive business communication. Through magazine, governments, public institutions, civil society and the private sector are able to disseminate information in the Nile Basin areas. We focus on top-notch news across the 10 Countries of Nile Basin, Africa focus as well as international coverage. Regular features include articles on the latest Businesses, trade and finance, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Leisure and Hospitality, Tourism ,culture ,real estate, construction, Health, Transport, Mineral and oil, Banking, wealth Management , Farming, Education, population statistics, job and business advertisements, tenders and other business community’s activities, sports and Entertainment from the different countries in Africa. <br />
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The Nile Fortune Magazine is edited for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse, general interests enabling you to get to know what you deserve to know at the right time and in a right place.<br />
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Why are we there?<br />
We are in the market because we realize that there is need for a publication that can provide incisive and educative journalism and can act as a reference point for policy makers, institutions of learning and other research users. The fortune magazine comes in to bridge the information gap between the businesses in the Valley. The developed content on the Nile fortune will provide reliable and timely information that is locally applicable, user friendly written both English and in local languages. As a great African philosopher Frantz Fanon taught us, “Every generation has its mission to fulfill or to betray. If it fulfils, the future generation build on it and if it betrays, it leaves the burden to the future generation to destroy the poor foundation to build a stronger foundation.” We strongly feel it is our responsibility to contribute to the knowledge and development of our districts.<br />
Who uses the Nile Fortune magazine?<br />
Government and private sector offices, business community, Policy makers, consumers, Corporate leaders, intro & outro investors, opinion leaders, diplomatic missions, NGOs, CSOs, donors, hotels, schools, homes as well as the ordinary person at street level.<br />
At the business view the following;<br />
A buyer looking for your services through the following ways<br />
• Recommended customer<br />
• Customer reached by your advertising<br />
• Solicited client<br />
• Passers- bye<br />
• Former customers<br />
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Buyer looking for any firm<br />
• New comers and tourist/ investor<br />
• Emergency buyers Dissatisfied buyer<br />
• Comparison shoppers<br />
Our circulation: At least 50,000 Copies.<br />
CLIENTELE<br />
Governments in the Nile Basin, International and local Investors, Private sector and the upcoming middle class, Local communities, International Humanitarian and relief agencies, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Government Institutions, The business community.<br />
Nile Fortune Magazine provides information to the Governments of the East African Community and other Nile Basin Countries on the lucrative businesses and potential selling points.<br />
It circulates in the major towns in 10 Countries such as Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Kabale Mbarara, Mukono in Uganda; Juba, Yei, Wau, Malakal, Bor, Khartoum and Port Sudan in Sudan; Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nakuru in Kenya; Dar esr Salam, Arusha, Mwanza and Moshi and Zanzibar in Tanzania. Also in Kinshasa, Goma , Lubumbashi in DR Congo; Bujumbura in Burundi, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Circulation extends from Kigali and Butare (Huye) in Rwanda as well as in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt and Asmara in Eritrea.<br />
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POPULATION SIZE:<br />
The population of the Nile Valley Region is estimated at 350 Million people. This is the biggest single market for consumer products in Africa. For those who want to get into the networking business but have some fears, The Nile Fortune Magazine comes to rescue you and erase these fears; it also serves to link producers and investors to potential customers in the population of over 350 Million people. Nile Fortune Magazine has a strong reputation for accurate, brisk, and vivid reporting to help those seeking to market their goods and services.<br />
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Profiling your goods or/and services in the Nile Fortune Magazine, will deliver the following benefits to you:<br />
1. Display period ; a monthly long shelf life for your service messages,<br />
2. High daily effective circulation and a high pass along rate,<br />
3. Pocket friendly advertising rate, <br />
4. Unrivaled production quality and.<br />
5. A cross cutting audience.<br />
Special offer e-Nile Fortune Magazine incentive <br />
Free press releases, launching and rebranding news, job adverts, and tenders, notices on our websites for Member of Nile valley business who booking a space with Nile Fortune Magazine worth 1500 USD.Nile Fortunehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15491707920543009534noreply@blogger.com0