What the Duchess of Cambridge wears – when, where and why
Since she grabbed Prince William’s attention wearing a near see-through dress at a student fashion show, Kate Middleton’s outfits have always been in the public eye. In Kate’s Wardrobe Secrets – to be broadcast exclusively on ITV Choice (DStv 123) on Thursday, July 27 at 20:00 CAT, the filmmakers reveal Kate’s favourite labels, the styles she chooses – whether she is going to a sports ground or a film premiere – and her go-to designers, who include Catherine Walker – a favourite of her late mother-in-law, Diana – Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen.
At the other end of the scale they disclose how high street favourites such as LK Bennett, Reiss and Hobbs are regular choices and how small, niche labels like Goat, Preen, Me & Em and maternity specialist Seraphine have seen their businesses boom after being worn by the Duchess. With every outfit she wears scrutinised, dissected and discussed, this hour-long documentary also finds out what celebrities, stylists, fashion writers and bloggers think of her choices, and ask them to reveal their particular favourites.
Kate has graced the cover of every fashion, celebrity and gossip magazine going, and even made it to the cover of Vogue. Without a doubt, she is the current golden girl of fashion – and it seems every woman wants a slice of that magical Duchess glamour.
For more entertainment on ITV Choice visit www.dstv.com
MTN Uganda Foundation launched a partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, an international child care organization in Uganda that will see the telecom company inject 330 Million Uganda Shillings in SOS Uganda’s Retention for Completion project.
The Retention for Completion project was developed by SOS Children’s Villages. Its aim is to increase attendance and retention of over 3,700 school children (1800 boys and 1900 girls) in 20 community primary schools where SOS Children’s Villages operate in Gulu, Kabarole, Entebbe and Wakiso districts. MTN Uganda team was led by the Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs Justina Ntabgoba, who represented the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Wim Vanhelleputte.
Launching the partnership, Ms. Ntabgoba said MTN Uganda was cognizant of the right of children to a well-balanced education. “We commit to continuously identify partners who will champion our mission to make our children’s lives and that of our customers better.” She added that MTN was particularly moved by a handwritten letter from one of the children under SOS Uganda’s care requesting for MTN’s support in ensuring that her fellow children attend school”.
MTN’s donation will ensure that all the children’s learning will be facilitated with a midday meal, school uniforms, scholastic materials namely pens, pencils, geometry sets and school textbooks with accompanying Teacher guides. To ensure that the girls remain in school they will be provided with Girl kits, which is a self-support health package containing reusable sanitary towels, panties and medicated soap for use during their menses.
The partnership was launched at the SOS Children Village branch in Kakiri, 25 kilometres north-west of the capital Kampala. Similar SOS Villages are located in Gulu, Kabarole and Entebbe, altogether providing a home and social welfare to over 13,000 disadvantaged children.
Ms. Olive Lumonya, the National Director of SOS Children Villages Uganda hailed MTN Uganda for partnering with SOS in their project to make a difference in the lives of the children under her care. Noting that this was the single biggest contribution by a corporate company so far, Lumonya encouraged other companies to support and fill the funding gap and come to the rescue of the children.
The Guest of Honour, LC 5 Chairman, Wakiso district was represented by Ms. Marion Masagazi, the Chief Administrative Officer. She applauded MTN Uganda for supplementing the government’s efforts in ensuring that the high school dropout rates are reduced significantly. “As government, our efforts can only go so far. Where companies like MTN Uganda step in to supplement our education and social assistance programs, we are grateful. We are hereby looking forward to the continued partnership.” She pledged to increase the supervision and monitoring of child welfare services in the district henceforth, warning that where the rights of children are seen to be abused, stern measures will be taken against the culprits.
The Chairman Board of Trustees and members of the board of SOS Children Villages Uganda were in attendance as well as the children from community schools within the Village.
· The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has estimated that 68% of children in Uganda who enroll in primary school are likely to drop out before finishing the prescribed seven years.
Below are the so far recorded sponsors for the 2017 Kampala City Festival with activities from 6, 7 and 8th October 2017.
Airtel 50,000,000
Bell – 270,000,000
Capital Shoppers – 10,000,000
Christ Embassy Church – 100, 000, 000
City Tyres – Platnumz Sponsor
DFCU Bank – 25, 000,000
Light House Television – 150,000, 000
Movit – 70,000, 000
Marketing Director Juliana Kagwa hands the Executive Director of KCCA a dummy cheque of 270 millionChrist Embassy Church – 100, 000, 000Diamond Platnumz to headline News #KampalaCityFestival
KAMPALA UGANDA: Vodafone Uganda has announced its sponsorship in this year’s Top 100 Mid- sized companies survey. The leading 4G LTE telecom operator has taken deliberate steps to close the digital divide following its differentiated focus on the youth, young professionals and SMEs. The Micro, Small, Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs) are the engine of growth for the economic development, innovation, wealth creation of Uganda, according to the Uganda Investment Authority.
The Top 100 survey is an initiative of KPMG and the Nation Media Group represented by Daily Monitor in Uganda; it has been conducted since 2009 in Uganda as well as in Kenya and Tanzania. The purpose of the Top 100 Survey is to identify Uganda’s fastest growing medium sized companies in order to show case business excellence and highlight some of the country’s most successful entrepreneurship stories.
Vodafone now joins Dfcu Bank, Insurance Company of East Africa (U) Group and South African Airways that had earlier announced their sponsorship.
Speaking at the launch event, the Vodafone Marketing Director, Ms. Progress Chisenga emphasized the need for SMEs to take advantage of these platforms for an exceptional experience, upskilling, training, collaboration and to showcase business excellence. “Uganda’s entrepreneurial spirit coupled with the conducive investment climate, can indeed catapult an already thriving economy into an exciting economic frontier, and Vodafone is committed to partnerships that enable such growth.” She added.
“The Top 100 Survey will give hundreds of business operations the opportunity to learn from each other; to gain knowledge on policies and best practices, to understand their contribution to the economy and so much more. Our belief is that this initiative will go a long way in boosting the skillset of the selected companies, eventually translating to improved performance and increased profitability,” said Sarah Nalule, Marketing Manager Monitor Publications.
Statistics from the Uganda Investment Authority place 49% of SMEs in the service sector, 33% in the commerce and trade, 10% in manufacturing and 8% in other fields – with over 2.5 million people accounting for approximately 90% of the entire private sector.
At this year’s events, the participating businesses will have a true 4G experience from Vodafone, and will learn about solutions specialized to meet their unique business needs.
Vodafone Uganda has announced its partnership with Reach A Hand, Uganda in this year’s edition of The Young Achievers Awards as a title sponsor. This initiative rewards excellence, hard work and innovation of youth in Uganda. The telecom operator has taken keen interest in youth programs that educate and empower the young people to scale to greater heights through their innovation and creativity.
“I am thrilled that we are partnering with Reach A Hand, Uganda and taking on the Young Achievers Awards this year. We believe in fostering a culture that not only amplifies learning, but also represents a platform for the youth to showcase their unique skillset and accomplishments.” said Mr. John Ndego, Chief Executive Officer Vodafone Uganda.
“Initiatives of this kind make it possible for us to identify, recognize and celebrate the youth in Uganda for their great achievements.” he added.
During a political interview on Citizen TV Extra some weeks ago, a respected Kenyan political analyst also publishing editor Barrack Muluka, noted that what Kenya was going to hold on 8th August 2017 were not general elections per se but rather general auctions in which self-proclaimed regional kingpins would auction their region’s voters to the highest bidder. The other panelists on the show agreed with him!
Barrack Muluka repeated the same in one of his columns in The Standard Newspaper in June 2017 when he said “Where other nations have general elections, Kenyans have general auctions.” Unfortunately, his observation holds water but that is a story for another day.
Come 8th August 2017, Kenya will hold its general elections for 6 elective seats. From president to county governors, county senators, members of parliament, women representatives and members of the county assembly (MCAs).
While at all levels, there is strong rivalry and competition, the most hotly contested seat is that of the president. To become the president of the republic of Kenya, one must garner 50 per cent plus-one vote of the total votes cast and also secure at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in half of the counties.
In 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared president after garnering 50 per cent plus 8000 votes. His score was about 50.03 per cent of the total votes cast.
Dep President William Ruto and Hon Kalonzo Musyoka shakes hands as President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga look on. Uhuru and Ruto won Raila and Kalonzo in 2013 Kenya Presidential Elections. The two camps have a rematch come 8th August 2017.
Just like in 2013, the 2017 competition is between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party and ODM’s Raila Odinga, who is currently flying the National Super Alliance (NASA) flag. The other candidates running for the top office this year are Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Ekuru Aukot of Thirdway Alliance, Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change (ARC), and Independent candidates Joseph Nyagah, Michael Wainaina and Japheth Kavinga.
With just 3 weeks to go, it is too close to call. The three most recent opinion polls (Ipsos, Infotrak and Radio Africa Group) all show that none of the two top candidates will be able to surpass the 50 percent threshold if elections were held now. In these opinion polls, Uhuru scores an average figure of 48 per cent while Raila has an average of 41.65 per cent. Having noted that, chances are high that one of Uhuru or Odinga will attain the threshold required to be declared president. There will be no run-off!
As the campaigns reach peak level, tensions are becoming high throughout Kenya. Pockets of violence in the form of supporters heckling presidential candidates, disrupting rallies and throwing stones have been growing since the start of July 2017. Just last week, Deputy President William Ruto was heckled by supporters in Raila Odinga’s backyard of Kisumu county. William Ruto was together with President Uhuru Kenyatta at the same rally. On the same day, as a form of retaliation, supporters in Kabarnet town, a Jubilee strong-hold heckled and disrupted a NASA rally attended by Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and Isaac Ruto. Just a day after, the NASA brigade was heckled and stopped from campaigning in Kiambu County (Githurai, and Thika) and Kenol trading centre in Murang’a County; both Jubilee strongholds. Media reports indicate that Police and bodyguards of some of the leaders shot in the air to disperse the rowdy youth who were throwing stones in different areas.
When Kenya sneezes, East Africa catches a cold!
This violence reminds Kenyans of the dark 2007/8 post-election violence in which over 1000 people were killed, about 350,000 people displaced and properties worth billions destroyed.
Part of the Kenya-Uganda Railway uprooted by rioting supporters during the 2007/8 Kenya post election violence.
But importantly, violence in Kenya doesn’t only disrupt Kenya but the entire region. Clearly, when Kenya sneezes, East Africa gets a cold. We are so reliant on Kenya as most of the goods consumed in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and several parts of DR Congo are imported through Kenya’s Mombasa port and pass on Kenya transport infrastructure.
During the 2007/8 Kenya post elections violence, protesters uprooted parts of the old Kenya-Uganda railway and also put roadblocks along the main highways between Kenya and neighboring countries thus curtailing and disrupting trade and manufacturing in the entire region.
While briefing the United Nations (UN) Security Council in February 2008, the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, John Homes highlighted that “the East and Central Africa impact of Kenya’s crisis had been particularly significant because of the country’s long-standing role as the region’s main trade and transportation hub.”
“More than 80 per cent of Uganda’s imports pass through the port of Mombasa, as do almost all of Rwanda’s exports. Commercial trade and humanitarian assistance to Burundi, the eastern DRC, parts of northern Tanzania and southern Sudan also rely on the port. These countries are therefore at risk of being significantly affected by violence and disruption in Kenya,” Mr. Holmes said.
That was 2008. It is 2017 and this association continues to blossom. Uganda and Kenya do so much trade together. As such, the Ugandan government ought to closely monitor developments in Kenya. Importantly, our government ought to have an alternative trade and transportation plan to safeguard against any importation shortages and trade shortfalls. Tanzania’s Dar el Salam port is the alternative though the road infrastructure connection to Uganda leaves a lot to be desired.
To the Uganda citizenry, we ought to wish for a credible and peaceful election for Kenya. The prayerful can hold the rosaries. We all risk a bad cold if our neighbor sneezes.
Uhuru, Raila, Wetangula and Ruto walk in the corridors of the Kenya state house.
