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Equity Bank Uganda and the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to facilitate and strengthen collaboration between the two entities in the areas of enterprise development and financial inclusion, energy, and environment, food and agriculture, education, health, and oil and gas.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, which took place at the Kingdom headquarter in Hoima, Executive Director Public Sector and Social Investments, Elizabeth MwerindeKasedde, thanked the Kingdom for its commitment to supporting the efforts of Equity Bank in expanding socio-economic opportunities for the population at the bottom of the economic ladder.

“The MoU shall drive a sustainable and scalable approach to social and economic transformation in the kingdom through a scholarship fund, internship, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and low-cost financing of health providers among others,” said Elizabeth MwerindeKasedde, Executive Director Public Sector and Social Investments, Equity Bank.

The Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Andrew Byakutaga said, “Today is yet another milestone. We are here to sign a Memorandum of Understanding which will guide the two institutions to collaborate in areas of social service, gender, tourism, and production.”

Adding, “We realized that our people still have challenges of managing financial resources hence the need to empower them with knowledge and skills for them to make informed financial decisions. We pray that this partnership grows to give us the fruits we desire to see in our region.”

Through programs run by Equity such as Young Africa Works and products such as EquiMama, the parties shall work to scale up financial inclusion and shared prosperity through financial literacy to the Bunyoro population, especially women and youth in their organized groups. 

Also, financial support to agriculture in the Kingdom, especially women groups, Saccos, livestock value chain and unlock local content in the food supply.

The two entities shall also collaborate on climate change mitigation and adoption initiatives such as environmental conservation and implementation of carbon offsetting programs such as tree planting, natural forestry conservation, and horticulture.

Equity Bank will also support renewable energy programs such as solar and clean cooking. The two parties shall also cooperate in areas of mutual concern related to the commercial activities across the oil & gas value chain and mitigating the negative impact of petroleum. By Audrey Ninsiima, Tower Post 

Four men who posed as DCI sleuths and were armed with a police radio, handcuffs and a pistol were on Monday arraigned in a Kibera court.

Joseph Ngui Musunza, Andrew Nzioki, Peter Matata Mungeli and David Mwangi Kaguru were brought before chief magistrate Ann Mwangi.

The charge sheet says the accused violently robbed Robert Miano of Sh145, 000 on September 28, 2018, at the Kariobangi area in Nairobi while armed with a pistol.

The charge sheet also says the accused were armed with a spanner and some pistols.

According to the court documents, the complainant had gone to Equity bank to deposit Sh145,000.

When he reached the bank there was a queue and he decided since it was a Saturday he could bank the money on Monday.

While along the Outering Road near Harmony Bar, someone hooted at him from a vehicle.

The complainant then saw the person holding a radio and when he went close to where he was, the person alongside others told him that they had been monitoring him from the bank and that they were DCI officers from Buruburu police station.

Other suspects joined the fracas and the complainant was bungled into a vehicle, handcuffed, placed between the two men and forced to face down.

The accused drove him towards Buruburu and later to an unknown destination.

He was driven for some hours and robbed of Sh145, 000 and a Tecno phone valued at Sh29,999.

He was later dumped in Githurai where he made a report to the police.

The suspects were later arrested and arraigned in court where they were charged with robbery with violence contrary to the penal code.

They were arrested along Thika road while in possession of a police radio call, handcuffs, and a certificate of appointment.

An identification parade was made and some of the suspects were arrested.

The suspect were charged in court and was released on an Sh500, 000 bond with the surety of the same amount.

The magistrate directed that the matter proceeds for hearing on April 22. - CLAUSE MASIKA, The Star

(Edited by Tabnacha O)