MUSEVENI IS SIMPLY A TIRED MAN WHO DESERVES NO VOTE FROM ANY BODY WHO WANTS UGANDA TO MOVE FORWARD.

When Museveni talks about having not been compensated for the war he is responsible for having engineered where those who lost property are demanding for compensation not yet realized though he has been in power for 30 years, you then have sympathy for those who can with such evidence still entrust him with their vote.

His talk is evidence that he has simply outlived his usefulness as regards holding the top job.

It is like he is in ‘katemba’ drama of sorts instead of conducting serious state business.

24 BODIES DISCOVERED AFTER DROWNING AT DIFFERENT BEACHES IN ENTEBBE!

24 people were reported yesterday, 29th December, 2015 to have drowned at different beaches in Entebbe during Christmas festivities.  It is unbelievable, but that is the news.

A few questions:
1. Was this murder of sorts?
2. How did it happen moreover at different beaches?
3. Did the dead have no friends with whom they were who immediately should have reported that they had gone missing?
Could it have been a calculated strategy to kill business at some beaches by competitors?
How come all the beaches with this experience had no means of establishing missing people?

I HAVE REMEMBERED
This is Uganda where anything can happen and it ends up simply as news and then dies a natural death.

May their souls rest in peace.

I THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE AS 2015 GETS TO A CLOSE

HOW DO YOU ALLOCATE SHS 37.4BN TO ILLEGAL CRIME PREVENTERS?

IF ONLY WE WERE WISER, WE WOULD DESIST FROM BEING ARROGANT AND OR BRAGGING.

I have seen a number of people get sick and they find themselves disabled.  These people more often than not need to be supported to do practically everything in life, be it bathing, walking, going to the toilet (in case they are not using pampers).  The question is: "Why do people keep arrogant and or bragging when anything including disability can befall them anytime?

Just think about it.

THOSE WHO CARE AND NURSE THE SICK ARE HERO'S.

There is need to thank our hero's, those people/relatives who care for us in sickness and more often than not, they are not paid.  Such people sacrifice a lot and at times, the patient passes on in their caring hands.  They surely need to be baptized hero's. 

WE ARE HAVING MANY ACCIDENTS ON OUR ROADS. CAN DRIVERS GAIN RESPONSIBILITY IN 2016 AND AMONG OTHER THINGS STOP DRIVING WHILE ON PHONE?

Ugandan road accidents - more causes for alarm

Uganda is one of the African countries with the highest rate of road accidents, a World Health Organisation report on road safety says. Uganda is reputed also to be among the highest rate of road accidents among the East African countries and deaths from reckless driving are also on increase leading cause of death in Uganda. The East African Bribery Index, conducted recently, mentioned is a governance tool developed to measure bribery levels in the private and public sectors in the region. Bribery prevalence in Uganda remains high. Insurers are lobbying for the reform of laws on compulsory insurances (Motor Third Party Insurance. Police Sensitization workshops These workshops were conducted mainly to sensitize the Police on Third Party Insurance with emphasis on the role it plays in enforcing this insurance. The Police agreed to upscale the inspections, but also requested that insurers pay claims promptly, for the benefit of the accident victims. According to the press statement from WHOnotes that only 28 countries, covering seven per cent of the world’s population, have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors of drink driving, speeding, failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints. The police moved also to arrest drunk pedestrians. Political will is needed at the highest level of government to ensure appropriate road safety legislation and stringent enforcement of laws by which we all need to abide. If this cannot be ensured, families and communities will continue to grieve, and health systems will continue to bear the brunt of injury and disability due to road traffic crashes. These countries must reduce their road deaths considerably if the region is to realise a significant reduction in deaths. According to last year’s statistics, Uganda had reduced accidents by 10 per cent and traffic police expects to improve because they have now stepped up the enforcement of the law with the use of breathalyzers which have reduced accidents in urban centres. And is also working at reducing accidents along the highways and this will be achieved with the deployment of officers with speed guns. However, there could be more unreported cases, and as often happens, some of the injured die without making the statistics. What inform compilation of travellers’ manifests and payment of insurance premiums? Who collects the money? Why are insurance companies not paying families of accident victims claims? There is no record of any payment for loss of lives and disabilities from road accidents though it is stated that fares include insurance covers. Ugandan roads have become killing fields without protection for their users. Travellers heave a sigh of relief if they make their destinations. The worrisome trend has tremendous negative impact on the nation’s health system as well as its social and economic aspirations. Who takes responsibility for these? We need more campaigns of the road safety, effective, going by the recurring carnage on our roads? Are these campaigns substitutes for proper road construction and maintenance culture, maintenance of vehicles, regulation of articulated trucks and petrol tankers, sanctions on owners of vehicles that cause mass deaths on our roads? When bad roads cause accidents, governments that failed to maintain the roads should share in the liability. Efforts must be made to curb the menace of the tankers and articulated vehicles on our roads. The carnage has to be stopped. All the various agencies that should ensure safer roads should work together to save lives. Public enlightenment should be intensified. Our roads would be safer if they are well built, well maintained and a culture of obeying traffic regulations is enforced. Senior traffic police officers need to be arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from a driver operators, others demand money in exchange for releasing a suspect in their custody, they should be produced in the Anti-Corruption Court. According to Transparency International, Uganda Police Force was found to be the most bribery-prone institution compared to other forces in the five East African Community partner states.

I WISH PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CAN GIVE UGANDANS PEACE

UGANDANS IN UGANDA LIKE TO MISS: Practical IFRS Workshop 15-18 February 2016 Dar-es Salaam Tanzania

The highly practical International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Workshop which is to provide a comprehensive understanding of applying IFRS in organizations so as to increase transparency and compliance should be very beneficial to Uganda, unfortunately, the  workshop scheduled to take place from 15^th – 18^th February 2016 at Southern Sun  Hotel Dar es Salam   Tanzania, will be just at the time when the country will be going for elections.

Benefits of Attending

Attend this 4 day comprehensive workshop and learn;                                                                                                     

·         The latest developments in the growing worldwide use of IFRS

·         The latest IFRS Exposure Drafts (ED), Discussion Papers (DP’s) and annual improvement projects

·         Detailed practical examples on the implementation and application of accounting and financial reporting concepts

·         Real-world challenges to applying IFRS and strategies to overcome them

·         Detailed analysis of IFRS 7 (Financial Instruments: Disclosure) and, IAS 32 (Financial Instruments: Presentation) and IAS 39 / IFRS 9 (Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

Please note that this has always proven to be a popular workshop and early booking is essential to secure your participation

Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me

Warm Regards

Sarah

Senior Sales Consultant

Diante’ Africa Marketing and Training

Tel: +27 11 3961022

Tel: +27 823508385

Cel: +27 762253235

Email: sarah@diante.co.za

Email: admin@diante.co.za

THE YEAR 2015 FROM KIWANUKA KITUUKA’S LENSES

By the beginning of 2015, I had informed the Uganda and international publics of my intention to stand for President of Uganda in 2016 using my Facebook account (William Kituuka) and blogs I have on Internet.  Day by day I was building on to show how determined I was to contest and how I would deal with different issues/situations as they arose; this is reflected on: www.billkiwanuka.blogspot.ug

I least expected that the State of Uganda would intervene and make it impossible for me.  As I write, it is sad that all the effort I put into the project went to waste.  The tangible outcome of my effort would have initially been shown in the response to my appeal for fundraising having sent out hundreds if not thousands of emails to prospect donors.  It is true some of my appeals bounced back due to email interference (blockage) by the State machinery.

The lesson I have since learnt is that an opponent of the NRM Government cannot successfully use a media where Government can intervene and he/she succeeds in getting funding reach him/her even if donors do actually send the funds.  It can be remembered that despite the vehement Opposition protestations over lack of quorum in Parliament, the Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Bill 2015 was passed into law.  The Bill was passed after numerous failed attempts by the Opposition to convince the Speaker, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, to adjourn the House to allow further consultations on the contested provisions of the draft law.

However, in the same year, I thank God that two of my children graduated from Makerere University. 

I have learnt one big lesson.  I thought I was a small animal, but I am surprised that my ideas are treated as a threat by the NRM Government; otherwise they would have left me to have the funding if I was a non – issue.  2ndly, on a number of instances, the computers I have used in my communication (not less than 3) have developed technical problems mostly with the RAM due to externally generated interference meant to make communication impossible for me.  This left me to the mercy of about 8 Internet cafes where I do my communication from.

The experience in the cafes has not been easy.  It is not once or twice that all of a sudden the Internet got off as I worked.  In some of such cases, on knowing that the Internet got off due to my communication, I would just leave the café.  The most recent was on Thursday, December 24, 2015, as I was posting on Facebook: “Museveni’s most irresponsible statement in 2015”, the Internet connection got off.  My neighbor raised the matter to the owner of the place, however, shortly after, the Internet was re – connected.  This experience has gone on throughout the year.

It has not been easy bouncing at Barclays bank just to check on whether there is any credit to my account in respect of the appeal.

It is true I did not focus on fundraising locally from Uganda.  I have my reasons though equally I have got a good understanding of many of our people who have money.  For them, it takes time to be convinced that it is ‘ideas that can work’ that matter not accumulated wealth.  I may have no wealth accumulated to show, but upstairs, I have the focus on what can work for Uganda, and my problem remains how to be able to get funding through so that the State will not have a hand to interfere with such a channel.

I have had opportunity to put to the attention of the patriotic Ugandans the big likelihood of the NRM to rig the Presidential polls on the grounds that the assumed number of members they allege to have who are not real, could actually be used in enabling the duplication of voting by some people through having more than once the names of some people on the register, and that it is true some Sudanese were registered for Uganda National IDs and could easily be on the Voter Register among other non – Ugandans believed to be there, yet, also the technology promised which will eliminate double voting could have loopholes that may favour the NRM in addition to the possibility that the system could also easily fail .  What this means is that there is need to verify the so – called Kiggundu ‘final voter register’ and be able to point out the people who are believed to be non- Ugandans and those not known is localities where they appear to be included as voters, and the pointed persons should be managed by the Electoral Commission so as to avoid possible violence on the polling day.

In the final analysis, it has turned out to be a very frustrating year.  The State can really frustrate.  You can even hang yourself.  I invested in political ideas; I have not harvested anything tangible.   I pray that those who do this to me (given that it is continuous) get a worthy ‘reward’ or pay from God.

I am meanwhile regaining strength to see the struggle continue with God’s guidance.

MARY'S CHILD WOULD HAVE TWO NAMES: JESUS AND EMMANUEL SAID ARCHBISHOP (DR) KIZITO LWANGA IN HIS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.

I LOVE THE CONFIDENCE OF PROF. BARYAMEREBA

BOXING BAY AT NAMUTAMBA IS WHAT MOST YOUTH LOOKED FORWARD TO YEARLY.

The year 2015 has seen a number of loved ones go, among which is Malcolm Lea - Wilson (91) whose family played a leading role in the initial development at Namutamba.

I remember so well how the Namutamba Community would always observe Boxing Day at Kabungo Play Ground and during that time, a number of activities would take place which promoted togetherness of the members of the community. The Namutamba Community; one would say consists of those from Kiwanda (home of Namutamba Teachers’ College and Namutamba Demonstration School), Kabungo village members, Luwonvu, Kamuzingizza, Kyetume Village, Mbiiro village, Butumbizzi village, to mention a few. 

These community mobilizations were possible because of the culture that the Lea Wilson’s had cultivated in the area. They were the focal point of the development in this area, as the Tea Estate and dairy farm they owned had a number of employees mostly the Baganda and Banyarwanda of Rwandan origin. 

The drive by the Lea Wilson’s who owned the Estate is greatly behind the Namutamba Spirit or civilization.

I pray that the spirit is revived.

IN HIS 25th DECEMBER MESSAGE TO THE WORLD, POPE FRANCIS URGED CHRISTMAS PRAYERS FOR SYRIA, LIBYA PEACE.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S MOST IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT IN 2015.

MR. KIWANUKA, YOU DID NOT STAND FOR PRESIDENT, IS EVERYTHING LOST?

On my birthday, October 12, 2014, when I communicated to the people of Uganda and the International community my wish to stand for President of Uganda in the 2016 elections, my greatest fear was how to get funding through following the experience of 2010 when I made a similar appeal, but was not able to receive any dollar.  I am convinced that some interests intervened and made it impossible for me to realize (physically) the funds that had been donated to boost my campaign then.  My fear was real, as up to the Nomination of Presidential candidates for the 2016 race, I had not got any information from my bank, Barclays that any funds had been received by them on my behalf given my efforts.

To answer the question: “is everything lost?”  The fact is that, I have got more determination to see my country Uganda better.  When we are dealing with people who have stood to benefit after fighting their way to power, and can use the military and the financial resources (treasury) available plus the ‘wisdom’ of the unpatriotic Ugandans, by among other things enacting laws to favour their situation, all you know is that the journey to start on getting Uganda to the Promised Land has to take a bit longer.  I find myself in a situation where I cannot be sure that any communication I can make to any person or organization out of Uganda can reach its destination, later on get response un-intercepted.

When I launched my wish to contest for President in 2016, I indicated that I needed about shs 60bn.  For those who do not understand what it takes to be a viable candidate for resident, they saw this as a big sum of money.  For a person who is not known by many (given Uganda’s population where many are rural and illiterate), it requires substantial sums of money to use all possible means to market oneself and what one wishes to do for the people.  Some of the candidates who do not make news today in the presidential race have their biggest problem being finances and not that they do not have the ideas that can take Uganda ahead.

Following the Government of Uganda’s role in making it impossible for me to realize the funding through the channel I had schemed, I am back to the drawing board, and this time I want to take 5 years to see the people of Uganda eventually guided on a journey started to get the country to the Promised land.

What I need urgently to sort is how I can organize to get funding where Uganda Government will not be able to block my efforts.  When that objective is realized, the programmes locally meant to empower the people will start.  These among others to include:

             i.            Changing the attitude of the people of Uganda towards work, to see them put much more effort in realizing better returns and general productivity at work;

           ii.            To touch the moral aspect of the people to move away from being self centered and to think and work for the betterment of all;

          iii.            To jointly fight corruption tendencies within our midst;

        iv.            To look at means of giving support to efforts of the people to produce more using better skis;

          v.            To look at the market aspect and scheme better;

        vi.            To put a side our political beliefs and instead work together to see a better Uganda with better means of survival by the population.

If programme vi) can be realized with time, it should be the basis of the structures needed to compete for political power in 2021 given life.

So, the quick answer to: “is everything lost?” It is not as there is the “Uganda Agenda 2021” spearheaded by myself which hopefully will get operationalized in the course of 2016.

THERE IS NEED FOR CHRISTMAS ALLOWANCE

As we go for Christmas, a number of people have to remain working to give vital services. These among others include the health workers, security personnel to mention a few. There is need to consider giving these people an allowance for working on days when majority are in merry making.

World Bank Statement on Cancellation of the Uganda Transport Sector Development Project (TSDP)

The multiple failures we’ve seen in this project -- on the part of the World Bank, the government of Uganda, and a government contractor – are unacceptable,” said Kim. “It is our obligation to properly supervise all investment projects to ensure that the poor and vulnerable are protected in our work. In this case, we did not.  I am committed to making sure we do everything in our power – working with other stakeholders – first to fully review the circumstances of this project and then to quickly learn from our and others’ failures so they do not happen again. The World Bank is committed to be a global leader in Environmental and Social Standards in the development sphere, and part of that critical responsibility is to watch projects closely and ensure that risks are properly addressed.”

On September 28, 2015, a Request for Inspection was registered by the Inspection Panel, an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project. The Request concerned complaints received from the Bigodi and Nyabubale-Nkingo communities located along the Kamwenge to Fort Portal Road. The Request contains numerous allegations of adverse environmental and social impacts stemming from the Project’s construction works, including impacts related to road safety and compensation for land acquisition, as well as serious allegations of road workers’ sexual relations with minor girls in the community, and sexual harassment of female employees.

On October 22, the Bank suspended the financing for the project. After further review, and after the Government of Uganda and the government contractor did not take corrective steps, Bank management informed the Board on December 17 that it was cancelling the project.

Because of the serious nature of the allegations, Bank management has informed the World Bank Board and the Inspection Panel that it will take action on the project even while the Inspection Panel carries out its important work.

The World Bank also is committing to several immediate follow-up actions related to this project, including:

• The Bank will work with the government to support the affected communities, help ensure that people are protected from retaliation, and address deeply rooted social problems.
• With a view to making needed improvements, the Bank will conduct reviews to assess related risks in other parts of our programs in Uganda and other countries, and
• The Bank will commission its own review of the project, which will include a focus on Bank supervision.

World Bank Cancels Funding to UNRA

UNRA boss Allen Kagina interacts with the contractors of the Kamwenge - Fort Portal road in November

The World Bank has cancelled funding to the Uganda Transport Sector Development Project (TSDP) citing a number of contractual breaches.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim announced in Washington, that the cancellation of the funding was based social and environmental concerns, poor project performance, and serious allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse by contractors.

The money was to fund construction of the Kamwenge – Fort Portal Road in western Uganda. However, concerns started emerging a few months ago, that the road contractors were gravely mistreating their manual workers majorly hired from the local communities, and sexually abusing young girls in the area.

During an impromptu visit to the project by the Uganda National Roads Authority Executive Director Allen Kagina, it emerged that a number of school girls has been impregnated by the road workers.

President Kim also said yesterday that an early review of the World Bank-financed project found inadequacies in Bank supervision and lack of follow-through after the serious issues were identified.

“It is our obligation to properly supervise all investment projects to ensure that the poor and vulnerable are protected in our work. In this case, we did not.  I am committed to making sure we do everything in our power – working with other stakeholders – first to fully review the circumstances of this project and then to quickly learn from our and others’ failures so they do not happen again,” he said.

“The World Bank is committed to be a global leader in Environmental and Social Standards in the development sphere, and part of that critical responsibility is to watch projects closely and ensure that risks are properly addressed.”

On September 28, 2015, a Request for Inspection was registered by the Inspection Panel, an independent complaints mechanism for people and communities who believe that they have been, or are likely to be, adversely affected by a World Bank-funded project.

The Request concerned complaints received from the Bigodi and Nyabubale-Nkingo communities located along the Kamwenge to Fort Portal Road. The Request contained numerous allegations of adverse environmental and social impacts stemming from the Project’s construction works, including impacts related to road safety and compensation for land acquisition, as well as serious allegations of road workers’ sexual relations with minor girls in the community, and sexual harassment of female employees.

On October 22, the Bank suspended the financing for the project. The World Bank says that after further review, and after the Government of Uganda and the government contractor did not take corrective it informed the Board on December 17 that it was cancelling the project.

“Because of the serious nature of the allegations, Bank management has informed the World Bank Board and the Inspection Panel that it will take action on the project even while the Inspection Panel carries out its important work,” said Kim