There is hope for learners in rural schools to benefit from the higher education students’ loan scheme after Parliament adopted a recommendation introducing the district quota system. 

The recommendation was passed following the adoption of the Higher Education Students’ Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024 during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, 17 April 2024 chaired by Speaker Anita Among.

The Bill presented by the Minister of State of Education and Sports (Primary Education), Hon. Joyce Moriku, sought to give effect to the Government policy for rationalisation of government agencies and public expenditures adopted by cabinet.

The Committee on Education and Sports in a report presented by the chairperson, Hon. John Twesigye, however, disagreed with the Government’s policy on rationalisation, observing that mainstreaming the board under the education ministry would not cure the existing structural and operational issues associated with delivery of services.

“lnstead, mainstreaming of the board will lead to delayed decision making, disbursing of loans and loan recovery. The Higher Education Students Financing Board should be maintained as a semi-autonomous body, with a view of granting it vote status in the medium term for it to effectively discharge its mandate,” said Twesigye, also Bunyaruguru County MP.

Maracha County Member of Parliament, Hon. Denis Oguzu, dissented from the committee’s report, stating that the board should be dissolved and funds used for its operations should be channeled to the students’ loan scheme.  

He added, “There is no equity in the way this scheme operates as it largely favours students from well to do families. Today is an opportunity for us to ensure this money serves all regions.”

Oguzu further justified that the current selection process disenfranchises learners from rural communities without access to computers and electricity

“The board requires that you apply online, the infrastructure to achieve all this is largely missing in many parts and because of that we are missing out,” he said. 

The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Chrysostom Muyingo, welcomed the minority report, saying that the ministry will develop guidelines under the Education Act to include the district quota system. 

“When we develop the guidelines, we have to emphasise the quota system. It has been working before and this money will be added so that when money is appropriated, each district will receive,” said Muyingo. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Speaker Anita Among has paid homage to the fallen former Executive Director of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Dr Tom Okurut, who died after undergoing brain surgery at Platinum Hospital, Kampala on Sunday, 14 April 2024.

In memory of Dr Okurut, who was an environmental enthusiast, Speaker Among persuaded all Ugandans to plant at least five trees in his honour.

“When he was in NEMA [Dr Okurut] was very crucial in the enforcement of regulations that conserve the environment. He appealed to us to advise MPs to plant trees and conserve the environment,” Among said during a requiem mass of the decease held at St. Luke Church of Uganda, Ntinda, on Thursday, 18 April 2024.

“How I wish we would all plant five trees in memory of Dr Tom Okurut. Promise me that each of us here will plant trees in memory of Dr Okurut because that is what he was passionate about and that is the legacy he has left behind,” she said.

According to Among, Okurut whose expertise in environmental science shaped Uganda’s landscape, led by example and planted more than 5,000 trees. 

She asked the bereaved family to seek refuge in God, saying it’s only His love and comfort that is forever unconditional.

“To the widow, take heart, God is the husband of widows and father of orphans; we just have to glorify God. So, as we mourn Dr Okurut, we want to remember his unwavering commitment to the environmental protection cause,” Among added.

Okurut retired in July 2021 as the executive director of NEMA after serving two five-year terms since 2011. He will be laid to rest on Saturday, 20 April 2024 at Akadot, in Kumi District.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Global Affairs Canada (https://apo-opa.co/3UlInNr) has provided $7.3 million in funding to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM) to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity and smallholder farmer livelihoods, particularly women and youth across Africa.

The financing will aid the Mechanism in replicating its credit guarantee programs, enabling fertilizer importers and aggregators to access the product on credit. It will also boost efforts to improve soil health and provide technical assistance to farmers.

Signed on 25 March 2024, the funding agreement between the earmarks CAD$10 million specifically to the Mechanism’s ‘Fostering Africa’s agricultural productivity through fertilizer value chain financing’ (FOSTER) program. Administered by the African Development Bank Group, the Mechanism provides innovative financing to accelerate fertilizer use in Africa and improve agricultural productivity across the Bank’s regional member countries.

“We thank Global Affairs Canada for its support to advance the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism’s implementation of its Strategic Plan 2022-2028, which focuses on broadening access to finance through capital investments and policy reforms, among other priorities that benefit Africa’s smallholder farmers,” said Dr Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

Fertilizer is essential for food production, yet it is significantly underutilized in sub-Saharan Africa’s agriculture sector due to limited financing and technical know-how among farmers.

The FOSTER program targets 800,000 smallholder farmers, with 40% of beneficiaries expected to be women and 10% youth. It aims to provide access to and improve the utilization of 80,000 tons of organic and inorganic fertilizer, which is expected to increase yields by 30%.

Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, said: “Canada is proud to support resilient, climate-smart agriculture and adaptable food production systems in Africa. We remain committed to promoting inclusive, green growth in partnership with the African Development Bank, including through our contribution to the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism.”

Under the FOSTER program, the Mechanism will extend credit guarantee facilities to the inputs supply chain in eight African countries. The program will also facilitate the formulation of fertilizer policies and regulatory frameworks to foster gender-sensitive and sustainable soil management practices.

Marie Claire Kalihangabo, Coordinator of the Mechanism, welcomed Global Affairs Canada as a new member and expressed readiness to collaborate with Canada to fulfill the AFFM’s mandate effectively.”

The FOSTER program aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 (https://apo-opa.co/3Q2yLVd), and the Malabo Declaration (https://apo-opa.co/3Q3YJrF). The program also resonates with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and its efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. It also complements Canada’s “Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health” initiative to boost food security and sustainability.

This initiative seeks to overhaul African agriculture into a productive, competitive, and sustainable sector through national Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts that were developed at the Dakar 2 Food Summit in January 2023, co-organized by the African Development Bank.

Canada’s funding announcement comes just weeks ahead of the African Union Commission’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit scheduled for 7-9 May 2024 in Nairobi.

To learn more about the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism, click here (https://apo-opa.co/3W642uA).

To learn more about Global Affairs Canada, click here (https://apo-opa.co/3UlInNr).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contacts:
Communication and External Relations Department
Email: media@afdb.org

Nelly Nguegan
Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism
Email: affm@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

Government has tabled a loan request of US$117.26 million (Shs446.7 billion) to be borrowed from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the construction of the Kitgum-Kidepo road.

The Minister of State for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (Planning), Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, tabled the request during the plenary sitting on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Speaker Anita Among noted that government has been improving tourism roads across the country to boost revenue generation from the sector. 

“There is a need for us to work on tourism roads, and today we will receive a proposal to borrow money to finance a tourism road from Kitgum to Kidepo. This road, if constructed, will boost tourism in the Northern part of the country,” she said.

Among also expressed concern about the lengthy approval process for the loan, which has taken over a year and a half, resulting in the accrual of fees such as commitment fees. 

“How can a loan take over a year in the approval process when all the feasibility studies have been done? The time value of money should be considered,” she said.

The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, acknowledged the concern but explained that delays are sometimes caused by the need for further and better particulars to ensure efficiency. 

“Besides the time taken to negotiate the loan, the most important thing is that you need to get the right information from the necessary entities,” he said.

The Minister of State for Works, Hon. Musa Ecweru, highlighted the challenge of outdated road designs resulting from the delay.

Hon. Lugoloobi stated that they have evaluated the value chain of loan acquisition, approval process and actual implementation and evaluation of performance, noting serious concerns. 

Speaker Among referred the proposal to the Committee on National Economy for consideration.

Meanwhile, the Minister also tabled a supplementary request worth Shs1.106 trillion for consideration by Parliament. The supplementary expenditure Schedule No. 2 for financial year 2023/24 was tabled according to Section 25 of the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Act (2015), which stipulates that the total supplementary expenditure requiring additional resources over and above what is approved by Parliament shall not exceed 3 percent of the total approved budget for that financial year without the approval of Parliament. 

It also states that where funds are expended under subsection (1), supplementary estimates showing the sums spent shall be laid before Parliament within four months after the money is spent.

According to the breakdown, the bulk of the money, Shs 578 billion was spent on settling the offtake arrangement between Government and DEI Pharmaceuticals; Shs125 billion for settling wage shortfalls, and pension and gratuity shortfalls. Others include State House Shs18.6 billion; Office of the Prime Minister Shs9.4 billion; and Ministry of Finance Shs37.6 billion.

The supplementary schedule was referred to the committee on the Budget for consideration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.