Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

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Mr. Goush Tewolde, representative of the Forestry and Wildlife Authority, reported that the strong efforts to preserve and develop forest and wildlife resources are registering encouraging results.

Mr. Goush indicated that, as a result of the active control mechanisms put in place, coupled with awareness-raising activities to enhance public understanding, the types of trees and wildlife that were on the verge of extinction are now reviving.

He went on to say that the corrective measures taken against those engaged in deforestation activities are also contributing to the development of forestry and wildlife in the area.

The people engaged in forestry and wildlife preservation activities in the Faulina administrative area indicated that the coordinated effort is significantly contributing to the preservation initiative.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO

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Parliament has approved over Shs8 trillion in supplementary funding for financial year 2025/2026, to support key development projects including road infrastructure, health and agriculture services, among others.

According to State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, the funding for the activities under Supplementary Schedules 1, 2 and 3 are over and above the budget of the financial year, but fall within three per cent of the total approved budget.

“We have incurred expenditures that had been unforeseen and unavoidable at the time of budgeting. These fall within the three per cent requirement and we are requesting Parliament to consider these expenditures and approve them in order to regularize the process,” said Musasizi, while seeking the Parliamentary approval during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among, on Tuesday, 02 December 2025.

According to the report presented by the Chairperson of the Budget Committee, Hon. Patrick Opolot Isiagi, the supplementary schedules will be funded through non-tax revenue (Shs42.96 billion), local revenue from local governments (Shs13.03 billion), domestic borrowing (Shs3.7 trillion) and external financing (Shs4.27 trillion).

Under Supplementary Schedule I, Shs1.65 trillion is expected to facilitate among others, funding of shortfalls created by the withdrawal of US funding to essential health services in Uganda, to avoid drug stock outs and any other health related crisis.

Further, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will receive Shs3 billion to host the 18th Ministerial mid-term review meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), whereas Shs6.92 billion will support recruitment expenses for newly created grant aided UgIFT seed secondary schools.

A total of Shs1.69 trillion is to be availed to the Ministry of Works and Transport under Supplementary Schedule II, to facilitate 395km of seven suspended projects including the Kampala-Jinja Highway (72 km); 533km of 11 projects under reduced progress; and nine bridge projects affected by financing constraints.

Under Supplementary Schedule III, Shs4.75 trillion will be provided to among others enable the Commission of Inquiry into the Apaa land dispute to carry out its duties with funding of Shs7.95 billion, following a Presidential directive on the matter.

The supplementary schedule will also avail up to Sh422.26 billion to purchase additional aircraft under Uganda Airlines, including two Dreamliner Boeing passenger aircraft, one Boeing freighter and two mid-range Airbus aircraft, as well as associated bridge leasing costs.

Construction of community access roads in 81 district local governments will be supported with Shs37.5 billion under the national oil seeds project, whereas the national ambulance system will be facilitated with Shs10billion, noting that most ambulances are not operational due to inadequate fuel and mechanical breakdowns.

However, in a minority report to the House, Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality), challenged the proposed supplementary schedules over their size and character, noting repeated supplementary financing for long-standing obligations in the sectors of agriculture, works, energy, health and defence.

“Parliament is being asked to approve more than Shs6 trillion in supplementary funding. If this continues, we will soon reach a point where the annual budget is treated as a ceremonial event while the real spending happens through supplementary schedules,” Ssemujju said.

He further noted, “Road contracts that have been running for years cannot be classified as emergencies. These are predictable matters that should have been foreseen in the main budget.”

Among his recommendations, Ssemujju called for a detailed report on Uganda Airlines aircraft purchases before approval, as well as mandated quarterly implementation reports to Parliament for all approved supplementary expenditures.

“The Ministry is requesting more than Shs400 billion to purchase new aircraft for Uganda Airlines yet the country has not recovered from the Bombardier deal, where we purchased aircraft that were already being phased out. Before government buys any new aircraft, a thorough due diligence process must be presented,” Ssemujju added.

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, also challenged the proposed supplementary schedules while alluding to Regulation 18(5) of the Public Finance Management Regulations 2016.
It states; “Parliament may approve a supplementary appropriation or the Minister may approve a supplementary budget, as the case may be, where the supplementary expenditure is unabsorbable, unavoidable and unforeseeable”.

“When we were here planning for the budget process, why did you not bring these issues then, why now? This is a bad planning issue,” Ssenyonyi said.

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

Source: APO

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The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services had called on the Department of Correctional Services to ensure maintenance is continued once it takes successfully the running of the private prisons.

The departmental delegation which was led by Minister, Dr Pieter Groenewald, assured the committee that it was ready to take over the Mangaung Correctional Facility and Kutama Correctional Facility when it briefed the committee on plans and the work done to take over the running of the correctional centres. Manguang became infamous following the escape of the famous offender Thabo Bester a couple of years back.

The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Kgomotso Ramoboleng, said the take-over should not result in inefficiencies and budget mismanagement. “It would be ideal if the take-over results in cost savings for the department. The take-over would be seamless if there is cooperation especially with regards to Mangaung, which is run by a consortium on whose behalf G4S manages the centre,” said Ms Ramolobeng.

She added: “We wanted the Department to come out clearly on the plans to mitigate risk, and maintenance. There better be no regression at those two well run facilities, and as the committee we implore the department to keep those standards.”

The committee also requested a thorough briefing early in 2026 regarding all investigations that concern unnatural deaths of inmates, as well as erroneous release of inmates.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MS KGOMOTSO RAMOLOBENG.

For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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Speaker, Anita Among has asked the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Nobert Mao to present a statement on the status of regulations of the biometric voter verification system, ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Uganda will hold general elections in January 2026 and lawmakers are concerned that regulations on biometric voter verification have not yet been approvedyet the system will be in use.

While chairing the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 02 December 2025, Speaker Among underscored the need for the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to present a statement on the status of the regulations.

This followed a matter that was raised by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi who said that in April this year, the minister pledged to table the regulations, a commitment that has not been honoured. 
“We are left with only one month to elections and there are no regulations on the biometric system. What guidelines are you going to base the elections on?” Ssenyonyi asked.

He raised concern that President Yoweri Museveni alluded to mandatory usage of the biometric system for voting. 
“Candidate Museveni made a statement during his campaigns that a polling station where the machines will not work, voting will not happen. I was confused and I want government to clarify; in cases where network fails, what will happen?” Ssenyonyi added.

Kampala Central Division Member of Parliament, Hon. Muhammad Nsereko said that the regulations ought to be clear on systems failure to avoid confusion. 
“During the last election, the Electoral Commission gave a provision of a manual system in cases of biometric system failure. But in the case of next elections, how will it be done?” Nsereko said. 
Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (Jeema, Bugiri Municipality) was concerned that procurement of technology and machines are being undertaken outside the regulations. 
“Machines are being procured but stakeholders are not aware,” he said.

The Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka gave reassurance that there is sufficient legal infrastructure to use the biometric voter verification during the forthcoming elections.

He also allayed fears over President Museveni’s remarks on the mandatory use of the biometric verification machines saying that the Electoral Commission is the only organ that is mandated to conduct an election. 
“I have not heard anything from the President but there is nothing to worry about. Section 12 of the Electoral Commissions Act mandates the EC to stop an election even on election day,” said Kiryowa Kiwanuka. 

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

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Aaron Weah, a distinguished Liberian academic and transitional justice expert, to the African Union Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER). Dr. Weah’s appointment represents a significant milestone for Liberia as the nation continues to contribute meaningfully to continental policymaking on justice, accountability, and historical redress.

Mme. Nyanti expressed a sense of pride in nominating Dr. Weah on behalf of the Government of Liberia. She extended heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Weah and stated her confidence in him being a strong ambassador to bring Liberia’s historical journey to the African narrative and to demonstrate Liberia’s credibility in raising the need for reparations for Africa.  

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti lauded the appointment as “a moment of opportunity for Liberia to share its experience in transitional justice and challenges with reparations; and to contribute expertise to the African Union’s reparations campaign.” 

Minister Nyanti further emphasized that Liberia’s participation at this level signifies the country’s growing leadership in global and continental conversations on justice, accountability, and reconciliation. She congratulated Dr. Weah and urged him to effectively represent Liberia’s perspectives on Pan-Africanism. She also encouraged him to leverage economic diplomacy as a tool for strengthening Liberia’s influence within the African Union.

The Ministry extends its profound appreciation to the Regional Dean of West Africa (Senegal) and all member states within the regional bloc for endorsing Liberia’s nominee after a series of constructive negotiations. This endorsement underscores the region’s confidence in Liberia’s expertise and long-standing contributions to transitional justice discourse.

In response to his appointment, Dr. Weah expressed deep gratitude to Minister Nyanti and the Government of Liberia for recognizing his longstanding work and expertise. He noted that it was an honor to be considered for such a vital role and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Africa’s reparations agenda with professionalism, scholarship, and integrity. 

He pledged to work collaboratively with fellow experts to develop a robust and inclusive framework that reflects the aspirations of African peoples and diaspora communities.

With more than eighteen years of experience in civil society, government, and international non-governmental organizations, Dr. Weah brings a wealth of knowledge to the AUCER. He has worked extensively on transitional justice issues in both Liberia and The Gambia, contributing to national and regional dialogues on accountability and post-conflict recovery. 

In 2023, he was part of an international delegation of scholars and practitioners that convened in Accra, Ghana to advance a unified position on justice and reparations for Africa and the Black African Diaspora.

Dr. Weah currently serves as the Director of the Ducor Institute for Social and Economic Research, a Liberia-based think tank focused on evidence-driven public policy and social research. He also lectures at the University of Liberia and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentoring the next generation of scholars, diplomats, and public servants.

His scholarly contributions include publications in reputable journals such as the Oxford University Press International Journal of Transitional Justice. He is also the co-publisher of Impunity Under Attack: The Evolution and Imperatives of the Liberian Truth Commission (2008), a seminal work that underscores his deep engagement with Liberia’s post-conflict justice processes.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again congratulates Dr. Aaron Weah on his prestigious appointment and affirms its full support as he undertakes this critical continental responsibility on behalf of Liberia and the West Africa region.

The Committee’s mandate, as defined by Assembly of Heads of State and Government Decision 847(XXXVI), is “to develop an African Common Position on Reparations, and incorporate therein, an African Reparatory Programme of Action.” The body will work collaboratively with member states, regional blocs, experts, and civil society organizations to forge a unified African approach to addressing historical injustices, colonial harms, and other systemic violations suffered across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyma Boakai, Sr., has by Proclamation declared Saturday, November 29, 2025, the 130th Birth Anniversary of the late William V. S. Tubman, the 18th President of the Republic of Liberia, to be celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the Republic as a National Holiday. 

President Boakai has ordered and directed that all government ministries, agencies, business houses, and market places be closed on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from six o’clock ante meridian to six o’clock post meridian.

 According to a Foreign Ministry release, at the 3rd session of the 42nd  National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia, declaring the birthday of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, November 29, each year as a National Holiday in keeping with the will of the Liberian people.

The Proclamation says this act of Legislation is in recognition of his productive, meaningful services and policies, including the Integration Policy, the granting of suffrage to women, as well as national policies and many other socio-economic developments, and his contributions to the emancipation of African Colonial Territories into statehood.  

“In consideration of the numerous contributions, profound changes and lasting accomplishments made by William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, during his administration as 18th President of the Republic of Liberia, the citizens of the Republic, desirous of showing their deep appreciation, esteem and approval of his outstanding, noble and remarkable leadership, did petition and requested the National Legislature of this nation to issue permanent record of their sentiments in honor of his birth anniversary for posterity.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.