Suspected bandits have shot dead five people in Lami Nyeusi, West Pokot during an early morning raid and made away with 18 goats.

Confirming the incident, West Pokot county commissioner Apollo Okello said suspected armed bandits crossed the border from Turkana and ambushed the residents leaving at Lami Nyeusi and made away with18 goats.

He added that the bandits shot dead five people who live in Lami Nyeusi along Kapenguria - Lodwar highway. 

“The incident happened around 4.00am on Thursday morning. When police officers responded, they found the five had already been gunned down. We are searching for the bandits who cross over to Turkana county with the goats,” he said.

He added that there is tension in the area as a contingent of police officers have been dispatched to quell tension and ensure transportation is not interrupted along the busy highway. 

“I will be visiting the place with top security officers. Those who were gunned down are business people who usually engage in gold mining business,” he said.

He said the bodies have been removed from the scene and taken to Kapenguria county referral morgue, awaiting postmortem.  By Irissheel Shanzu , The Standard

A former Uganda Revenue Authority tax officer, Dennis Tumusiime has been remanded to Luzira prison over allegations of causithe ng government a financial loss of over Shs 9 billion.

Tumusiime, 43, was remanded by the Anti Corruption court on Wednesday after being charged with six counts of abuse of office and causing financial loss.

The court heard that as URA tax officer between 2019 and 2021, Tumusiime adjusted and reduced the tax of various companies and individuals without justification - well knowing that his actions would cause government a financial loss. Tumusiime reportedly adjusted the ledgers of Fast Forwarding and Shipping Company Limited from Shs 648,729 to zero.

The prosecution also contends that between January and December 2020, Tumusiime reduced the tax liability worth Shs 1.1 billion for African Capacity Development and Research Institute, Bageine and Company, Bageine and Company Limited, Brandguard Limited, Flavish Events Limited, J and E Civil Engineering Works Limited, Krystal Concepts Limited, Mass Projects Uganda Limited, Mr Shem Bageine Bajura, Mukasa Couriers Limited, Prime Machinery Limited, Summy Trading International Company Limited, Swisa Enterprises Limited and Twincom Technologies Limited.

It is also alleged that between January and December 2021, Tumusiime reduced tax worth Shs 4.5 billion from goods of Amiancy Investments Company Limited, Arcano Investments Limited, Grand Victoria Limited, Mr Kalungi Godfrey, Mr Robert Blick Migadde, Power Consults Engineering Limited, Prestige Electronics and Computers Limited, Rizwan Trading (U) Limited, Sarjan Construction Uganda Limited, Smartec Electronics Limited and  Taste Buds Limited. 

During the same time, Tumusiime is also accused of reducing the tax liabilities of Smartwatch Solutions Limited, Tumbine Enterprises Limited, Mr Abas Kalule, Grand Victoria Limited worth Shs 3.7 billion. According to the prosecution led by Stuart Ahabwe,  the actions of Tumusiime were arbitrary to the interests of his employer, Uganda Revenue Authority. Tumusiime who was being represented by lawyer Diana Kasabiiti pleaded not guilty and has been remanded until April 13 as inquiries continue. - URN/The Observer

LAGOS  – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that African carriers suffered cumulative losses of $3.5 billion for 2020-2022.

The association also estimated further losses of $213 million in 2023 alone.

These were contained in a statement by IATA to journalists on Monday.

However, in a bid to strengthen aviation’s contribution to Africa’s economic, social development and improve connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers, IATA said it was launching ‘Focus Africa.’

According to IATA, this initiative would align private and public stakeholders to deliver measurable progress in six areas.

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, in the statement said that Africa accounted for 18 per cent of the global population, but just 2.1 per cent of air transport activities, which include cargo and passenger.

He explained that it was necessary to close the gap so that Africa could benefit from the connectivity, jobs and growth that aviation enables, stressing that was what “Focus Africa is all about.” 

Infrastructure constraints, high costs, lack of connectivity, regulatory impediments, slow adoption of global standards and skills shortages affect the customer experience and are all contributory factors to African airlines’ viability and sustainability, IATA said. 

IATA noted that sustainably connecting the African continent internally and to global markets with air transport was critical for bringing people together and creating economic and social development opportunities.

It maintained that this would also support the realisation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) for Africa of lifting 50 million people out of poverty by 2030.

In particular, trade and tourism rely on aviation and have immense unrealised potential to create jobs, alleviate poverty, and generate prosperity across the continent. By Olusegun Koiki, Independent