GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

CHINA’S NEW SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

By Henry Zakumumpa

First we were afraid of the wolf, then we wanted to dance with the wolf now we want to be the wolf’ a Chinese Central bank official used this analogy to describe China’s world trade rivalry with the United States.

Ever since Chinese President Deng Xiaoping declared ‘to get rich is glorious’ and launched China into an era of industrialization and export-driven growth, China has never looked back. Chinese industrialization is unfolding at an unprecedented speed while driving an enormous demand for raw materials and new markets. China has been branded the ‘factory of the world’ for dominating global production of all goods imaginable from safety pins to domestic appliances. The most popular products on American and European supermarkets shelves now carry the ‘Made in China’ label, favored because of their cheaper prices owing, partly, to low labour costs in China.

Pick up a souvenir from any western capital and chances are that beneath it will be the label ‘Made in China’. According to Thomas Friedman author of ‘The world is Flat ’ Wal-Mart , the world’s largest supermarket chain, in one year imported $18 billion worth of goods from its 5,000 Chinese suppliers. (Friedman doesn't do the math, but this would mean that of Wal-Mart's 6,000 suppliers, 80 percent are in one country -- China.)

And it’s not only safety pins that should worry the west. China recently announced that it was going to begin production of commercial jets, long the domain of Boeing of the United States and Airbus of Europe. And it doesn’t stop there. Petro China is now the third largest company in the world having displaced General Motors of the United States. According to Newsweek, China now has three of the world’s biggest five companies by market capitalization. With US$ 1.2 trillion dollars market capitalization, Petro China is now the world’s most valuable company.

The United States has for long battled China because of an unfavorable balance of trade position. China exports much more to the United States that the latter imports from the United States. The Chinese avalanche has not spared Africa as well. Its scramble and partition of Africa all over again, only this time, its China’s turn. It has been widely reported that China now lends three times more money to Africa than the World Bank.

Take a moment and think about that. We are in the midst of a shift in balance of power in Africa with the Chinese coming in as the new kids on the block. Considering that the west has long dominated financial inflows into Africa as well the IMF/World Bank system and therefore called the shots in these parts, China’s new investments and lending to Africa give it unprecedented influence and clout on the continent. Indeed when the west wants a change in Sudan’s Darfur policy, it’s to Beijing they run. China is the leading export destination of Sudanese crude oil. Recently, a billion dollar infrastructure loan to Democratic Republic of Congo was announced by China which has a keen eye on Congo’s rich mineral wealth.

For a country that has known conflict for most of its post- independence history, the prospect of finally having financing to build basic roads and railways is an offer Congo can’t refuse. The African Development Bank says African trade with China rose from 10 billion dollars in 2000 to over 40 billion dollars last year. Reuters estimates this figure to have leapt to US$ 55 billion this year.Already the banking sector has been hit with the news that China’s ICBC bank has bought a 20% stake in South Africa’s Standard Bank, the parent company of Stanbic Bank Uganda, and this was done with a record cash purchase of US$ 5.6 billion dollars, the single biggest foreign investment anywhere in Africa.

There has been market speculation that China Mobile is set to make a bid for MTN, Africa’s largest phone operator with the share price increasing by 6% on the prospect. China Mobile recently bought an 89% stake in Pakistan operator, Pakistel.All this is going down well with African leaders. President Mogae of Botswana has already remarked publicly that the Chinese treat them as partners for a change compared to the Europeans who treat them as subjects.

Locally, the lure for Chinese products has proved too strong to resist for Spear motors, the local Mercedes Benz franchise. Spear Motors now deals in new Chinese vehicles made by the Great Wall Motors of China at some of the cheapest prices available for brand new vehicles in Uganda.

A Ugandan entrepreneur is doing brisk business exporting recycled mineral water bottle material to China at very lucrative rates. Consider that Uganda’s State House was built by a Chinese Contractor and that the biggest conference centre in Dar Es Salaam is to be built and funded by the Chinese.So, what does China’s new scramble for Africa portend for the continent?China doesn’t have the imperial ambitions that came with the earlier players in the scramble and partition of Africa.

However, the fact remains that African nations are largely raw material exporters and markets for Chinese Industry and until that changes, true partnership would be anything but achieved.

The writer is Assistant Registrar at Makerere University

Email: zakumumpa@yahoo.com

Tourism

Save Nkuringo Gorillas - Bwindi Forest National Park

By Baluku Geoffrey

Uganda Wildlife Authority decided to "privatize" the Nkuringo family of gorillas. Effective Aug 08, the buying of Nkuringo permits will be done through the Uganda Safari Company. To most of us; this is the biggest injustice UWA has done to both tour operators and the residents/locals of Kisoro.

We all know that despite gorilla permits being the backbone of Uganda's tourism industry, they are also scarce and competitive. Thus giving the monopoly of their sale to an individual (tour operator) is a vice we should fight as early as NOW.At one of the stake holders meeting convened by UWA at Hotel Equatoria late last year, the Executive Director UWA was asked to throw more light on the deal. He dodged the question though promised to call tour operators at a later date so as to explain the reasons behind this move. We were saddened to learn that a "management agreement" was signed in March 08 even without informing most stake holders. What do we see? Simply a new form of "Scramble" for our natural resources.

If we do not fight such tendencies then very soon even most of our National parks may be privatized.Owning a lodge should not be a reason for 6 or all of the 8 permits to be sold by a tour operator and competitor in the toursim trade. These gorillas are a National resource and should therefore not be tagged to some one because he /she has put up a lodge some where. Very many Ugandans have invested in the sector. Take for instance Volcanoes, Gorilla Resort, Kitandara Tented Camp, Buhoma Community Bandas & Buhoma Lodge owned by African Pearl Safaris though currently under the management of G & C; Kisoro Rest Camp to mention but afew have never requested to "own" a family of gorillas.

This kind of move may lead other "investors" to also request that such clauses be included in their management agreements.We are not against "investors" putting up competitive lodges. However, they should not dictate over the Uganda tourism industry by giving terms such as requesting to "monopolize" the selling of permits under the disguise of community thus denying other potential investors from constructing lodges within particular areas. A competitor in the tour industry can never be fair in selling these permits.

The implication of this move is that other stake holders in Kisoro town; such as Internet Cafe Restaurants, Hoteliers such as Heritage Lodge, Kisoro Travelers Rest Hotel and other craft sellers among others will lose out on business. This may endanger the gorillas in such a way that the locals will not see any benefit in protecting the gorillas thus develop a hostile attitude to both the tourists and the gorillas.The industry also stands to lose as a result of this move. Why do we say this? The Ugandan tourism industry receives both high end and budget travelers.

We do not see how the budget travelers will stay at Clouds Lodge (with the high prices that they are due to charge). When we last called them, they said that they were to charge USD450 per person per night with a further condition that a minimum of two nights have to be booked. This means that a single client would spend USD900 on accommodation plus an extra USD500 on the permit. This however, does not include transport, administrative costs and government tax.

There are quite a number of community lodges in Africa south of the Sahara that were built for conservation purposes and poverty alleviation. In Rwanda, the Sabinyo Lodge collects a surcharge on every guest, for the community but does not have any particular gorilla group tied to the lodge because of this contribution.

In Namibia, a community lodge built on American tax payers money and donors through a conservation organisation is run by an elected committee from the community and taken for training in hospitality related work. They received exposure and now run the lodge. The park authority did not tie visitors to this part of the park to staying at the lodge. Even in Cuba and the former soviet union visitors are allowed to choose where to stay.If this is not robbery then what is it? We are of the opinion that clients should be given an opportunity to choose between the high end and budget kind of tour.

This move is and has already forced Ugandan tour operators to go in for Rwanda gorilla permits. It bits our understanding to see that the planners at Uganda Wildlife Authority / Ministry of Tourism in Uganda do not fore see that such a move will kill gorilla tourism. Against the above back ground, we would like to propose that this agreement be CANCELLED and Uganda Wildlife Authority takes on its usual responsibility of selling all gorilla permits as per current policy.

The current policy clearly states that primary sale of gorilla permits by individuals or tour companies anywhere is illegal and that all permits MUST be bought from Uganda Wildlife Authority only. It further stipulates that payment for permits must be made directly to Uganda Wildlife Authority. Then what is so special about the Safari Company/ Clouds lodge taking this monopoly. These gorillas are a national resource which should not be seen to be benefiting a particular individual under the disguise of community.

This selective empowerment of the communities may breed a hostile environment. We need to collectively stop it.

By Baluku Geoffrey
Tourism Consultant
Kampala - Uganda
Email: tourismintelligence@gmail.com

Tourism and Finance

Uganda missed chance to sell tourism during CHOGM

By Baluku Geoffrey

IN 2007, almost 642,000 tourists visited Uganda compared to 540,000 in 2006. This number is considered the highest Uganda has ever experienced and thus represents an increase of almost 19% over the year before. Tourism brought $449m into the economy in 2007 compared to $375m in 2006. It is presumed that over all each visitor to Uganda spends about $750 per visit thus the tourism industry's contribution to the GDP has increased from 1.98% in 2006 to 2.33 % in 2007. This is an indication that the tourism industry is not only continuing to grow but is also now recognised at the highest level for its significant impact on the Ugandan economy albeit the under-funding.

It is common knowledge that every visitor to Uganda who has a good experience in the country will attract five more to visit. But every visitor who gets a bad experience will discourage 10 people from visiting the country. Thus to attract visitors and keep them coming back, Uganda's tourism industry must live to its reputation of variety and value as enshrined in its slogan, "The Pearl of Africa". The tourism product is more or less a dream.

Thus the capability of tourism businesses to deliver what they promise and in a bid to satisfy customer expectations depends upon sound management practices. These can be achieved if we built on our brand name and collectively owned it. At the moment Uganda has an uncoordinated and fragmented brand identity. Some are now referring to Uganda as "Africa's friendliest Country" others "Gifted by Nature" while others refer to Uganda as "The Pearl of Africa" which to most of us still stands out from the new coined slogans. We cannot say that we exclusively own brands such as "Gifted by Nature" or "Africa's friendliest Country". Several countries the world over are friendly and gifted by nature. And in any case this brand "Gifted by Nature" leaves us at risk of losing our most treasured cultures as opposed to a brand name like "The Pearl of Africa" which is all-embracing.

At one of the stakeholders' meetings called by the Ministry of Tourism to enlighten us on the importance of embracing MICE, the former state minister for tourism Jovino Akaki, asked if our country should be marketed as "The Pearl of Africa" or "Gifted by Nature". Which is which? To answer the question; it must be noted that those who coined the slogan "Gifted by Nature" made one mistake! They did not do an audit of the brand "The Pearl of Africa", thus leading to the current confusion. As they coined the slogan "Gifted by Nature", did they also plan to change the national anthem? When you listen to the national anthem, the writer must have had "Pearl of Africa" at the back of his mind. Marketers' know that a good brand will surely project Uganda's strengths while recognising its weaknesses. I strongly feel that re-branding to our original slogan "The Pearl of Africa" will enable us re-position ourselves well on the international market. However, this will necessitate the government to lead the way in the re-branding process. We all know that media organisations world over can not create a good brand for our country. They always seem to be more interested in "bad news" such as civil strife and disasters. If Ugandans can recall; late last year we hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The presence of top media organisations was an opportunity for our country to be known globally. However, when the top media houses (Sky News, CNN) and many others reached here, they headed north and east and started covering the floods and lifestyles of the people in the internally displaced people's camps! If my memory serves me well, Al Jazeera is one of the few that briefly showcased the CHOGM event. Focused marketers/planners would have "forced" or given free offers to these top media houses to visit our marvellous nationals parks and cultural sites. To my dismay, the organisers were busy dining with them instead of exploiting the opportunities at hand. I concur with the analysis of my good friend Amos Wekesa; who says that the event was arranged the way we handle weddings in Uganda. There were good organising committees having lots of money to spend without prioritising the expenses. For political mileage, yes CHOGM was a success. But I have reservations to the overall benefit of the event to the tourism industry in Uganda.

In light of the above, there is need for the government of Uganda to re-invest in its brand as well as management and promotion of that brand. Government will need to create a public-private sector partnership if this is to be achieved. Tour operators, hoteliers, and other small and medium scale tourism enterprises must be involved as this will enable everyone to own the brand thereby naturally promoting it. What we are having at the moment is those few that are for "Gifted by Nature" while the majority still believe the best brand is "The Pearl of Africa". We will also need to do more than re-branding if we are to capture the international market. Any serious government will have to reconsider having a national carrier.

Look at successful tourist destinations in Africa. Airline brands complement national brands. For instance Kenya is supplemented by the 'pride of Africa' inscribed on all Kenya airways flights; Air Tanzania, 'the wings of Kilimanjaro' to mention but a few. However, now that the tourism bill was passed by parliament and due to be enacted into law, we need to start by restructuring UTB (now re- branded as Tourism Uganda). As the marketing organ for Uganda's tourism; emphasis should be on creating/ strengthening the research department.

More so, realising that we are now in a "global village" with the internet as the main mode of communication and marketing; there is need to employ few but well paid staff that not only have knowledge in global tourism trends but also some training/ knowledge in information technology. This industry is now more of website-based thus marketing through this mode is the most ideal option. As we reposition ourselves, we also need to ask some questions:
Which markets are we organizing ourselves to win?
How do we target them?

Where will the guests /tourists stay when they visit our national parks? My focus for now will be on question the last question. Most of our national parks are now exclusively operated by a few individuals with lodges. Matters are even made worse by the management agreements Uganda Wildlife Authority has signed with these 'investors'. Agreements for exclusivity have been signed covering not only big chunks of the park land but also stretching over periods of over 20 years! If we are to all benefit from our resources, there needs to be equitable use of these resources. The Government not only needs to increase funding to the UTB but it should also strengthen the boards' research department as this will help us understand visitor needs, perceptions as well as obstacles as we plan to market.

Witten by Baluku Geoffrey

Tourism Consultant

Kampala - Uganda

Email: tourismintelligence@gmail.com

LAND AND GOVERNANCE

Why government failed to implement the Land Act 1998

By Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa

SINCE mid last year, our local media has been a washed with articles opposing or supporting the amendments to the 1998 Land Act. Yes, it healthy since individuals are entitled to their own opinions. But to majority Ugandans the most pressing question could have been, why did government fail to implement the Act in the first place? We all agree that for a lay man to consider any law effective it has to be fully implemented. The controversial land amendments to the Land Act 1998 have caused storm across the country simply because there is wide spread suspicion that the amendments may not be implemented as it is to the original Act. A total of 35 amendments have been made in the original Act of 98 sections since 2001 but they have not helped either. I have done a self-assigned survey and discovered the following. To begin with, Government brought the Act to achieve two cardinal objectives: providing security of tenure to all land users particularly the so called lawful or bonafide occupants on registered land. And also to resolve the land use impasse between the registered owners (mailo), freehold and leasehold and the lawful and bonafide occupants of this land. Ten years down the road, such problems still exist despite the existence of the Act. And these are the same issues government base on to front the fresh Land Amendments. The Act requires tenants to get certificates of occupancy and none has ever received one. Ministry of Lands records indicate that in the last two years, over 50,000 people have illegally been evicted from their land. When the land Act[1998] was still a Bill, from day one, it was received with a lot of apathy, suspicion, fear and outright rejection particularly from Buganda kingdom and the opposition legislators of the 6th parliament. This even prompted the kingdom to call off Kabaka Mutebi's fifth coronation anniversary and started months of mourning. The then Katikkiro Joseph Ssemwogere even reached to the extend of accusing President Museveni of forgetting the significant role Buganda played in bringing him to power. To refresh your minds, the critics of the land Act 1998 then raised complaints that the Bill then was not given enough time to be scrutinized and debated. Because of unclear reasons ,government hurriedly published the Bill very late on March 2nd, 1998 targeting to make it law by 1st July 1998.This is almost a similar scenario Ugandans are yet to witness this time round. And it may not be surprising very soon to seen the unsatisfied interested groups even with in parliament trying to overturn the law or its part by tabling another set of amendments in the House , recourse to the constitutional Court, or cause civil disorder. It happened in 1998 after the enactment of the Act, the then Makindye East MP Benedict Mutyaba raised an alarm saying the Land Act had been doctored. Mutyaba seem to have known about the plot since he was the head of the parliamentary committee that debated the land bill. Another issue was on the lack of capacity by the line ministry to make all its departments do their work for the proper implementation of the law. The establishment of District Land Boards by January 1999 and the Land Fund by July 2, 1999, were requirements under the Act but unfortunately by January 18th 1999 only 18 Districts of the 45 then had set up land boards.
The heaviest burden of implementing the Act was with the districts and the latter have suffered serious capacity short falls. Many districts have proved to be unable to recruit qualified technical staff for District Land Offices and therefore unable to perform adequately and provide services necessary for many aspects of land reform. And with the increase in number of districts to over 80 now and with the meagre resources from the centre, the situation has worsened. The Land Act requires each district to recruit five professional staff including a Surveyor, a Land Officer, , a Valuer, a Physical Planner and a Registrar of Titles But the most disgracing thing is that only 16 districts out of a total of 45 had Land Offices by 2000; only one of these had a Physical Planner, none of them had a Valuer and only a few had District Registrars of Titles. And even today the personnel lack tools and a living wage, which are factors in determining the proper delivery of services. And if such issues are not considered whether the reforms are good or bad, the implementation of the new amendments are bound to flop.

Written by

Journalist Monitor Publications Ltd ,Uganda

P.O.Box,12141,Kampala

Email: assenkabirwa@gmail.com
Mobile: 256 (0) 712725557/0752927072

Economy

Law and order can’t transform Uganda

By Mr Stanley Kinyatta

Since President Museveni emphasised industrialisation as a key important factor for our economic and social development, several writers in the press including Mr Charles Peter Mayiga (Daily Monitor February 28, 2008) and Mr Eric Naigambi (March 14, 2008), have made lots of criticisms and arguments against the theory. They have argued that, justice, law and order will be the most important factor to bring economic and social development in the country. Contrary, I wish to inform those writers that the president is completely right.

It is not law and order that is the most important factor to bring economic and social development. One must first understand what causes lawlessness in society. These are some of the main causes;

Unemployment and lack of means to generate income: Society becomes idle and disorderly and hence majority of the active population engages itself in criminal activities such as robberies etc. Worldwide industry and trade employ the largest active population. These two are related. One produces, the other transports, distributes and retails to the consumer. It is a chain that gives more employment opportunities to the large part at the population, hence income generation and economic development.

Unequal distribution of resources among the population: This brings grievances and hatred among the privileged visa vis those who have not. This has caused problems in many countries. Unequal distribution of national resources among the population is a factor that leads to an uprising. What happened in Rwanda and recently in Kenya are good examples. Some people go into politics to be heard or take up arms to demand their human rights.

Lack of equal opportunities brings dominance of a certain class of population that creates hatred among people. Eat but let others also eat. Live and let others also live decently. A political slogan of one people, one nation will not work when some are eating and others dying of hunger!
The cure of Number 1-3 is multiplication of economic activities and efficient distribution and management of public affairs and national resources among people. The chief multiplier of all factors and creation of linkages among various sectors is creation of economic activities based on industrialisation.

Justice alone cannot bring development and peace can only come when the hungry are fed, when opportunities are evenly distributed, when national resources are efficiently managed on behalf of the people, when protection and promotion of individual rights are enhanced through strengthening administration of justice. The law and order can then prevail in our society.
What causes people to become break the law and become disorderly is lack of equality, uneven distribution of national resources, unemployment etc.

The president was therefore right on the import substitution theory (industrialisation) as a means to add value to our raw materials and hence saving our foreign exchange, creating more employment and generation of incomes for our people through linkages created from the production of raw materials, through industrial processing to marketing either locally or abroad.

Industrialisation means changing of raw materials through industrial process to finished goods. It is not only to add value to our raw materials but also to change the form e.g. from cotton, spinning to cloth. From raw copper to electric cables etc.

The producers of those goods are not only protected by law and order but they can mainly be protected and guaranteed in business by the quality and quantity of their products sold on the local and international markets under competitive conditions. If the producers or manufacturers do not adhere to this they disappear or close whether there is law and order or not.

The writers who would like Uganda to continue importing sugar when we have natural advantage of growing natural sugar cane are extremely wrong. The cost of sugar per kilo may be high because of law production of sugar which does not satisfy the demand or because of production costs caused by shortage of power, transport costs of imports from Mombasa etc due to our land lockedness. However these production costs are being addressed by the government and soon they will be over.

The Writer is a Development Economics Consultant and Former Resident District Commissioner (RDC)-Kampala District

Education

Corruption Hurting (Universal Primray Education) UPE efforts

By Hon Amanya Mushega

If you want education for development not just growth or impressive statistics, you need to critically look at all levels and types of education, primary, secondary, tertiary, vocational and especially the area of skills training and development.

Education or human resource development should be looked at as a minimum national programme. It is not a partisan issue. We must avoid politicising education or else we lose what is essential in transforming our society.

For those who are already highly educated and tell us that primary education is not important and our emphasis should start with university education, let us look at few things. To go to university in Uganda they insist on your A and O-Level results.

To go to secondary they want PLE results. In other words to go to university you must complete your lower education successfully. Some people argue that primary education is cheaper and not as essential. That UPE dropout rates are high and standards are poor.

Primary education should not be made terminal for the majority of entrants. Otherwise it will fail. People go to school essentially to go up the ladder. Why are dropout rates high? My view is that there are ghost pupils who cannot show up at exam time.
Secondly, there is corruption where resources critical for better standards are abused. Let’s look at good and relevant basic education. Educated people handle well issues of nutrition, hygiene, and good health.

They produce children they can manage, their productivity is high for they easily adjust to new production tools and methods. An educated and enlightened population is critical for building democracy and seeing through pseudo-democrats.
For those in politics, you cannot tick the ballot paper for them. They are not easy to deceive. It is dangerous to have a few highly educated people in a sea of illiterates and poor. In 1989, I was in Arua, one Brigadier Kiili came to me.

He told me that the system that was going on then, where a few got to school, “if it continues we shall get a revolution”. I have never forgotten his advice and warning. So we need to look at education holistically. Considering that we have resource constraints, how do we allocate them nationally (national budget) and how do we allocate them within the education budget?.

As a nation we need to look at the following issues: How do we widen the tax base within the other available areas that are currently not taxed? Whom and what should we tax- a person with a small shop while those with huge pieces of land used or idle or those with dormant plots in up market places whose value goes up everyday? Check with those countries who give us grants, what do they do?.

At the level of investment whom should we encourage and facilitate? Those producing mineral water or those in textile industry that convert our cotton into textile etc and those that turn our hides and milk into consumable products? Should we reward RDCs etc better than nurses and doctors?.

Political leaders better than professionals? Should we allocate scholarships to a student with 3 ‘As in Luganda, Runyakitara and Arabic or a student with BCC in Physics, Math and Chemistry, taking an engineering course? These are not easy questions but we must consistently and persistently address them.

The writer is former Minister of Education and Sports-Republic of Uganda and Former Secretary General of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

Governance

NRM Making New Gamble on Agriculture

By Miria Kalule Obote

It was reported in New Vision, April 7, that President Museveni while on a tour of Busoga region had announced that six households from every parish would be given funds under a government programme to transform agriculture from subsistence to commercial.
Apparently, the six households would serve as a nucleus and learning centres. This is the latest policy position of the “visionary” and “revolutionary” NRM government in its pursuit of “prosperity for all (bonna bagaggagwale).

On which inertia will the choice of six families to benefit from this scheme be based? On the ground of paying more taxes, large family units or their support to NRM? Whatever the criteria for the choice, it will be discriminatory and will offend Article 21 of the constitution which states that all persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and are to enjoy equal protection of the law. The article prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.

So when government decides to choose some and not others to dole out money to, the government is breaking the constitution by being discriminatory. This is a scheme to create the middle class rather than allow it to evolve by creating conditions which would give equal opportunities to all Ugandans to have access to self improvement.
Like all ill-conceived NRM policies on “prosperity” this latest gamble is doomed to fail along the lines of the Rural Farmers Scheme, Entandikwa, Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture and other billions-worth of failed projects.

This scheme which will be implemented by the troubled and inefficient National Agricultural And Advisory Services (Naads) will be another waste of tax payer’s money. The six households will be selected on the basis of NRM patronage and no amount of subsidy to them will transform rural agriculture in Uganda from subsistence to commercial. The policy, if it can be called so without injury to the word, is ill-conceived.

The problems of agriculture in Uganda cannot be solved by amateurish gambling. The first step to take to deal with the macro and microeconomic management of Uganda of which agriculture is only a part, is the question of democratic governance. It is only under a democratic framework that sound and corruption free institutions can be set up and efficiently operate. Even if we had the best managers in NAADS, they cannot deliver if their operations are interfered with and controlled by corrupt politicians.

Secondly, improving farming methods of a few farmers without a coordinated improvement of the production, transport and marketing infrastructure, cannot solve the teething complex problems in rural areas. The NRM government is responsible for dismantling the cooperative movement and the marketing boards that were the backbone of organised production, marketing and transportation.

Millions of rural farmers cannot transform their farming methods without the dedicated and all year round support of agricultural extension works at every sub-county. In its craze to “reform” the civil service, the NRM retrenched thousands of agricultural extension workers. This left the farmers orphaned and deprived of expert support.

The agricultural research institutions like Kawanda, Namalere, Busitema and district farm institutes and demonstration farms that were at the forefront of research on improved and disease resistance crop varieties, animal varieties, handy agricultural equipments and machinery were also run down. Attempts to revive them under the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) have failed like all NRM projects.

Without this research capacity, the future of agricultural in Uganda is bleak.

The writer is the president of Uganda People's Congress (UPC)

No money was stolen in PR firm deal

No money was stolen in PR firm deal

By Hon Sam Kuteesa

The Daily Monitor of April 15, had an article entitled “Kutesa In Fresh Scandal Over Shs1.2b PR Deal.” The article contained regrettable and unsubstantiated allegations by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) Hon. Nandala Mafabi against me as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in respect to hiring a public relations firm in UK.

In 2005 Uganda became a target of a very hostile and negative campaign in the media, academia, parliament, civil society and governments of some countries abroad. The campaign was mainly orchestrated by political players in Uganda and their representatives abroad and sympathisers of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) in the Diaspora. The campaign was intended to; stop Uganda from hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in 2007, declaring northern Uganda a disaster area and stop foreign assistance to Uganda.

In response to the negative campaign the government of Uganda decided to engage a public relations firm to assist in communicating a number of messages to key stakeholders abroad on a number of areas including the transition to multi-party democracy, peace making initiatives in northern Uganda and the achievements made by government in the various facets of life. My ministry, under whose mandate of protecting Uganda’s image abroad is, was tasked to handle the matter.

The procurement of the firm was of an emergency nature for if it had gone through the normal process of competitive bidding, there was a real danger of the perpetrators of the hostile campaign achieving their goal.

Hunton and Williams which has worked for the government before, was identified and contracted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from March 2005 to February 2006. The firm was tasked to: assist the government engage a public relations firm and to advise government in conjunction with the public relations firm to develop a programme of key events with various stakeholders.
Hill and Knowlton was selected as the public relations firm and it worked with the government of Uganda in building relationships and communicating positive messages to stakeholders in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
The firm dealt with issues that included but not limited to; developing stakeholder awareness of the Constitutional Reform programme in Uganda; greater engagement with civil society in a transparent and progressive manner; greater awareness of the major achievements made in various fields such as HIV/Aids and; raising the profile of the country to enhance the tourism industry.

The government paid Hunton and Williams $749,633 in respect to the services rendered. The firm has acknowledged receipt of all funds paid. Hunton and Williams undertook the work assigned to it.
The evidence is; A reaffirmation and successful hosting of Chogm last year; reinstatement and increase in bilateral and multilateral aid flows; the rejection by the international community of declaring northern Uganda a disaster area and better appreciation of the Constitutional amendment process.
The decision to engage the firm therefore was done in best public interest. The benefits will continue to be felt for many years to come. The allegations are regrettable as they malign the minister of foreign affairs and yet no public funds were ever ‘stolen’ as alleged.

The writer is the Minister of Foreign Affairs -Republic of Uganda

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD MARRIAGE

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD MARRIAGE
By Sauda Adam Buyinza

Women today have turned to be a liability in most families. In this message, I fully advise and give clear cutting guidelines to the fellow women. Women must be faithful and respect our husbands. They should avoid things, which can make our husbands annoyed. A family cannot be happy when a husband is angry of you. So we must make sure that we do things which can make them happy of us because husbands in most cases are good to their wives and families in general. If we want our homes to be fine and happy, then we must avoid doing things without informing or seeking permission from the husbands. We are under their control, they got us from our beloved parents, sisters, brothers and friends and we are with them full time, so they are our gateway to happiness, they are our path to success, our defenders in all, etc. Therefore, we must make sure that everything that we do, we first inform or seek permission from them because even God wanted it to be like that, he wanted women to be under men. Being under men or husbands does not mean, women being oppressed or mishandled by men. In most cases women have caused confusion and divorce in many families.

So I advise fellow wives to love and respect their hunsbands. It is our duty to make sure that our hunsbands are happy. If we want to be loved by them, we must love them fully, we must make sure that we give them extra love and care and we must also make sure that we do not cheat on them. It’s an evil act to cheat. Sex outside marriage is punishable both on the earth and by God. The holy Quran teaches more on sex outside marriage and the bible is totally against this.

We must make sure also that we welcome our hunsbands from wherever. This only can make them happy and their love towards us will improve.

In conclusion, I ask you women around the world to take my message as vital in managing your families and please men or hunsbands, since we are committed to love, respect and care for you, we would like you also to do the same to us and we shall then be able to live in harmony.

May the Almighty Allah protect you from the evils and devils of this world.

Sauda Adam Buyinza is a Public Monitor at Public Opinions

Are the LRA and Kony "faking" death of the ICC indicted rebel commanders?

The International Criminal Court should be very careful in handling the issue of prosecuting the Rebel leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army which has staged Anarchy in Northern Uganda province for nearly two decades. 

Since the ICC issued warrant for the key Commanders of the LRA, the long awaited death of the mentioned also knocked. The key players in the peace process should take note of these developments and A FACT FINDING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE ALLEGED DEATH OF THE LRA REBEL COMMANDERS should be set up to investigate and confirm the alleged death of Rebel Commader Vicent Otti, and Odhiambo Okot. 

I foresee a situation where Joseph Kony will accept to sign the peace agreement upon the death of the other Rebel commanders most wanted by the ICC, and after a short period, you will not be surprised to find the same people staging another revolt in the north but this time in the different names. 

These thugs have committed war crimes, including rape, murder and the abduction of thousands of children forced to serve as fighters, porters and “wives.” It is now Kony and Dominic Ongwen who are still surviving, but I can now confirm, that the death of Dominic Ongwen is soon and after, the peace agreement will be signed. It is therefore my humble advice to the ICC, the Government of Uganda, African Union and other key players to investigate and confirm the death of those rebel commanders.

The Writer is a Public Monitor at THE PUBLIC OPINIONS

Strategy for effectiveness in life

By Mr Walusimbi A Shakur Salim

Human beings are regarded to be rational and in this manner they make things happen but the basic reasons for this neglect is our nature. We tend to consider ourselves “the creatures of circumstances” always blaming our environment and our past for whatever we are required to deal. Therefore, what is required is imaginativeness, innovativeness, pro-activeness and a change of mental attitude. By changing man’s attitude, man can change himself and hence his effectiveness.

Man is responsible for his own life and behavior is a product of his own decision to a larger extent, but not the external conditions. One of the pre-requisite to being a successful man is the readiness to suffer. It’s a difficult situation which offer a real test of your resolve and strength. It is therefore how you respond to a trying situation.

Another major issue is being a principled man; a person of integrity is coupled with initiativeness like taking a lead in influencing events in a manner that is consistent. If you don’t act first, you will be put to great disadvantage as you would be acted upon or attacked first.

Activeness do not wait for things to happen, they are always pro-active and adventurous, they are prone to take calculated risks because their inner paint is to make things happen. Therefore, strategy means putting things in place carefully with a great deal of thought. Strategy provides you with reason for taking the initiative in making. It provides you with a long term view hence the ability to take risks. A pro-active person who is also successful has a general strategy based on principles and permanent guidelines which he applies in all situations.

In my final analysis, pro activity can be developed by building strength of characters, learning to live by principles, keeping the promises we make and honoring our commitments.

The Writer is the Publicity Secretary for the United Nations Association-Uganda, Islamic University in Uganda-Kampala Branch and Public Monitor-PUBLIC OPINIONS

State interference in the media

by Robert Atuhairwe
The biggest impediment to the media and press industry in Uganda is state interference. Instead of concentrating on correcting the wrongs in its system, the government misdirects its effort into harassing the press for exposing its ineffectiveness, through its security organs and bleak laws.

Government should instead facilitate specialized training of media practitioners to make life better for everyone.

Robert Atuhairwe is Assistant News Editor at the Red Pepper-Uganda, Email: atuhairwe_robert@yahoo.com

Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni restored "vote" in Uganda

By Mr. Kasana Ismail
In 1986 when the revolutionary forces under the leadership of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni captured power in Uganda, Ugandans were completely disenfranchised. There was no elections for district councils in Uganda. The district councils in the Obote regime were nominated by the Local Government Minister. 

This was completely un-democratic and absolute repression of the Obote regime. The NRM said no to the dictatorship and said everybody must be directly or indirectly elected by the people. 

It was upon this background that in 1989, the NRC (National Resistance Council) was expanded through elections and, in 1994, laws were amended to ensure that Constituency Assembly Delegates are elected to debate and pass a new constitution for Uganda and indeed it was enacted by the representative of the Ugandans. <

By so doing, Museveni and his NRM succeeded in removing one of the pillars of the Obote absolute regime and until now political issues in Uganda are settled by people directly elected by the people. So H.E the President of our country Uganda, please continue with the spirit of good governance and unity and hence you uphold the constitution of our motherland.

Long Live Uganda.

Mr. Kasana Ismail is based in Kayunga District and work as a Public Monitor of Public Opinions.

Improve on food safety and hygiene

By Waiswa Kassim Balabyeki
Policy makers and implementers In Africa should put much emphasis on food safety and hygiene and good laws must be made to ensure food available in the market is safe and I call upon the general public to demand for food safety and must be considered as our human right. Food safety in most African societies have been neglected. Authorities must thus enforce food safety and better food standards and contrary to this is a breach of human rights and the constitutional rights of the citizens. Food unfit for consumption should not be availed in the market. By doing so, we shall be able to control disease spread which has claimed many in Africa.
The Writer is a Former Food Minister at Makerere University, A Golden Partner of Goodwill Fraternity and now pursuing a Masters Degree in Food Science at the University of Reading, United Kingdom

How to unite, develop, empower and transform the youths

By Nakabale Patrick

The youths are one of the marginalized groups faced with a number of challenges including low education levels, poor social support networks, low income and social status, restricted access to health services, poor health practices, relatively under employed, low enterprising ideas with very limited resources. With such grounds, number of youths resort to peer talking, criminal activities, among others.

It’s notable that uniting the youths of Uganda is a paramount drive to foster body building of the youths, empowering, developing, transforming them for future country resources benefits. Avenues that unite the youths include sports, cultural galas, education instititutions,religious institutions and political organizations/associations,entertainment,seminars,workshops,debating clubs, tours, students leadership, religious fellowships, workers unions at all levels, music galas,etc. The above can play a leading role in bringing the youths together.

In reference to the youth challenges, their is need for a body mandated to identify the opportunities, threats in the external environment of the youths in lieu of the national and individual cause, matching the two with the strength and weaknesses of the youth internal environments. With such information on the youths, the programs one could use to empower, develop and transform them are not limited to;

Creation of information centres, here a holistic sensitization approach to the youths aimed at stimulating both the internal and external assets within the youths and this will lead to exposure as an ingredient to success. Besides the belief that power lies in the mind, so the mind is the vessel to liberate the youths.

Trainings, workshops and collaborative support to the youths. These empowers and develop the youth in life skills in order to uplift their social status at individual level and avert the likelihoods of mis behaviours,safeguarding lives from diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Re-energizing and strengthening the structures of the youth leadership from National to lower levels. The youths structures though in existence in Uganda, have got little they can offer to the youths and the general community. Here, the youths through better representation not only at the parliamentary level can advance and advocate better youths programs, and strengthening of the youths structures. These will aide the process of youth emancipation. This thus will be effective to steer the youth programs and projects. It will aide in building a network of youth associations and structures worldwide. Its is largely due to better leadership, that effective results can be attained.

Subsidized projects to encourage the youths engage in income generating activities to boost their income and social status. Value added farming i.e. flowers, livestock, poultry, carpentry, brick laying, agriculture for export,etc can support the government and donor efforts to uplift the youths in Uganda and Africa in general.

Promotion of vocational institutions to the low level educated and un-educated youths such that they are transformed into stakeholders of the informal sector leading to a broaden base and employment.

Infrastructural development. Here their should be promotion of youth health practices through routine counseling,saniatary awareness projects, functional Adult literacy programs, recreational facilities, transport and communication.

There is urgent need for both the government and the donors in partnership with the youth leadership to embark on the capacity building and career development programs for the youths in Uganda. If we do not build the capacity of youths and youth leaders, connected to the inadequate career development, less for the youths will be realized.

As youth activist, I believe if the above are put into the consideration by authorities concerned, youths will be able to realize unity, empowerment, development and transformed hence a better social-economical wellbeing.

It should be noted that, through out history it has been the inaction of those who should have acted, the indifference of those who should have known better, the silence of the voice of justice when is mattered most that has made it possible for evil to triumph amongst the youths and the general community the world over.

Mr. Nakabale Patrick is a Youth Activist, Youth Counselor- Central Region and Executive Director of Goodwill Fraternity.
Tel: + 256 712 842 425

What can the government do to reduce unemployment in Uganda

By Lwanga Fred

The un-employment is really a big challenge to the government of Uganda because for years it has failed even to combat this menace which has become a thorn in the fresh of Ugandans especially the graduates. In my view to overcome this, I think the government should put the following in consideration.

The education curriculum should be changed because the available curriculum designs people for white collar jobs which do not comply with the rate at which the universities discharge graduates. So it should be knowledgeable for the government and the donors to put more emphases on vocational institutions. What greatly hurts is that some one can finish S6 when he/she lacks skills to do any kind of job for survival like carpentry, builder or electrician. So if students go to vocational institutes they will leave with skills that can be applied to get money hence overcoming the menace.

The government should attract investors to come and invest in Uganda mostly in industries and agriculture modernisation. The government has done some improvements here but also has some weaknesses has mostly it allows in these so called fake investors like those who operates in retail shops. I even wonder why most investors coming to Uganda end up borrowing from our central bank. which kind of investors are those. So the government should embark on allowing in those investors in industrial sector who will create massive jobs for the locals hence combating the un-employment problem.

Besides the above, the government should improve on the manpower planning. The ministry of Labor and gender should be questioned in this regard has it has failed to regulate this. The ministries is more in money making than executing its mandate, they are too much in politics than serving the nation. The number of vacant jobs available should be in line with the number of graduates released from Universities and this should be consistent .This should be achieved through massive industrial development, strict following of the retirement age and replace the old workers with fresh graduates, agricultural development and transformation.

The government should encourage small scale industries by the local investor and it should go a head to offer subsidies to these firms so as to ensure their taking-off. This will ensure job creation hence eliminating this economic disorder. The government should assist those who are willing to go abroad for working and it will offer some help in getting the documents like passport, visa, working permits so as to make it easy for them to go and work due to the fact Uganda is receiving a lot of money from abroad.

Finally, I would like to recommend the government to put those aspects in consideration so as to improve on the lives of its people who are in life of misery, gambling and suffering which has been arose from the un-employment problem. There is no doubt that if the above is considered positive results shall be achieved.

Mr. Lwanga Fred is a Student of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology-Makerere University

The Role of the Army in Promoting Justice, Law and Order, Constitutionalism and Democracy in Africa

by Lt Travers Kibuuka

First and foremost Army in Africa is averagely the political leading institution whereby the Ruling Government has by all means to be in harmony with Army, contrary to this explains all military coup de detors in Africa.

A standing Army restores rule of Law through toppling dictatorial government for instance in Uganda dictators i.e Idi. Amin and Obote were toppled.

Where justice cannot be fully appreciated, Army comes in through liberation wars like the recent war led by the late Garanga in southern Sudan thus democracy.

In many African countries, the same has happened in the realization of the rule of Law, Justice, Order, Constitution and democracy. Therefore Army is/has done a tremendous work in promoting Good Governance in Africa.

Lt Travers Kibuuka is a Member of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), President of Compassion International Alumni (Uganda) and a Golden Partner of Goodwill Fraternity

Public Opinions: Our Aims and Objectives

1. To seek, analyze and disseminate the opinions of the masses on issues of local, national, regional and world concern.
2. To conduct interviews and seek opinions of both former and current leaders on topical issues.
3. To generate new ideas and dialogue on national and international developments and policies.
4. To carry on basic research on relevant topics and recommend to the authorities.
5. To seek public opinions on their human rights and to report all forms of human rights abuse to the relevant authorities.
6. To promote and facilitate debates and public dialogues on topical issues.
7. To facilitate the destruction of the “culture of fear and disengagement” by encouraging people to express their views on issues that are of concern to them.
8. To become a leading and sustainable organization that promotes and encourages the institutionalization of democracy in Uganda and the whole world.
9. To promote and strengthen democratic governance through research, publishing and facilitating discussion of public opinion on topical issues thereby connecting policy makers with the citizens they serve.
10. To conduct research and performance surveys on government departments and programs/projects.
11. To assess the performance of diplomatic missions, multinational and local organizations.
12. To inform policy makers on how citizens feel on the various issues of the day.
13. To provide polling and general elections support to governments and candidates.
14. To conduct performance analysis and assessment of political and cultural leaders, and civil servants.
15. To participate in the fight against corruption and advocate both horizontal and vertical accountability.
16. To publish a monthly magazine and distribute it both to the Authorities and the general public.
17. To identify programs and projects that are viable for support and can lead to social, political and economical transformation.