Politics at its best!

I had a brief campaign rally on Thursday, 16th December, 2010 at Kachwamba Trading Centre in South Division, Fort Portal Municipality. Unfortunately, our public address system broke down and we had to change strategy (me and the Mayoral aspirant Baguma Patrick).

We started moving house to house, person to person explaining our issues and why we are the best candidates for the positions we are vying for?

For starters, I am contesting for the post of MP Fort Portal Municipality on the Forum for Democratic Change Ticket.

FDC MP Aspirant Fort Portal Municipality - Solomon Akugizibwe

Along the way, I met a very interesting old gentleman with his shop full of posters of my opponents and NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni. I performed all the required rituals (greeting, introductions, etc).

The gentleman was damn surprised that I was in the race – I think at the back of his mind, he couldn’t imagine an FDC candidate tussling out with his preferred candidate (mind you, FDC is a force to reckon with in the Municipality and most people were fooled to think that the NRM primaries put a lid on the whole process).

He tried to show that he is on my side, and advised me to focus on radio programmes. He told me how this government is incompetent and only bent on using public resources to swindle votes (which is true). He gave me an advice to attack this government for increasing the number of National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) beneficiaries at sub county levels because it was not on the initial NAADS programme.

His point was, increasing the number of NAADS beneficiaries was a ploy by government to use government resources bribe more people for support in the coming 2011 Uganda elections.

The old man encouraged me to emphasize the issue on campaign rallies and radio programs because it will help me effectively de-campaign my opponents (who are all NRM leaning) and President Museveni.

Common sense tells me that it would be a politically disastrous for me to fight government for increasing the number of NAADS beneficiaries at sub county levels. In any case, I should ask for more and maybe ask for better quality services.

What was the intention of this old man? Was he genuine or he wanted me in a political dustbin?

12 names for millions of people

The most special thing about a kingdom in western Uganda, Tooro, may be the 11 “pet names” they exclusively use when showing respect, gratitude, praise. The 12th name is booked for somebody important.
These empaako actually do not mean anything in the local language – they have been brought to the Batooro by Luo invaders. Solomon Akugizibwe has the details.


Video of Toro King on a tour of the American State of Texas

What makes the Batooro of western Uganda special? Is it their young king Oyo, the escapades of their Queen Mother Kemigisa, their closeness to the famous snow-caped Rwenzori montains or their western jazz style? Or is the most special thing their “pet names”?

The pet names are so much embeded in the Tooro culture that everyone born or married in Tooro adopts them. Among children it is punishable to call an elder by their religious or traditional name because it is a sign of disrespect and indiscpline. Batooro use pet names to greet, praise, show gratitude or ask for favors from people.

The first eleven pet names or empaako are Bbala, Abbooki, Abwooli, Acaali, Adyeeri, Akiiki, Amooti, Apuuli, Araali, Ateenyi, Atwooki. However, the 12th pet name Okaali is reserved for the king only. He is the only Mutooro with two pet names. Upon becoming a king, no matter what his pet name was before, he takes Amooti used to greet him on an everyday basis and Okaali used only on special ocassions, traditional ceremonies and rituals.

Surprisingly, the pet names do not mean anything in Tooro culture! They originated from the Luo who invaded Bunyoro – which Toro was part of – and assimilated them into their language. Empaako were tagged with special Luo meanings, for instance Akiiki means saviour of nations, Abwooli is a cat, Apuuli is a bitch and Ateenyi is the legendary serpent of River Muziizi – which separates today’s Bunyoro and Toro Kingdoms.

The Batooro share many cultural traits with Banyoro, including pet names, because Tooro Kingdom was originally a province of Bunyoro-Kitara until 1830 when Prince Kaboyo rebelled and declared Tooro independent.

Map of Toro main Town of Fort Portal

View Toro main town of Fort Portal in a larger map

First published in Studio Edirisa on 21 January 2010
Apuuli

Radio could transform rural Ugandan farmers

There is no doubt, FM radios are the most accessed channel of communication in Uganda, thanks to the liberalisation of the broadcast sector in the early 1990’s which led to its rapid growth.

Rural people are increasingly accessing more information from the many rural FM stations spread throughout the country because of the enormous advantages they provide, leading to better decision making. Radios easily transcend barriers caused by isolation as a result of illiteracy, distance to urban centres, lack of power connectivity and general poverty.

In addition, rural FM radio’s easily adapt to local language and culture, rural folks can listen to radio in privacy of their homes in a language they are comfortable with, requiring no special skills. But what type of information do they provide to the rural folk? The former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela once said, “Bad media is better than no media at all.” Yes, rural FM stations are doing a great work to empower the citizens through access to information but questions abound about quality.

What is the quality of the information accessed? Are they contributing to the improvement of the household incomes of their target audiences? Do they carry out on-the-job training to their journalists? Do they involve their target audiences in programme design? What percentage of their time do they use for development messages in comparison to foreign broadcasts and music?

Training of a radio listernership Club in Fort Portal by Toro Development Network

Uganda being a predominantly agricultural country with over 80 per cent of the population directly or indirectly employed in the sector – majority in the rural areas, appropriate use of radio to sensitise rural farmers on market information, seeds and access to loans can easily turn around their fortunes.

Rural FM radio’s indeed have the potential to address all these challenges if equitable access to information and better knowledge sharing to enable the rural people exploit the available resources is ensured. A lot of agricultural sensitisation funds are invested in buying airtime and calling experts the usual way; to teach people what to do, the likes of NAADS. Yes, it is good but is it sustainable?

Government agencies, donors and civil society involved in agricultural sensitisation should know that there is need to more than just sensitise (buying airtime and calling experts to teach rural farmers what to do.) Rural FM stations, more than any other media, influence the opinion of rural folk but continue to employ untrained journalists because of the increased commercialisation of the sector. Journalists and radio presenters continue to receive peanuts because to the radio owners, profits are at the forefront of anything to do with professional journalism and the information needs of poor rural folk.

I have been in the villages of Kabarole District in Western Uganda and listened to their radio stations, the topic is always who is going to win in the elections, which player Ferguson bought the other day, how Bobi Wine is pirating Kafeero’s music, etc but not which agricultural products are available for sale in a given village, low interest farmer loans in a given financial institution, improved seeds in a given shop in town.

Imagine what difference it would make for a radio programme that connects buyers and sellers of agricultural products, giving the contact phone of the seller/buyer, place, amount and products needed or available.

If nothing is done, many people especially in the rural areas will continue to produce crops but continue to sell them at a low price to exploitative middle men, hence gaining little from months of hard work and the vicious cycle of poverty shall continue.

More money spent on Ugandans than Rwandese but better services for Rwandese than Ugandans.

Every Rwandese uses UGX70, 000 a year with better roads, education and health services while every Ugandan uses UGX23million a year with poor quality education, potholes and no medicine in hospitals according to the annual national budgets of the two countries. If we are to break it down further, Uganda government spends 328 times more money on its citizens than Rwanda government but who gets better government services?

Rwanda has a total national budget is UGX800billion with a population of 11 million people while Uganda with a population of 32 million people has a total national budget of UGX7.5 trillion. Uganda’s population is three times bigger than Rwanda. If Kagame government was managing Uganda; he would use a total budget of UGX 2.4 trillion instead of UGX7.5 trillions our Uganda government uses with better roads, quality healthcare and quality education assuming we are going by Rwanda’s rates.

Rwanda uses less money but provides better education, better roads, better health care, etc. In fact, Uganda’s ministry of health budget alone is almost equal to the whole Rwanda government national budget but there is no medicine in Uganda hospitals. Our doctors are also running to Rwanda coz of poor pay here. Our roads budget is almost as twice as the total budget of Rwanda but more and more potholes!!!

Religious Studies Education Becomes Political Hotbed

All levels of our education system will continue teaching religious studies... The government is aware of the place of religion in Ugandan communities - says the Ugandan government.



President Museveni rapping

Of late, a public debate has been raging over reports that cabinet had debated the banning of teaching religious studies in schools and colleges. The cabinet early this year debated the proposal to stop funding the teaching of religious studies. Among other things, some members of the cabinet argued that it was not appropriate for the government to allow the continuous teaching of religious education in schools when Uganda is a secular state. These cabinet members argued that religious teachings be left to for the home and church, given that the government could not fund teaching of all religions.

Behind this concern, the government was also concerned that faith-based schools resisted recruitment of head teachers who were not of their faiths, which suffocates government efforts in improving education in the country.

In Uganda, the majority of the most powerful government aided schools like Kibuuli Senior Secondary, Kisubi College, Namagunga Girls, Nabisunsa Girls, St. Henry's Kitovu and Nyakasura School among others were founded by religious institutions which include; Muslims, the Catholic Church and the Church of Uganda.

The idea from cabinet to discontinue the teaching of religious studies in schools and colleges has received a lot of criticism from religious groups, the opposition and some sections of the public. The major reason advanced by such people is that banning religious studies in schools will lead to moral degeneration in the country.

Namirembe Christian Fellowship leader, Pastor Simeon Kayiwa says banning religious studies would drag the country into immorality.

"Religious education in schools helps to build a God- fearing nation," Pastor Kayiwa told journalists recently. "Any person who suggests that it should be removed from the syllabus, may plunge this country into immoral dangers," Kayiwa adds.

Pastor Kayiwa attributed dishonest acts, such as corruption and embezzlement among others, to lack of God-fearing hearts.

The remarks followed those of Bishop Samuel Balagadde Ssekadde, the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, who said those pushing for the abolition of Religious Education should be investigated. Bishop Ssekadde wondered the kind of children Uganda would produce if they are not taught religious values in schools.

The immense criticism forced the government to come out and state that although the cabinet had hotly debated the issue, the government did not adopt any proposal to ban teaching of religious studies in schools.

On May 5th, the minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo told journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala, that the proposal was never endorsed by the Cabinet.
"Some members in Cabinet raised this matter but after debate, it was rejected and all levels of our education system will continue teaching religious studies," Buturo said. The minister said religion was important for moral development in schools which is good for promoting stability in the country.

"The Government wishes to disassociate itself from the reports. The government is aware that the place of religion and its teaching in Ugandan educational institutions is the bedrock of our stability and harmony among communities," Buturo said.
The Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Xavier Lubanga in a statement to journalists on May 1st said that Christian and Islamic religious studies are still taught at primary, secondary and teacher education levels. He says that religious studies teachers are still on the government payroll and not about to be removed.
In Uganda the Christian Religious Education (CRE) and Islamic Religious Education (IRE) are the only two religious subjects taught in government schools depending on the founding body - Christians, Muslims or the government (where both can be taught).

According to the Uganda population census of 2002, Christians made up about 84% of Uganda's population. The Catholic Church has the largest number of adherents (41.9%), followed by the Anglican Church of Uganda (35.9%). Muslims represent 12% of the population.

Other religions include traditional religions (1%) and 'Other Non-Christians,' including Hindus and Judaism at 0.7%.

If the figures are added it shows that by 2002, 96% of the people in Uganda were either Muslims or Christians. With the opening of the political space to allow for elections only 60% can vote out a government of President Yoweri Museveni incase he went against their wishes (banning religious studies in schools).

Besides, the different religious groups, especially Muslims, Catholics and the Church of Uganda, have strong networks up to the parish level with capacity to influence their believers to take a particular political direction. This was witnessed during the 1980 where religion played a major role to make the Democratic Party (DP), headed by Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere, the strongest party in the country because it had received the support of the Catholics who were the majority.

DP also received the blessings of the Catholic Church leaders because it was founded along religious lines by Ben Kiwanuka, to promote the interests of the Catholic Church during the colonial era.

During the 1980 elections DP's flag bearer Ssemogerere is widely believed to have won the elections which was rigged in favour of UPC's Milton Obote.

But aside politics, some people have questioned the constitutionality of spending tax payers' money to teach religious studies, when Uganda is by constitution a secular state. Others have pointed to the fact that because not all religions are taught, it was unfair for the government to fund the teaching of some religions at the expense of others.

Some, like Local government Minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafire dismissed arguments that teaching religious studies in schools promotes morals amongst pupils and students. This brings to light the issue of whether what is taught as religious studies is for academic purposes or for promoting the beliefs of a particular religion. Does a list of criminals, corrupt or immoral people necessarily show people who didn't take religious education? It is because of these debatable facts that the issue of continuing or stooping teaching of religious studies remains a contentious one amongst many Uganda.

First published: June 21, 2008 (ugpulse.com)

Real, real mess – Uganda’s journalism

I have faced the real wrath of Uganda’s journalists especially now that I am in campaigns for political leadership. Money, money and nothing else for you to appear on radio, in papers, etc.

For starters, I am contesting for the Fort Portal Municipality parliamentary seat on the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket.

Just recent, one Monday evening our FDC chairperson (Kabarole district) calls us for a press conference and the issue was to unveil the FDC candidates who won their primaries to the public.

A good number of journalists appeared representing every media institution that matters. We (candidates) raised a good number of issues but simply little was aired on Fort Portal based FM radio stations – in any case, maybe the little was to show the public that we (journalists) are professional because we are balancing all corners.

The next day, I accidentally landed on one of the news editors of the Fort Portal based FM station, pushed him to wall to answer why the opposition received a media blackout. I heard a very interesting answer – You never gave us anything.

On one hand, surely, I felt it was unfair but on the other, sympathy flowed in my heart for the journalists. I am a journalist myself who has seen it all. Exploitation looks like it is the order of the day in this whole journalism profession.

Only a few big media institutions like New Vision and Daily monitor pay their staff well. Then, how do you expect them to survive without making such ungodly moves. They have families, girl friends and therefore, a life to live.

Owners of media institutions likewise are shrewd businessmen who should not be blamed because they use any loophole in our laws to maximize their profits.

Why not blame the government (sorry, but you went to power promising to solve all that mess). This business of calling every Tom, Dick and Harry to come and invest in the media without putting up clear employment policies is messing up the whole profession.

Mind you, our profession is very noble and without it, corruption remains at very unmanageable levels in this country. This is time for our government to priotise setting up better employment policies like putting up a minimum wage for the benefit of our country.

Government and donor support to households will get Uganda out of poverty

Human beings are naturally selfish; I heard the other day that capitalism is embedded in people’s blood, heart and soul. Government or company workers will always drive government or company cars so badly simply because they are not theirs.

Carl Marx’s communism has also failed to work simply because it promotes communal work, communal ownership of properties, communal everything.

For instance, communism has failed to develop North Korea, Cuba and many other countries of the former USSR and East Germany. Despite its close proximity to the Asian Economic giants of South Korea, Japan and China, Communist North Korea remains a poor country likewise Cuba, despite its close proximity to the world’s superpower – USA, Fidel’s Castro’s country remains a third world country. The reason is simple,
communist systems do not provide for an extra reward or motivation for an extraordinary work done by an individual.

Communist China saw the light earlier. You can see where it is now – World’s number two economic giant after USA. Trust me people!, China only hides under the guise of communism maybe for propaganda reasons but it is number one capitalist country in the whole world. Recently, China has been in the world spotlight facing criticism for aggressively investing billions of money in many African countries without due regard for their bad records in human rights abuses and governance, the likes of Sudan and Zimbabwe. The reason for China’s aggressiveness is simple; it wants more resources to sustain its high levels of economic growth and development. China’s example is a high level of individualism at a country level.

Did I hear DJ Bush Baby of East Africa TV and radio in one of Uganda’s dailies recently saying that Tanzanians more than all the other people in the five East African countries are still sleeping because of Julius Nyerere’s UJAAMA policy which encouraged communal work and ownership of properties. That thinking will take long to get out of the people’s mind, I think, it is the reason why Tanzanians feared to join the East Africa’s political federation because they feared capitalistic Kenyan and Ugandan business people from taking over their businesses, land, etc and instead make them ‘slaves’ on their own land.

Imagine a hardworking person working on a communal project where some people are sick, some are lazy, some are naturally weak, some are dumb, etc. What will happen to the hardworking person after a day, a week, a month, a year, etc – reduced motivation to work because of no extra motivation like extra payment in recognition of her/his hard
work?

Uganda government, donors are now focusing on supporting group projects because to them, it’s a smart investment with capacity to ensure human economic development. Surely, group support is good when it comes to some issues like monitoring projects because people will easily check each other’s performance, in cases where mobilization of huge capital for big investments is necessary, community security but surprisingly, you will be shocked to find that many group projects fail because of selfish (individualistic) nature of human beings.

I was recently sharing with the Executive Director of a local NGO based in Fort Portal (Engabu Za Tooro) which supports group and individual entrepreneurship projects, he said, “Individual projects are flourishing but many group projects have failed to pick up”. There is a big lesson to learn from this experience? Individual interests are always at play, everyone wants to get something for her/his family at the expense of the sustainability of the group project.

The spirit of individualism coupled with poor administrative systems is the reason why corruption is ripe in Uganda, being a poor country with huge numbers of uneducated people who can’t put their leaders to account for their funds, it will always be easy for a government official to swindle billions of money meant for treating malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS for millions of people and instead use the money to pay for her/his kids school fees in expensive schools abroad, meet a medical bill of a family member outside the country, buy a posh residence in a developed country, etc.

People have been complaining of the Uganda government controlled National Agricultural advisory services (NAADS) for giving farmers substandard animal and seed breeds which are procured at exorbitant prices by people who get the NAADS contracts. Now, I hear that NAADS has set up a new guideline where money will be channeled directly to the farmers to procure the items.

Very few people can be selfish to themselves; people make many investment mistakes mainly because of ignorance. The new NAADS guideline is a plus to the institution because households will always strive to buy the best animal and crop breeds to improve on their household incomes.

Support to group projects is good but in areas where they can’t work, support to household projects should be a serious option for consideration by donors and government if the country is to get out of poverty. However, such initiatives can make the country a success story in economic growth and development if proper assessment and monitoring mechanisms are instituted.

At the end of the day, a household or family is the smallest administrative unit in the country and there is a popular saying that ‘one by one makes a bundle’ therefore, when families in a country are economically self reliant, the whole country will be economically self-reliant.

Web presence of Uganda districts will open up opportunities and save resources.

Imagine how cheap and time saving it would be to get information from the district website for a job seeker, a company looking for tender, an investor looking for investment opportunities and a journalist looking for news.

Which investor can stand the hustle of moving, for instance to the Western Uganda rural district of Bundibugyo traversing through the mountainous poor roads looking for investment opportunities? And if he/she doesn’t go there, who loses?

A simple ‘click’ to a district website, unlocks all its potentials to whoever is interested in just seconds.

A website also provides many online free services a district can utilize to attract investments, fundraise for funds to manage a catastrophe, attract international development organizations, etc which at the end of the day improves on the livelihoods of the people. Google maps is one of them which can help a given district locate the investment needs of particular area complete with contact information. Such information helps an investor get background information and weighs the options first before wasting his/her fuel, time and energy moving to particular area. Through internet searches, some investors can actually land on investment opportunities accidentally in a given district because of a mere web presence.

Of course, many policy makers at the national and district levels are computer illiterate and need a lot of effort to convince them avail funds for such online projects. Even if such funds are availed, many district information officers lack skills in website management, also districts lack funds to employ ICT officers and therefore, they (districts) always seek the services of ICT experts who charge huge sums of money coupled with kick backs which makes it hard to sustain.

As a result of the above, the website becomes almost irrelevant like most government departments websites which are characterized with outdated information. Hahaha! I was sharing with a friend recently who works in a rural district in Western Uganda. His district chairperson was humiliated recently at an international ICT workshop after the district website was opened to the workshop participants with a photo and profile of the previous district boss and his former fierce political opponent as the current district chairperson.

Apart from reducing on the humiliations, timely and accurate information on the internet reduces on the workload for the district staff and saves the environment because car fuel which emits carbon dioxide to the atmosphere causing global warming will not be unnecessarily wasted for someone looking for information related to the district.

Besides, it is another way of safely and permanently keeping records. Records archived on the website are easy to access and face few threats to destruction for instance information regarding a tender
which was advertised four years ago will only be a search away on the district website making it more easy than unpacking boxes of papers to look for it.

God forbid! Think of fire gutting down the office, and destroying ‘a million dollar’ documents with no back up on the internet or being stolen by thieves or corrupt officers who want to hide evidence. Won’t it be a disastrous loss?

A website is also an avenue to ensure that leaders are accountable to the people. If properly updated people will get an opportunity to monitor funds and projects implemented by the district through press
releases, downloads of reports, news, etc. If the district leadership contacts are well posted on the internet, it helps bridge the communication gap between the people and their leaders.

I know what the district technical staff are going through during such an election period as the district politician’s demand for reports to account to the people in return for votes. Imagine, if the reports were well arranged on the district website, how easy it would be for them to account to their electorates. Mind you! A lot of Uganda print and broadcast journalists get information for their stories through online research therefore, online presence would actually simply the work of the politicians and the district technical staff and resources which would otherwise be spent paying for radio programs because from point A, the people would be awash with information regarding the work of the district leadership if the website technical staff consistently uploads press releases and reports for the convenience of both print and broadcast journalists.

As the 2011 Uganda general elections approaches, you have to critically analyze the manifestos of the political candidates, ask them questions and see what they have to offer as regards information dissemination and internet presence and then cast your vote.

Of course, many people in Uganda are computer illiterate and will only vote those who take them for bull roasting, buys them alcohol, soap and sugar without caring much about web presence of their districts and its benefits to them. The educated should think of how a website will help change the lives of their parents, neighbors, relatives, etc after attracting an investor who constructs a processing factory for their tomatoes. That line of thinking will help them sensitize people to enable them make better decisions when casting their votes.

For policy makers, the benefits of increasing funding for ICT’s especially for staff training, paying for internet access, website costs and of course buying computers are enormous. Therefore, this is a humble appeal to the policy makers to do the needful! Wikipedia, news websites, tour and travel companies’ websites and websites of NGO’s have done a good job to avail information regarding particular districts on the internet. But, we should not over depend on them because their interests, NOT the interests of particular districts take first priority.

My best three songs. These are the ones!

Homecoming by Kanye West


Te Amo by Rihanna


Hey Ya by Outkasts

Uganda-Western street begging, not so much different!

It is a common scene to see lame and elderly people or children on the streets of Ugandan city, Kampala seated on strategic positions near banks, busy streets, supermarkets and taxi stages holding boxes, plates or cups begging people for anything ranging from money to food. For some its a career, while others, unbearable circumstances force them to beg.

Most people in Uganda beg as a result of their physical disability, poverty and displacements. Displacements are in most cases caused by war and famine.

Street kids, women and the elderly from the famine and drought affected Karamoja region, war hit Northern Uganda and South Sudan are the most common beggars on Kampala streets.

Many people in Uganda have also made a career out of begging, a friend of Solomon called Paul from Eastern Uganda recently told him of a rich beggar - without any physical disabilities - in Mbale town of Eastern Uganda, who has made a fortune out of begging. 'At his level, he has a lot of money because he always helps people with change.'

Although begging can bring happiness to some, after a good days harvest. To others, it can be quite annoying especially, when young beggars especially, street children aggressively follow people and sometimes dirtening their dresses in the process of asking for money.

Its no surprise, that there are beggars too in the rich western countries. A Slovenian friend Gregor Strehovec recently said, there are poor people everywhere in the world, meaning there are beggars everywhere in the World. Slovenia is a country in Western Europe.

However, begging styles are different from country to country basing on the legal framework, technological development and societal norms. Countries like USA where begging is banned or highly restricted in some of its cities like Chicago, San Francisco and Santa Cruz, people have adopted other ways of begging like online begging.

In India, the Hindu religion encourages spiritual people known as Sadhus beg for food to enable them do their spiritual work uninterrupted. They also view begging as a noble practice which promotes humility and gratitude.

In Uganda, grown up street children are adopting new ways of begging because people go on losing sympathy for them as they grow old. Now, they use young children who are always lined up on busy Kampala streets to collect money on their behalf.

In some western cities, people from poor countries are sometimes forced by organized gangs to beg on their behalf.

Srehovec says begging in Europe inst so much different from Uganda, ' like Uganda, European beggars are always strategically positioned in busy city streets wearing dirty clothing, the only difference, European beggars are mostly old people without physical disabilities. A few physically handicapped beggars in Slovenia are mostly, from the war affected parts of Europe like Bosnia.'

Unlike Ugandan beggars, Strehovec says European beggars also earn a lot of money and have organizations to cater for their basic necessities of life, 'in Slovenia beggars can earn up-to over 50 Euros a day, which is a good amount for their survival. There is also an organization called Kings of the street, which provides them with food and clothing.'

This is how President Museveni manages the country

I have never worked in state house, never been a presidential assistant, don’t have a friend or a relative working in statehouse and I have never even stepped in any of the two state houses but, who tells you that I should be a priest, bishop, pastor or a religious scholar to write about Jesus.

Managing this country is not as hard as many people might assume, any Ugandan with a sober mind and possessing the required qualifications can manage this country, maybe even better.

As usual, people try to complicate things to threaten the interests of others who want to compete with them just like when we were still journalism interns, senior journalists would surely show you how hard it is to write a feature story. They would never tell you that writing a feature story is as simple as outlining the reasons for the fall of Idi Amin, of course adding some flavor and flow.

Managing this country is as simple as managing your own family, some families might even be harder to manage with so many issues ranging from deadly infighting to witchcraft.

Imagine winning the battle to be the heir of the family and you know that every fight has winners and losers. Losers are always disgruntled people who can react in a dangerous way if not handled carefully. That is how Democratic Party (DP) stalwarts, Kawanga Ssemogerere, John Ssebana Kizito and William Nyakatura and UPC’s Omara Atubo managed to make it to Museveni cabinet after the NRA bush war struggle in a government of national unity.

Some children in the family have bad manners - disrespectful, big headed; so many times you will be forced to punish them to make them upright, the likes of Miria Matembe, Eriya Kategaya, Bidandi Ssali, etc when they opposed the third term for the family head (President Museveni).

Some, after a long and sustained punishment like Eriya Kategaya and Gen. David Tinyefunza reformed and were called back to the family and some who remained with their big headedness were completely chased from the family, the likes of Kasepiki’s Dad - Bidandi Ssali.

Some children are punished heavily to deter others from following suit, the likes of Kiiza Besigye who faced tramped up rape charges and recent whipping by the unpopular Kiboko squad.

Some will be given land very far away from the family headquarters to avoid infecting others with their bad manners and giving headache to their parents. Winnie Byanyima was endorsed by Uganda government to work in United Nations in USA.

Those who are well behaved and dance according to the tunes of the family head are of course rewarded, the likes of the Guinness World Books of Records candidate as alleged by a Ugandan tabloid - James Kakooza who got a state ministerial position for spearheading the 4th term presidential bid.

Actually, the president’s work might even be easier to do than a ministerial post because the president reports to peasants who lack the real intellect to question his work – when he makes them a road, our dear peasants as the president always calls them will always say it’s a favor. For a ministerial work, you will have to report to people who know their rights and how to demand for them, who are educated (parliament, the president and local politicians) who are always challenging to convince (of course, other factors remaining constant like the moral standing of the supervisors – president, parliament and local politicians).

However, the sickness with our African presidents is failure to set up systems due to greed for power. They want to be the custodians of land and national jobs, etc so that whoever dances according to their tunes can get an opportunity to share on the national cake. All this makes the work of the president hard to do, limiting it only to those who are “visionary”.

If everything goes according to plan, I envision a situation where the president has a bunch of people who think and implement things on his behalf, as a president, you wake up in the morning at state house and there is someone whose work is to know that the president is thirsty and needs water, there is someone whose work is to know that the president must visit this town and should say this, there is someone to read the presidents emails and letters and know how to respond to which letter, the Hon. Prime minister is busy managing the cabinet and the president receives reports and takes appropriate measures not this confusion of which cadre should be appointed the ambassador of which country even leaving behind people in the foreign service who can actually do the work better.

In fact, even a young man of below 35 years can rule this country; these old people should not scare you (the youth). I think the people who put the age limit at 35 years for someone to contest for the Uganda presidency; at the back of their mind knew that it was just a fence to stop people who are not experienced, exposed, etc from entering and messing up the country. Because, at the end of the day, it is not actually the age. Joseph Kabila who became president at 29 years of age has managed the country better than his old father – Laurent Kabila (the young man has managed to hold one of DR Congo’s successful elections and reconciled many of the worrying factions), Alexander the Great was in his 20’s when he won battles and conquered
the whole world. Did I hear that Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is the oldest president in the world? How is he managing his country?

The president only needs to intervene where things have failed to work and give direction to the country.

What millions of African women think of African men?

“You can’t limit the number of wives your husband gets because that is how God created men,” says a lady seated next to me while traveling in a bus on a journey from Uganda’s capital City of Kampala to Western Uganda town of Fort Portal recently.

I once jokingly told my girl friend that we should have a rotational presidency of the family. She said, “No! No! I think a man is supposed to be the head of the family.”

In my village, old women will always advise new wed ladies to take extra care of their husbands like preparing them warm water in the morning for bathing, cleaning their clothes, preparing them food, kneeling when serving them food. Actually, all the above and so many others are taken as divine responsibilities of women. But who tells you that a man can’t prepare food, prepare bathing water for himself, and wash clothes among other family chores!

In the Central Uganda Kingdom of Buganda, there is a common saying that a lady can force laughter when angry, stressed, not in moods of laughing, etc for the sole purpose of making her husband happy.

Funny! Such thinking is still claiming territories in the developed world which always press for women rights in developing countries like Uganda with highly conservative societies. United States of America for instance has never elected a woman president partly, because of a conservative thinking that women can never be strong leaders to defend their country. Madam Hillary Clinton recently faced the wrath of that conservative thinking when he tried to put herself in ‘men’s shoes’

It maybe true, that most women are emotional, soft, etc because society demands them to be like that. If you acted like Semenya (South African athlete), talked with authority like Uganda’s Miria Matembe, played football, approached your dream man and said, “I love you,” ooooh! Many African men will be scared, to them, that behavior is unusual, strange, unwanted – not even sexy. 

But, are there many differences between the two sexes – male and a female? Girls have been on top of boys on so many occasions in so many things for instance in school performance in Uganda. If you doubt this, Namagunga, Gayaza and Nabisunsa girl’s secondary schools will silence you.

You have seen women heads of states performing better than men, can you compare the current president of Liberia, Ellen Johnstone Sirleaf with a brutal and corrupt dictator - Charles Taylor. What about Mwammar Gaddafi’s (Libya president) women escorts – their boss doesn’t seem to complain of loopholes in his personal security. Who in the security circles in Uganda didn’t shake, shiver, etc when the Queen of England – Elizabeth II - landed in Uganda for the Kampala Common Wealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) in 2007? If you want to prove it, pleaseee…. Kindly, ask generals Kaguta, Nyakairima, Tinyefunza and Kayihura.

Gender stereotypes are deeply embedded in African cultural and religious thinking but a change in that thinking is very possible. Who doesn’t want to see his mother, sister, daughter enjoying real equal rights with men?

An ignorant environmental artist

She seems even busy for an interview with Solomon, in her craft factory inside her room in Nankulabye – one of Kampala’s sprawling suburbs. She looks to be in love with the whole craft making activity. She makes her crafts from waste material like banana fibers, waste plastics and waste paper materials just because they are cheap and easy to get. Using waste material is good for the environment but for Namatovu Beatrice, that’s not why she uses them.

“I make necklaces from papers and plastics, table mats, door mats and balls from banana fibers,” says Namatovu a student of business at Makerere Business institute. She says, her business course will help equip her with the required marketing skills for her crafts. 

She gets some of the material like Banana fibers from as far as Mpigi district where her mother comes from. Namatovu gets the waste papers especially expired calendars for making necklaces from friends who work in offices and only buys threads for making table mats.

Namatovu who has helped train many young people to do crafts was inspired by her friend called Nora who even taught her to make crafts and Namatovu has never looked behind. She adds that her background in fine art during her secondary school days gave her an added advantage to learn faster and do better crafts. Besides, getting some income from the craft business, she enjoys what she does.

Although having quite a busy schedule, Namatovu has never failed to get time to do her crafts work, “I have my lecturers from morning to 1pm, I get time for my crafts work in the evening.”

Her efforts for making good quality crafts seems to be paying off because she never fails to get market, “many people buy my crafts like friends, well wishers, tourists and organizations and on a good days sale, I can earn roughly Uganda shillings 50,000 (which is good enough for any Ugandan student’s side activity).”

Namatovu has a number of places to sell her crafts including her home, her friend’s homes or work places and a crafts shop of Joy for Children Uganda – a non governmental organization based in Kampala, which also helps promote the talents of young people. The organization has a display board and visitors especially whites many times get attracted and buy them, says Namatovu.

She also exploits a number of opportunities such as exhibitions like a recent one at the Baptist Church in Kampala, which unfortunately never reaped good fruits because few products were sold. She blamed the poor sales to an abrupt and poor organization of the event and therefore, people were not prepared to buy.
The young and promising craft artist says the only problem with the crafts business is lack of a stable local market because Ugandans aren’t good consumers of craft items and most times, she depends on people from the western world, who rarely come making the craft business very unpredictable.  

As hardworking as always, Namatovu isn’t sleeping and has big plans for the future in line with her craft business, “I expect to buy a plot of land, build a house and start my own big craft shop and recruit more people to make crafts.”

Lutaaya – his boldness saved millions

People saw his hair fall out, his body shrink and finally, die in december 1989 as a result of HIV/AIDS – a disease which has claimed millions of people in Uganda.

Musician Philly Bongole Lutaaya did the unthinkable in September 1989, at a press conference in Kampala, he openly exposed his HIV status at a time when the disease was highly stigmatised.

Lutaaya didnt stop at that, he went ahead to carry out Music and Educational tours across the country thus, promoting understanding, compassion and respect for people living with HIV.

His memorable farewell album Alone and Frightened released on September 1989 further, boosted the campaign.

People started to see the disease as a reality, unlike the previous years, when the disease was mainly associated with witchcraft.

Condom use, testing and treatment became acceptable. The government also stepped up its efforts to combant the disease. Such efforts, included; rolling up public health messages and the establishment of the Uganda AIDS Commission among others.

As a result of the efforts to cambant the epidermic since Lutaaya's years, prevalence rates have reduced from 30 percent in 1992 – the highest in the world by then - to the current 6.4 percent according to The Independent magazine.

Lutaaya's music remains popular up-to-now. Recently, in a project to celebrate his life, several Ugandan artists including Bobi Wine and Chameleon re-recorded and perfomed his music.

His christmass album recorded in sweden in 1986, remains the most memorable especially during christmass season in Ugandan christian families.

Lutaaya's other popular hits are Ugira Tulinda, Baasi Namakwekwe, Bw'oba Osiimye, Philly Empisa Zo Zikyuseko and Flora Atwooki among others.

His AIDS campaign efforts have made him a role model and a hero to many ugandans.

Recently, the Ugandan North American Association created a Philly Bongole Lutaaya award recorgnising his leadership role in increasing HIV/AIDS awareness in Uganda.

Joseph Kony – A career killer

Who is joseph Kony

Joseph Kony, is the rebel leader of the Lords resistance Army (LRA), his rebel group is well known for killing, abducting, mutilating thousands and displacing millions in South Sudan, Uganda, DR Congo and Central African Republic since 1986.

His heinous acts have attracted alot of international condemnation from even the unusual figures like the popular US TV show queen, Oprah Winfrey. During her show in 2006, Oprah described the LRA's inhuman activities in Northern Uganda as an 'African Holocust'.

Deadlocked Joseph Kony

 The US government placed Kony in 2008 on it's list of specially designated global terrorist with dire consquencies of financial freeze and travel bans. But, does Kony care? A man with no known assets except guns and a satelite phone which he keeps a distance apart to avoid being tracked and killed the Savimbi way – a former Angola rebel leader.

The LRA's chief life rotates around the bush, where he has lived for the last 24 years. His only known friends are his brutal militants he presides over.

Born to a lay Catholic Church Apostle father and an Anglican mother in the Northern Uganda district of Gulu in 1961, Kony himself an altar boy in his teenage years and a village witchdoctor in his early 20's, claims to follow the Christian Bible Ten Commandments.

But, does the LRA chief follow the ten commandments in his military persuit for Uganda's top leadership. The sixth commandment says, 'you shall not murder,’ Kony has murdered thousands of people in his over 20 year rebellion against the government.

Kony first joined the Holy Spirit Movement of Alice Lakwena, his cousin, whose soldiers smeared their bodies with blessed oil to stop bullets and launched a successful guerrilla movement against the government forces until their defeat in the late 1980’s.

One wonders whether, the defeat of Lakwena was a result of loss of spiritual powers because; many of her soldiers lost their lives in battles with government forces from bullets they claimed to stop.

Later, Kony reorganized the defeated Holy Spirit Movement fighters to form the LRA. The LRA chief initially used the same Lakwena’s tactic of smearing his soldiers with blessed oil to stop bullets but, later abandoned it after failing to work for him.

An indicted criminal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Kony remained a mystery until 2006, when he appeared to the cameras with the South Sudan Vice President Riek Marchar in the jungles of South Sudan. This was an attempt to open up for peace negotiations with the government of Uganda.

Prior to the Marchar meeting, his only known image for years was of a dreadlocked murderer, forest witch and a polygamist.

Kony's brutal and elusive rebel tactics has continues to put the lives of millions of people in the four countries of South Sudan, Uganda, DR Congo and Central African Republic in danger. Continued attempts to sign the United Nations sponsored Juba peace agreement has failed to reap any fruits. His demands for signing the Juba Peace Agreement looks impossible for anybody to fulfill for a rebel leader who rarely follows his words. During the start of peace negotiations in South Sudan, Kony would attack villages killing, abducting, stealing and destroying people's properties in South Sudan and DR Congo villages days after signing the ceasefire agreements.

To his supporters, including, a PhD holder in psychology, Dr David Nyekorach Matsanga, Kony is a freedom fighter. Matsanga who, recently declared his intentions to run for the president of Uganda in 2011, was until last year (2009) the head of the LRA Juba Peace negotiating team.

The LRA no longer operates in Uganda, but their continued presence thousands of miles away in the Jungles of DR Congo and Central African Republic remains a threat to the people of Northern Uganda, who are slowly returning to their homes after spending years in camps depending on government and donors for handouts of food, medicine and other basic necessities.

His weaknesses

He has killed, mutilated and abducted even his own people (Acholi's), although he sometimes calls himself a liberator of the Acholi people. He lacks support even among his own people to enable the success of his military struggle. He sentenced to death, the popular Acholi opposition politician and the current president of the Democratic Party Norbert Mao for criticising his atrocious acts (the death sentence has never been carried out).

Kony with his children

The LRA chief is over ambitious planning to rule the country on the christian bible ten commandments, in a country with many religious beliefs. Such a system of governance, is unaceptable and likely to cause more conflicts emanating from other religious groups like the moslems. Although, Uganda is predominatly a christian country, his belief in witchcraft and heinous crimes committed over the years haven't won him any admiration from christians.

Kony extends his murderous acts to even his own fighters, resulting into loss of morale and confidence in him. This explains big numbers of defections in the rebel ranks. He has killed all his deputies since the beggining of his rebellion. LRA's deputies Otti Lagony, James Opoka and Vincent Otti, were brutally murdered for disrespecting or disagreeing with their boss and who knows what will happen to Okot Odhiambo the current LRA deputy. On the other hand, brutal killings of his senior fighters help instill fear, and makes him (Kony) a magical being who knows and hears what everyone around him thinks and says to stop any internal revolts and escape.

His stregnths

He is elusive, mysterious and even mythical, making it hard for the Ugandan army to capture him. The latest attempt to capture him was in 2008, during the Operation Lightening thunder by the Ugandan Army in the Congo forest of Garamba, only his guitar and a few of his household belongings were found. He claims to use witchcraft to foretell danger and escape in advance. During the failed peace talks of 1994, the entrance to his base was guarded by men wearing robes sprinkling holy water.

Uganda President Museveni

Kony is a skilled guerrilla military fighter, his handful military men and women currently, numbering below 500 using improvised weapons have destabilized countries with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and sophiscated military weaponry. He has trained his militants to be fierce, walk long distances and survive on less food in food scarce forested areas.

He has a network of supporters in the Diaspora, who help give some form of legitimacy to the rebellion and maybe funding. All the nine people on his Juba Peace Negotiating Team are Ugandans living in the Diaspora. The head of the LRA peace negotiating team until 2009, Dr David Nyekorach Matsanga stays in the United Kingdom. If the Uganda government allegations against the government of Sudan for funding the LRA are true, then Kony has a lot of weapons at his disposal to cause any form of mayhem.

Joseph Kony during the start of peace negotiations

Whether, Kony will get out of the bush or not remains a risky bet, the great lakes region where the LRA operates has unoccupied forests and savannah land where the rebels can freely roam. Other countries like DR Congo and South Sudan are not stable enough to stop the rebels from establishing bases there. Maybe, an assassination or capture if the rebel chief completely fails to sign the peace agreement will put a smile on the faces of millions.

Also see a video of Joseph Kony by Invisible Children Organisation



Photos: womenontherun.se, vanityfair.com, thesituationist.wordpress.com, www.pinknews.co.uk

Controversy surrounds Batooro – Baganda relations

Kabaka Mwanga

Omukama Kasagama (alleged father of Kabaka Daudi Chwa) with Capt. Lugard

The current Buganda King Kabaka Ronald Mwenda Mutebi has been a guardian of the Tooro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru until recently, when he made 18 years and took over full responsibilities over his Kingdom.

This is not the beginning of good relations between the two kingdoms, their excillent relations started during the days of Kabaka Kamanya.

Kamanya and Omukama Kyebambe of Bunyoro married twin sisters from from the same family – Kyebambe was the father of the first King of Tooro (Omukama Kaboyo). The two twin sisters (Nyakato and Nyangoma) hailed from the present day Kyenjojo district.

Kabaka Kamanya fathered Kabaka Suuna who then fathered Kabaka Muteesa I from a prostitute (some people say, the name Muteesa was a result of the above relationship).

Kabaka Daudi Chwa - Father of Muteesa II

Muteesa I was the father of Kabaka Mwanga who took care the King of Tooro (Omukama Kasagama Daudi) when he was attacked by Omukama Kabalega forces who wanted to again annex the lost territory of Bunyoro – Tooro Kingdom - but was later defeated by Capt. Lugard who restored the King of Tooro.
It is alleged that during his stay in Buganda Kingdom Omukama Kasagama had relations with one of the wives of Mwanga and gave birth to Omukama Daudi Chwa. Some people say, the name Daudi was from the Kabaka’s alleged father Omukama Daudi Kasagama. It is alleged that Kabaka Mwanga was a homosexual and therefore, could not have conjugal rights with his wife.

If we go by the above allegations Omukama Rukiidi and Kabaka Daudi Chwa (the father of Muteesa II) are blood brothers with the same father - Omukama Daudi Kasagama.

A look at the photos shows, Kabaka Daudi Chwa and Muteesa II resembling but Kabaka Daudi Chwa never resembled his father Kabaka Mwanga.

When Kabaka Muteesa II was marrying, Omukama Rukiidi of Tooro was his best man and some people believe it was not a mistake – some blood relations were at play.

Kabaka Muteesa II of Buganda

In one of her books Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Tooro says Omukama Daudi Chwa and Rukiidi were not mere cousins but good friends.

King Oyo of Tooro (Great Grandson of King Kasagama)

photos:   ugandansatlarge.blogspot.com, royalark.net and ugpulse.com, monitor.co.ug

Bitanmanya’s escapades with police and life in prison

Solomon Akugizibwe

He is fearless when it comes to defending the rights of his people. Bitanmanya Joram escapades with the police haven’t been a bed of roses since the institutionalization of the multiparty political system in Uganda. He is the FDC youth chairperson for Kabarole district and a program officer for Twerwaneho Listeners Club – a local human rights NGO based in Fort Portal.

His constant battles with the police began in 2007 when he and others including the former LC V aspirant for Kabarole district Stephen Rwagweri were arrested for uttering statements critical to the government on their program called Twerwaneho on Life FM (a local radio station based in Fort Portal). They later won in courts of law but their radio program was banned on radio.

“Life hasn’t been easy for us because we have been banned for talking on all radio stations based in Fort Portal” says Joram. He adds, “Sometimes, when allowed to talk on radio, our opinions are highly censored.”

His recent troubles with the police began when he asked the government to release the report regarding the Death of Brig. Noble Mayombo at a rally organized by Gen. Mugisha Muntu who was campaigning for the FDC flagship in Fort Portal on 26th March 2010.

Joram one of the senior youth members on the campaign team of Gen. Muntu was summoned when meeting Gen. Muntu in Kampala to report to Fort Portal police on 6th April 2010. “Gen Muntu said, that is just political harassment” says Bintamanya. He was arrested for two days and charged with sedition (sedition is still contested in the constitutional court).

He reported to the police at 10am and was interrogated by the Kabarole district CID chief and below are the verbal exchanges between Bintamanya and the CID chief.

CID: What did you say?

Bintamanya: As a politician, I said so many things including roads, detoriating health services in the country, violations of human rights, law of the jungle, and death of our son Brig. Noble Mayombo.

CID: What exactly did you say regarding the death of Brig. Mayombo?

Bintamanya: I only asked for a report and gave president Museveni an ultimatum

CID: Did president Museveni kill Mayombo?

Bintamanya: I said the role of the state is to keep people and their property, when it fails the head of state is held responsible. Obote didn’t kill anyone but all the crimes committed during his reign go back to him. When Museveni was at the burial of Brig. Mayombo, he told the whole country that a commission will be instituted and people will know what killed him. Where is the report?

After the interrogation, he was escorted to the underground police cells. Fortunately, he was given a privilege of going inside the prison cells with his blanket and mattress because of the media frenzy, the arrest created in Fort Portal. He shared his beddings with whoever would fit there.

He says conditions in the cells are dire because of congestion, poor sanitation and lack of medical services for the sick mostly suffering from wounds got from torture by the police.

“On my first night, I slept in the prison mortuary with ten people, I allowed everyone to put his head on my mattress and the legs on the bare floor. It was a nasty experience because bed bugs couldn’t allow us to sleep.”

I got food from home, in prison food (sweet potatoes mixed with beans) was served after 12 hours, the food was too little, unhygienic and cold. It was only a small bucket of food for 70 people. Funny enough, police officers were sharing with prisoners forcing me to label one of them a ‘prisoner’ since there was no difference.

The constitution at the police is highly violated because, the law calls for people to record statements before entering prison cells but Bintamanya says the story is different, “I interacted with many prisoners and most them went in the cells without recording statements with the police and others have never been taken to court to prove their innocence which is an abuse of peoples rights.”

I also witnessed hardcore criminals who use guns to steal get released and petty criminals who steal goats remain in prison because of corruption in the police force.

He says, the underground prison is a time bomb waiting to explode because it’s too old and sometimes leaks, the electricity wiring system is also dangerous waiting to cause trouble at any moment.

A typical day in the prison cells begins with a roll call at 6am which Bintamanya couldn’t answer arguing that he wasn’t a thief but a freedom fighter who shouldn’t be subjected to all that humiliation. After the roll call, suspects would start cleaning the prison premises. “Prisoners wouldn’t allow me to work because they saw me as a person fighting for their rights, I could even afford sharing my mattress with everyone in the cells and gave my blanket to someone who was suffering from tuberculosis” says Bintamanya.

After the cleaning, prisoners would be allowed to be visited, food was only allowed at 4pm and then gates were closed a few minutes after 4pm.

Not new to every one who has had a prison experience, Bintamanya is planning to mobilize people and organizations to force the government increase the budget for the prison department and correct the mess in the police force to improve the conditions of the people in the prison cells.

Land Amendment Bill 2007: Populist Move by NRM to Win Votes?

By Solomon Akugizibwe

Buganda Kingdom has fervently opposed the bill saying the bill is intended to grab land in Buganda by giving tenants rights that a landlord can not overturn.

But the momentum with which the government is pushing for the enactment of the Land Amendment Bill 2007 despite the enormous opposition from traditional institutions, Banks, Christians, Lawyers and the opposition politicians among others is making many people ask what special interests the executive has in amending the land law.

The executive presented the Land Amendment Bill 2007 to parliament on February 10th, to among others provide legal security to tenants on registered land. President Yoweri Museveni, the chief architect of the bill says it is aimed at stopping the rampant evictions of tenants which is common these days. Museveni is currently traversing the country to among others ask Ugandans to support the land amendment bill. The President recently issued a warning to all NRM leaning MPs against opposing the land amendments.

A ministerial committee made up of five groups headed by the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban development, Daniel Omar Atubo was recently dispatched to traverse the country to convince Ugandans to support the land amendment bill.

What really could explain the insistence by the government and Museveni in particular to this land bill that is obviously unpopular in many circles? Some people are arguing that with the declining popularity as shown by the last two presidential elections and as the 2011 presidential elections nears, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his ruling National Resistance Movement Party (NRM) are desperately looking for ways to boost their popularity and consolidate their support base, especially among the rural people.

During the 2006 elections NRM was humiliated by the opposition in Teso region which it had won with over 80% during the 2001 elections. The ruling party therefore can't take anything for granted now because; the Teso lesson shows that the opposition can even win traditional NRM strongholds.

It has now come to light that increasingly scared of the opposition which gaining ground everyday, the government has now resorted to using populist policies to gain popular support of ordinary Ugandans. What other better way to gain popular support than through giving extra assurance to the majority of people on land, the leading factor of production (especially in Uganda's agriculture based economy).

The Land Amendment bill 2007, is intended to amend the Land Act 1998 (as amended in 1998) to enhance the security of occupancy of lawful and bona fide occupants on registered land in accordance with Article 237 of the Constitution.

In other words the bill will ensure that tenants (these are poor peasants in the rural areas who have been Museveni's core supporters) are assured of land tenure security. However, other than look at the political undertones of the arguments, Museveni argues that the people opposing the bill are the landlords who got land courtesy of British colonialists at the expense of the majority during the 1900 land allocation agreement.

Museveni has been telling whoever cares to listen that his government wants to correct the historical wrongs committed by colonialists who gave land to a few nobles and royals by distributing to them large chunks of land while turning the majority of the people into squatters on their own land. Museveni says the local people who were cheated of their land are now being evicted, and this bill is aimed at protecting their land rights.

But the Buganda kingdom argues that most of these people the bill wants to give protection are not Baganda and therefore not descendants of the land they occupy.

The bill has been widely opposed by the opposition politicians, bankers, Christian bodies, lawyers, landlords and cultural leaders among others because of their different interests.

For instance, Buganda Kingdom has fervently opposed the bill saying the bill is intended to grab land in Buganda by giving tenants rights that a landlord can not overturn. The Kabaka of Buganda is the biggest landlord in Buganda, apart from being the chief landlord "Sabataka" of all land in Buganda. The kingdom claims some of its land (the disputed 9,000 square miles) have been given out to individuals and the government wants to use this bill to legalize the occupancy on the land the kingdom wants back.

In fact, some members of the opposition and Buganda Kingdom loyalists, say the land bill is an attempt by the government to weaken Buganda Kingdom financially because of the long standing feuds between the central government and officials at Mengo, many of whom belong to opposition political parties.

The President of the Forum for Democratic Change, Dr. Kizza Besigye told journalists recently that the Bill aims at weakening and undermining the Buganda kingdom and its economy. "The real aim of the Land Bill cannot be to protect lawful or bona fide occupants of land as claimed but to weaken Buganda Kingdom and its economy," Besigye said.

However, the government insists that the Land (Amendment) Bill 2007 is designed to protect lawful and bonafide tenants from unlawful evictions by landlords, according to Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Daniel Omara Atubo.

But the Uganda law Society has also declared that the bill is unconstitutional as it infringes on the rights to private property by limiting the rights of landlords on their land. The Uganda Bankers Association have also presented a memorandum criticizing the bill, saying the bill will reduce the value of land because landlords who own the titles that are used as security in accessing loans will not have superior powers over their land. This means land will no longer be used as security for loans.

An independent research that has reviewed the Land Amendment Bill has also supported this view, emphasizing that if the bill is passed in its current form, it will negatively affect economic growth.

The research concluded that the bill is not necessary because it does not provide any new solutions against evictions, while at the same time complicating the relationship between tenants and land lords.

The research done by Julia Schwartz, an international researcher found that the bill currently before Parliament does not offer any new protection to tenants on registered land against eviction. The bill is providing that the tenants can only be evicted with a court order, which court order can only be issued after the tenants fails or refuses to pay land/ ground rent or Busuulu to the landlord or titled land owner.

The bill also provides for the minister of lands to approve the ground rent set by the respective district land boards, and set ground rent for districts that fail to set the land rent within a given period of time. This particular provision of giving a minister power to determine ground has been decried by many as unconstitutional.

But other areas especially northern and eastern Uganda where land is owned mainly under customary tenure, the opposition to the land bill results from introducing a clause that requires land matters to be solved in courts of law. Schwartz says the bill wrongly reverts all powers on land to courts of law, yet under customary tenure; all land is managed and owned according to customs. The research is calling for the recognition of the cultural leaders in land matters concerning land owned under customer tenure.

According to the research, there are adequate provisions in the land laws giving protection to tenants, but the laws need to be adequately implemented. This is the same argument Mengo government led by their Attorney general, Apollo Makubuya have been advancing. But Museveni and his government are so determined to pass the bill into law. But past legal maneuvers on land issues have shown no one can easily claim a victory when it comes to determining land rights and ownership, other than compromise. Yet compromise seems largely lacking in this bill currently before Parliament.

First published: May 1, 2008 on ugpulse.com

photo: ekitibwakyabuganda.wordpress.com

Political Parties Funding Bill: Is it an attempt by NRM to win the 2011 elections?

By Solomon Akugizibwe

Political parties have been complaining of lack of funding for their activities while the ruling National Resistance Movement benefits from state funding.

The executive arm of government at the beginning of April 2008 presented to Parliament the Political Parties and Organisations Amendment Bill, which mainly provides for funding of political parties in Uganda. The bill was expected to bring happiness in political party circles, given that all political parties have been complaining of lack of funding for their activities while the ruling National Resistance Movement 'benefits' from state funding.

But the bill presented by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prof. Khiddu Makubuya has instead generated more criticism and scorn from the opposition political parties. One wonders how a bill supposed to give political parties the much needed funding should be opposed by the organizations it is intended to benefit.

Prof. Makubuya says the purpose of the Political Parties and Organisations Amendment Bill is to amend the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005 to provide for the use of government or public resources for political party or organization activities.

According to the bill, registered political parties or organizations shall be funded in respect of elections and their normal day-to-day activities, but the funding shall be based on the numerical strength of each political party or organization in Parliament.

The way how the money for political party funding will be distributed is the major point of contention by political parties. Many of the political parties have strongly criticized the NRM of using the bill to legalize the funding of activities of the ruling NRM.

The NRM has an astounding majority in Parliament. In this 8^th Parliament, the party has 210 MPs out of the 304 directly elected MPs. The majority of the 38 Independent MPs are also NRM-leaning MPs, while four of the five representatives of workers and four of the five representatives of people with disabilities in Parliament also belong to the NRM. This means the NRM will get about 78 percent of the total money that will be availed to fund political parties.

The 8^th Parliament has
215 constituency representatives
79 district woman representatives
10 representatives of the Uganda People's Defense Forces
5 representatives of the Youth
5 representatives of People with disabilities
5 representatives of workers
16 Ex-official members

Political party representation in 8^th parliament

NRM- 210
FDC- 39
UPC- 9
DP- 8
CP- 1
JEEMA- 1

The balance of elected MPs are independents (save for UPDF representatives).

There is no doubt therefore that the Bill, if passed in its current form will greatly benefit the NRM party. No wonder, the NRM caucus meeting on April 13th 2008 agreed to support the bill for political party funding.

"The NRM caucus agreed in principle to support the Bill but the Attorney General asked for more time for consultation with ministers on members' concerns," says David Bahati the MP for Ndorwa west and Treasurer of the NRM caucus.

He says the NRM caucus members however want the Attorney General to clarify the "sort of activities that would be funded by the government".

The small political parties, especially those not represented in Parliament, have already protested the Bill as "discriminatory".

The President of the Peoples Development Party Dr. Abed Bwanika told journalists recently that if the Bill is made law in its current form, his party will challenge it in courts of law since denying legally registered parties funding because they lack representation in parliament is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Dr. Bwanika advised the government to allocate a minimum financial package that is satisfactory for a political party to operate up to grass root level.

Two politicians have also petitioned the Constitutional Court, seeking to block the enactment the Political Parties Organisation Amendment Bill.

Charles Lwanga-Bbaale of the National People's Organisation and Apollo Nyabongo of the Movement Volunteers Mobilisers Organisation said in their petition that the Bill, if passed, would violate their constitutional rights. They said the Bill discriminated against parties not represented in Parliament.

They instead advised the government to contribute funds or other public sources towards all duly registered political parties and organizations across the board. They however agree that the bill should maintain the idea of additional funding to parties or organizations with representation in Parliament, basing on their numerical strength.

However, the Attorney General who is a member of the NRM party dismisses the allegations that the Bill is aimed at funding the ruling party. He says funding political parties is meant to avoid political parties and organizations from soliciting for donor aid, which could compromise their (political parties' and organizations') national interests, integrity and independence.

While this clearly shows the NRM party will benefit more, there is no indication so far that the political parties will agree on how the money for political party funding should be shared amongst the registered political parties.

Some people had proposed that the bill be adjusted to consider funding political parties basing on their strength at the grass root level other than strength in Parliament. But even if funding was considered based on grassroots support, the ruling NRM party has a clear majority representation at most local council levels and the biggest membership (in terms of IDs), which means the NRM will still have a lion's share of the political party funds.

Some people like Dr. Lulume Bayiga, the Secretary General of the Democratic Party are even asking the rationale of using tax payers' money to fund activities of political parties. He says this will just increase the tax burden on Ugandans, many of whom are chocking in poverty and unfair taxes that make daily life difficult.

Undoubtedly, funding political parties will increase administration costs of the government, since the government will have to audit the finances of all political parties.

The 'big' six opposition parties have in the past resisted what they call being clamped together with the new small political parties, some of whom they say were created by the NRM to weaken the opposition parties and to show the world that there are many political parties, after the restoration of multiparty politics in 2005. Uganda currently has about 50 political parties registered. To say that all political parties should be funded not withstanding their size and or political activity is as tricky as saying parties should not be funded. It is agreed that political competition (only ensured through political parties) is important for development of democracy. But having weak or financially caput political parties which can hardly undertake any activity is as good as having no political party.

Unlike Uganda Peoples Congress which owns Uganda House, other political parties have no clear source of funding including the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party which has ruled the country for more than 20 years.

The opposition led by Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President, Dr. Kizza Besigye has been has been calling for funding to their political party activities, while at the same time continuously blaming the ruling NRM party for using government resources to fund its political activities, while opposition parties have to find their own funding, mostly through membership fees. However, NRM Publicity Secretary, Mary Karooro-Okurut says the party is funded by member's contributions.

In the background of these arguments and counter arguments is the fact that the ruling party gains strength from using government resources to boost its structures, as well as financial muscle to out compete other political parties. From 1986 to 2005, the movement (one party) government consolidated its self to form the NRM in 2005 when pressure for multiparty democracy forced strongman Yoweri Museveni to form a political party. But some people argue that up to now, separating the NRM activities from government activities has been hard, with the two acting as one and the same.

It can even be said that UPC used its time when a ruling party to build its capacity to fund its own political party activities. Since politics is about manipulations and taking advantage, the current attempt to fund political parties is being largely viewed as an attempt by the ruling NRM to strengthen its self ahead of the 2011 elections.

Some political commentators say after having no "NRM House" (reference to UPC's Uganda House) after more than 20 years of state leadership, the NRM government is turning to a straight legal way of funding its activities by putting in place a law that will give the NRM massive resources to out compete other political parties in the race for who occupies state house and governs the affairs of the country.

In the past, the opposition has even criticized Museveni for putting up ministries like that of Security, which is occupied by the NRM Secretary General, Amama Mbabazi to indirectly provide funding for its party activities. Now the bill to provide open funding for political parties is in the house, no political party apart from the NRM seems to be ready to go for it. It remains to be seen how the NRM will react to opposition criticisms of the amendment bill and its intentions.

First published: April, 25th 2008 on ugpulse.com

photo: semuwemba.wordpress.com