Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

.

As part of the first edition of the West African Arts and Culture Festival (ECOFEST), holding in Dakar from 30 November to 6 December 2025, two major highlights marked activities on 1 December 2025 at the Grand Théâtre National Doudou Ndiaye Coumba Rose: the inaugural conference and an interactive dialogue between West African youth and the Commissions of ECOWAS and UEMOA.

The inaugural conference, which officially launched the festival’s programme of panel discussions, debates and intellectual exchanges under ECOFEST 2025, was delivered by Professor Mamadou Fall, a distinguished Senegalese academic and specialist in African socio-political dynamics. His presentation focused on the role of culture in contemporary geopolitical transformations, as well as its potential as a tool for dialogue, mediation and peacebuilding in West Africa.

The youth dialogue session featured exchanges between West African youth, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, and Mr. Mamadù Serifo Jaquite, UEMOA Commissioner in charge of the Department of Human Development. The discussion was held under the theme: “Pathways to the Future with Youth for Development, Peace and Integration.”

The meeting provided a platform for both Commissioners to present ongoing programmes and opportunities available to West African youth. They engaged directly with young leaders, emerging artists, cultural entrepreneurs, students and members of youth organisations on key contemporary issues, including development challenges, peace and regional integration, as well as youth employability.

Discussions also focused on strengthening civic participation and enhancing the contribution of young people to the construction of a stable, inclusive and integrated West African regional space.

As part of this first edition of ECOFEST, several flagship activities are featured across Dakar, including film screenings, an exhibition and sales fair of handcrafted art, fashion and culinary arts, as well as exhibitions at the Creativity Fair showcasing heritage-based skills and digital innovation led by start-ups.

The programme further includes artistic competitions in painting, photography and sculpture, traditional and modern music performances by young talents, as well as roundtable discussions on cultural and creative industries and the regional market, regional citizenship and a culture of peace, and on regional diversity and cultural heritage.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

.

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

.

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.