The government of Uganda through the Uganda Free Zone Authority (UFZA) has finalised plans to establish the first public free zone at Entebbe International Airport. The free zone is projected to boost export-oriented investment in the country.

The project will be implemented by the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) on a five acre piece of land acquired from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) at the Entebbe International Airport premises.

Under the arrangement, the project targets sectors which include food processing, mineral processing, warehousing, storage and simple assembly, where all operators in the public free zone will process their products for onward export through Entebbe International Airport.

The development of the Public Free Zone projected to cost UGX 48billion will, on completion house seven production units and trade houses such as offices of the Uganda Free Zones Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, and other government offices to promote enterprise. The Government of Uganda (GoU) has already awarded UGX 12.5 Billion for the first phase of the project.

Speaking at the site handover event, Hez Kimoomi Alinda, the Uganda Free Zones Authority Executive Director, said the project is expected to contribute cargo volumes, create hundreds of direct jobs and significantly improve Uganda’s exports.

“On completion, the project will support increased production quality assurance and value addition to commodities that are widely produced by the masses to improve household incomes, create employment and eliminate poverty as well as improve the value of Uganda’s exports,” he said.

Alinda was speaking while handing over the site for the construction of the Entebbe International Airport Free Zone at which he said they had acquired five acres from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority for the development and contracted National Enterprise Corporation, the commercial arm of the UPDF for the construction.

Nigerian entertainers join the #ENDSARS protests happening all over Nigeria. The ongoing #Endsars protest by Nigerian youth, is targeted at the disbandment of the notorious Police unit who have been alleged to be involved in the oppression, harassment, abduction, extortion and murder of civilians. Banky W and Adesua Etomi also lends their voices to this movement.

Banky W expresses how displeased he is about the government turning deaf ears to the cry of Nigerians. “How many young Nigerians will have to be robbed/ kidnapped/killed by SARS before our Government takes it seriously? The “Special Anti-Robbery Squad” is doing the robbing?! Such a disgrace. What will it take for our “leaders” to do something about it? #EndSARS #EndSarsNow”

He calls our the IG to address the youth of Nigeria on the streets as opposed to doing it by press. He also demands an apology from the IG to Nigerian youth.
“If the IG wants to talk to young people, he should come out to the same streets in Abuja where his officers were assaulting them for peacefully protesting and apologize to them there. And then update them about all the action they’ve taken on the #5for5 list. #EndSARS”

The “EbutteMeta” crooner established that he wants the 5 for 5 demands to be met, and that the #ENDSARS movement does not need a leader nor a dress code before Nigerian youth go for a peaceful protest.

”The dress code suggestion was clearly a terrible idea. Some are also worried about the park. The point was to gather and move as one. Not stay there. The point is to make our demands for police reform known and get them to take steps.

There is no leader here. We are all just trying to play our part. Everyone must do as they see best. I will be marching tomorrow with anyone else who wants to present our demands to the Police and the Govt. We will also focus on sustaining pressure to free ALL Protesters”

Banky Welington ensured the protest was a peaceful one by giving directives, and educating people the reasons for the protests.

”Why we walk: The 1st 3 points can be done instantly. The last 2 just need to be acknowledged and the review process can begin. There are people who are still locked up all over the country. There are parents who are burying their children. This is what makes it worth it. #5for5”

Adesua on the other hand, also talks about injustice and people who have been unjustly kept in prisons.


“One of the things this protest has taught me is that we need to face prisons all over this country. I don’t want to imagine how many innocent people are rotting away.
How can you say someone is not in your custody when they are? ”

“Just incase you’re forgetting why we’re still fighting, innocent people are dead, innocent people were assaulted and we don’t know of any police officer that has lost their job or been charged.

#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #EndSWAT”

“If you see SARS on any street in Naija, LOUD IT so we can loud it on these twitter streets. The government must know that they are still not on their way to abuja.
#SarsMustGoNow #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria #ReformTheNigerianPolice”

27 different flash points have been identified in Ondo State by security agents. These are part of the possible hinderances as deserving attention when voters come to exercise their civic duties today to elect the governor of the state for the next four years.

The 27 areas have been identified by the security agencies as flash points and it is expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will also give them due attention. But none of the said locations have been disclosed for security reasons.

Meanwhile, security has already been increased in all boundary towns with the police pledging the safety of all in the state.

However, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)which is a coalition of over 400 civil society organizations has cried out yesterday over what it called an invasion of the state by some governors.

The Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said at a pre-election press briefing that the refusal of these governors to leave the state constituted a threat to the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.

Meanwhile, the Inependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it had appointed someone from the same town as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to be the Chief Returning Officer for the election.

The commission said that not only was the allegation untrue, it would not share its responsibility of appointing officials with anyone.

A source in INEC who does not want to be mentione confirmed the situation ahead of the election, that more attention was being paid to security in order to protect the sanctity of the ballot.