Matooke Republic April 12-18 by Matooke Republic

PARTY PIX FEATURE

The youngest presidents... P.4

Our lens around events on the social scene... P.6&7 Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

MATOOKE

REPUBLIC

SPORT Commonwealth medal rush for Uganda... P.20

www.matookerepublic.com FRESHLY PEELED INFO

Exclusive interview with SK Mbuga

Mafia behind my problems Mbuga n The socialite tells all about his detention. n It’s business as usual as he has just bought a Shs1.5bn Mercedes Benz Brabus.

‘I HAVE ADDED WEIGHT’

Mbuga says he is as good as on holiday in Dubai detention.

2 MATOOKE REPUBLIC/ Thursday,

April 12-18, 2018

Seven Days

Social Media I Trending I Vibe

NEWS DIGEST Museveni blocks URA action on customers’ bank accounts Kayima Isaac But also that’s the weakness, imagine the President, but the leader of all Government sectors, public sectors and etc. The one to open new boreholes in the villages, the one to fight disputes in family.. Etc Emmanuel Oduka after sensing the danger of its boomerang! Winnie Nagadya Museveni is everything Justine Magoba Waaa. His cronies who have been hiding their wealth from the IGG with his consent asked him to step in and protect it from URA also... Bub Nair What a move!!! People were going to withdraw their junks from the bank, however by M7 stoping it will make people retain their money in the banks, Don’t Be Fooled This Gv’t is going to order URA to work with the banks about out accounts. This statement was made just not to scare away the banks customers Truth Be Told, Thoz Accounts Are Going To Be Accesd By The Gov’t Bongomin Latinacholi when da revenue collection falls short sevo should not lament... by da way whats da use of the minister of finance? Katuramu Nic U create a confusion and resolve it...... Kobusingye Peace Sheila Mauritius is a good place to bank and Sweden in case this comes up again. Grace Anyait Mudodo And who had directed them to do so in the first place??!?? Happy Gody Stupid u want us to appreciate m7, am tired of his game Atiki Jacob oldman is playing hero...in a scandal that he probably created

Murder charges against Bryan White dropped Makindye grade two court this week dropped attempted murder charges against Kampala socialite Brian Kirumira aka Bryan White. This was after White wrote to court asking to allow him and the complainant (Victor Bitwire) to settle the matters out of court. Bryan White through lawyers John Balungu and Rama Omungu on Monday informed the Makindye court magistrate Erias Kakooza that negotiations between their client and the plaintiff’s side were going smoothly.

Gov’t approves Shs24b for Kiira EV to start manufacturing cars

Police gives one week ultimatum to handover camouflage attire

Following the launch of the Kiira Electric Vehicle Project in 2015, the project will finally kick off on large scale. Close to Shs24b will be allocated to the project from this year’s budget, according to a report from cabinet approving the proposal. The project’s promoters have claimed it will create at least 2000 direct jobs and an additional 12,000 indirect jobs.

The Uganda Police deputy spokesperson Patrick Onyango has told the public (traders and individuals) to hand over all camouflage attire to security agencies within one week. Onyango announced during the Police’s weekly press briefing that those in possession of such attire would be arrested once the period for handing over camouflage material has lapsed.

Pornography Control Committee backtracks on porn detector In 2016, Ethics and Integrity minister Fr. Simon Lokodo stated that the Pornography Control Committee would acquire a Shs2b machine to detect pornography. However, during a press briefing this week, the committee chairperson Dr. Annette Kezaabu revealed they had not purchased the machine and do not intend to. According to Dr Kezaabu, the committee only intends to purchase software that will be used to monitor and detect the kind of content shared on various platforms.

Just for laughs

Istine Kenya Whoever spearheaded the theme now looks too stupid and irrelevance. How can u suggest impossibilities Drake Dicken Dankari only thugs would oppose this idea, this was a massive anti corruption move by ura, sad that corrupted media and thieving mps were seen being interviewed and only those who opposed were seen, thieving gov employees keeping huge monies and not paying tax is insane,

CONTACT US Matooke Republic Media Ltd. Kiwatule -Naalya Road. P.o. Box 11393 Kampala, Uganda Phone: 0392 000124 Email: info@matookerepublic.com website: www.matookerepublic.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/matookerepublic Twitter: @matookerepublic

allan kwagala @akbaleese Lawyer Elias Lukwago: My Lord I just wanted to leave no stone unturned.. DCJ Owiny-Dollo: Some stones have snakes under them Mr. Lukwago, so you are better off living them unturned. #AgeLimitPetition #GystinSpeaks@gysanga Lawyer Male Mabirizi: Sec 114 of the evidence act was somehow estopped during the Age Limit debate Judge: I don’t think the word estopped applies here Lawyer Mabirizi: I disagree Judge: I am not arguing with you #AgeLimitPetition Jeff HARDY@andsjeff Deputy Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy OwinyDollo is chairing the #AgeLimitPetition in Mbale District. In 2006, two years before he was appointed as a Judge, Owiny was a member of Museveni’s defense team when his election was challenged by Kizza Besigye in the supreme court.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 3

Interview I Controversy

Exclusive

It’s like I’m on holiday - SK Mbuga Socialite SK Mbuga has spoken to Matooke Republic from Dubai where he is under detention saying some mafia in Uganda are behind his current predicament. He adds that he is soon being set free because the Swedes have failed to come out with a convincing case, writes Moses Abeka

ocialite SK Mbuga has exclusively spoken to Matooke Republic in a phone call from his Dubai detention facility and revealed that he is innocent and that his predicament was a result of a setup by “mafia” within Uganda who wanted to extort money out of him. Mbuga has spent 74 days in detention in Dubai over allegations that he connived with his wife Jalia, formerly Angella Vivienne Chebet to con an elderly Swedish politician of 53m Kronor (about Shs23 billion) in a bogus gold deal. Mbuga’s side of the story is that his current problems are the works of “mafia” who wanted him to give them money and they didn’t succeed. Ever since he arrived on the social scene about five years ago, Mbuga has lived a lavish lifestyle but he was most known for his sleek fleet of cars. At one time he used to move around in a

SK Mbuga. Below is his wife Jalia and their baby in Sweden.

convoy of four privately registered Hummer H2 guzzlers. In 2016, he wed Vivienne in a lavish wedding ceremony valued at more than $2m. He shipped in super cars, a Ferrari and a Rolls Royce as his bridal cars. Each of these cars is valued at more than Shs1 billion. Mbuga says his lifestyle intrigued Ugandans and some “mafia” who claimed they had security links started investigating the source of his income and they tried to blackmail him. Apparently, when they failed, they cooked the Swedish plot to discredit him. Mbuga says he sent a huge sum of money to his wife’s Swedish account to buy a house and it is with such transactions that they interested Swedish officials in his affairs.

He says the same “mafia” were behind planting stories in Swedish tabloid The Expressen to lend credence to their story. The Swedish newspaper claimed that Jalia had fleeced the 73-year-old Swedish politician Sten Heinsoo of 53m Kronor (about Shs23 billion) in a fake gold deal. The money apparently belonged to Heinsoo’s former employer Einar Matsson, a real estate mogul in Sweden. Mbuga was allegedly linked to the transfer of the money and was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) in Dubai at the end of January and he has been detained since. To page 10

4 MATOOKE REPUBLIC/ Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Society

Young I Powerful

The world’s heads of state under 40 I

n Africa, they say wisdom appreciates with age. As such, former leaders like 94-year-old Robert Mugabe had several ‘wisdom quotes’ attributed to him. In a similar line of thought, several leaders in NRM have equated President Museveni’s wisdom to that of the Almighty! Yes, Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa, stated that President Museveni is like Jesus Christ in his deeds and next to God in intelligence. An Intelligence Quotient [IQ] is a total score derived from several standardised tests designed to assess

human intelligence. Away from Uganda, Nigeria’s 75-year-old Muhammadu Buhari announced plans to run for another term of office. As such, it not amusing that the majority of incumbent African presidents are senior citizens. However, away from this continent, there are several young leaders — from democracies, monarchies, and dictatorships in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and the Middle East under 40! Meet the world’s heads of state 40 and under.

35 years Kim Jong-un, North Korea ded his cee Kim Jong-un, who suc of North r de lea e father as suprem has conHe 35. t jus is 11, 20 Korea in posiop s tinued to brutally repres ntry cou -off sed tion within the clo ar cle nu its of g tin tes te and escala missiles. of Kim He is the second child YongKo d an 11) 20 Jong-il (1941– rea Ko n hui and the first North after the rn bo leader to have been e taking for Be . ing country’s found n in see ely rar s wa power, Kim ivities act public, and many of the remain t en nm ver of Kim and his go as h suc ls tai de en Ev unknown. d whethan rn, bo s wa he r yea what d a Western er he did indeed atten ym, are on ud pse a r school unde . firm con to t difficul

Emmanuel Macron, France, 40 Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (born 21 December 1977) took power as France’s Head of State on May 7, 2017 at the age of 39. Before entering politics, he was a senior civil servant and investment banker. Macron studied philosophy at Paris Nanterre University, completed a Master’s of Public Affairs at Sciences Po, and graduated from the École nationale d’administration (ÉNA) in 2004. He worked at the Inspectorate General of Finances, and later

Leo Eric, Ireland, 39 years Leo Eric Varadkar born 18 January 1979) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Taoiseach (prime minister, chief executive and head of government of Ireland), Minister for Defence and Leader of Fine Gael since June 2017. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) since 2007, currently for the Dublin West constituency. He previously served as Minister for Social Protection from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Health from 2014 to 2016 and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2011 to 2014. Varadkar is the first Irish government Minister of Indian heritage. During the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, he became the first openly gay Irish government Minister. He was 38 years old, on his election as Taoiseach, becoming both the youngest person and the first from a minority ethnic background to hold the office. He is Ireland’s first and the world’s fourth openly gay head of government in modern times. Saleh Ali, Yemen, 39 years Saleh Ali al-Sammad, 39, is the leader of the Houthi militants, who control much of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. (The US is providing support to the Saudiled coalition fighting the Houthis, and Yemen also has a separate provisional government with a president and prime minister). Al-Sammad struck a conciliatory posture during and after the 2014–15 coup. In November 2014, after the Houthis withdrew from Ye-

men’s “unity government”, he expressed support for most of Hadi’s cabinet choices, including Prime Minister Khaled Bahah. In February 2015, he said the Houthis hoped for normal relations with the United States and other countries and suggested that the group was interested in sharing power with other political factions, potentially including members of the deposed House of Representatives in a new, 551-member parliament. On 6 August 2016, he became head of the Supreme Political Council and sworn on 14 August. On 15 August 2016, the Supreme Revolutionary Committee handed power to the Supreme Political Council.

became an investment banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque. Macron was appointed Deputy Secretary General in François Hollande’s first government in May 2012, having been a member of the Socialist Party from 2006 to 2009. He was appointed Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs in 2014 and he pushed through business-friendly reforms. He resigned in August 2016 to launch a bid in the 2017 presidential election, which he won, becoming the youngest President in the history of France.

Matteo Ciacci, San Marino, 27 years Matteo Ciacci (born 5 May 1990) is a Sammarinese politician and one of the current Captains Regent, serving with Stefano Palmieri. He took office on April 1, 2018. Prior to this, he was a sports manager. Ciacci graduated in law from the University of Urbino. The Captains Regent (Capitani reggenti) are the two heads of state of the Republic of San Marino. They are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council – the country’s parliament. Normally the Regents are chosen from opposing parties and they serve a six-month term. The investiture of the Captains Regent takes place on 1 April and 1 October every year. This tradition dates back to 1243.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 5

Young I Powerful

Society

vrs succeed Edgar Sa Jüri Ratas, Estonia, 39 yea r of de lea the as ar isa Jüri Ratas, 39, is the Party. After e ntr Ce the Prime Minister of Taavi Rõivas’ second Estonia (he was voted cabinet split in Novem r into office in Novembe internal to e du 16 20 r be 2016) and the leader of struggle, coalition talks the country’s Centre began between Centre Party. In the 2015 cratry Party, Social Demo Estonian parliamenta Pa ic Party and Pro tria election, Ratas was . On 19 November, the reelected to the Parlia three parties agreed ment with 7,932 indion the conditions of vidual votes. In March the new coalition led he was elected as the by Ratas. Ratas was r second deputy speake sworn in as the Prime of the Riigikogu. Minister of Estonia on On 5 November 2016, 23 November. Ratas was elected to

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bhutan, 38 years Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 38, is the fifth king of Bhutan — a position he took on when he was just 26 and his father abdicated the throne. Wangchuck oversaw the institution of the country’s new constitution in 2008, and is encouraging democratization. After his father Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in his favour, he became King on 9 December 2006. A public coronation ceremony was held on 6 November 2008, an auspicious year that marked 100 years of monarchy in Bhutan.

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION Telephone: +256-41-337500/337508-11 Fax: +256-31-262207/41-337595/6 E-mail: secretary@ec.or.ug

Plot 55 Jinja Road P. O. Box 22678 Kampala, Uganda Website: www.ec.or.ug

Ref: Adm 72/01

Date: .5th April 2018

Press Release By-election of District Woman Representative to Parliament for Rukungiri District

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, 37 years Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is the Emir of Qatar — a post he took over in 2013 from his father (who took power from his own father in a non-violent coup 18 years prior) He became the 8th Emir of Qatar on 25 June 2013 after his father’s abdication. Tamim has held a variety of government posts within Qatar and also worked to promote numerous sporting events within the country. As of 2018, Tamim is the youngest reigning monarch among the GCC countries and the youngest current sovereign worldwide.

The Electoral Commission has approved the electoral programme for by-election of District Woman Representative to Parliament for Rukungiri District as follows: No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, New Zealand, 37 years Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern (born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician serving as the 40th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand since 26 October 2017 and Leader of the Labour Party since 1 August 2017. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mount Albert electorate since 8 March 2017. She was first elected to parliament at the 2008 general election. Ardern is the world’s youngest female head of government, having taken office at age 37.

17.

Activities Update of the National Voters’ Register Cut-off date for registration of voters and transfer of voting location in Rukungiri District Recruitment of officials to conduct Display of the Voters’ Register Display of lists of recruited Display officials at the Office of the District Returning Officer and Municipal Division Headquarters Consultative Meeting with stakeholders in Rukungiri District Training of Display Officers, VLS Officials, Supervisors and issuance of appointment letters Display of Voters’ Register at Polling Stations in Rukungiri District and Issuance of Voter Location Slips Display of Parish Tribunal Recommendations for deletion from or inclusion on the Voters’ Register at the parish headquarters Nomination of candidates at Rukungiri District Headquarters Period for inspection of candidates’ nomination papers and lodging of complaints Returning Officer’s Meeting with candidates to harmonize campaign programmes and formation of Liaison Committees Campaigns Recruitment of polling day officials (to include written interview) Production and issuance of accreditation tags to Political Parties and Organisations and accredited observers Display of names of polling day officials for inspection at Office of the Returning Officer and Municipal Division Headquarters Training of Polling day officials, BVVK officials, Tally Clerks, Candidates’ agents and issuance of appointment letters Polling Day and Tallying of results

Period 16th – 20th April 2018 20th April 2018 23rd – 24th April 2018 24th – 29th April 2018 19th April 2018 28th – 29th April 2018 30th April – 9th May 14th – 21st May 2018 2nd – 3rd May 2018 2nd – 7th May 2018 4th May 2018 4th – 29th May 2018 9th – 10th May 2018 7th – 29th May 2018 10th – 21st May 2018 28th – 29th May 2018 31st May 2018

The Electoral Commission calls on all stakeholders in Rukungiri District, to participate in the above activities in accordance with the guidelines for the by-election.

Hajjat Aisha Lubega Basajjanaku Ag Chairperson, Electoral Commission

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Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Social Mix

Fun Time I What’s happening

KABAKA BIRTHDAY RUN

Turn-up: Over 50,000 people participated in the run.

A record 50,000 strong crowd turned up for the Kabaka’s 63rd birthday run at Lubiri Mengo on Sunday. The run was for a good cause, to raise funds for sickle cell awareness and treatment of victims. Not even the heavy downpour could dampen the spirits.

Fit chics: Flexible to run to another relationship.

We here: We came to slay and run.

Money can’t buy everything: Bryan White couldn’t buy fitness.

Nyama: Replacing lost calories.

Take my number: Forget the Katikkiro and the guys in his frame. Oye: The only race FDC won’t complain about.

Birthday walk? Hon. Kato Lubwama treating the day like Parliament business.

Selfie: Fun moments before race.

Yes: We ran marathons and also run from relationhips.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 7

Events I Party Time

On the Scene

THE S PEARLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; FAIREST Wiggle: Traditional dance opened the evening.

Queens: Katono Flower (First runner-up), Patricia Namirimu (Winner), Namuddu Caroline (Second runner-up) pose with fellow contestants.

21-year-old Patricia Namirimu, a Business student at Nkumba and reigning beauty queen at the university was last Saturday evening crowned Miss Pearl 2018 at an event held at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. Namirimu beat 17 other contestants to the crown. First Runner-Up was Miss Florence Flower Katono and second RunnerUp Miss Caroline Tendo Namuddu.

Our love: Patricia Namirimu congratulated by parents.

Queens: The showcase.

Humbled: Humphrey Nabimanya congratulates Miss Personality winner.

Dance: Contestants showcased skills.

8 MATOOKE REPUBLIC /

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Gossip

Who I What I Where

Andrew Kabura, Flavia Tumusiime to make it official this year

Former NBS/KTN TV presenter Joy Doreen Biira is a mother again

ormer NBS and KTN TV news anchor Joy Doreen Biira had her second baby last week. Doreen announced the arrival of her second born, a bouncing baby boy in style as she penned a sweet ‘thank you message’ on her social media pages where she thanked the medical staff of Nairobi Hospital who helped her have a safe and smooth delivery. “To coincidentally have the same doctor, midwife and nurse who delivered your first child years ago, on duty when having the second, is one of the luckiest feelings... like God’s plan. Thank you to all Nairobi Hospital staff for the hospitality (literally), Dr. E. Kimotho, Sister Edna Kaburu and all support staff at the maternity/labour wing for being such hardworking and experienced medics and for safe delivery,” her post read in part. A few years back, the beautiful Doreen moved from NBS TV for greener pastures at KTN TV in Kenya. However, a few months back, Doreen who many say was at

arlier this week, we ran a story indicating that Capital FM and NTV’s Flavia Tumusiime was considering moving in with longtime lover Andrew Kabura. Well, an ardent reader, who also happens to be close to the couple, called in and gave us what they termed as ‘the deeper version of the story!’ According to the reader, the love birds are thinking about way beyond simply moving in together; “They are planning to make their relationship official,” the source told us. The source assured us Flavia has already informed her family that at a later time this year, her man will be officially visiting them to officially ask

for her hand in marriage. The source further revealed that Kabura had also confided in a few friends and told them that he will be officially introduced to Flavia’s family later this year. Although the exact dates of the function remain highly confidential, the source told us Flavia bragged to close friends that “Andrew has to put a ring on it” this year! Although the two insisted they couldn’t comment about this information, our source insisted that they are planning so much more than just moving in together! All the best Flavia and Andrew!

the peak of her journalism career after becoming the official East African correspondent for Deutsche Welle (DW), besides her anchoring job at KTN TV, threw in the towel and joined the Ministry of Mining in Kenya where she landed a lucrative job. Congrats Doreen!

Vampino scoops deal just after firing his manager

ooks like Maurice Kirya might make a better manager for his brother- singer Elvis Kirya aka Vampino. Just less than a week on the job, the Mwoyo Gwa Kirya singer has already signed up a new weekly gig for his brother. Vampino was earlier this week confirmed to headline a weekly theme party at the new Happy Boyz bar extension located in Kiwatule, just before the famous PK supermarket. Sometime last week, the ‘smart wire’ singer announced that he had fired his manager and immediately replaced him with his singing brother Maurice Kirya. The new theme night has been dubbed ‘The Variety Night,’ and will be hosted by NBS TV Katchup co-presenter MC Isaac. Great start Maurice, and we wish all the best to the brotherhood combination!

Born-again Dave Dash says his love for the Bible helped him off drugs in rehab

mages of a totally nude former NTV Uganda and Radio City presenter Dave Dash running on the streets went viral on social media sometime last year. To many, it was a fun-filled day as they shared and joked about the nude images. But to Dave, it was a tough moment that would later lead to some sort of rebirth. And months later, Dave now a bornagain Christian, was last Friday hosted at the Power, Sex and Money’ gathering at Watoto Church in Kampala and he made quite some shocking revelations. Dave revealed that he was introduced to cocaine by a certain celebrity. Dave said drugs were expensive, so he decided to become a dealer to stay in constant supply. He said he

strategically sold a gram of cocaine a bit cheaper than all other suppliers and he recruited many distributors including women. Business was booming, but the addiction was also growing faster every other day! Dave revealed that he helped himself by accepting that he was an addict and needed help. “I know a lot of people doing drugs and have no friend to run to. I couldn’t trust anyone, but I knew I had to turn to God; but I did not know which church could accept somebody like me,” he said. Dave said that when he was taken to rehab, he kept only his bible closer. He said the Bible helped him overcome the addiction much easier! Dave urged the congregation and church leaders to accept substance users and help them through recovery.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 9

Advert

10 MATOOKE REPUBLIC / Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Exclusive

Interview I Personality

My business is moving on smoothly - SK Mbuga Works on Mbuga’s Nu Shifa Hospital are ongoing. Inset is the artistic impression.

From Page 3 Mbuga admitted that his wife knew Heinsoo and said the Swede had previously made a transaction of “some little money” on his wife’s account and when the “mafia” learnt of this, they got in touch with the Swede to cook up the story to discredit him. Held longer than stipulated time Mbuga revealed during our conversation yesterday that he had been held for 73 days, contrary to the Dubai rules that stipulate a maximum of 15 days. He was supposed to have been extradited to Sweden but Swedish authorities failed to show the Dubai authorities why Mbuga should be handed over and he tells us he is soon being set free. “I am just awaiting the justice ministry to sign off the letter granting me my freedom,” he said. He also refuted rumours making rounds that he has been very sick. “No, I’m in very good shape. In fact I have put on weight,” the lanky Mbuga joked. “The detention facility is very good with a lot of amenities. It’s as if I’m on holiday,” Mbuga said. He also told us that Interpol in Uganda has never received any form of communication from their Swedish counterparts to arrest him. He added that

Mbuga and his wife Jalia on their wedding day.

once the Dubai authorities sign off his papers, he will be a free man in any part of the world. Mbuga also added that his wife is a free woman in Sweden where she has citizenship.

Mbuga has just purchased a new G700 Brabus worth about Shs1.5billion after tax.

“

I’m in very good shape in the detention facility. I have even added weight.”

Still solid Mbuga told us that he is still financially sound and his businesses have been moving on well despite being in detention. He told us he has just shipped in a brand new Mercedes Benz G700 Brabus car that set him back Shs1.3 billion as a purchase price and he forked out another Shs260m in taxes. The car is already in the country and Mbuga can’t wait to give it a spin when he is set free. The car will have the customized license plate No. 1 SK. Mbuga also says works are ongoing at Nu Shifa, the hospital that he is building.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 11

Music I Going Out

YKEE BENDA

& REMA

BY TREVOR TAREMWA

his Thursday has me whistling on wishing the 14th of February could “reincarnate” just one more time this year. Feel free to feel different until you listen to “Whistle”. This piece of novelty comes out to project what a Coke Studio experience can do in elevating the craft of two talented artistes. Two young artistes at the peak of their careers, one anticipating a World Cup performance alongside Jason Derulo and the other having had a sold out VIP show in the land’s most premium venue, “Whistle” is exactly what is expected of the two. The two sing alongside each other as they describe intense feelings of love with wild passion and abandon. They literally whistle sweet nothings on how they mean so much to each other accompanied by the usual lover banter on how they miss each other on a daily. There is freshness of sound as D king infuses the consistent whistle of a flute that compliments the simultaneous slow heavy tempo and gives the song a distinct spontaneity. The song’s chorus has the very flow Mayorkun uses on his single “Mama”. The song borrows the finesse of most West African songs and if Rema had not mentioned her name at the song’s start, I would never tell it’s her. She pays close attention to detail to the extent that you can tell when she rolls the “r” when she mentions the word “heart”. She blends so exceptionally with Ykee on this song and it’s most beautiful when they blend on the hook as they ask someone to get the a life jacket as they are drowning in each other’s love. These are beautiful lyrics one should look out for when they listen to this song. Someone at Gagamel is going to choke on steam after disregarding Rema as a “mikolo” singer. On this one, she rather sends a silent message to a one Rasta man that she could still be a “Tiwa Savage” if she wanted to.

TALKING MUSIC

e l t s i h W

Showbiz

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Fashion

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Trends I Slaying I Killing It

TREND ALERT!

PLAID PANTS P

rints, whether worn on your top or bottom are always a good idea. The plaid pants for instance make for a great pair, especially if you want to achieve a bold, but still classy look. If you style them well, you could even fit these into a smart casual look.

Media personality

ow would you describe your style? My style is simple and comfortable. No matter what I choose to wear, I always endeavor to achieve a comfortable, and simple look.

celeb style

What is the one fashion item you cannot live without? That would have to be shades. I always have a pair with me all the time.

For option one, you can wear your pants in a matching set look, complete with a matching jacket. For a funky look, add a slogan tee and sneakers this look for a great finish. You can also decide to wear your pants with a dress shirt, and accessorize with a pair of stilettos and a statement tote for a Thursday office look.

What is your worst buy ever? I once bought a pair of lace boots, that cost me quite a lot and I ended up wearing them once. What styling trick works for you all the time? A great pair of shoes will turn even the worst outfit into something stylish. Always have a great pair of shoes on. Any item we would not find in your wardrobe? You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find any Lady Gaga shoes for sure. I am not even sure what they are called.

The key is to find a colour that complements your style and wear it well with properly coordinated accessories.

street style

@blessingosimhen There is no such thing as dressing down, in 2018.

Lucky Mbabazi

@nakitende_ esther Big hair donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care.

@yamiko_ Androgynous style is the new sexy.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018, MATOOKE REPUBLIC 13

Study I Chillax I Live It

EXCITEMENT AT MUBS

GUILD CAMPAIGNS Y

esterday Wednesday afternoon various supporters for the 2018 Makerere University Business school (MUBS) guild candidates took it to the streets of Nakawa and inside the University to show off their undying support for their preferred candidates. Yesterday’s campaigns happened to be the second open rally following last week’s official open-

Campus Buzz

OUR CRUSH

ing of guild campaigns ahead of 2018 MUBS guild elections. The rally kicked off immediately after lunch behind the famous Berlin hall and by 5 PM all the five candidates had finished launching manifestos to their supporters. Excitement and celebrations ruled the entire evening as witnessed in the photos below;

MAKERERE TO START REARING GRASSHOPPERS

he food and nutrition scientists at Makerere University have launched a project of adding value to edible insects like grasshoppers and crickets which are said to be highly nutritious. The project is headed by Dr Dorothy Nakimbugwe together with other scientists at Makerere. “Insects are very high in protein and are comparable to conventional sources such as fish, chicken and beef,” Dr Nakimbugwe said. Dr Komi Fiaboe, one of the project researchers noted that they have high hopes of producing more insects in future. “We hope that soon we will be able to make tonnes, but right now we are just making grammes of the insects,” he said.

Dr Nakimbugwe adds that there are many companies in Canada and Europe that produce

insects commercially which are also incorporated in foods like bread and chocolates among others. The project was launched by the Minister of State for Agriculture Hon. Christopher Kibazanga at the Conference Hall School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio engineering, Makerere University. This project is part of the Bio- innovate Africa Phase II Program funded by the Swedish International Development Aid (SIDA).

Matooke Republic’s crush this week is Nyamwiza Natasha of UCU.

14 MATOOKE REPUBLIC / Thursday,

Body & Soul

April 12-18, 2018

Living I Relating

‘I AM FINE AND 4 OTHER

SCI-FACT

DREADED TERMS USED BY YOUR WOMAN relate Unlocking the matters of the heart

Marriage does really change our bodies, says research Why this matters? Because this is what you are really signing up for when you hit that church or registry office. Long story short: Couples who play together really do stay together, because their bodies have possibly, literally fused together.

BY STAFF WRITER

f you are a guy and you have been in a relationship for any period longer than one week, surely you have heard that dreaded phrase: I’m fine coming from your woman. If it is your first relationship, you may be forgiven for thinking, yea, she said she is fine. It’s all good. If, however, you are a man older than 21 and have no capacity to process the real meaning of that phrase, then you are likely to have a troubled love life ahead my friend. And then, more bad news coming your way, there are actually A LOT more phrases like that you need to know. These are the ‘deadliest’ of them:

I am fine. This phrase is one of the most

dreaded terms your woman could ever use in any conversation other than one where you are asking if she needs another drink.

Why? Because it will be used only those times when she means she is NOT fine at all. If you ask if your woman is okay and she responds with this you better start saying sorry even before you know what you’ve done wrong.

Whatever. This is more than just a casual phrase that is convenient to use, much less if there has been some sort of tension or if you just had a fight, or have been having one going for a while. In short, pay attention to the when and how it is used. Sometimes “whatever” means just that. If it has been used in an almost too casual tone, be afraid. Nothing. This one NEVER means nothing actually. Often, when you ask your girlfriend if something is wrong and she says “nothing,” it is usually because she thinks you should just know what’s wrong. But you never do. And therefore, she will say nothing when

she means everything.

To the lowdown Go ahead. Hoho. No phrase has ever been

more deceptive. Of the terrifying terms used by women that you should definitely be cautious of, this should always be top of the list. Do NOT be emboldened when you whatsapp her saying you want to step out with your boy and she simply replies with a “Go ahead”. It means, DO NOT GO AHEAD. Basically, re-think your plot, and then don’t do it.

Mhmm. I know this is not exactly a word,

but it is just as potent. When used, it is meant to communicate that a girl is NOT happy about something. She will lower her voice and go, “mhmm,” or type the same in your chat, say if you are asking for approval she does NOT intend to give it, or worse, you are giving her an explanation she is not prepared to buy.

It’s not unusual in a long term relationship to take on some of your partner’s interests. Sharing things and stuff is a natural and kind of cute side-effect of sharing space. However, what if you were told that not only will you take on your spouse’s likes and likeness, but also their actual biology? A study that was presented at the Gerontological Society of America seems to indicate that marriage will actually equal to mutation eventually. University of Michigan researcher Shannon Mejia led a team deep into the health indicators of 1,568 married couples. They were separated into two groups: Those who had been married for two decades, and those who had been married, somehow, for five. A bizarre and consistent finding ensued: Mejia and her crew discovered the couples all shared too-close-to-be-coincidence similarities in kidney function, cholesterol levels, and… grip strength! Interestingly, the couples who had been married for 20 years were just as similar as those who had been married for 50. Apparently, if you are going to be married for a considerable period your spouse actually owning your body, and soul. Kinda.

HEALTH Seven of the dirtiest things you touch every day (and don’t know)

here are millions of ways to pick up dirt, bacteria and germs every day even if you weren’t trying, and yes, some of these germs are in pretty standard locations— like your toilet, for example. But did you know some of these germs are to be found in places you never paid much attention to?

The door knob

Although modern knobs are usually designed to be bacteria resistant, these types of defenses aren’t always effective. Moreover, older non-resistant door knobs are going to be even worse. Keep this in mind next time you are trying to escape a public bathroom.

The fridge handle

Let’s be honest, how often do you clean your fridge handles? Probably not often. You should consider it though, because they are often infested with the same bacteria that live on poultry and pork, which is quite likely already in your fridge.

sickness and diarrhea. Interestingly enough these are the same bacteria that infest public toilets. So next time you reach to type in your PIN number just imagine yourself running your hand around the rim of the toilet bowl across the street.

Money

Shopping carts

Does this even need an explanation? Have you seen some of the places money emerges from when it about to be used in a Ugandan transaction?

Researchers at the University of Arizona recently found that shopping carts had more bacteria, saliva and fecal matter(!) than public bathrooms, telephones, and even those quietly notorious black spots, like mobile phones and the kitchen skin.

The ATM

Recent studies found ATMs to have high levels of bacillus and pseudomonads, two bacteria famous for causing

at home will depend upon your own personal hygeine, know this – public remotes at hospitals, hotels, etc. are filthy little creatures. Not only do their cracks and crevices make them ideal for microbes, spores, and bodily fluids to hide but studies have found semen, urine, and should we even go on?

Elevator button (and switches)

The TV remote

While the cleanliness of your remote control

It shouldn’t be too surprising to see these on this list. They are pretty much exactly like switches except they get flipped way more often.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018 / MATOOKE REPUBLIC 15

Weddings I Introductions I

taken Odettah & Joshua

Fashion, poise at Odettah’s Kugamba Obugyenyi

here was everything to like about the past weekend for Odettah Mugisha as her fiancé Joshua Manzi visited her parents’ home in Mbarara to ask for her hand in marriage, in a traditional ceremony known as “Okugamba Obugyenyi”, also commonly known as “kukyala” in some parts of the country. Odetta chose a pink theme enhancing it with a gold embellishment to match her cream blouse for her mwenda. For Odetta and Joshua who have dated for a year and a half, the colourful event was further livened up by the former’s beautiful bridesmaids who wore bright pink long dresses to match with the bride.

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Hitched

“The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together.”

Robert C. Dodds

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When décor was no big deal

et’s go back to the 80s and 90s for a moment. What was wedding décor like, you wonder? The simple answer is that it was not anywhere near the multimillion budget item it is today. Unlike today where wedding décor will cost a minimum of Shs3m and go up to Shs30m depending on what the couple is looking for, 20-30 years ago, wedding décor was not a big deal, in fact it was so basic, it didn’t go beyond small lights (just like those used at Christmas) and balloons. Going by today’s equivalent value, it wouldn’t cost more than 350k to decorate at a weddong! Most of the effort, according to a witness of a wedding from that era, was put on the high table and cake table. “Weddings in the 90s were a time of having fun, as long as you had a big nice cake and enough food to feed all the people who turned up in large num-

To feature on this page, email your pictures to info@matookerepublic.com. To advertise, call 0791200131

bers, but now days everything is expensive and yet few people are invited,” Patience Asasira told us. “Wedding receptions were a celebration not for showing off like what you young people have made it.” Fast forward, and the amounts that used to do “fancy” décor back then can barely y clear the church fees on today’s budget.

16 MATOOKE REPUBLIC / Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Business FOREX RATES Currency Buying Selling USD 3,656 3,666 GBP 5,135 5,145 EUR 4,509 4,521 KSH 36.14 36.24 TSH 1.62 1.62

briefing

No proposed tax on WhatsApp, Facebook “There is nothing like social media tax. There is no such proposal. That is not what the president (Yoweri Museveni) proposed. No one will tax you for using WhatsApp and Facebook...” ICT and National Guidance Minister, Frank Tumwebaze

Money I Trade I Executives

Tough times for businesses as govt

moots major changes to tax regime BY STAFF WRITER

usinesses in Uganda can expect a more complex operating environment starting from the next financial year if a raft of proposals on the tax regime is approved by Parliament. The tax amendment bills which were tabled at the end of last month by the Minister for Finance and are being debated by MPs propose significant revisions to some taxes, introduce a number of new tariffs, and recommend changes to how some taxes should be collected. The tax laws which the Finance ministry wants reviewed include: The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, The Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, The Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, The Stamps Duty (Amendments) Bill, The Tax Appeals Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, as well as The Tax Procedures Code (Amendment) Bill. Also included in the raft of proposals is the law on gaming and the law which regulates the importation of motor vehicles, in form of The Gaming (Amendment) Bill and Traffic & Road Safety (Amendment) Bill respectively.

Law to enable withholding of VAT

Perhaps the recommendation that is likely to bite businesses most severely is one where the proposed amendment to the Value Added Tax (VAT) law would allow for the withholding of VAT by entities which have been authorised by the Minister of Finance. The proposal states in part that; “The Minister shall, by notice in the Gazette, designate persons who shall withhold tax (VAT) on a payment for a taxable supply and the persons designated shall remit to the Uganda Revenue Authority 50% of the tax payable.” What this means in effect is that URA will be able to receive half of the amount of VAT a business should be paying up front once a transaction between two parties has been paid for, which will close a window that businesses previously exploited by reinvesting sums of money received as part of VAT, which sums they were at liberty to pay within a 12-month period, or before the end of the financial year.

Pay tax even if you make losses

The proposed amendments to the Income Tax bill will not make businesses any happier, as the ministry wants even those businesses which indicate that they have consistently suffered losses to pay 0.5% of their total income every year after a loss-making period of seven years. “A taxpayer who has carried forward losses for a consecutive period of seven years of income shall pay a tax at a rate of 0.5 percent of the gross turnover for every year of income in which the loss continues after the seventh year,” the proposed amendment reads.

Some of the other proposals are for a 10% withholding tax on commission paid to airtime distributors and mobile money services, mandatory electronic receipting where tax-registered businesses will be required to use an electronic device which will be linked to a URA centralised invoicing and receipting system, as well as a requirement for gaming ventures (dominated by betting houses and casinos) to file weekly returns, as opposed to monthly as is the case at the moment. If Parliament passes the proposed amendments to the bills and they are signed into law by the president they will come into effect on July 1, 2018, the beginning of the 2018/2019 financial year.

Strive Masiyiwa

#RecruitCorruptionFighters: How I resisted Charles Taylor of Liberia

any people think the problem of corruption is so big that nothing they personally do can ever make any real difference. This is not correct. You and I as individuals are the most important players in stopping corruption. One day you will be amazed how many people have joined us. Today let me share a story that a few of you have heard before. I want you to try to figure out at least one lesson for you as an entrepreneur, and as someone who cares about the future of this entire continent. In 2001 when we started setting up Econet Wireless Nigeria (now Airtel), one of the key requirements for our business was to find a big building where we could put our sophisticated switching equipment. It takes months to prepare such a highly secure building and costs millions. We were under pressure with a strict roll-out deadline. (If we missed it, we would lose the license for which we paid $285m!) Due to the nature of our business we had to own the building, so we hired an estate

agent. When he finally told me he had found the perfect one, I personally went to see it, and agreed. We were all thrilled. It was quite a unique property. “The government of Nigeria has ordered all embassies to relocate from Lagos to Abuja,” our agent had told me. “The Liberian government has one of the largest properties in the city, and they are selling.” Our people quickly reached agreement on price. It was a lot of money. They were in a hurry to sell so they could “buy a new building in Abuja” (so they claimed). Such a large payment required approval by me and other directors of our company. As I looked at the documents and agreements for signature, I noticed that the payment bank account was in Switzerland and had no name on it... “Why is this not a Liberian government account in Monrovia?” I asked. “The Ambassador says that is where they want the money sent.” “Tell him I want a Government of Liberia bank account number and also a Cabinet Min-

ute authorising the sale.” “Sir, why are you being so difficult?! It really has nothing to do with us. The Ambassador has a letter from the President and Finance Minister authorising the sale.” A few days later, the Ambassador of Liberia himself asked to see me. At first he threatened to sell the building to someone else if we did not move quickly. “Come on man,” I insisted. “It’s easier for you to send me the Ministry of Finance account details than to start a new sale.” Next he turned on the charm: “I spoke to the President, and he said he is willing to speak to you on the phone to clear any misunderstanding.” “To be honest, we don’t need to waste the President’s time. Just give us the account details.” Next the Ambassador came and said the President was sending his brother all the way to Nigeria to see me. He even invited me to travel to Liberia as a guest of the President, thinking that would impress me. Everyone was frustrated. My people were

frustrated. The Ambassador was frustrated. I just refused to budge. The deal collapsed. We ended up with a much smaller, less ideal building. About two years after that, Charles Taylor was forced to hand over power to his vice president after a civil war that killed tens of thousands of Liberians. Eventually a Special Court sentenced him to 50 years in prison for war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. This ws one of the most brutal dictators in history, who plundered his country. I was not going to allow him to rob his people, through me! From the moment I saw those papers, I knew immediately that Charles Taylor wanted to sell the building and pocket the money himself. As I like to say, “My mother said I was born at night, but it was not last night!” For me, I’m always concerned, first and foremost, about ensuring that my own staff and I do the right thing, then we tell others who share the same values. This is how we slowly eradicate the disease called corruption.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018 / MATOOKE REPUBLIC 17

Work I Innovation I Enterprise

Business

Meet the Makerere graduate making

500k a month from paper wedding flowers Even though a life of hustling on a daily basis is most unwelcome for many youth, more so students at campus, one student at Makerere University decided to be different, writes Paul Jjemba.

“

“I didn’t know how to do the decorations very well but since I was working with all my heart and showing Biz on A lots of interest, I was paid well; Shs50,000 every time budget we had a gig...”

oming from a financially stable family and studying at the university should mean ‘hustling’ to make an extra buck should be the least of a young woman’s interests, right? Wrong. Spotting an untapped opportunity in the immensely lucrative weddings business, she decided to make good use of her Bachelor of Industrial and Fine Arts course to start up a business of making paper wedding flowers. Sandra Nabwire is her name. Sandra has never been like any other student you may know. Not one content to wait until graduation to look for what to do to keep herself busy, her job hunt race began during her

second year at campus. “One thing I know is that I have always had confidence in myself. Even in my second year at campus I believed I could secure a job such that by the time I graduated I would be able to stand on my own,” 24-year-old Sandra told Matooke Republic. “I didn’t want to keep putting my parents under pressure for money yet I was mature.” It was, therefore, a fulfillment of a dream when Sandra secured a job with a wedding service provider based in Ntinda and specialised in décor. Here, she co-worked with decorators on parties, ceremonies and weddings at weekends.

“I didn’t know how to do the decorations very well at this time but since I was working with all my heart and showing lots of interest, I was paid well; Shs50,000 every time we had a gig,” she said. The fact that most of the decorations were done over the weekend meant Sandra could still be able to attend her lectures every evening during the week. “In just six months, I had mastered almost every design, pinning curtains, arranging flowers according to the different] colors,” she said. With all sorts of creative skills she had picked up in a year’s period, Sandra opted to

Contracts & Procurements Manger

Finance, Business Administration or related fields with Seven years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Email: ug-rhites-n@ugjsi.com

start a décor project of her own. She faced an immediate challenge; she did not have sufficient capital to buy all the tools she needed. “I didn’t have the money to start but, I had the idea. It was at this time when a friend of mine advised me to begin with a flower shop instead of beginning with the big things, an idea I welcomed without hesitation,” Sandra revealed. With only Shs500,000 Sandra had saved on her account she rented a small room in Wandegeya bought a few flowers, decorative table cloths, baskets and flower stands among others—and that is how the Sandy Flower Shop came into existence. “I was glad at the birth of a business venture of my own, but to my disappointment I didn’t start with the best flowers. Those I had bought withered before I even had a deal secured,” she recalled. This misfortune was a blessing in disguise, however, as it was what gave her the idea of making paper flowers. According to Sandra, paper (artificial) flowers can be made from newspapers, old maps, novels and from many other materials. She adds that although fresh flowers are a wedding staple, many party owners don’t mind the idea of adding paper details to their lush arrangements. Sandra still stocks fresh flowers, but admits she makes more profit on paper flowers than the fresh ones, with her paper flowers going for Shs40,000 and upwards. She noted that the only challenge with paper flowers is that they can easily be destroyed by water, but their advantage is that they last longer than the fresh ones, hence bringing back wedding day memories when kept at one’s house.

jobs Assistant Secretary General

Organisation: Education Service Commission Qualification: Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resource Management or related fields with Three years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Address: P.O.Box 7196 Kampala

Assistant Commissioner

Organisation: Education Service Commission Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Special Needs Education, Business Administration, Human Resource Management or related fields with Three years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Address: P.O.Box 7196 Kampala

Principle Education Officer

Organisation: Education Service Commission Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related fields with Four years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Address: P.O.Box 7196 Kampala

Organisation: Uganda Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services Project Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement, Business Administration or related fields with Five years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Email: ug-rhites-n@ugjsi.com

Finance Manger

Organisation: Uganda Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services Project Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related fields with Seven years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Email: ug-rhites-n@ugjsi.com

Grants Manger

Organisation: Uganda Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services Project Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting,

Senior Health Systems Strengthening Advisor

Organisation: Uganda Regional Health Integration to Enhance Services Project Qualification: Master’s Degree in Public Health or related fields with Five years’ experience Deadline: April 20 2018 Email: ug-rhites-n@ugjsi.com

Manager Business Analytics

Organisation: Joint Medical Store Qualification: Master’s Degree in Public Health, Statistics, Economics, Information Systems, Business Management or related fields with Five years’ experience Deadline: April 19 2018 Email: stores@jms.co.ug

Knowledge Management Specialist

Organisation: University Research Co Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Information Systems, Business Management with Three years’ experience Deadline: April 15 2018 Email: HR-RHITES-EC@urc-chs.com

Executive Director

Organisation: Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency Qualification: Master’s Degree in related fields with Five Years’ experience Deadline: April 12 2018 Email: recruitment@cassoa.org

Deputy General Manager

Organisation: People Performance Group Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management with Three years’ experience Deadline: April 13 2018 Email: application@ppg.co.ug

18 MATOOKE REPUBLIC / Thursday, April 12-18, 2018

Property

Digs I Gardening I Improvement

The science of hanging wall art

DIY GARDENING Embrace trees and shrubs

Trees and shrubs are some of the most important players in gardening ideas, and gardeners often give them the least amount of attention. It is easy to use them to make an impact, especially if you select varieties that have colourful foliage. Try creative pruning, for example, sheared golden false cypress and columnar holly make for a delightful contrast against sheared purple barberry.

#LANDSCAPING

Small spaces

A tightly grouped even number of pieces in a small area, such as a corridor, is perfect and will give a window effect. Light colours enhance this effect.

Hanging pieces horizontally

Perfect for a corridor or sofa wall, hanging art horizontally allows you to achieve some volume without appearing crowded. For this scenario, an odd number of pieces is more attractive to the eye and is visually balanced; a normal spacing of 4-6 inches is recommended.

Symmetrical placement

Symmetrical placement is great for pieces of similar in size, shape, and subject matter, as this allows you to create a grouping that has visual balance and is perfect over large furniture collections, for example.

Large spaces

To the beginner: Start small

Part of creating a landscape is slowly developing a plan and enjoying the process. You could start with a small flowerbed, working on it for an hour or two when you have the time. No need to worry about you getting everything done right away.

hether you are hanging one large piece of canvas wall art or a lot of smaller artworks, determining the proper placement of the piece can sometimes seem daunting. Here’s a guide on how to hang artwork to make the process a little bit easier, and maybe even fun. As a general rule, hang the artwork so that the center point of the piece or grouping is at approximately eye level; think of groupings as a single unit. For example, you may want to consider hanging art slightly lower in a dining room, since you are sitting down when you are looking at it. Art hung over a piece of furniture should not be wider than the width of the furniture, with the general principle being that the art should be about 75% the width of the furniture.

A tightly grouped even number of pieces works great to balance out a large space or a high wall. Note that large spaces can handle slightly larger spacing than small spaces.

Asymmetrical placement

This is a great solution when you have a group of art pieces that aren’t necessarily the same but share at least one similar element, such as subject matter

or colour scheme. You can asymmetrically arrange the pieces so that they still achieve a nice ‘organic’ balance. If you have two larger pieces, try staggering them by hanging one lower than the other, so that the top and the bottom don’t match. Grouping larger and smaller pieces helps to create interest and energy. The same is true for vertical and horizontal pieces in the same grouping.

Multiples and the vertical line

When you are grouping four or more pieces, one above the other, you should consider a vertical line, meaning that the art should be visually balanced on both sides of an imaginary vertical line. Too much ‘weight’ on one side or the other will make the group seem awkward and unbalanced. In this scenario, it is a good idea to make sure the art is similar either in colour scheme, frame style, or subject matter.

f you are unhappy with your room, there is a good chance one or more of these issues are plaguing your space. Follow these steps, and you will be pleased with the results.

Your rug is too small

Rugs can be very expensive, so it is easy to talk yourself into a smaller size. Here is the problem: when your rug is too small, it breaks up the floor into little pieces, making your room feel even smaller. On the flip side, when you have a generously sized rug in your room, the space feels lush and cozy. Here are two suggestions that remedy most rug situations: Get the biggest size that will fit in your room. Alternatively, layer expensive and inexpensive rugs. If you are coveting a nice, patterned rug but are not keen to spend a fortune on it, try a patterned rug in a smaller size, then layer it over a much larger natural fibre rug—so you will be able to get the proper size while also getting the pattern and colour you are looking for. Your furniture is too far apart Laying out a room is hard, but here is what this really comes down to — your furniture pieces are spread too far apart. You

Internet

probably need less space than you think. You really do not need that much space from one chair to the next. A quick guide you can use is to have the distance between coffee table and sofa at 8-18 inches and distance between pairs of chairs at 4-12 inches. No chair or sofa should be more than an arm’s length from either the coffee table or side table.

Not enough lighting

A beautifully lit room feels warm, inviting, and puts everyone at ease. But on the flipside, a room that’s poorly lit feels awkward. The cardinal rule of lighting: never rely solely on overhead lighting. Obviously if you have canned lights or a chandelier, you should turn those on. In addition to overhead lighting, mix it up and have a combination of floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces.

Wimpy curtains

Curtains serve several purposes in a room, more than just providing privacy. They bring softness to your spaces, make your ceilings look taller, add color and pattern, or help fill wall space. But one thing most people get wrong is when they hang curtains too low or their panels are not wide enough for their windows.

Thursday, April 12-18, 2018 / MATOOKE REPUBLIC

Opinions I News I Trivia

Think Vipers’ 10 bags of cement is a ‘weird’ prize? Wait till you read this

Sport

BETTING TIPS Bruno Birakwate with

Thursday: April 12, 2018 EUROPE: Europa League - Play Offs 22:05

CSKA Moscow - Arsenal

22:05

Marseille - RB Leipzig

22:05

Salzburg - Lazio

Over 2.5

22:05

Sporting - Atl. Madrid

Saturday: April 14, 2018 ENGLAND: Premier League 14:30

Southampton - Chelsea

Over 2.5