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Bank of Uganda Recognizes Pearl Bank’s Outstanding Performance in the ACF and SBF Schemes

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The Bank of Uganda has recognized Pearl Bank for its outstanding partnership and responsiveness in the Agricultural Credit Facility and Small Business Fund Schemes, which have accelerated the growth of Uganda’s agricultural and business sectors in alignment with the National Development Plan IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy. This was during a workshop held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Hotel Africana. Jointly implemented by the Bank of Uganda and participating financial institutions, the ACF was designed to increase the availability of medium- and long-term financing to the agriculture sector at competitive interest rates. Under this program, Pearl Bank distinguished itself through strong loan portfolio growth, prudent risk management, and deep outreach to both commercial and smallholder farmers. The bank’s commitment to sustainable agriculture financing has yielded an approximately 180% growth in its agricultural portfolio since 2020 aided by innovative lending solutions and tail...
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WMO: Likelihood increases of El Niño

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An El Niño event is expected to develop from mid-2026, impacting global temperature and rainfall patterns, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The latest monthly Global Seasonal Climate Update from WMO signals a clear shift in the Equatorial Pacific: sea-surface temperatures are rising rapidly, pointing to a likely return of El Niño conditions as early as May–July 2026. Forecasts indicate there is a “nearly global dominance of above-normal land surface temperatures” in the upcoming three-month period, and regional variations in rainfall patterns. “After a period of neutral conditions at the start of the year, climate models are now strongly aligned, and there is high confidence in the onset of El Niño, followed by further intensification in the months that follow,” said Wilfran Moufouma Okia, Chief of Climate Prediction at WMO. “Models indicate that this may be a strong event – but the so-called spring predictability barrier is a challenge for the certainty of for...
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Extreme heat pushes agrifood systems to the brink

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Extreme heat events threaten the livelihoods, health and labour productivity of over a billion people. Agricultural workers and agrifood systems are on the frontlines.   The frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events have risen sharply over the past half century, and the risks to agrifood systems and ecosystems are set to soar in the future, according to  “ Extreme heat and agriculture ,” a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).   “This work highlights how extreme heat is a major risk multiplier, exerting mounting pressure on crops, livestock, fisheries and forests, and on the communities and economies that depend upon them.” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.   “Extreme heat is increasingly defining the conditions under which agrifood systems operate,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.   “More than simply an isolated climatic hazard, it acts as a ...
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Genetec highlights why governance defines secure cloud adoption in enterprise physical security

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  Genetec Inc. , the global leader in enterprise physical security software, is highlighting a disconnect between cloud adoption models in physical security and the governance and operational demands of large enterprises. Large organizations need to approach cloud adoption through the lens of governance, risk management, and operational requirements. Most enterprise environments span hundreds of sites, face strict regulatory and cybersecurity requirements, and rely on infrastructure that must remain operational for years. When cloud models promote adoption as a simple move to the cloud, they can overlook the operational realities of large enterprises, limiting  flexibility and making long-term resilience harder to sustain.  “Enterprise physical security seldom operates within a single deployment model, and cloud strategies must reflect that reality,” said Francis   Lachance, Senior Director, Product, Genetec Inc . “Organizations run cloud, on-premises, and hybrid env...
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Pearl Bank Backs Efforts of Diocesan Education Inspectors to Access Remote Schools by Donating Motorbikes

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Pearl Bank, whose purpose is to foster prosperity for Ugandans, has today backed the efforts of the Church of Uganda (COU) Education Directorate to enhance accessibility for Diocesan Education Inspectors (DEIs) to strengthen educational institutions, especially in underserved areas. Pearl Bank has procured motorcycles to ease access to rural schools for district education inspectors. This contribution is in support of a broader plan by the COU Education Directorate to acquire motorcycles to facilitate mobility to remote schools. The Executive Director-Operations at Pearl Bank, Martin Mugisha thanked Church of Uganda through the Archbishop for its continued role in shaping the education landscape in Uganda through its wide network of schools. He said, "Education is a fundamental pillar for national development. Our partnership with the Church of Uganda Education Directorate symbolizes Pearl Bank's commitment to supporting education and community development." "By supp...
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Genetec sets a new standard for enterprise physical security with Cloudlink 2210

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    Genetec Inc.  (“Genetec”), the global leader in enterprise physical security software, today announced Genetec Cloudlink™ 2210. Designed for complex, enterprise-scale deployments , the new cloud-managed appliance addresses the practical challenges enterprises face when adopting a cloud-managed model at scale, including cloud storage costs, support for existing devices that do not enable direct-to-cloud connectivity, and the need to maintain local operation during connectivity disruptions.  With a stackable, 2U rack-mount form factor, the Cloudlink 2210 enables large organizations to extend cloud-managed security across high-density, mission-critical environments without redesigning their existing infrastructure. Like the rest of the Genetec Cloudlink line, the 2210 supports multiple workloads, including video management, access control, and intrusion, in a single appliance. By consolidating these workloads into one appliance, it reduces system sprawl, simplifies ...
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Simplifi Networks Signs Master Distribution Agreement with Huawei Technologies

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  Simplifi Networks, in partnership with Huawei Technologies Uganda Co. Limited has officially signed a strategic agreement granting Simplifi Networks a Master Distributor status for Huawei enterprise networking products across its channel.  This significant milestone aims to strengthen Uganda’s digital infrastructure and technology ecosystem. With this partnership in place, Simplifi Networks will distribute a wide range of Huawei’s enterprise Ekit products, including advanced Wi-Fi systems, switches, routers, and network infrastructure technologies designed to support businesses, educational institutions, telecom providers, and government organisations across East Africa. The agreement positions Simplifi Networks as a key player in delivering high-performance, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions to meet the increasing demand for reliable digital infrastructure as Uganda accelerates its digital transformation agenda. Speaking about the partnership, Ken Stober, CEO of S...
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