A PRESS RELEASE
SUBJECT: PROSPECT INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE FOR 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS
BIO – DATA
My
name: William Kituuka
Kiwanuka
District
of Birth: Wakiso
Age: 51
Nationality: Ugandan
Parents: The Late Besuel Kiwanuka and Penina Kiwanuka
of Ssisa Busiro – Wakiso district.
Grand
Parent: Late Lazalo
Ssebayizzi of Ssisa Busiro.
Clan: Mamba
Qualifications: B. A. (Hons) Economics/Rural Economy
degree of Makerere University; Banking; Good Governance Training; Computer
Literacy.
Working
Experience: Commercial
Banking; Teaching; Writing for public consumption; publishing; Career Guidance;
Project writing; Restructuring undertakings; Website designing; General
Innovative Consultancy Service Provision
Residence: A Children’s Home
Box
No: 33917, Kampala.
Telephone: +256714981628
Email: wkituuka@myself.com
/williamkituuka@hotmail.com
WHY
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE?
1) I have all along been an advocate of the
opposition party coalition arrangement with a clear agenda under the Inter
Party Cooperation (IPC), however, when nominations for the Presidential
candidates were made, it is when my eyes were opened to what I think is a wrong
way forward. I advocate for such
cooperation where the IPC and not individual party comes out in the final
picture; which is equated to one party absorbing others. My belief is that before nomination, the
parties under the arrangement would have first convened a conference where
members would agree on the way forward including a joint manifesto, what
I see is a diffuse arrangement that may be worse than the one popularly known
as the Moshi spirit.
2) There are currently no clear ideas that the
IPC is fronting which are going to be different from the current Government’s
arrangement. This position would be
clear as of now, instead each Party President has own party or personal
ideologies as reflected at nomination.
3) Given number 1 and 2 above, I see it best an
opportunity to offer myself as an Independent Presidential Candidate for 2011
General Elections for I think I have a Vision for the way forward for Uganda which we
can jointly build on to see our country to prosperity.
4) I have all along seen some of our failures
as a country coming from accepting to be on the receiving end of ideas as
conceived from donors; be they countries and/or bi – lateral or multi – lateral
organizations, instead of coming up with our own agenda and convincing them to
help fund it as a basis of our cooperation with them, it is this
experimentation and or trial coupled with lack of commitment to implement
projects/programmes as stipulated in agreements (not forgetting diversion of
funds) that is responsible for our under development and constant beggar
mentality.
5) It is also clear that as part of the way
forward for Uganda,
there is need to build consensus, we should stop this winner takes all
mentality and have a win win position for all Ugandans if we are to see
ourselves as a united people in diversity.
It is against this background that I wish to advocate for a Government
of National Unity and Reconciliation where all parties will play a role and
have a feeling of belonging.
6) It is unfortunate that there has developed a
culture in Uganda
where able bodied people who would make serious investments in the country are
looking to politics as a life long career and the only means to survive. This has been witnessed in the on going NRM
party elections for positions. It is
absurd to see people exchange bitter words to the extent of involving fire arms
in mere party. The elective offices
are seen as the cheaper way to accumulate wealth as compared to agricultural
production or undertaking serious business.
This conviction among the public induces corruption. This culture has to be reversed so that
politics is seen as a sacrifice for one’s country and not a means to milk the
taxpayer for one’s welfare irrespective of his/her qualifications which would
call for rendering one’s energies elsewhere.
THE
INNOVATIONS I AM FRONTING FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF UGANDA
1)
A VIRTUAL CLEARING
HOUSE
2)
EMPLOYMENT OF
ALL PEOPLE OF UGANDA
(SKILLED & UNSKILLED)
3)
FREE MEDICAL
TREATMENT FOR ALL
4)
QUALITATIVE ;
PRACTICAL EDUCATION FOR ALL
5)
UNIFORM FEDERAL
GOVERNANCE IN UGANDA
6)
ENSURING A
LIVING WAGE
7)
ENSURING A
BALANCED DIET FOR ALL
8)
CONTROL OF
BIRTH THROUGH EDUCATION & FAMILY PLANNING
9)
PUTTING IN
PLACE MEASURES TO MINIMISE CORRUPTION
10)BOOSTING AGRO – PROCESSING INDUSTRIALISATION
11)BOOSTING OUR EXPORT BASE
12)FIGHTING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
13)ENSURING REGIONAL POLES OF GROWTH
14)IMPLEMENTING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FROM PRIMARY SCHOOLS
15)CATERING FOR THE ELDERLY
16)IMPLEMENTING A STUDENT LOAN SCHEME FOR HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING
17)SCRAPPING GOVERNMENT SPONSORSHIP
18)PROMOTION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN ALL AREAS
POSSIBLE.
19)ENSURING LITERACY FOR ALL AND TEACHING OF RIGHTS
20)ENSURING THAT GOVERNMENT OBSERVES HUMAN RIGHTS
21)THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE PREVAILS.
22)PROMOTION OF A SAVING AND INVESTMENT CULTURE
23)REDUCTION OF VAT RATE AND TAXATION RATES WHICH ARE ON THE HIGH HENCE
MAKE BUSINESS UNCOMPETITIVE INTERNATIONALLY; FOR EXAMPLE ON FUEL
24)ABOLISHING TAXATION ON GOVERNMENT
WHEN
SHALL I LAUNCH MY CANDIDACY?
I
am offering my ideas to the people of Uganda
as an Independent candidate who has a wish to work with all the elected
people’s representative who believe that we need a common destiny for Uganda which is
peace and prosperity as well as unity in diversity. We should out grow that fear that once such a
Government is out of power, then for us as a group or tribe we shall be in
danger. This peaceful co - existence and
brotherhood is what I am advocating for and would wish to nurture given
opportunity. I can therefore only launch
my candidacy if I get the endorsement by a group of Ugandans who should be
willing to help with financial resources to see to implementation hence the
launch.
ERABORATING
ON THE INNOVATIONS I AM
FRONTING FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENTOF UGANDA
1. A VIRTUAL CLEARING HOUSE
I.
The
biggest investment challenge by the Government I have in picture is managing
the innovation of a Virtual Clearing House. This will be an arrangement where all people
previously unemployed will fit when work is thought for them. The 1st beneficiaries here should
be those who hold qualifications in Business Administration and Management;
those trained in information technology and those with accounting/auditing
/banking and financial management skills.
These will form the basic staff in the Virtual Clearing House.
II.
This
arrangement is to have branches from the village level to the National Clearing
House. This arrangement is to be
installed with the equivalent of cards where each beneficiary will have
information concerning him/her as is with bank ATM cards.
III.
The
arrangement is to open up equivalent of Grocery shops in each village where the
beneficiaries with the Virtual Clearing House will do most of the shopping for
the basics of life.
IV.
The
Virtual Clearing House will operate like credit cards do. Someone will offer a service, for which
credit will go to his or her card, and this person will be able to get goods
and services basic with the use of this card.
V.
Because
Government will be employing people who other wise would not be in employment,
special rates will be implemented and upgraded as the economy is boosted by the
activities taking place nation wide.
2. EMPLOYMENT OF ALL PEOPLE OF UGANDA(SKILLED
& UNSKILLED)
I.
All
people with qualifications should get employment, but their arrangement to be
organized under the Virtual Clearing House.
II.
When
this is implemented for instance, it will not be necessary to have a carer for
a patient admitted to a government health unit.
III.
Those
who can train in literacy will be recruited to see that all people who don’t
know how to read or right are taught.
IV.
Government
shall get into understanding with people who have land and are not able as of now
to utilize it. This under the community
scheme in the Virtual Clearing House arrangement will have members of the
community cultivate these areas in line with the guidance of agricultural
personnel with a dual objective of increasing agricultural production mostly
for processing and eventual export as well as increase food availability to
cater for the balanced diet needs of the people.
V.
Those
with equipment that can be hired including vehicles shall also be employed in
the communal scheme under the Virtual Clearing House arrangement so that they
provide services as shall be needed; for instance, if members of the community
are to construct school blocks under education for all, the locally available
vehicles shall be utilized for the services.
3. FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ALL
I.
Uganda wastes a lot of resources which would go
into free treatment of her people. By
1974, it was possible to go for example to Grade B Entebbe Hospital without
someone to care for you and without a coin and leave having got satisfactory
service and cured without getting a coin from your pocket. This service shall be rejuvenated. You can only have a productive population
when the people are healthy. This
however will be in Government establishments
II.
Capacity
to be catered for through the Virtual Clearing House where people from the
community near to the establishment shall offer their labour including brick
making, fetching water, labour to build to have enough capacity for the
projected users of the facility.
III.
Trained
personnel in own practice will be taken on board and experts working outside
the country will be encouraged to come back with good incentives.
IV.
A
formula to be thought in handling complex cases where cost sharing may be
necessary.
4. QUALITATIVE; PRACTICAL EDUCATION FOR ALL
I.
Efforts
to be made to ensure that all who don’t know how to read and write are
taught. This may be at existing
Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools or other area deemed convenient. This is an initiative where all the
illiterates will be mobilized to ensure that they get functional literacy as a
pre requisite for development.
II.
Through
the community initiative, the people will get involved in building school
blocks and as such, shortly there will be no problems of having many
children/students but little capacity.
These will still have to be cleared for their services by the Virtual
Clearing House.
III.
It will
be a strategy to see that teacher incentives are put back to the levels before
the income was watered down by inflation.
Refresher courses to be enhanced and regular.
IV.
All
Government primary schools shall ensure that they teach practical gardening and
capacity shall be enhanced for vocationalisation.
V.
Quality
teaching shall be enhanced and regular inspection effected.
5. UNIFORM FEDERAL GOVERNANCE IN UGANDA
I.
It is
not news that at least 60% of interviewed Ugandans wish for a federal system of
governance. Time is ripe to see regional
governments take shape in Uganda
and use this as an avenue to see that poles of growth are seen throughout the
country instead of a few places like ear Kampala
and that people of which ever area of the country benefit through retaining a
potion of the government revenue generated in their areas.
II.
There
is need to lessen pressure on people eying joining the National Parliament, and
this is possible when the regional parliaments take off under the federal
arrangement which is the wish of many people as of now.
III.
Come up
with Parliamentary Legislation of a uniform federal arrangement for Uganda federal
regions.
6. ENSURING A LIVING WAGE
I.
Corruption
has been given a chance because many earn pea nuts given the cost of living,
and it is one reason why many skilled and unskilled people have looked for
greener pastures elsewhere.
II.
A
living wage is possible using a strategy to see reduced taxation (that is VAT
and on fuel) among other things, and the free medical services.
III.
When
agro – processing takes off, this is one area where it is hoped that the
country will base its increased export base hence income to boost the welfare
of the people.
IV.
Reducing
on wastage and duplication can be a big saving to the country as well as
increasing production to work at full capacity as more consumption of goods and
services is enhanced.
V.
Checking
the leakages of about shs 500bn which annually goes to corruption and have this
to productive use.
7. ENSURING A BALANCED DIET FOR ALL
I.
There
is a global dimension to the Right of Adequate Food. The international sources of the Right to
Food include the International Bill of Rights and the Vienna Convention on
Human Rights the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989, and
others. These instruments state that
every person has a right to adequate food and a fundamental right to be from
hunger. The elaboration of the Right to
Adequate Food is spelled out in the UN General Comment No. 12 developed by the
UN Committee on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights. The primary responsibility for ensuring the
Right to Adequate Food lies with the State.
The duty of the State includes; taking positive steps to ensure the
realization of the right such as development of rights based national plans and
strategies in a participatory, non discriminative way, and developing a
legislative agenda for implementation of the right to food.
II.
Uganda lacks an appropriate framework law on the
right to Food encompassing both food and nutrition and its laws do not meet the
international obligations on States to respect, protect and fulfill the right
to adequate food.
III.
While Uganda is party
to the relevant international treaty (ICESCR) on the right to food, the food
situation is not optimal being characterized in some cases by food shortages
and malnutrition, despite the favourable geographical location. It thus does not satisfy General Comment No.
12 which States that the Right to Food is realized when every person in a
community has physical and economic access at all times to adequate food and
means for its procurement. Each State is
expected to make its own strategy on meeting its obligations on the right to
food. These obligations are to respect,
protect and fulfill the right to food.
IV.
A Case
where the Right to Food was violated by the State in Uganda: In August 2001,
Government of Uganda deployed the army, Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF)
to evict over 400 families with a population of over 2000 people to create a
9.6 square mile space for a German investor Newmanna Kaffe Groupe locally
registered as Kaweri Coffee Plantation Ltd.
The eviction was abrupt, brutal and without compensation. People were whipped and kicked, their houses
either demolished or set on fire, property either looted or destroyed, and they
were forced to settle in forests surrounding the demarcated land, which was
allocated to the investor. The heavy
rains destroyed the meager property they ran away with since it was a wet
season and people were then sleeping in the open. People were reduced to paupers! All the family livelihood systems were
destroyed without any alternative provided.
They were overwhelmingly overworked to be able to feed and provide for
their families in this difficult situation.
They had to move long distances to sell labour for food. There was wide spread ill health due to the
harsh living conditions and malnutrition.
Children in post primary education had to stop their education abruptly
as a result of the devastation of their parents’ economic base. (Source: Towards
the Implementation of the right to adequate Food in Uganda - Report of the Human Rights
Commission (UHRC), 2004).
V.
When
the Virtual Clearing House takes off, many currently unemployed will have some
income, with the income, improved diet will be priority.
VI.
When
the Virtual Clearing House takes off, communities will be involved in communal
gardening and part of the produce will go to enhance improved nutrition; and
the people shall be taught the advantages of eating a balanced diet.
VII.
It is a
fact that many of the medical cases we have today are due to poor nutrition;
hence the balanced diet is extremely important in being incorporated in the
national programme priorities.
8. CONTROL OF BIRTH THROUGH EDUCATION &
FAMILY PLANNING
I.
Current
population growth figures in Uganda
are a real cause of worry
II.
A lot
of effort has to be made to make parents appreciate the need to embrace family
planning.
III.
There
is need for women to take more responsibility in the support of their children
hence this will make them realize that they ought to have a smaller number of
children whom they can cater for.
IV.
Family
planning services should be offered free of charge to the poor.
9. PUTTING IN PLACE MEASURES TO MINIMISE
CORRUPTION
I.
Corruption is one of the rampant evils facing Uganda
today. This is manifested in various
forms including abuse of office, fraud and embezzlement, falsification of
documents, nepotism, over – invoicing, tax evasion, gross misappropriation of
public funds, false budgeting and many others.
Due to the devastating effects of corruption, people are denied basic
social services. Although there are laws
and institutions to fight corruption, the laws are marred by poor enforcement
and the institutions suffer vast constraints including lack of adequate and
skilled manpower, poor remuneration of staff, lack of incentives and lack of
logistical support. While it is true
that corruption is a world wide phenomenon, it is worrying the dimension it is
taking in Uganda. It is not only institutionalized today, but
also threatens to tear the whole economy a part.
II.
On corruption, President Festus Mogae of Botswana told
the 9th International Anti – Corruption Conference of 10 – 15 October
1999 that, it exacerbates poverty in that it effectively transfers real
resources from official state coffers to the few rich and powerful. It also distorts factor prices in that those
who benefit from corruption are rewarded for little or no work done and the
cost of projects turns out higher than it would be. It likewise distorts economic decision –
making, sometimes giving priority to development projects that may have little
or no national benefit.” In the same
conference, Mr. Joseph Warioba of Tanzania’s Presidential Commission
on Corruption attributed its prevalence mainly to greed and poverty. The greed of those with wealth and power,
leading to ‘grand corruption,’ and the poverty of ordinary civil servants, policemen
and other public employees who feel driven to supplement their meager incomes
through bribes and exortion, known as petty corruption.
III.
I wish to quote just one report which appeared in
the Monitor newspaper, “Shs 7bn UPE money stolen: The minister of State for
Planning and Economic Development in charge of Investments, Gabriel Opio has said shs 7bn meant for
construction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) classroom blocks has been
stolen by several district officials.
Minister Opio was January 21, 2000 officiating at the close of a two
week business course for religious leaders and district Private Sector
Development Centres at Lions Hotel in Kampala. He said the shs 7bn is 25% of shs 31bn which
was to be spent on the UPE classroom project in the 1999 – 2000 financial
year. Opio further explained that
accounting officers concerned connive with headmasters and local councilors to
embezzle UPE funds and have failed to produce accountability on how the money
was spent!
IV.
Delay
in providing services which leads to queuing is partly responsible for
corruption where clients end up paying for services for which Government
employees are duly paid to execute (though merge salaries induce the evil).
V.
Offices
which don’t display the various official charges which clients have to pay to
benefit from the services give employees opportunity to cheat clients.
VI.
The use
of junior officers to push for bribes for the senior officers is also common in
some offices more so where a signature of the senior is needed.
VII.
Paying
one’s way when in the wrong where the official penalty is on the high and the
culprit opts to pay a bribe.
VIII.
In decentralized units what is most significant is
not individuals being corrupt per se, but it is a collective decision by a
group of influential counselors to strike a deal and then share.
IX.
Measures
to counter the above are a MUST and if necessary appropriate prosecution of
culprits. South Africa’s Minister of Justice
Penuella Maduna while in 10 - 15 October 1999 Conference on Anti – Corruption
said, “there is lack of political will.
For success in fighting corruption, there must be a clear commitment on
the part of political leaders to combat the evil and to take decisive action
against corrupt officials. The leaders
themselves must be prepared to submit to scrutiny.”
10. BOOSTING AGRO – PROCESSING
INDUSTRIALISATION
I.
Uganda is an agricultural country and the way to
maximize from agriculture is to invest in agro – processing industrialization.
II.
Government
has to realize that creating a conducive environment for business is not enough,
in this respect Government has to put in money to ensure this industrialization
a reality.
III.
Attract
investors into agro – processing more so after making favourable the various
factors which make such investments unattractive to prospect investors.
IV.
Put the
right manpower into research for markets for agro processed products in export
markets.
However,
it is important to note the following observations regarding gainful
agricultural undertaking in Uganda
since it is supposed to be the engine of growth:
In Uganda
more than 75% or about 19million hectares of land is available for cultivation
and pasture. Overall, agriculture
accounts for around 40% of GDP and 90% of export earnings (mostly commodity
based). However:
a. Majority of
agricultural land is (still) not irrigated;
b. Yields are
consistently too low;
c. Down – stream
food processing is very modest in scale, and
d. The country is a
net importer of value added products from neighbouring countries.
Uganda has an
underdeveloped food chain and little or no food processing capacity and relies
on exporting fresh produce.
Some of the constraints to Agricultural
Development in Uganda
are:
1) Continued high
input costs;
2) Poor transport
infrastructure within the rural hinterland ;
3) Lack of
consistent energy supply with frequent power cuts;
4) Uncompetitive
interest rates, limited funding and poor financial infrastructure to encourage
and underpin private sector investment in value
- added food production;
5) Capacity
utilization remains very low;
6) Low
productivity;
7) High (post harvest)
wastage;
8) Inconsistent
quality (due to lack of monitoring and policing food standards);
9) Continued (over)
reliance on donor funding;
10) Low per capita
GDP, hence an inadequate domestic market to encourage supplementary export
activity in value added sub sectors.
Uganda’s Competitive
Advantages
I.
Traditional Agriculture is an ‘extensive’ natural
operation free of pollutants;
II.
Minimal use of fertilizers and pesticides and
providing a natural farming environment;
III.
Variety of novel fruits – pineapples, mangoes,
bananas, peppers, spices, okra;
IV.
Agriculture recognized as engine of economic
growth;
Essentials of Export Infrastructure
The following are some of the constraints to
further development of agri-exports from Uganda to which solutions have to
be got:
Production
Lack of
consistent water supply and very limited irrigation
Post Harvest
a. Lack of grading
and packaging facilities – on farm and centralized regional consolidation
facilities;
b. Limited or non –
existent traceability systems;
c. Lack of chilled
storage throughout the country;
d. Lack of modern,
durable packaging materials – an expensive imported input cost;
e. Lack of large
refrigeration transport.
Market/Distribution
There are too
many middlemen and lack of coordinated supply networks.
The above are significant gaps in the country’s
farm and food infrastructures which have to be addressed to avoid continued
constraining of food exports. However,
it is clear that one significant aspect of the agriculture infrastructure is now
clearly recognized as the issue that must be addressed if Uganda is to
have any meaningful success in the export market – “Quality in the food chain.”
It is clearly understood by the export minded
entrepreneurial farmers that quality and the need for traceability is an
imperative and has to reflect internationally recognized standards. There is need for emphasis on healthy and
safe production methods as ‘the selling proposition.’
The above will require that all production is
accredited to international standards and that the sector has in place all the
following:
1. In line
management responsibility;
2. Accredited
quality systems;
3. Contract and sub
– contract due diligence procedures;
4. Clear and
traceable quality systems and related document controls
5. Total quality
management in all aspects of cultivation, processing and distribution;
6. Rigorous
inspection and monitoring systems.
The major observation is that although the quality
issue is and in some cases has been recognized, there remains a critical lack
of technical infrastructure throughout Uganda, especially in terms of
physical infrastructure, the availability of relevant technical skills and
services and, a lack of internationally approved services and technical
providers.
11. BOOSTING OUR EXPORT BASE
I.
It is
not news that increasing the export base and value of these exports is crucial
in boosting the export revenue.
II.
Need to
get technical manpower to help boost strategies for increased exports.
III.
Get a
variety of other products which have traditionally not been for export
including crafts, herbal medicine to mention a few. According to statistics published about 10
years ago, “The sale of drugs based on traditional medicines alone amounted to
over US$ 32bn, a year! Why can’t Ugandabenefit
from 0.5% of this trade? This is an area
to immediately exploit.
IV.
Do you
know that Moringa Oil is one of the best vegetable oils to use? How come Uganda is not exploiting this
opportunity to extra the oil and sell in international markets?
12. FIGHTING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
I.
It is a
big disappointment that those who are well educated and have got financial
resources have ended up big sinners in the environment degradation.
II.
Reclaiming
of swamps must be fought.
III.
Local
efforts to see that forest trees are planted must be a reality throughout the
country.
IV.
Gazetted
forest areas must remain so
V.
Soil
erosion should be checked not only at garden level but also elsewhere
countrywide.
VI.
Encroachment
on swamps and forests must be prosecuted.
VII.
Promoting
renewable energy is in line with the Kyoto Agreement and will set our country
in good stead for an environmentally sensible, as well as self – sufficient
future.
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