IN this developing story, Four years old Think Tank Whatsapp group has today Sunday February 6, 2022 got new leaders. This was after an election process where members were asked by the Principal Admin to send their favourite candidates to Ms. Mary Babirye Ndagire who has been acting as the Chairperson Electoral Commission.
Announcing winners, Ms. Mary Babirye has said, “By the power given to me as the Acting Chairperson Electoral Commission of this platform, I declare names of persons who members elected by coming to my box and identify different names for different positions.”
PLATFORM CHAIRMAN MUSA NKALUBO BULEGA
VICE CHAIRPERSON MAXENCIA TAKILAMBULE
PLATFORM CHIEF WHIP EMMANUEL PIUS SSENTONGO
DEPUTY WHIP HAPPY NASASIRA
COORDINATOR GAD KWIKIRIZA
DEPUTY COORDINATOR PROSSY NAMBI
WELFARE SUUDI SSENTONGO SSEGAWA
DEVELOPMENT MOSES KINTU N
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PLATFORM LUKKA KAGENYI & HASSAN KALUNGI
PHOTO: Mbarara University students welcoming Jastus Mugenyi’s victory
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YESTERDAY night, opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) Party candidate for Guild President elections at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Mr. Jastus Mugenyi Kizito trounced National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate to be declared the winner. For starters, Mbarara is a home district for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is the NRM National Chairman. His candidate’s loss must be a very big blow and an embarrassment to the ruling political Party. MUST electoral commission declared NUP’s Mugenyi winner. He polled 1767 votes. He was followed by NRM’s candidate Isaac Muyanja with 731, Beda Witness had 268 votes and candidate Victor Mugambe got 238 votes. Party President deployed Ms. Jolly Mugisha, the NUP Vice President in charge of Western Uganda.
WINNER: Jastus Mugenyi, MUST Guild president – Elect
Thanks to Mr. David Musiri from the Party secretariat in Kampala who was sent to Mbarara University to secure Jastus Mugenyi’s victory. Election campaigns were marred with intimidations from security organs however, defiant NUP supporters soldered on until the declaration of results. Students painted Mbarara with red, white and blue, the NUP colours and throught campaigns were seen singing songs praising the Ghetto Gladiator Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi as their President. They had vowed to take on who ever tampers with their victory.
NUP VP for Western Uganda Jolly Mugisha campaigning for Party candidateDavid Musiri (centre) leading campaigns at MUSTNUP Candidate during campaigns
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LOP Mpuuga with Opposition MPs in Uganda at the stairs of Parliament after walking out of the session in protest, today Thursday
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THOSE WHO thought this was a usual walk out of Parliament of Uganda by opposition members of Parliament, you need to read this! Today’s walk out looks to be too painful to the ruling NRM government although they are the majority in the 11th Parliament. Just a few minutes after Leader of Opposition ( LOP) led about 100 opposition Members of Parliament citing torture, continued arrests and kidnap of people in Uganda most especially supporters of the opposition, the Government Chief whip (GCW) Hon. Thomas Tayebwa tweeted how his government is going to look into opposition Members’ issues, “…and (we) respond accordingly). Hon. Tayebwa has written, “Whereas it is a right of our colleagues in opposition to walk out of a parliamentary session, I feel there was still room for engagement in the issues they are raising. They have walked out on us but we won’t walk out on the them.”
Hon GCW Thomas Tayebwa
While addressing members of Press at the Parliament stairs, LOP with MPs mostly from opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) have given NRM government an ultimatum if they are to return to Parliament or else, opposition takes action. They have however not revealed to media, which action they will take if political prisoners are not released. Responding to Tayebwa’s engagement, Hon. Mpuuga has said, “To the Hon GCW, how much waiting remedies torture, extortion, extra judicial killings and enforced disappearance of citizens! Who is being investigated or persecuted for the above crimes.” However Hon.CGW has shot back, “My brother LOP, of course neither waiting nor walkouts remedy torture. I implore you to attend plenary on Tuesday as guided by Rt. Hon. Anita Among to receive statement from Government. You presented your case, we will make a comprehensive response. That is what civility demands.” Political analysts now think, ruling Party is worried of opposition’s plan B, that is why they urgently want to engage them. Rubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa has told us, they are ready to press on until Government releases all political prisoners in detention. He said, “We have been very peaceful and we thought NRM people will release our colleagues Hon. Muhammad Sseggirinya and Hon. Allan Ssewanyana and other political prisoners but it seems they wanted us to be more tough. Yes we will.” This comes at a time when KCCA Speaker Hon. Zahara Luyirika and a group of Lord councilors who are members of NUP have today demonstrated in Kampala against unlawful activities of evicting Street vendors and hawkers, confiscation of their merchandise and brutally arresting many of them. Police responded by arresting KCCA Speaker and her councilors.
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● He says land grabbers are protected by police/army ● He wants Public to rise up and fight for themselves ● Mayanja condemns the judiciary where people run and obtain frivolous court orders which they use to evict others.
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STATE MINISTER for Lands in President Museveni’s government Sam Mayanja has rallied bibanja holders and the public at large to stop remaining seated, folding hands while their land is grabbed by powerful people he referred to as ‘foreigners’ who are protected by men in Uniform. Minister has asked public to rise and demonstrate, attack Parliament of Uganda, police and army installation saying, may be that is when their land rights will be respected! In a trending NTV video, Minister Mayanja who was addressing media said, while executing his duties he has discovered that there is malpractice in the land offices and things are raising out of control. He is shocked to realise that officials in the ministry he leads were part of a racket involved in issuing freehold titles on top of lease titles “The registry of our own ministry which is supposed to keep our records is in connivance and issues out free hold titles on top of the lease hold,” a surprised Mayanja said while meeting various families which had complained to him about unscrupulous individuals who got freehold titles on other people’s leases and were now using police and the military to evict them.
Minister Mayanja on NTV while mobilising bibanja holders to demonstrate against Police and army
He said this, a few days after he met different families which he says, he has helped to get back their land which had been grabbed by those he calls powerful people. Several families petitioned minister Mayanja, accusing officials in the lands ministry of conniving with influential people to do double titling and evict them using the police and army. Among these families is one of Ms. Margret Wasswa who told the minister how some one bribed the lands registry and was given a duplicate title on her land. This person later brought soldiers armed to the teeth, to guard Magret Wasswa’s land and the rightful owner was barred from accessing it. This elderly lady told minister Mayanja how soldiers came and arrested her and was taken away in order to silence her for good and the land grabber is walking scotfree! Another family of Rev. Richard Kaaya from Luweero told minister Mayanja that the district land office gave a duplicate land title on Kaaya’s land which still is on leasehold. According to the available documents, part of this land was sold to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi. Mr. Phillip Takussa, a member of this family told minister that he tried to engage these land grabbers but were guarded like war Lords. With them were armed soldiers, panga-welding men and those with big sticks. “I couldn’t manage them! They instead arrested and started beating me up. Thank God I managed to escape with at least a fractured hand Otherwise I would be dead now.” Mayanja said, courts which are supposed to be temples of justice instead, connive with land grabbers and give Orders to chase people from their land. The minister said, such Orders are useless. A distraught Mayanja further condemned the judiciary where people run and obtain frivolous court orders which they use to evict others. “How can we claim to be a democracy when courts are still issuing such (eviction) orders! Something is wrong! We must renew ourselves!” he said. Asked how can the Lands ministry help hundreds of Ugandans chased on their land yet they can’t easily access his office for help, Mayanja talked about the land information system which will be digitalized and it is supposed to have all the titles of that system.
ARE THEY ON DUTY? Police men during land evictions. Minister Mayanja wants public to take on police
Without mincing words, Mayanja however called on the Public to leave their comfort zones when their land is being grabbed by the so called powerful people, he says, if courts, police and army have chosen to be in connivance with land grabbers, let public attack parliament. On this the minister said, “If public keeps quiet, ‘foreigners’ and other people come and grab your land with help of guns, when the whole village is just looking on, District Police Commanders (DPCs) and RDCs feel not bothered and you also stay mute, your land will be grabbed for good. Because no one is willing to help, just rise up in big numbers, get drums (or any thing you can beat and it produces sound), attack Parliament and we see whether your voices won’t be heard.” When journalists asked whether what he calls public to do isn’t against the Public Order Management Act (POMA), the minister who is a lawyer by profession replied that, “The police can’t be happy. We must make their lives unhappy. Me when i went to police I abused them. Can’t you be suspicious, If someone says he or she is the rightful land owner, then why bring police and army men to protect it?”
KATIKKIRO MAYIGA SAID IT Mayanja’s comments came at the heels of a recent interview by Buganda Kingdom’s Premier Charles Peter Mayiga (CPM) on Salt TV in which he stressed double titling and corrupt police and court systems as top among the seven major causes of land wrangles in Uganda. “If you go to the land office with money, you can easily get a title in one day on someone else’s land. This is what must be solved instead of attacking the Mailo tenure system,” Katikkiro Mayiga said. The Katikkiro equally faulted the court and police system where land cases that take more than 10 years without being decided. “If we can expedite political cases, why can’t we do the same on land cases? Why is the police land unit underfunded?” wondered Mayiga.
FINALLY SEING THE LIGHT Mayiga and Mayanja agree that even before we think of land reforms, the government must put its house to order. The Buganda land question has dominated public debate over the past years, with some people, including Mayanja and President Museveni, proposing the removal of the mailo tenure system. While Mayanja is widely seen as an agent of the anti-Mailo brigade, his recent comments show that more can be done using the existing laws and land tenures to solve Uganda’s land problem. Buganda has consistently advised that on top of combating corruption and incompetence in land offices, police and courts of law, the country just needs to improve soil fertility, fight land speculators and distance politics from land management. “I hear people obsessed about Mailo land as being the problem. This is not true, we just need to address the issues mentioned above,” Mayiga said. “For example, people evicting others are using guns owned by government. Why don’t we start by identifying and prosecuting those people that wrongly use government firearms,” he wondered
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YESTERDAY during the 3rd sitting of the 3rd meeting of the 1st session of the 11th Parliament, Rubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa moved the whole August House when he asked Parliament to task the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain how well Police fire brigade is prepared to deal with fire outbreaks in the country. Commissioner of Parliament Hon. Francis Butebi Zaake has hailed fellow National Unity Platform member of Parliament Aloysius Mukasa for his bravery and fluency while raising such a matter of National Importance. Hon. Zaake who is serving his second term as Mityana Municipality legislator thanked Rubaga South voters for entrusting Hon. Aloysius Mukasa and revealed to us how NUP is very proud of this Member of Parliament. He in fact told us, such MPs like Hon. Mukasa can’t be replaced. In a parliamentary sitting presided over by Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, MP Mukasa told Parliament that before Parliament went into recess last year in December, he raised a matter relating to the preparedness of Police Fire Brigade in responding to emergencies such as fire outbreaks in Uganda. He was seeking an elaborate response front the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs on the matter. “Rt. Hon. Speaker, I was referring to rampant fire outbreaks in which many lives have been lost and property worth billions destroyed.” Said Hon. Mukasa. Speaking with an American accent amidst ululation from the excited Hon. Members, Hon. Mukasa told Parliament that the rate at which fire is gutting down businesses is alarming and yet the poorly planned mushrooming storeyed buildings which are being erected across the country, the many housing structures which do not allow access of fire emergency by police fire brigade especially in slum areas and the slow response by police fire Brigade are rendering the problem unmanageable. “Since December when I raised this very matter Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, the country has witnessed an escalation of serious fire incidences especially in school domitories where innocent young pupils perished in fires and uncountable property destroyed!” Said Rubaga South legislator. Hon. Mukasa reffered to five pupils who died in a fire on 15th January 2022 which gutted New Crest Junior at Kibedi Day and Boarding Primary School in Kawempe Divion,Kampala District and another one at St. John’s Primary School in Kyotera district. About ten days later, where fire gutted another dormitory. “As leaders, we just can’t fold our hands and look on as our children continue being killed by such fires and property worth billions lost.” Said Hon. Mukasa urging that something must be done urgently. Speaking to this news website shortly after Parliament yesterday, commissioner Zaake said, “My brother Hon. Mukasa has persistently raised very pertinent matters and for today, it was concerning fire outbreaks in the country where lives and property are lost while government is mute.” Zaake added, “The people who voted NUP are hopeful that we will task those who collect taxes from them to put up measures which can be used for emergencies during fire outbreaks. I salute my colleague for disapproving enemies of change who had thought we came here for jokes”. Without mincing words Hon. Zaake said, with a team of hardworking MPs like Hon. Aloysius Mukasa, the NUP party feels energised and will be able to foster people’s needs without fear or favour. “Mukasa is standing out to be one of the best members of Parliament in articulating issues. We are very grateful for his performance and ask him to keep it up.” Said Hon. Zaake who is remembered for raising such matters of National importance even when he was serving his first term in Parliament. During one of the sittings in the 10th Parliament, tears of mostly female members of Parliament rolled down when Hon. Zaake narrated a touching sad story of an expectant mother who died at Mityana government hospital at the hands of a corrupt midwife who demanded 5000 from the husband of this woman before she touches his wife. The husband pleaded that he didn’t have even a single coin at a moment but would bring the money later when day breaks. The nurse refused and the man went out to look for the money. By the time he returned, his wife was no more. The MP was talking about negligence, incompetence and corruption at this government facility which had caused many pregnant women to lose lives. Among those who cheered Hon. Zaake on was then Government Chiefwhip Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu who had also lost a relative from the same hospital due to negligence. Zaake now says, all NUP MPs should stand up and be counted, public has hope in them.
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PHOTO: This cooking oil is made from Kenya and sold in Ugandan markets. Its manufacturers compete with Ugandan manufacturers who are subjected to excise duty per litter of produced cooking oil.
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THE 10% CPO Tax has Hit Oil Sector in Uganda as ‘Tax Free/Illegal Products’ Flood Ugandan Market. In July 2021, Government of Uganda levied UGX 200 on a litre of Cooking Oil and the 10% import duty on Crude Palm Oil products even when Crude Palm Oil is an essential raw material for sector players of Oil and Oil Products in the country. As a result of these levies, there is abnormally a current increase in prices of personal care items, edible oils and cleaning products. The affected sector belongs to the Fast Moving Consumer Goods category. The Ugandan Manufacturers who have been subjected to the excise duty per litre of produced oil must compete for cereals with other East African counterparts who don’t have such tax in their countries. Important to note is that the Ugandan market prefers palm oil products to sunflower products. Surprisingly, Uganda is a key member of the East African Community that agitates for zero taxes on such products yet the cost of production in other East African states is said to be cheaper compared to Uganda’s. Unless it’s repealed, it will slowly discourage sector players making it inevitable for the different investors/cooking oil factories to close down, move to any East African States. This in both short and long run will lead to loss of jobs by many Ugandans, URA will not get taxes and Uganda’s supply chain will be no more. Crude Palm Oil prices hit record high in May 2021 along with Soya bean oil, Sunflower oil and other soft oils which compete for a share in the vegetable oil market. The prices in Uganda have increased to USD1500 (UgX5.4m) per metric tonnes from USD500 (ugX1.8m) close to two years ago. One Kilogram of such products was at UgX4500 last year from UgX3500 over the last three years thereby tampering with the prices of several household items in modern times. For example soap which for long had been sold at UgX4000 is currently being sold at UgX4500 at known sales points throughout the country with a litre of cooking oil increasing from UgX7000 to UgX10,000. The price changes have not spared margarine and other edible oils whose costing has shot up by over ugX3000. A key sector player on condition of anonymity notes that with the persistent lockdown and restrictions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping lines are hardly available and those that exist have increased charges by abnormal percentages never heard of adding that the increase is visible in other raw materials used in the production of the products. As a result, this makes transportation costly and drives the cost of production through the ceiling especially now that the government introduced a 10 percent import levy on raw material as a measure for import substitution. Research shows that currently, available sector players can produce between 3000-4000 metric tonnes compared to the local demand which stands at 15,000 metric tonnes. This means that with the current crisis in the sector, cereal oils like sunflower and soybean would have been a good substitute. However, their production remains at the lowest. Having observed the unfair treatment some of their members are being subjected to compelled Uganda Manufacturers Association through their outgoing Chairperson, Barbra Mulwana to write to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. In her July 5, 2021 letter, workaholic Mulwana revealed that their association had noted with serious concern that Uganda had allowed the imposition of 10% Import Duty on the crude palm oil yet historically, Crude edible oil imports attract import duty at 0% (raw material), olein fraction attracts a 10% (processed) and refined edible oil attracts a 35% (final product). She further says that the sector contributes to domestic taxes such as corporate tax 30%, VAT 18%, withholding tax 6%, Excise duty UgX200 per litre as well as other Non- Tax Revenues and statutory contributions. She also argues that the objective of this tax regime is to enable the sub sector to improve domestic capacity, raise farmer output, develop the edible oil supply chain and ensure supply of edible oil products to Ugandans.
Ms. Barbara Mulwana
Noting that government and the private sector have taken several steps to boost local production citing an example where government implemented focused programs with the assistance of I FAD such as The National Palm Oil Project and the National Oilseeds Project under Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries, the private sector whilst onboarding the I FAD projects, has also Invested heavily by setting-up out-growers and contract farmers schemes, improving milling capacities as well as other essential post-harvest activities across the value chain. Mulwana who has since ceased the chairperson of manufacturers in the country asserts that despite these successes, there is still an overall shortfall of edible oils in the country and this Is being substituted by imports of Crude Palm oils that are refined and packed in Uganda, which is a benefit for Uganda as extensive value addition is happening here supporting employment, collection of statutory taxes and revenue generation for utility and supporting companies and parastatals as well as scores of local suppliers whose businesses rely on the refiners. She has since pleaded with government to reconsider its position by retaining the zero percent import duty on crude palms oil (raw materials).
Ms. Mulwana’s letter to minister Kasaija
The experienced Mulwana as far as business is concerned anticipates challenges as a7 result of the implementation of the 10% Import Duty on Crude Palm Oil (raw material) to include but not limited to partner states for example Kenya charging a 0% import duty on Crude Palm Oil, an increase of Uganda’s imports duty from 0% to 10% will lead to dumping and smuggling of Kenyan products (refined edible oils, cooking fats and soaps, made from the non-taxed CPO) by traders on to the Ugandan market.It’s important to note that a similar scenario has been experienced in the wheat sub sector and has resulted into massive wheat smuggling along the country’s Eastern border, the introduction of a 10% import duty on Crude Palm Oil (raw material) is affecting prices of edible oil products as well as byproducts such as soap used as a key product in the fight against COVID19,Distortion of the import substitution effort, introduction of a 10% import duty on Crude Palm Oil (raw material) will encourage local edible oil refiners to import already processed oleim fractions (refined clean processed from CPO which is the raw material) instead of raw materials (CPO) Leading to value addition happening outside Uganda as opposed to within the country. This will lead to a policy failure with regard to the government industrialization agenda,the operating cost for oil millers have been on the rise, for example the cost of labour is increasing due to growing demand for welfare benefits such as medical, insurance benefits in the event of (accident, disability, death, retirement), leave as well as salary increments, Local oil production from locally sourced oilseed grain is at approximately 150.000 to 180.000 metric tons per annum which has significantly increased over the years but still low to meet domestic demand of approximately 220.000 to 240.000 metric tons per annum. On the other-hand oil seed grain used in production of edible oil such as soya bean and sim sim are consumed as direct food, leaving a smaller portion for oil milling. As a result, making Uganda a net importer of edible oil,the edible oil sub sector is strategic to Uganda’s economy, it offers livelihood to a number of players involved in the value chain i.e. transporters, millers, plastic, carton and label manufacturers, distributors, importers/exporters, clearing agents, wholesalers, hoteliers/restaurants, confectioneries, advertisers among others not to mention. These not only pay central government taxes, they also remit statutory payments such as licenses and fees. NSSF. Utilities etc. At the backdrop of the prevailing COVID19. increasing import duty from (0 to 10) % will negatively affect the value chain with anticipated losses in consumption and income to many who depend on this value chain, production of edible oil is constrained by a number of factors such as small-scale and fragmented land holdings, limited adaptation to weather changes, leading to low yields, prevalence of diseases and pests, low survival rates of seedlings planted, low use of agro-inputs, poor farm management and limited use of market-oriented production such as contract farming, high cost and limited availability of inputs (improved seeds, fertilizer and chemicals). This shows that the sub sector needs more support from government, across oil seed milling firms, capacity utilization is a problem. This is caused by the meager quantities of oil seeds grain on the local market. Additionally, climate change and fluctuations in rain patterns h3ve negatively affected the yield per hectare. Therefore, staying the import duty at zero percent will allow full implementation of the MAAIF/IFAD programs and consequently enabling the import substitution in the sector, More land is needed to produce edible oil. For example, with the current imports of 244,985.7 tons of edible oil Uganda would need either 65.844.9 hectares (162.706.2 acres) of oil palm. However, it should be noted that land is also needed to produce other food crops if Uganda is to maintain food security. With an elaborative explanation, Uganda Manufacturers Association appeals to government to stay the application of the 0% Import duty on crude palm oil as this will help minimize the edible oil sub sector trade deficit in the short run as a long-term solution is realized at 0% import duty, the edible oil sector will remain competitive in comparison to EAC partner states and for related exports markets, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Government should push for the increase In edible oil yield per hectare by Incentivizing supply of agro-imago puts e.. Improved climate resistant seeds, familiar pesticides and market-oriented farm practices such as contract forming and out growers, government should lobby EAC Governments to have a harmonized position at the EAC level, Government should consider banning the exports of unprocessed oil seeds and oil palm. Or impose punitive export tariffs, in line with international best practices. This will naturally trigger local processing with all the attendant benefits in form of employment creation, value and monetization of the local economy
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UGANDA is among the world’s top aid recipients. Between 2012 and 2019, the country received more than $15 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and this figure is estimated to have significantly increased during 2020/2021, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The obvious expectation with aid is, and has been, that it will bring sudden transformation or a total change in our country’s fortunes. But unfortunately, aid has not helped much in narrowing Uganda’s financing gap and we are still swinging in the gallows of poverty. The conventional calculus of foreign aid is that poor countries are merely suffering from lack of money or resources, hence the need for financial support, through grants and loans. However, there’s lots of evidence from independent research showing how aid has slowed economic growth. Some economists and researchers argue that foreign aid has created dependency, fostered corruption, and worsened relationships between a government and its people. It has also prevented countries, such as Uganda, from taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the global economy. I have always argued that Uganda’s development problems, as one of the world’s least developed countries, have little to do with lack of resources but have everything to do with the strength of our institutions, systems and the complementary policies. To put this argument into perspective, I may refer to a survey conducted in 2021 by the Inspectorate of Government, where it was revealed that the Ugandan government loses close to Ushs20 trillion (about $5.7 billion) every year through corruption. This is more than the ODA received for both 2019 and 2020 ($4 billion). It also outweighs the FY2022/2023 budget amounts for Agro-industrialization, Energy development, Development plan implementation, Innovation, Technology, Regional development and Private sector development, combined. According to the framework paper, these were all budgeted at a combined total of Ushs5.6 trillion. If Uganda is to transform its economy and make meaningful development strides, it must promote and prioritize trade. We need to start participating more effectively in the production of goods and services, by investing more in productive sectors, building skills, creating jobs and acquiring new technology, knowledge and market information. But these interventions require sound complementary policies, as well as sustainable programs that are capable of yielding benefits for all Ugandans, especially the poor and disadvantaged. Look at the Karamoja sub-region: Despite the long-term presence of development partners and billions of dollars invested overtime, food insecurity, poverty and healthcare challenges remain acute in the sub-region. This is partly because short-term, stop-gap measures, including cash handouts and food stamps, have been largely implemented. Little efforts have so far been made towards empowering people in Karamoja, without ensuring financial sustainability. There have been few inclusive business models to facilitate access to productive assets, such as land and financing, enhance productivity, and to improve the resilience of smallholder farmers and business people. Let me be clear: Not all aid should be re-directed, especially the humanitarian aid. It is important to note that aid programs that are humanitarian in nature have saved millions of lives, alleviated suffering and offered the much-needed hope to many needy Ugandans. But humanitarian aid should be for emergency situations and short-term in nature. It should, therefore, not replace government programs but rather help build capacity and strengthen preparedness for such crisis situations. Government needs to effectively work to secure the future of those in need. By the way, we should appreciate that people do not necessarily expect government to solve all their problems. Having worked in the aid space for a significant number of years, I have met lots of energetic Ugandans, men and women, who really want to get to ahead. Every day, they desire and yearn for better livelihoods, not only for themselves, but also for their families and communities. They know that they have to work hard to get ahead, and they want to. But all they need is change in national priorities and prevailing conditions. How can we expect a small-business trader in the deep village of Tegotattoo, Gulu district grow his or her business when they have no access to adequate capital, markets or technical expertise; when acquiring a business loan almost costs an arm and a leg; when they still have to choose between buying prescription drugs and food. Honestly, it’s hard! There’s an urgent need to fight the dependence syndrome, and restore the spirit of hard work, self-assurance and patience in the lives of Ugandans, mainly the working class. Job opportunities, especially in the agriculture sector and along the agri-business value chain, should be created and remain open to all. We should be capable of negotiating more profitable trade pacts with development partners and financiers. What use is it for Uganda to negotiate a multi-billion-dollar loan from China for a road construction project when all top and mid-level jobs end up with the Chinese while majority of the Ugandan workers earn close to peanuts in wages. Government needs to negotiate better wages for its citizens. In fact, this is one reasons why hundreds of young and skilled people leave the country every year in search of better opportunities elsewhere. It is now unsurprising to find a young, budding accountant leaving her job to go and work as a maid in the Middle East in the harshest of conditions. I personally believe that if we can strike the right balance between trade and aid and make the right choices, majority of our young population can have a decent shot at life. This should be Uganda’s new development goal!
The Writer Mr. Brian Mukalazi is the Country Director of Every Child Ministries Uganda. email: bmukalazi@ecmafrica.org
WHAT no body has told you, opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) Kasese registrar Samuel Masereka who was last week released on State bond and taken back to Kasese came after the intervention of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among.
Rt. Hon. Speaker Anita Among presiding over Parliament
The young man whose fate Deputy Speaker raised in Parliament a day before his release, was released alongside two colleagues Hamza Tembo and Alazarius Bisogho, said to be NUP mobilisers in Kasese. Thank God, Rt. Hon. Anita Among’s voice was bold enough to be heard in that, the three were granted freedom. Masereka and his colleagues who are said to have been tortured on their arrest, were charged with engaging in subversive activities. They were allegedly picked up on January 7, 2022 from Kasese and taken away in a drone van. In a statement released by Hon. Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, NUP President days ago, he said, “Efforts by the family and NUP lawyers to trace the three were futile, although we have information they are being held in a torture chamber in Mbuya.” Deputy Speaker Anita Among who doubles as woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea district got so concerned about the fate of Masereka and his accomplices. This was after opposition leadership at Parliament approached Deputy Speaker requesting her to add her voice onto that of their party members in the quest to send a strong message to search for Masereka. She raised the matter at parliament and her unwavering voice sent chills down the spine of the security who hurriedly organised to have the trio released on bond. After their release, Hon. Kyagulanyi posted that, “According to Masereka’s account, he has been undergoing torture every day and being asked what NUP is planning to do in Kasese and Rwenzori sub-region. They asked him specifically, why he has been mobilising support for NUP in the area. They asked him what the plans of different leaders in NUP are!” On November 30, 2021, Deputy Speaker is remembered for having directed the Attorney General to, “Come to the House with an explanation on the fate of the 67 people arrested from Kasese who have been held in prison. This is a matter that has been ongoing for a long and I expect the Government to be able to give that explanation.” She on December 2, 2021 tweeted, “The inmates who are sick should be treated, they are human beings with rights. There should be a speedy trial process for the royal guards (from Rwenzururu Kingdom) and those arrested with them in Kasese. I am referring this matter to the committee on human rights and will expect a report in two weeks.” This benevolent Rt. Hon. Anita Among is November 3, 2021 tweeted that, “The Hon. Ssegirinya (Kawempe North MP) is sick and that must be taken seriously. If we are to prosecute, let us prosecute a living person. I do not want to interfere with court proceedings but the Hon. member should be prosecuted after getting proper treatment.” Ssegirinya was arrested together with another MP, Hon. Allan Ssewanyana (Makindye West). The Deputy Speaker has been very vocal about these two legislators since they were arrested.
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PHOTO: Pr. Solomon praying for people in Rakai today
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
GOSPEL Preacher and overseer of Good News Churches in Uganda Pastor Solomon Mwesige has spent today Thursday in Rakai District preaching the gospel, sharpening the faithfuls, conducting deliverance and winning souls for Jesus Christ. Pr. Solomon a renown televangelist who is the Head Pastor of Good News Church Bulenga on Mityana road and also the CEO of KSTV, was the guest preacher in a one day conference organised by Rev. Dr. Rogers Nibawasa and Pr. Sylivia Komuhangi of Good News Evangelical Ministry located in Buyamu, Ddwaniro, Rakai district in Uganda.
Pr. Solomon prays for the host Rev. Dr. Rogers Nibawasa and Pr. Sylivia Komuhangi
While delivering a message of salvation and being established in Jesus Christ to a fully packed Good News church in Rakai, Pr. Mwesige told people who attended this conference that; this year 2022, is a year of service which will bring restoration through the love of Christ in body, soul and spiritual prosperity (Hab: 2:1-6).
INTERCESSION MOMENT: Brethren at Good News Church Rakai crying out to the Lord
Shortly after the service, Pr. Mwesige posted this on the Church social media platforms; ‘Just finished a powerful meeting at Good News Church Rakai.’ Our Teams are working on a detailed story about Pr. Solomon’s sermon in Rakai today.
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PHOTO: A female police officer explains to Hon. Allan Mayanja how prayers for Luweero war victims can’t go on due to pressure from ‘Above’
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
PRAYERS organised yesterday at Kikamulo Subcounty Headquarters in Nakaseke district by the relatives and friends of people whose lives were lost during a five years NRA guerilla war were cut short after men in army uniform and police officers armed to teeth sorrounded the venue, fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the congregation. Hundreds of people in the districts making up Luweero Triangle were killed, leaving behind thousands of orphans in the 1981 bush war which brought Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s government to power. Prayers were organised by youthful Nakaseke Central MP Allan Mayanja Sebunya. The former Speaker Buganda Youth Council (BYC) Hon. Sebunya had invited a number of Members of Parliament who included Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South), Hanifah Nabukeera (Mukono district Woman MP) among others. Nakaseke District Police Commander (DPC) Ben Niwamanya and DISO Joy Bahat said they received orders to block these prayers. “Although we had informed Police days ago about the prayers, we were shocked when security officers told us how pressure was too much, ‘Mr. Above’ directed to disperse relatives and friends of the Bush war victims who had gathered for the memorial service.” Said Hon. Sebunya. Security personels followed NUP leaders who had organised the prayers up to the party office in Nakaseke and ordered them to leave as well. In a statement released by Hon. Allan Mayanja Sebunya today morning, he said, “Fellow Ugandans, we must all realise the crisis that our country is in and decide once and for all, to free ourselves from the hands of the junta, lest we were not liberated as Gen. Museveni proudly tells Ugandans. He actually liberated himself and the group. What we are experiencing is harsh rule and family rule which totals to poor governance!”
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