Economic development Social Cultural Consular Security

NEWS

The Embassy of Belgium

Dear readers,

In this edition you will find some information on the launch of the VIS- visa application system, on security issues, the invitation for the Belgian National day, info on upcoming events and on the changes of personnel at our Embassy.

Enjoy the reading!

Kind regards,

The Embassy team

CONSULAR: Launch of VIS system in Schengen area

Since 6 June 2013 all Schengen States' consulates in the Republic of will use the Visa Information System (VIS). From now on, all visa applicants have to appear in person when lodging an application, in order to provide their fingerprints . The procedure for collection of biometric identifiers is very quick, simple and discreet. Once the biometric data are entered in the VIS, for the following five-year period it can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS, and personal visit to the consulate may be waived.

Exemptions from the obligation of fingerprinting are provided for:  children under the age of 12;  persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible;  Heads of State and members of national Governments, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States' governments or by international organizations for an official purpose;  Sovereigns and other senior members of royal family, when they are invited by Member States' governments or by international organizations for an official purpose. The VIS central database is very secure and data will be processed in accordance with the highest data protection standards. Any person will have the right to obtain information on the data related to him/her recorded in the VIS and may request that inaccurate data be corrected.

Land Issues

Some foreign investors have recently been facing difficulties pursuing their property rights in cases regarding land disputes through legal means. If anyone of the Belgian nationals are facing similar problem please contact our office for further consultation.

Economic

Successful Commercial Mission

Between May 26 th and June 1 st a commercial mission from Belgium, organized by the Belgium-Luxemburg – Africa- Caribbean-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and our embassy, with the efficient support of the Trade Commissioner in Nairobi, took place in Uganda and South Soudan. It was the first in seven years for Uganda and the first ever for South Sudan. Nineteen dynamic Belgian companies, mainly SME’s, had to opportunity to meet with local counterparts and administration.Several Ugandan and South Sudanese ministers participated. Most of the businessmen and women present plan to come back, individually or in group. Two of them already signed a MoU with local partners. No doubt this will boost the bilateral trade. Many thanks to the compatriots in Uganda who contributed to make this mission a success!

Development: On the 15 th of March a Memorandum of Understanding of 1,5 mil€ was signed with the Danish Embassy, mentioning the continuation of the delegated cooperation in the agro-business-subsector. This agreement will be implemented together with other donors in the U-growth-program.

The identification proposal of the “Private-non-for-Profit” project in the health sector was agreed and signed the 15 th of April in the Ministry of Finance. Formulation of the project is now underway.

The results of the scholarship exercise 2012-2013 are available at Embassy’s website. The 250 candidates were appreciated and 98 were preselected. After the personal interviews, 76 were selected. They all will start their academic year 2013-14.

Realization of the Bilateral Development Program 2012-16 is on schedule

Security In view of renewed skirmishes in down-town this week, we feel it is prudent to remind you of our standard advice (links below) concerning safety in certain zones of the city.

• Kisekka market area (and all surrounding roads) • New Taxi park (and all surrounding roads) • Zones leading to City Square & Central Police station from the direction of the junction of Kyaggwe Road & Kampala Road – (corner of Hotel Equatoria) and also along Luwum street, Kikuubo Road and down to the Nakivubo stadium area.

We urge you to be vigilant and maintain a sense of personal security when you travel to and from or through these zones as new and abrupt manifestations there cannot be excluded. FR: http://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/Services/voyager_a_letranger/conseils_par_destination/afrique/ougan da/ra_oeganda.jsp?referer=tcm:313-96161-64 NL: http://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/Diensten/Op_reis_in_het_buitenland/reisadviezen/afrika/oeganda/ra_ oeganda.jsp#tab0_content

In view to optimize our support in times of crisis the Embassy has sent around a “crisis fiche” to gather specific information on each Belgian family staying in Uganda. We thank those who have reacted promptly to our request. For those who haven’t done so yet, please find the document below.

I remind you that the head of zones will get a copy of your filled in crisis forms, so that in times of need, they can work in close collaboration with the embassy to help you.

NL Informatiefiche FR Fiche d veiligheid.doc information sécurité.doc

You can send it back via mail/ fax: [email protected] , fax: 0414.347.212 or a hardcopy.: Rwenzori Towers, 6th fl plot 6 Road Kampala

Zone Location Name Telephone E-mail 1 Bugolobi, , , Patrick Danaux 0794 795 796 [email protected] , , Mutungo

2 Nakasero, Olivier Meganck 0755 404 015 [email protected] 3 Naguru, , Kiwatule, Luc Boydens 0787 665 760 [email protected] 4 , , Ruben Pottier (absent 0772 708 008 [email protected] , Bukasa until June) Back up : 0772 700 358 Abdoulaye Halidou 5 Bunga, Buziga, , Annick Uytterhaegen 0712 670 731 [email protected] Konge, m 6 Wakiso, Mengo, Bulenga, An Vanderheyden 0776 312 145 [email protected] 7 Lubowa, , Philippe Borel de 0752 764 764 [email protected] Seguku, Entebbe Bitche 11 Rest of Country Dirk Leysen 0782 319 587 [email protected] 15 Tourists Embassy of Belgium 0772 704 400 [email protected] 20 East-Congo Ivo Wellens [email protected] South Sudan Embassy of Belgium 0772 704 400 [email protected]

Social Calendar: Upcoming Events

Celebration of the Belgian National Day

On the occasion of the celebration of the Belgian National Day, Consul Anna Hajdu & Mr. Kampol Nirawan have to pleasure to invite you on Friday July 19 th to their residence at Mutungo Hill

On this special occasion the legendary Blues artist Roland Van Campenhout is flying over to give an exclusive performance.

This has been made possible thanks to the kind collaboration of

Starting from 6PM there’ll be drinks, food and music….!!!

The Belgian nationals who would like to join this celebration are kindly asked to send a confirmation of their attendance to : [email protected] A personal entrance card and road description will be sent to each participant.

Belgian Club of Uganda

The next Belgian Club “get 2gether” will take place on September 21 st More details will be sent later.

For sponsoring the club please contact : Benjamin Puissant: [email protected] Michel Lejeune : [email protected]

European Film festival

A European film festival will be organized by the European delegation in Kampala in collaboration with the Embassies of the different EU countries. The dates are planned between .September 24 th -29th More detailed information on the program will be communicated

Embassy News: Welcome to new staff members

Camille Perrin who is a student at the commercial school in France has started an internship program with the Embassy in early May. He’ll be a member of our staff until mid September.

Wouter Cools has joined the Development section at the Embassy as adjunct Development Attaché for the duration of 1 year. Wouter has previously been working in Uganda as a UNV/UNDP in the field of capacity building in the health & education sector.

We warmly welcome them to the team

Goodbye to leaving staff members

Ludo Rochette , Head of the Belgian Cooperation will leave the 1 st of August. He will serve in Headquarters, Egmont 1, Karmelietenstraat, Brussels, in the ‘Environment & Natural Resources Department - D2.4’. His successor, coming from Maputo, will arrive the 17 th of August.

Peter Dewulf , Deputy of the Defense Attaché will also leave the 1 st of August. He will serve in the Military Headquarters in Evere/Brussels. His successor will arrive the 18 th of July.

Office Information

Contact details, opening hours and closing days can be found on our website:

http://www.diplomatie.be/kampalanl (Nederlands) http://www.diplomatie.be/kampalafr (Français) http://www.diplomatie.be/kampala (English)

Closing days

2013 Holidays

Tuesday 1-Jan-13 NEW YEAR'S DAY Uganda Friday 8-Mar-13 WOMEN'S DAY Uganda Monday 1-Apr-13 EASTER MONDAY Uganda Wednesday 1-May-13 LABOUR DAY Uganda Thursday 9-May-13 ASCENSION DAY Belgium Monday 20-May-13 WHIT MONDAY Belgium Monday 3-Jun-13 MARTYR’S DAY Uganda Thursday (approx ) 8-Aug-13 IDD AL FITR Uganda Thursday 15-Aug-13 ASSUMPTION DAY Belgium Wednesday 9-Oct-13 INDEPENDENCE DAY Uganda Tuesday (approx )15-oct-13 IDD AL ADHUHA MUBARAK Uganda Friday 1-Nov-13 ALL SAINTS DAY Belgium Friday 15-Nov-13 KINGS DAY Belgium Wednesday 25-Dec-13 CHRISTMAS DAY Uganda Thursday 26-Dec-13 BOXING DAY Uganda