As humanitarian needs continue to grow at an alarming rate, the resources available to respond to the crisis are in danger of running out very quickly.

The escalation in fighting between the armed forces of the DRC and the March 23 Movement (M23) in the southern part of North Kivu province is driving increasing numbers of civilians from their homes, many of them multiple times. While most of the displaced find refuge with host families, large numbers continue to stream into displacement sites.

The armed clashes are also forcing thousands more people to flee, often repeatedly, to areas further and further away from the fighting. At present, over 39,000 families have found refuge in Kanyabayonga, in Lubero territory in northern North Kivu province.

“These people risk ending up in remote areas, where they are exposed to more violence and  cannot get the humanitarian aid they so urgently need”, says François Moreillon.

Over the last months, the level of violence against the civilian population, including sexual violence, has increased dramatically in the areas of North Kivu affected by the conflict. According to the coordination group on gender-based violence in North Kivu, in the first two months of 2024 the number of cases of sexual violence rose by 80 per cent compared with the same period last year. Between January and mid-March 2024, 230 survivors of sexual violence were referred to the ICRC for medical care and psychosocial support.

The ICRC is continuing its dialogue with the parties to the conflict, to remind them of their obligation under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all civilians, the sick and the wounded, and to ensure that those who have fled the violence can receive vital aid.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with the Red Cross Society of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has provided food aid to over 44,000 newly arrived displaced people in camps around Goma, in North Kivu province. A further 18,000 people in Nzulo camp, outside Goma, received essential relief items.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The Russian Pacific Fleet frigate, Marshal Shaposhnikov, arrived today, 28 March, for a five-day port call in Massawa, commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Russian Federation and Eritrea.

Upon its arrival at the Massawa port, the naval frigate was warmly welcomed by Eritrea’s Navy. The welcoming ceremony was attended by senior government officials, Commanders of the Eritrean Defense Forces, and Mr. Igor Mozgo, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Eritrea.

Senior government officials and military Commanders toured the naval frigate and received a briefing on the objectives of its tour and its history.

It is worth recalling that India’s naval ship conducted a similar tour to the port city of Massawa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Government has presented a Shs58.34 national budget for the 2024/2025 financial year, intended to focus on ‘full monetisation of the Ugandan economy through agriculture, industrialisation, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation and market access’.

The Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, who presented the budget also listed investments in wealth creation initiatives, investments in social sectors like education, health and water, as well as manufacturing, as the other priority areas.

“The key priority areas include peace and security, road maintenance and construction of a few strategic road and construction of the standard gauge railway, electricity transmission and utilisation of existing energy stock,” he said during the plenary sitting of the House on Thursday 28 March 2024.

The national budget is tabled before April in accordance with Section 13 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, which states that, “The Minister shall, on behalf of the President, present the proposed annual budget of a financial year to Parliament, by the 1st of April of the preceding financial year.”

Musasizi called for House support in processing and passing the Bill ahead of the new financial year.

“I wish to pledge on behalf of the Ministry of Finance that we shall be available to support this process through Parliament from the start to the end,” Musasizi added.

The new budget estimates indicate a rise by Shs5.64 trillion compared to the 2023/2024 budget that amounted to Shs52.7 trillion.

The proposed budget was accompanied by five tax bills including the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

“These are tax bills that will help us to get money to fund the next budget,” said Speaker Anita Among, while referring them to the House Committees on Finance and Budget for consideration.

According to Section 13 of the Public Finance Management Act, the budget for the succeeding year must also be accompanied by among others, a list of accounting officers, a statement on multi-year commitments to be made by Government in the financial year and a certificate indicating the budget’s gender and equity responsiveness.

Before the budget presentation, legislators accused the PSST, Ramathan Ggoobi, of disrespecting Parliament allegedly saying that the institution does not have a role to play in the appropriation of the budget.

“Members have been very keen in attending sectoral Committees to consider the budget but whatever we approve does not come to reality. Since the PSST made that statement, I do not see why we are spending our time going into the budget,” said Hon. Nathan Byanyima (NRM, Bukanga North County).

Byanyima and Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West County) sought to move a motion that Ggoobi should appear in person to apologise to the Committee of Parliament.

“In the Committee of Education, we summoned him and he refused to appear. The Finance Minister had to ring him to come but he still refused. He does not respect Members and Committees of Parliament,” said Ssewungu.

The Speaker alluded to Article 156 of the Constitution and Section 14 of the Public Finance Management Act as regards budget approval by Parliament, and said she would write to him reminding him of the need to respect Parliament.

Minister Musasizi apologised on behalf of the Ministry and asked legislators to disregard the statement of the PSST.
 

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

The Ministry of Finance has released funds required to pay salary arrears for casual labourers employed by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, has said.

Without giving figures, the Minister provided this assurance following concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, during the plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Thursday, 28 March 2024.

Ssenyonyi raised the issue following another demonstration by labourers employed by KCCA over non-payment of their dues, despite a meeting between the Speaker and KCCA leadership early in March that agreed to make immediate payments.

“In the meeting, KCCA leadership committed to pay all the arrears by 06 March 2024. These casual labourers protested again at the KCCA offices yesterday because today is 28 March and this money has not been paid,” said Ssenyonyi, urging government to prioritize the payments and give feedback to Parliament.

The Speaker also expressed dismay over the delayed payments.

“The money paid to these people is very little. Yesterday I held a meeting with the Minister for Finance and the PSST [Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury] who said they had released the money,” Among noted.

She also scolded security agencies over the cruel management of the demonstrating casual laborers.

“Much as these people were demonstrating, they were just walking while asking for their money. Did they need to be teargassed and beaten? There is a picture I saw of someone who was brutally handled,” Among said.

The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Nobert Mao, attributed this to the absence of regulations for the Public Order Management Act, noting that it is illegal to use such force.

“We are in the final stages of enacting these regulations so that the discretion is reduced in order that the Police do not violate the Constitution,” said Mao.

He added; “Right now they use the mother Act and believe they have the right to give permission or deny it. The truth of the matter is that they can only regulate it.”

In a Tuesday, 05 March meeting between the Speaker and KCCA leaders including Minister Hon. Minsa Kabanda, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, it was resolved that payments would be made to the sweepers’ SACCO by 06 March 2024.

The street sweepers, who are organised in SACCOs, have gone over four months without pay.
 

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