KITUUKA LOOKS AT NRM'S 25 YEARS IN POWER

WHAT ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION OPTIONS WHEN INTERNET MAILS ARE INTERCEPTED?

Dear all,

I am highly convinced that for us who are serious opponents of the Museveni regime which has set an agenda for itself to see that it stays for as long as it wishes though in many instances it is not doing a service to Ugandans; our chances of going far in our struggles may not be there given the interference with our communication which is so crucial in our efforts for publicity of our work and resource mobilization. It looks like Government has its hand in all this communication and much interest in what our schemes are. Emails are intercepted; chances that you send a message and it is not received by the party meant to get it seem to be on the increase. Emails are being blocked and one cannot be sure that those to whom he may have sent mails are unable to reply so that he gets their views and guidance, yet the chances that even finances sent can be blocked and the right beneficiary may not know about the development, such is the challenge we are faced with to date. These are the muscles of repressive regimes, which we are trying to address but we are weak opponents who need a lot of support to get anywhere. The dollars from donor countries are a real problem as repressive regimes are at liberty to use and misuse this funding and at times much of this type of funding ends up in individuals’ pockets which is very unfortunate.

Any thing like being a crusader of Good Governance in a climate where the regime in power sees itself as indispensable and has all the right to see itself in power as it challenges opponents using all possible resources at its disposable including legislation that limits Human Rights is unfortunate. We may not go far when the potential helpers just look at us. I think there is need for the International community to be more committed to our efforts other than just ignoring our calls for assistance more so to support programmes that can better educate the masses about their rights.

For the people of Uganda, when one recollects what has gone on for the nearly 25 years NRM has been in power and more often than not the donor community has to come in to threaten to withdraw aid so that the regime can reduce on its excesses, it becomes unfortunate that the people may have no avenue to change Government at a crucial point in time when the country seems to be moving backwards though this is disguised as positive growth which is for the benefit of a few as majority get more impoverished.

I think the International community should look to our cause with more concern such that with time we make impact to bail our people in the circumstances they are in.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka 

World Bank Reactivates Food Fund Amid Concern Over Food Volatility

Press Release No:2010/136/EXT

WASHINGTON, October 18, 2010 - The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors has approved extending the life of the Bank’s Global Food Crisis Response Program (GFRP) to June 2011, amid concern over heightened food price volatility and its impact on poor countries.

The move will allow the Bank to respond more swiftly to calls for assistance by countries hit hard by food price spikes, by allowing the fast-track processing and disbursement of up to US$760 million in existing funds for countries in need. Under the program, they can choose from a wide array of pre-tested options for food crisis response. 

“There’s growing concern among countries about continuing volatility and uncertainty in food markets,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “These concerns have been compounded by recent increases in grain prices. World food price volatility remains significant and in some countries, the volatility is adding to already higher local food prices due to other factors such as adverse weather. High volatility negatively impacts both consumers and farmers.”

Launched in May 2008, the GFRP was set up to help countries deal with the rapid food price rises. It was designed to address immediate needs and to support safety net programs such as food for work, conditional cash transfers, and school feeding programs for the most vulnerable people. To date, the total Bank-funded operations under the GFRP amounted to US$1.2 billion with assistance reaching 35 countries, especially the most affected regions in Africa and Asia. In addition, external donors have funded about $200 million in additional GFRP operations, that include another four countries. 

“We do expect high volatility in food prices to continue until at least 2015, so reactivating the Bank’s food crisis fund means we’re ready to help countries calling for assistance. The crisis fund has proven to be an effective way to help countries with about 5.9 million farm households directly benefitting from timely assistance. In addition, support for social protection programs is already estimated to have reached 5.6 million people,” said World Bank Managing Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. 

The GFRP provides support for food production by supplying seeds and fertilizer, improving irrigation for small-scale farmers, as well as social safety net programs and also providing budget support to offset tariff reductions for food and other unexpected costs. Projects under the GFRP are having an impact, including:

• In Gambia, a project is targeting farmers in nine vulnerable districts. 35 village seeds stores are being set up.

• In Nepal, financing for social safety nets has seen more than 160,00 workers in food/cash works programs, providing food for about 940,000 people. They’ve been able to eat a greater variety of food as well as more food. 94% of people reported greater food security.

• In Benin, fertilizer was provided under a Bank funded emergency response project, which led to the estimated production of an extra 100,000 tonnes of cereals.

As part of its efforts to boost food security, the World Bank Group increased agricultural assistance last year to US$6 billion from $4.1 billion annually in the 2006 to 2008 financial years. As part of the Bank's Agricultural Action Plan for 2010 to 2012, funding for agriculture will remain in the US$6 billion to $8 billion range per year. 

The World Bank is also the trustee of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) that was launched by international donors and other partners in April to fund long-term solutions to recurring food crises. The fund, which aims to help low income countries boost support for agriculture and food security, has US$914 million pledged by seven donors – Australia, Canada, Ireland, Korea, Spain, the United States as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

GAFSP funds long-term food security investment plans, which are country-led, inclusive of civil society, and solidly evidence-based. Already some two million people are set to benefit through $224 million in grants that have been approved for Bangladesh, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Togo and Rwanda. In Rwanda, for example, the money will be used for efforts to transform hillside agriculture by reducing erosion in targeted areas and so will put more money into the pockets of farmers. Proposals from a further 20 countries have since been received.

Contacts: 

In Washington: David Theis, (202) 458-8626 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (202) 458-8626 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (202) 458-8626 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, dtheis@worldbank.org

For the 2 and a half decades when President Museveni has been in power, it is sad to see that he is just realising that Sports can be promotional to the country. It is one of the best advertising strategies. The unfortunate thing is that school play grounds are now some of the victims to the so-called investors! How on earth should an investment just be fixed where a school play ground is? Shimoni used to cater for all the city schools only to be demolished, it is sad. As for Kipsiro getting shs 20m, I think think this was equally wrong. If a person is not used to so much money, giving him such a lumpsome moreover cash is wrong. Why does the President prefer to make cash donations not even cheques? You could easily find simple Kipsiro who has been going on well with a simple wife all of a sudden looking for another one. Secondly, what about those who put in good effort but are yet to make it because of logistical problems, does the shs 20m to Kipsiro motivate them? And given that the young man put issues to the President, if I had been in Museveni's shoes, I would give Kipsiro shs 3m cheque, then use the other money to start of the infrastructure developments so that more atheletes can be got on board. 

By James Bakama and Norman Katende wrote that:

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has given Moses Kipsiro sh20m for winning two gold medals from the just-concluded Commonwealth Games in New Dheli, India. The President also promised to build a camp house for atheletes and to upgrade a training field in the star athlete’s home district of Bukwo. “I am giving you sh20m for removing the curse of no medals,” a smiling Museveni told the happy Kipsiro at a dinner at State House Entebbe on Sunday night. “I also salute your wife. I read a newspaper (Sunday Vision) interview, saying you performed well because she is looking after your home well.”

Asked why the Finance ministry was only waking up too late to shake the alleged thieves after they had accumulated enough, Mr Muhakanizi said: “We are very sorry but we are going to take action.” Although he declined to discuss other proposals in the reforms, sources told Sunday Monitor that the top bureaucrats now want to ensure that instead of transferring the internal auditors after at least every three years, the law should allow for less time so as not allow them “hold territories for long.”

Sunday Monitor also understands that they want internal auditors even after they have been transferred from a department, to explain why things went wrong if the Auditor General discovers anomalies. “We want the law to demand that the internal auditors’ show evidence that they had raised those issues to the accountants if they are later discovered by the Auditor General. We want to compare the reports of the auditor general and internal audit to see who is doing a good job,” a source said.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES OF UGANDA; THESE WHEN DEVELOPED CAN GENERATE MONEY AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

DESCRIPTION OF THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE

There are three types of people. Those who make things happen. Those who watch things happen. Those who wonder what happened.

In Uganda, a handful of people make things happen, majority watch things happening, and a few wonder what happened.

The handful in Uganda who make things happen are near the Presidency at least in easy reach of the President and interacting with him. The majority who watch things happen are most of the Ugandans both beneficiaries and those who are disadvantaged. There are those who wonder what happened. These include some academics and people from the opposition, the unfortunate thing is that emotions outsmart other strategy that can help to get out of the unfortunate situation.

Government disputes UPE report

By Conan Businge and Francis Kagolo

THE Government has rejected a controversial report, which says universal primary education is yielding illiterate students and that private schools are better than the Government institutions in teaching. The Uwezo report, an initiative of the Uganda National NGO Forum, said: “Generally, children are not acquiring the necessary basic competencies at the appropriate level. There is a high inefficiency level and potential wastage throughout the primary school cycle.” The report was based on a study conducted in April by a team of 1,620 village volunteers, who visited 16,200 households in 27 districts. A sample Primary Two (P2) test in literacy and numeracy was administered to 34,752 children aged six to 16 years. “About 19% of the children sampled in Primary Three (P3) in the 27 districts surveyed across the country could not read the alphabet and only 2% could read and understand a story text of P2 level,” said the report signed by Uwezo country coordinator Richard Ssewakiryanga. “There were no major differences in reading skills at P3-P5 level. The 11.4% girls could not recognise letters of the alphabet compared to the 10.9% boys,” added the report. On numerical tests, based on P2 standard, Uwezo said four out of every five children sampled (79.9%) could not solve at least two numerical written division sums correctly. Only 17.6% of children sampled in P3 in government-aided schools compared to 32% in private ones could solve at least two numerical written division sums. But the Government, through the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), has questioned the report, saying the purported P2 standard tests were far above the level. “Secondly, the report does not align the findings to the objectives,” UNEB Secretary Matthew Bukenya wrote in a response. In its assessment studies, UNEB said the competency levels among pupils have steadily picked since 1999. The latest National Assessment of Progress in Education (NAPE) study conducted by UNEB shows that proficiency in literacy and numeracy among P3 pupils had risen from 44.7% in 2007 to 52.7% in 2008. “Pupils demonstrated competence in the numerical concepts taught between P1 and P3. They could, for example, carry out addition and subtraction of two-digit numbers although some of them found difficulty in applying these concepts in real life situations,” the NAPE 2008 report said. “At P6, some 53.5% of the pupils were rated proficient, which is low, but relatively good, considering that in 2007, only 41.4% obtained a similar rating,” the report added. In his rebuttal, Bukenya said the report does not acknowledge the Government’s effort in enhancing the quality of education at primary level. “The study assumes that no useful contribution has been made before in assessing the learning achievements of children in Uganda. It shows ignorance about the Government initiatives aimed at improving education outcomes,” he said. UNEB further said there was poor curriculum coverage by the instruments used, which raises a question over Uwezo’s “questionnaire validity, unorthodox method used in administration of instruments and wrong definition of competencies used.”

NRM GOVERNMENT DOES BUSINESS AS A CHILD WOULD

When I was a child, I used to do things childish. When I grew up, I ceased the childish mentality. Unfortunately, the NRM Government does much of Government business childish. Imagine people have stolen money over 2 decades but Government has failed to come up with a solution to this great leakage. Continuous extensions of NRM and the changing of the Constitution to suit one person are all childish. Can you imagine at this point in time that someone proposes children going to school with cooked food? Failing to use donor funds for what they have been borrowed for as per the project proposals is childish management of Government affairs. Imagine giving a company a contract and Government is reluctant to see the monthly dues remitted, yet the contract is not terminated. This is all childish. Childishness has assumed a new dimension where Parliament without quorum is committing Ugandans to astronomical loans including the passing of the National Budget; yet the Speaker sees no wrong doing! 

The Wildlife of Uganda has a big potential of Generating good funds for the country

CONSTRAINTS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRADE BETWEEN UGANDA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Major constraints to trade between Uganda and the European Union are internal, external and structural. Internal factors range from poor trade policies, inadequate support to the private sector, narrow export base, reliance on export of raw materials and high corruption. External factors include non – tariff barriers, protectionist policies, subsidies, tariff peaks and escalation. The structural challenges mainly relate to poor infrastructure, poor product quality, poor and obsolete technology, poor marketing techniques and insufficient market knowledge, in other words, supply side constraints.

Given the above, instead of the NRM Government endeavouring to find viable solutions, it is busy instead increasing administrative expenses, and because we are doomed to be a poor country, even if a leader like President Museveni clearly demonstrates his inability to carry the country forward, the curse is such that the powerful people in the party keep fronting him unopposed! It is sad for a country abundantly enriched with natural resources.

As Uganda celebrates this Independence which does no longer appeal to the people of Uganda, there is need tore – discover our destiny as a country, we sincerely have no future with people whose economic policies are simply a blunder. Our country deserves better. It is unfortunate that NRM still see President Museveni as the only capable person to lead the party hence the country! 

WHY HAS UGANDA NOT BENEFITTED FROM LOME TRADING ARRANGEMENTS?

For more than a decade, Uganda has persistently suffered trade deficits. This is partly due to narrow export product base, low productivity, poor infrastructure and limited access to markets. Besides, the exported products are mainly unprocessed agricultural in nature hence subject to vagaries of weather and fetch little on the market. 

It is unfortunate that a Government can have been in office for more that two decades and it still gives lousy excuses for not penetrating international markets and yet the party leadership still has courage to move to the people asking for votes! 

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CAN GO AFTER THE 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS IFTHE OPPOSITION COOPERATES. THOSE WHO THINK OF A RE - RUN WITH MUSEVENI ARE NOT SERIOUS. I TIS SIMPLE TO COMPROMISE, AGREE ON ONE CANDIDATE AND WE GET THE COUNTRY TO THE RIGHT FOOTING. PLEASE AVOID REGRETS.

WILLIAM KITUUKA KIWANUKA

 

NRM Government can neither achieve the Mission nor Vision as set for Uganda by themselves.

The Vision:

The Vision of NRM is a peaceful, united, democratic, harmonious, industrialized, transformed and prosperous Uganda, within a strong, federated East Africa, the African Common Market and with an African Defense Pact. 

1) How do you talk of a peaceful Uganda when the ideas of the people are just shunned? Government is forcing people to foot its selfish line, ignoring the people as the pillar on which government is based. Given this position, peace is simply fragile. 

2) United – Government is practicing divide and rule, then how do you talk of united when they are interested in sub – dividing the country as much as possible?

3) Democratic – NRM is not democratic, if it were the position of the Chairman would be contested, but as we hear some one has gone to court because he was unjustly eliminated from contesting for the position. The President would have long left office, but he is using tricks to keep there. There is no democracy worth talking about when donors time and again just threaten to reduce aid for Government to try to foot a democratic path!

4) Harmonious – Government itself is behind the various movements by some people against others. Heard of the Banyala and Baganda, Government is interested in promoting bad co - existence between the two! This is the reason behind the 11th November 2009 riots in Buganda.

5) Industrialized – Uganda can industrialize basing on agriculture, yet government is just waiting for foreign investors to put money where they are interested. The factors that are responsible for industrial growth are mishandled, taxes are wrong, utility costs, name them.

6) The Government wants us in a strong federated east Africa, yet it is against the federal arrangement which people cherish locally!

Mission:

The Mission of NRM is to transform Uganda from a poor peasant society into a modern, industrial, united and prosperous skilled working and middle class society 

However, given things on ground; that is wrong priorities, out right theft of funds including donors’, the NRM Government is simply day dreaming to get the mission achieved. The best they can do is give way for others who have the will to correct the situation.