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  • Driving Tips for Foreign Visitors to Uganda

    If you are a first time visitor and you are looking at a self drive in Uganda during your visit, there are some driving rules and customs you might not be aware of that could get you into trouble.

    • You will need an International Driving Permit to avoid inconveniences on the road.
    • To rent a car in Uganda, a driver must be at least 23 years old and has held a valid driver license for a period of not less than 2 years
    • The minimum age for driving is 18 years and third-party insurance is mandatory.
    • When driving, Some Road conditions are generally poor and there are a large number of accidents, often involving inter-city buses and trucks. Take care!
    • Driving conditions in Uganda’s national parks can be unpredictable as the roads around the parks are mainly dirt tracks and can become impassable after heavy rain.
    • A 4×4 Uganda car hire is essential for safaris into the wilderness. It is important to choose the best 4×4 that will meet your needs.
    • It is a good idea to drive defensively — always be aware of nearby vehicles and anticipate possible movements by other drivers.
    • When there are emergency vehicles of any kind on the side of the road, drivers must change lanes away – or – slow down markedly. Such vehicles include law enforcement, fire vehicles, Ambulances, or even tow trucks.
    • Vehicles are sometimes targeted by thieves so keep doors locked, windows up and valuables out of sight.
    • Avoid driving out of town at night. If you become aware of an unusual incident, or if somebody out of uniform tries to flag you down, it is often safer not to stop.
    • Highway signs are often colour coded to indicate what they mean. You must know how to interpret the road signs to avoid falling in danger.
    • A lower speed limit is strictly enforced near schools Watch for kids, because they are everywhere and unpredictable. Keep an eye open particularly in the morning from 6-9:30 a.m. and later in the afternoon from12:30-3:30 p.m. Generally these are the times of day when children are going to school or leaving it to return home.
    • . The speed limit on highways is 100 km/h (62 mph), outside built up areas – 80 km/h (50 mph) and 50 km/h (31 mph) in urban built up areas.
    • You must stop for pedestrians to cross if you reach a zebra –crossing point, be on the lookout because you could injure or even kill a pedestrian crossing.
    • Most gasoline stations require you to pay before filling up .so pay to the attendant and tell him whether you diesel or petrol of a particular amount. However the fuel prices differ from station to station.
    • If you get lost on the road, park in an area where there many people like trading or shopping centres, you can even park at a hotel or restaurant.  You can either ask or you will definitely see some signs to get you back on track.  People will usually be eager to help.
    • In the event of a flat tire or other road emergency, try to ease yourself to the right side of the road where there is a lane nobody is using – this is the shoulder. Put your emergency blinkers on to warn other drivers then contact someone for help.
    • Avoid talking or chatting on phone while driving in Uganda. This is an offence because it gives you chance to lack concentration on the road.
    • Wear a seatbelt and ensure children under 8 years have a car or booster seat. A policeman that stops you and finds you without your seatbelt fastened can ticket you. .
    • If you have a baby sit in the back with him as it avoids distracting the driver and makes it easier to care for him. You can stop the driver and attend to the baby if he/she wants to ease himself.
    • If you are stopped by a police officer, park ranger, or highway patrolman: Pull over to the right side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so and get off the road as far as possible. Putting on the emergency flashers is a good idea, especially after dark. The officer will park behind you in his or her car, then get out and walk up to you. He or she will first ask for your identification: (1) your driver’s license, (2) your registration papers for the vehicle, and (3) proof that you have insurance to cover any potential liability from an accident.  If asked for those, hand the officer the license you have from home, your passport, and your rental agreement.
    • Do not drink alcoholic beverages and drive. If you cannot do without it Make sure there is one in your party who will not drink and drives you.  Do not keep any drugs or open bottles of alcohol, even beer, in the car. If police gets this with you, you will be arrested
    • At intersections, drivers must give way to traffic from his right.
    • In case of an accident, you must give to a police officer your name and address, the name and address of the car owner, and the number of the registration plates of his vehicle. You must also report the accident in person at the police station as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after the accident. The police number is 999 toll free
    • If a driver needs to wear glasses or contact lenses, he must do that at all times while driving. The Uganda traffic police may require any driver to undertake an eyesight test.
    • If you get involved in an accident, immediately contact your insurer and take pictures of the scene of the accident and the damage of the car.

  • Billions Swindled in Kalangala Health Project

    KALANGALA: Kalangala District health department has been hit with a 14 billion shillings’ corruption scandal involving key stakeholders in the district local government, Center for disease control and several officials in the United States embassy in Uganda.

    The scandal presided over by the District Health Officer Hillary Bitakaramire, the chief administrative officers who worked in the Ssese Islands in such capacity and several other officials at the district local government and the Kalangala Comprehensive Public Health services project.

    The scandal detailed in a report done by the Statehouse health desk indicates how a projected 14 billion shs project donated to the District through a project implementation organization (KCPHSP) involved reckless spending, kickbacks, forgery, inflation of project implementation costs among many other inadequacies.

    At the inception of the project, Center for disease control funded the Kalangala Home based VCT program under the district local government.

    The funding, including several transport costs were inflated to a tune of 200 percent including fuel on land and water. The report also indicated highlighted several plights of forgery and indecent spending for the time of inception to completion.

    “Several receipts of fuel consumption provided for audit indicated that different fuel stations provided utility on a different date and actual utilization was also a month later. Such indications are a result of forgery to meet audit standards.” Reads part of the report.

    The administration of the same project seemed to overlook several required standards as the chief accounting officer and general project management was marginalized and done by the District Health officer.

    “This left loopholes in the project management. Also, many indicated activities tend to share dates. Some of the audits and monitoring seasons done by project funders clearly indicated that the duty bearers mentioned in the project management stages rejected being part of the implemented projects. Some also wondered why the project implementers kept forging their signatures to suit the project goals.” Said a source privy to the report but asked to remain anonymous.

    Several vouchers and bank statements we have seen indicated that several staff within the project offered themselves contracts contrary to the standing orders.

    Also, several of the officers including the project titular head Hillary Bitakaramire received on several occasions three money transfers from the project to his personal accounts in a single day. For instance, on December 16th, Bitakaramire through his stanbic account received three sums of money coming at different intervals. The same amounts came in a day later on the same account, towards the Christmas holiday.

    Dr Bitakaramire however defends the deliberations as sums that were to be used in the project implementation.  “But you also know that money is used for project implementation. All those funds are accounted for.”

    In June 2015, Bitakaramire together with a host of machete wielding men kidnapped Jundo Samuel the then handler of all properties the District Health officer had acquired. Jundo had revealed information on how the medical officer had invested most of the project money in private lucrative businesses including storied building construction.

    “Actually all money used to come to my accounts and later, I would withdraw and take to him for further deposits in banks whose access was not in Kalangala. He never wanted me to tell people that the building was his because they would know how much he has defrauded.” Jundo was recorded saying in a telephone interview.

    The Anti-Corruption coalition Uganda in an interview on the matter indicated that such trivial acts need to be investigated and perpetrators be brought to book. “The local people remain without delivering a service whose money is supposed to serve” Said Cissy Kagaba, the Executive Director anti-corruption coalition

    The money was supposed to cater for HIV patients and victims, raise awareness and also improve their conditions. However, a report by the District NGO forum indicated that there remains a high level of ignorance amongst HIV patients on the test and treat implementation and how to prevent the acquiring of HIV.

    The Kalangala District Chairperson Willy Lugoloobi demanded that an independent audit be made on the project so as provide evidence on theft and the mismanagement of funds. Currently, the center for disease control has temporarily withdrawn funding through the project.

  • Kabaka Mutebi Meets UWA over Wildlife Conservation in Buganda

    His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda, Muwenda Mutebi II has agreed to work with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to promote conservation of wildlife in Buganda.

    Although there are no national parks or wildlife reserves in Buganda, the Buganda culture derives many of its associations from wildlife, and all the 52 clans of Buganda derive their names from animals, such as Enjovu (elephant), Engo (leopard), Emamba (lungfish), Enkima (monkey), Ente (cow) Endiga (sheep) etc. Even some names of places in Buganda are derived from animals such as Wandegeya (weaverbird) and Kampala (impalas).

    At a meeting His Majesty the Kabaka held with the UWA Acting Executive Director, Mr. Moses Mapesa and Public Relations Manager, Lillian Nsubuga in the presence of his Advisor, Mr. Peter Mpanga at his Banda palace on Thursday, 17th March 2005, it was observed that there are substantial numbers of wildlife populations in Nakasongola, Kiboga, Sembabule, Wakiso and Luwero districts which could be more adequately utilised either for tourism or recreation.

    Some of such animals include elephants, buffaloes, sitatungas, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, and many primate species. Sango Bay in Rakai District was specially identified as an ideal area that could be turned into a wildlife reserve through local government or Buganda government initiatives. Apart from having large wildlife numbers and a very good road network, the area is largely unpopulated and has a big forest reserve.

    On many occasions, UWA has been called upon to manage the animals in Sango Bay even though the organisation does not have a staff presence in the area. Most of the land there either belongs to the Buganda Kingdom or private landlords.

    His Majesty the Kabaka offered to help promote the idea of establishing wildlife ranches by Baganda landowners especially in areas where livestock can coexist with wildlife. Interested landlords would also establish picnic sites and campsites on their lands, which local and international tourists would use at a fee.

    UWA would also work with landlords to restock wildlife numbers in areas where they may be depleted as long as those landlords want to invest in wildlife-related ventures, which is already provided for under the Uganda Wildlife Act 2000 Cap 200 in respect to the wildlife use rights.

    Establishing wildlife conservation areas within Buganda would bring wildlife closer to the majority of Kampala residents who love to see and experience wildlife but don’t have the time to drive to the national parks most of which lie far from the city, almost 300kms away.

    His Majesty the Kabaka requested to be furnished with more information regarding wildlife numbers in the Sango Bay area and promised to promote wildlife conservation among his subjects.

    His Majesty the Kabaka expressed interest in starting an ostrich farm on a small scale, and requested for more information on how this can be done.