After the introduction of the decentralized salary payment system in January 2014, at least 9,000 file s have been deleted from payroll. Minister of Finance, Ms Maria Kiwanuka told Parliament on 15th May 2014 that the system was intended to address problems that were detected under the centralized salary payment system. “The centralized payment system included ghost public servants,” added Maria. But the decentralized system has helped to solve the problems of ghost workers. This translates into the saving of approximately Ugx3billion per month. Pastor arrested over land title forgery Mr. Jimmy Kasadha, a pastor of Centre of Life Church…

It is so surprisingly that US for the first time has overtaken France as the world’s biggest national market for wine, according research by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV). US drinkers consumed 2.9 billion liters of wine in 2013, 0.5% more than in 2012. Meanwhile, French wine consumption fell 7% from the year before to 2.8 billion liters, according to the OIV. However, the amount of wine drunk per head is still higher in France than in the US. According to figures from 2011, the average French person drinks just over a bottle a week, six times more…

The Finance Ministry is allocating Ugx 50 billion next financial year 2014/15 to boost the performance of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs). According to the Finance State Minister, Mr. Fred Omach, the money will be disbursed in form of 600 loans to clients in all districts. This will result in proposed savings of Ugx3 billion. Omach appeared before the Finance Committee to present the Ministry proposed budget for the financial year 2014/15. He said the ministry has proposed a total budget of Ugx 16 billion for the Microfinance sector. However, Members of Parliament (MPs) threatened not to pass the budget…

Construction of Tooke processing plant in Bushenyi District is set to be finalized in October this year. Construction stalled in 2009 for about two years over some court battles which saw Dott services, the construction company, awarded the Ugx. 23 billion contract. This is another initiative being undertaken in western Uganda after the ground breaking ceremony last week at Rushere dairy factory in Bwesharire, Rushere town council in Kiruhura district which will have the ability to process over 50,000 litres of milk a day. Farmers in the western region have yet another reason to smile as this will bring about…

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has denied claims that it paid Ugx 12 billion to ghost workers. Ms. Sarah Birungi, Assistant Commissioner Public and Corporate Affairs said it is the responsibilities of the Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to pay their suppliers not URA. Ms Sarah noted although it could be true that there are some suppliers that are not registered and therefore difficult to be taxed, it is not correct to say URA paid them because the body does not deal with them. There have claims that URA irregularly paid Ugx 12 billion to non-existent firms in Northern Uganda and…