Afcon results
Algeria 3-1 Ethiopia
Cape Verde 3-1 Niger
Egypt 0-1 Senegal
Togo 1-4 Guinea
Angola 0-0 Gabon
Congo 0-2 Nigeria
Cameroon 1-0 D.R. Congo
Lesotho 0-1 Burkina Faso
Mozambique 0-1 Zambia
South Africa 2-1 Sudan
Uganda 1-0 Ghana
Malawi 2-0 Mali
Saturday’s display may have not been box office material, but few will beat its significance as Uganda continue the fight to get rid of the ‘since 1978’ tag. Yes. It has been that long, the Nations Cup absence.
But the moment when defender Savio Kabugo raced to head in from that Mike Sserumaga corner for Uganda’s goal on nine minutes could have edged the country closer to ending that misfortune.
It was a team effort, nonetheless. Dennis Onyango had little to deal with but his authority and command of an equally notable backline of skipper Andy Mwesigwa, Kabugo and Brian Majwega was impressive.
Tonny Mawejje was majestic in front of them, although subdued Geoffrey Massa did not get the service he would have wanted. But there was an inspiring second half performance from Daniel Sserunkuma, who replaced injured Yunus Ssentamu.
One inescapable trait in that Cranes team, even Ghana self-destructed or wasted their chances through profligate Christian Atsu and Majeed Waris, was the ‘fight.’ The boys had a fight.
It is the same fight they will have taken to Casablanca, Morocco last evening, where a draw against Guinea on Wednesday will be enough to see Uganda qualify, regardless of what happens between Ghana and Togo.
“We shall prepare ourselves very much because even for Ghana, Guinea and Togo, it is obsession to repeat it; an obsession to go back to the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic.
“For us it is a dream, and a dream is always bigger than obsession. So the dream has to be our driving force.”
With one game to go, Ghana top Group E standings with eight points, Uganda and Guinea both on seven but the Cranes with a better goal difference, and Togo with six.

PLAYER RATINGS

5. Farouk Miya. Like it was in the recent 3-0 friendly win over Ethiopia, Miya looked lost in the middle.

6/5. Mike Sserumagga. The ball was never around his left foot as he would have wanted. His corner kick assisted Kabugo’s winner but didn’t pick out the strikers and wingers regularly.

5/5. Luwagga Kizito. His form seemed to have gone out of the window as early as Match Day 2. He struggled to impress against Ghana’s wing-backs Harrison Afful and Baba Rahman.

4. Yunus Sentamu. He wasn’t in the best shape to start this fixture. The vindication was the yellow card he got in frustration after fouling Ayew before giving way to Sserunkuma.

6. Geoffrey Massa. His solo runs didn’t bother the Jonathan Mensah and John Boye combo but kept them busy.

7. Daniel Sserunkuma. He had a good overall and probably, should have started with Massa. The Gor Mahia forward often dropped off to give Majwega support.

6. Geoffrey Kizito. Despite joining the camp late, Kizito neutralized Mubarak Wakaso, Badu and Asante’s offensive efforts.

Source: Daily Monitor

The introduction of rugby 7s is one of several changes expected at the East Africa University Games (EAUG) due December 17-21.

“In order to fight mercenaries we have hut in place new measures like the introduction of team albums,” Local Organising Committee vice-president Vincent Kisenyi announced while receiving a Shs5m sponsorship package from Joint Medical Stores (JMS) in Nsambya yesterday. In all the past eight editions, rugby has been played in a 15s format and the introduction of the shorter code is expected to add more flavour to the Games due at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono.

According to Kisenyi, who is also the National University Sports Federation of Uganda (Nusfu) vice-president, 53 universities have already confirmed participation in the event.

Age limit for participants has also been raised from 27 to 29 years but sportsmen awaiting graduation won’t be allowed to compete as has previously been the case. Kisenyi revealed 60 per cent of the Shs1.2b Games budget has been catered for but appealed for more corporate support. The JMS package, includes drugs and medical equipment to cater for all participants.

Source: Daily Monitor

KAMPALA. A dream that was threatening to implode has suddenly exploded back to life.
Following the crucial 1-0 victory over Ghana at Namboole on Saturday, the Cranes now need to just pick maximum points from Guinea in Casablanca on Wednesday and the 37-year absence from the Nations Cup is over.
Actually, no. They need just a draw, without a care about what happens between Ghana and Togo, to deliver Uganda the Holy Grail
Here is why
With one game to go, Ghana top Group E standings with eight points, Uganda and Guinea both on seven but the Cranes with a better goal difference, and Togo with six.
A Cranes draw in Casablanca corresponding with a Ghanaian - rather unlikely – home loss to Togo, would move Uganda level on points with the Black Stars.
Here is where the Caf tie-breaker rules will come in. After the points check, tie-breaker rules say head-to-head is considered and in this case, Uganda would edge Ghana since they took four points from them.
A Ghanaian victory corresponding with a Cranes draw would also see Cranes through since Guinea, who would also be on the same points as Uganda and the Black Stars, would have lost four points each to the former two.
Togo would be stuck on their six points and out. Put simply, a point in Casablanca will see Uganda qualify.
That said, any of the four teams can save you of all this calculus by simply winning their respective games.

Caf tiebreakers
If tied on points, tie-breakers are applied in the following order.
•Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned
• Goal difference in games between the teams concerned (head-to-head)
• Goals scored in games between the teams concerned
• Away goals scored in games between the teams concerned
• Goal difference in all games
• Goals scored in all games
• Drawing of lots

Source: Daily Monitor

The last three months, particularly the months of August and September, have seen an increase in adulterated fuel in the market, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) head of Fuel Quality and Monitoring, Mr Peter Kitimbo, has said.

However, according to him, the tendency by some fuel dealers to adulterate fuel, particularly diesel, is now reducing following the standard body’s crackdown in recent weeks.

Speaking in a sideline interview at a workshop bringing together the fuel industry players and the regulators—UNBS and the Ministry of Energy, Mr Kitimbo said between the month of August and September the industry saw an upward trend of adulterated fuel on the market.

He said: “In those months—August and September, there has been an increase of adulteration of fuel by four percent.”

This is worrying because in recent years he said the compliance has been nearly 100 percent. The good news though is that the standard body has since increased surveillance which includes spot checks and testing, a move that is already bearing results.

According to the head of Petroleum Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Spero Byokunda, by 2009, adulteration of fuel was as high as 29 per cent but by mid this year, the rate had dropped to 3 per cent. “And this has been mainly because of our fuel marking programme that the ministry does jointly with UNBS,” he said.

Vivo energy managing director Hans Paulsen also said adulteration of fuel remains an issue that should be met with punitive action if the vice is to be deterred.
According to him, at least 15 per cent of industry players adulterate fuel. And for this to be stopped enforcement of punitive leviesshould be considered.

Ministry of Energy concedes that adulteration of fuel has been noted although it is not as widespread as consumers tend to believe.

Source:Daily Monitor

Vehicle taxation is a bit tricky for an average person to understand. According to URA’s current validation guide, an Opel Zafira made in 2002 with 2200cc is charged $3,356 (Shs8.2m) and a Subaru Traviq (2002) with 2200cc is charged $3,051(Shs9m). These are the same vehicles with different badges. Yet when it comes to Toyota Harriers of 3000c and the Lexus R300, they are all charged the same taxes yet they belong to different segments in ordinary and luxury respectively.

Environmental levy affects all vehicles manufactured earlier than 2008, the difference is made by the value of cost, insurance and freight (CIF), which is determined by trading prices internationally. That said, why should older vehicles be levied less than “newer” used ones? Albert Tumwine sought to ascertain the reasons.

When buying a used car, at least most vehicle owners and dealers know that buying an old car attracts more tax than purchasing a brand new one. This is explained by the fact that old vehicles, according to motor vehicle laws, emit harmful smoke that pollute the environment and as a result, buyers of such vehicles are supposed to incur a tax, an environmental levy that amounts to 20 per cent of the total price of the vehicle.
This tax, according to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), is meant to discourage old vehicles from being imported into the country with the assumption of protecting the environment.
But as some of you might be wondering, some newer vehicles may incur total taxes that may be way higher than those of much older cars.
An official at URA customs department admits this fact and says it happens when the newer vehicle’s overall value is high. “We have a value guide that we use to levy uniform taxes regardless of the year in which a car was manufactured,” the official who preferred anonymity says.
He says the value of the vehicle determines the overall tax. “The overall tax is not determined by the environmental levy alone that is only 20 per cent. But there are other taxes which apply uniformly regardless of the nature (new or old) like infrastructure, value added, withholding and registration fees among others.
According to a source from URA, who chose to remain anonymous because he is not the spokesperson, the environmental levy tax does not affect cars manufactured after 2007.
“That tax policy only affects vehicles manufactured in 2006 and beyond,” he says.

Other taxes that affect the overall price
While the environmental levy on vehicles can be avoided by buying brand new cars or those that are six years or less, other taxes apply uniformly to all cars regardless of year of manufacture.
According to David Mugyenyi, the acting corporate and public affairs manager at URA, vehicles that are eight years old and above, attract environmental levy.
“This tax is 20 per cent of the total cost involved in purchasing the vehicle,” Mugyenyi says. For example if the vehicle is Shs30m, then the environmental levy is 20 per cent of Shs30m which is about Shs6m, but one can avoid the tax by buying newer cars,” he explains.
Mugyenyi adds that: “Such vehicles attract that tax because they emit fumes that pollute the environment.
Meanwhile, the amount of taxes paid on different cars differ according to the cost, insurance and freight (CIF).
“CIF is the total amount of money used in purchasing the vehicle. “For example, someone importing a vehicle valued at Shs20m meets higher taxes than one buying a car at Shs10m,” Mr Mugyenyi says.
“The reason is simple, the higher the CIF, the higher the total taxes incurred by the buyer. This is because the taxation criterion by URA is based on the value of the vehicle which is in the CIF,” Mugyenyi says.
www.smartransgroup.com, a cargo forwarding website defines CIF as a trade term requiring the seller to arrange for the carriage of goods by sea to a port of destination, and provide the buyer with the documents necessary to obtain the goods from the carrier.
The CIF is always calculated in the standard US dollars as per customs motor vehicle indicative value guide which is then translated into Uganda shillings. The value of the car is then subjected to different taxes.
There are various CIF guides for various car types can be accessed on the URA website (www.ura.go.ug).
There is a guide on the URA website under the A-Z tax topics, indicative value guide which is routinely updated. The review and update, according to URA, is informed by trading prices of vehicles internationally. URA says the value guide is routinely updated to ensure newer vehicles’ values are determined.
“We have a pool of knowledge in customs, even if you are importing the newest vehicle which isn’t on the guide yet, we are able to find out from the country in which the vehicle is being imported,” a source from URA says.

Tax calculator
URA has an electronic tax calculator where the buyer feeds in the year in which a vehicle was manufactured, the cost of the vehicle (CIF), the year of importation and then total taxes appear. These taxes include value added tax; it is a tax only on the value added to a product, import duty; a tax on items purchased abroad, withholding tax; a government requirement for the payer of an item to the government, and registration fees which is a sum of money required to enroll on an official register. “Most of these taxes are pre-determined and the vehicle cannot go on the road without paying them. The vehicle taxes are outlined by law just like those on other goods,” Mugyenyi says.

Tax exclusion
Mugyenyi however says there are some instances of exclusion on motor vehicle tax on cars whose owners have had them for a specific period while abroad. “If it is a returning citizen with a car he has possessed for 12 months, no taxes are incurred,” he says adding that the exclusion is only on personal cars regardless of their value, saying it shouldn’t exceed the capacity of eight passengers.”
Mugyenyi adds that lorries and buses are considered commercial vehicles and they do not enjoy this exclusion. But dealers find problems with customers as the value (CIF) of cars keeps changing especially when the taxes have been increased.
“New changes in taxes are not properly communicated and our customers think we are cheating them when we raise the prices of cars instantly,” says Musthaq Sidik, the treasurer Used Car Dealers Association in Uganda.
He says that they (dealers) have to incur the taxes because customers refuse to adjust their minds. “Customers are always taken by surprise and they insist on old prices and we end up meeting the extra costs,” Sidik argues.
Whereas in countries such as Kenya taxes on older vehicles are higher as a measurement to discourage their importation, in Uganda vehicles made in the 1990s pay les tax regardless of the 20 per cent environmental charge and those in the post 2000 era pay more.
So it looks like URA wants us to import older vehicles instead of “newer” used vehicles. URA should clarify this because it is confusing and complicated.

Source:Daily Monitor

It is Sunday. You and the family wish to dine out somewhere affordable. You have toddlers in toe. Besides traditional food, you also hanker for something continental. You will be surprised how many eating places in town never open on Sundays so what about out of town? Not too many places come to mind. But, Edma Country Club situated in Kiteezi off the Gayaza Road comes to mind and is a sparkling gem of a place in the boondocks. The road was widened and fully rehabilitated allowing for easy access.
Seven years ago saw the advent of this novel establishment in Kiteezi with Edward and Mary creating a place that would appeal to people in the area of Gayaza, Kawempe, and Kyebando. Mary along with daughter Naomi, who is an ophthalmologist and much to their credit, are doing an excellent job in running the business. One of the bigger challenges of having such a place is being able to cater for the a la carte diner who drops by during the week when they are not so busy. From what I understand, you can be assured of more than just mchomo.
Sundays are predictably a buffet affair and depending on the mood of the chef, a soup for a starter could well be the case, or a salad or two before the main event. Here, matooke is a must and we have never been let down. This would be accompanied by a form of rice such as red rice, or rice and peas or stir fried. On this occasion, chef’s choice was steamed rice and always irish potatoes. These could be potato Lyonnaise or has brown or the very popular parsley potatoes. Yams, pumpkins, sweet potatoes or cassava are also a possibility.

Menu and service
In terms of sauces we had groundnut sauce with mushrooms and wonderfully tender and cooked smoked boiled beef stew along with grilled chicken parts. Vegetables comprised a medley of seasonal steamed veggies; carrots, French beans, cauliflower drizzled with butter.
The dessert was a slice of pound cake or a small fruit platter and for Shs24,000 this was entirely par for the course. All things being equal and the weather permitting, the outdoor setting is our favourite seating area and affords maximum privacy. Also a fenced play area for children. Cleanliness is paramount and the service friendly.

If you go…
The place: Edma Country Club
Rating: Not to be missed
Address: Kiteezi, off Gayaza Road
The space: Outdoors and spacious with neat lawns and an indoor restaurant
The crowd: Mostly old school
The bar: Cold beer, juice, wine, soda and mineral water
Recommended dishes: The buffet (Sunday’s and public holidays) is sumptuous and tremendous variety
The damage: The buffet is a very reasonable Shs 20,000
Sound level: Excellent
Parking: Available and secure
Daily specials: Ask the waiter
If you go: Open everyday offering an a la carte menu. Sunday buffet and a barbeque in the evening.