M7′s presidential jet should have a room for journalists and Kayihura should be dropped immediately

M7′s presidential jet should have a room for journalists and Kayihura should be dropped immediately

Feb 28, 12 2:27 PM

Author ugandansatheart(UAH) Categories Africa, Corruption, Human Rights, International, Land matters, Museveni, Political murders, Sectarianism and Public Service, World history and politics 

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Basil Bataringaya (RIP) was a thorn in the past governments of Uganda

I noticed that Somalia and the success of AMISON/Ugandan/Burundi is hardly newsworthy in Ugandan papers. Why? The papers are full of garbage and petty stories but cannot find room in their pages for serious stories like Somalia. When history about Somalia is written AMISON /Uganda/Burundi will figure highly. The rest of the world including the Muslim world, shame on them stood by and did nothing. Now they are landing in Somali to open embassies and distribute cash. But who secured that damn country? It was the blood of Ugandans and Burundians and much later Kenyans and Ethiopians. I do not want to mice my words, the Muslim world did nothing o help Somalia. But they were quick to go and destabilize Libya so much so that Qatar’s flag is the one flying in Tripoli. Of course Libya is in total mess, not to mention the tons of depleted uranium dumped in that country. May be it was a good thing the Muslim/Arab countries are out of Somalia given their lack of clarity on anything
Where is leadership from the Muslim world. None. Why? Egypt used to lead the Muslim/Arab world but is now on the verge of total chaos. The Muslim/Arab world has no leader anymore.
To go back to the inability to cover stories abroad, why can’t the presidential jet have room for at least pool reporters? If they were open, which they are not, they would have accommodated Ugandan journalist on every trip. May be parliament can pass such law mandating openness by including journalist,
But the media too can send a message. Stop or refuse to print the lies fed to you by Mirundi. Of course the New Vision cannot dare given that t is led by a cheer leader in the name of Robert Kabushenga.
Tell us something: why have Ugandan papers collectively under covered the Somali success story? Your papers are full of naked pictures and phone numbers of women looking for sex. Shame. In plain English the press in Ugandan is more like tabloid. Nothing serious. Again why given that Mass Communication graduates who now populate the press were among the top performers. What is the matter with the Ugandan press?
Because you have done such a terrible job, the Kenyan pres is giving their forces all the credit. How many journalists are in Somalia from Uganda? From New Vision, Bukedde or Monitor?
Kayihura
Yesterday , one of the UAH members posted the picture of former minister of Internal affairs, the late Basil Bataringaya (RIP) being taken by Amin’s soldiers to be killed. Kayihura should look at that picture over and over and then reflect on his actions. Ugandans including the media have treated Kayihura with kid gloves when he is the MOST dangerous man in uniform in Uganda. Kayihura has his own team of the equivalent of Amin’s Safety unit which includes the likes of Turyagumanawe who shows up to cause trouble and shoot at people everywhere including Amuru. The other members include the police officer who shot at Dr Besigye recently at Namasuba.
Kayihura may be educated but he is worse, far worse than Iddil Amin’s Kassim Obura or Ali Towilli. In fact he is the worst monster-read murderer- to ever wear a police uniform.
It is hard to believe what the so called Uganda police is doing. YKM may have promoted General Kayihura but he is doing his regime the most damage internationally. The sooner he realizes that the better.
Some fellow called Giles Muhame said without even blinking or thinking through that YKM’s plane is monitored by USA and Israel radar. Hmm. What to make of such revelation by a journalist who is supposedly friendly to the regime? In any case why reveal the obvious?
Funny thing Kayihura’s late father was progressive but the son is now worse than Towilli or Kassim Obura. That is scary.
Tinyefunza
General David Sejusa formerly David Balyejjusa Tinyefuza is an interesting personality. At least some people knew that his other name was Balyejjusa or Sejusa. YKM will keep General Sejusa for as long as he is in office because the general is one of the Generals in favor of Obugabe. The other Generals for are Salim Saleh and Elly Tumwine.
General David Sejusa is also fairly disciplined. For starters he is not a womanizer. He is happily married to his Nyakasura kyana with whom they joined Makerere together.
The Monitor journalists missed a real opportunity to tell their readers about General David Sejusa. For example, David Sejusa was an active student leader at Makerere university who scaled the ranks of hall governance. General Sejusa then joined the police.
I compare General David Sejusa to Prof Khiddu Makubuya in some aspects. They are bright people who had to play second fiddle to survive the system where there is only one Ssebagabe. I have a feeling that the YKM cabinet is anti-intellectual . He prefers yes men and women and of course crooks.
Land Evictions
How come some ‘land owners’ are allowed to evict so many people from their land and not others? I mean how come Mr Imodot get permission to evict 3000 people who have lived on that land well before the land Act came into effect? If Mr Imodot lived in Kayunga , would he have been issued with that eviction order. Yes I am talking about double standards by the NRM regime. Could Mr. Imodot be an NRM supporter?
The other interesting story is that the order is signed by the Soroti magistrate/commissioner for oaths? What is wrong with that statement by the New Vision? Could it really be true that a sitting magistrate in Soroti swore Mr Imodot in his or her capacity as commissioner for oaths? If that is true the JSC should move in and summarily dismiss that magistrate. The New Vision and those evicted should first take their case to the JSC because the order was obtained in funny ways.
Can those in Ugandan tell us” can a sitting a magistrate do what is alleged in the Newvision story? Are magistrates now also serving s commissioner for oaths? I know anything is possible in YKM’s Uganda, but that story has several strange things.
Listen to Mr Imodot that he was given 20 acres by Mr Mutaliya Asuman in 1969 and bought the rest in 1988.
Mr Denis Obbo of lands Ministry if you are reading, can you clarify for us. Why is Mr Imodot allowed to evict 3000 tenants -same with Madhavani in Amuru-on his alleged land but people in Buganda in particular cannot do the same? Does the law discriminate on the basis of location? That is if you own land in Soroti, you can do what someone who owns land in Kayunag or Siingo cannot do. What is the truth?
The evictions in Buganda are by those with connections to NRM especially senior UPDF officers who are the largest land grabbers in Uganda today. The land holders CANNOT do what Mr Imodit is doing in Soroti. He claims he went and swore an affidavit before the magistrate/commissioner for oaths. I know some people with land titles but cannot do anything about their land.
W.B.KYIJOMANYI
NEWYORK

NRMs PERFOMANCE IN 25 YEARS AS ANALYSED BY Gen.Caleb k Akandwanaho salim saleh oriba (rtd)

SECTOR	ACHIEVEMENTS BY 1999	GAPS, CHALLENGES & THREATS AS OF 1999	GRAND ACHIEVE-MENTS FROM 1999 - 2011
1.    Democracy and good constitutional governance Democracy and good constitutional governance (cont’d)	a)  Wide range democratization from grass-roots to the national parliament. b)  A peoples’ constitution promulgated by 1995. c)   Fist ever-direct presidential elections held in free and fair manner; series of local government direct elections held and above all unprecedented decentralized system established. d)  Rule of law established, with governmental checks and balances. e)   Traditional and cultural institutions restored.	·        Debate on suitability of no-party/ move ment democracy. ·        Weaknesses in the electoral commission. ·        Commercialized electoral processes.	a)  Two national referenda held to allow Ugandans decide on the suitable form of democratic governance, this entrenching the provision of sovereignty of the people (art.1. of chapter 1of 1995 constitution). b)  Peaceful and orderly multi-party democracy. c)   Law and order much entrenched. d)  Electoral reforms made to improve quality of elections. e)   Decentralization consolidated and more administrative and political units created to bring services nearer to the population and providing more political space for citizens to participate effectively in decision making processes.
2.    Security, Peace and Stability Security, Peace and Stability (cont’d)	a)  Victory of the peoples’ liberation army over the repressive and anti-people forces. b)  Halting of state-inspired violence and extra-judicial killings. c)   Defending the revolution through neutralizing many internal counterrevolutionary insurgencies; such as KIRIMUTU, UPDA/M, NALU, UPA,  Holy Spirit Movement, NOM,  WNBF  etc	·        Foreign sponsored terrorism using ADF and LRA and urban terrorists. ·        Instability in Karamoja and neighboring districts, due to guns in hands of cattle – rustlers. ·        Challenges of transiting form a guerilla force into a modern and professional army. ·        Existence of internally displaced persons due to the  banditry	a)  Complete defeat of and neutralizing of all elements of insecurity including foreign sponsored bandits of Kony, ADF; successful disarmament of the Karamojong cattle rustlers, hence establishing total peace and absence of war in the whole country. b)  Resettlement of all formerly internally displaced persons. c)   Rapid professionalization and moderni- sation of the UPDF into a globally competent modern bi-serviced force. d)  A strong UPDF is envy in the region and playing a leading role in the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
3.    Consolidation of National Unity Consolidation of National Unity (cont’d)	1)   Building of national cohesion through Movement / No-party democracy which was broad based all inclusive, popular participation of individual merit to access leadership. 2)   Grass-root council and committee system that involved popular masses. 3)   National reconciliation through peace-talks, amnesty for former rebels. 4)   Administratively enacting anti-sectarianism law, the first of its kind in history. 5)   Affirmative action to broaden participation of hitherto marginalized groups such as women, PWDs, youths etc…	·        Historical imbalances left behind by the colonial system, making some Ugandans nurse a sense of margina- Lisation. ·        Remnants of sectarian forces fueling divisions under the guise of agitating for multi-partism and “federo” ·        Inadequate ideolo-gical work, leading to unconscious sectarian tendencies.	1)   Growing economy has enabled deli-berate narrowing of the gaps brought by the colonial historical imbalances.  More resources are being sent to all the decentralized units. 2)   Ideological consciousness is being tackled through the national leadership training and establishment of a patriotism programme. 3)   Reconciliation and national dialogue consolidated, including the mile-stone Juba talks with LRA.
4.    Defending National Independence	1)   Uganda’s independent line in politics, economy and all foreign relations registered due to the ideology of using internal capacity and identifying a friend or foe depending on how they relate to Uganda’s national interests. 2)   Territorial integrity and defence of the national borders consolidated amidst threats from the region and beyond.	·        Foreign sponsored terrorism. ·        Gaps in meeting all demands of the National budget.	1)    National independence consolidated after improved Internal Resource Mobilization / Revenues Dependency on External borrowing gradually and steadily reduced. 2)   Increased capacity to defend the territorial integrity of Uganda against any form of aggression.
5.    Building an Integrated, Independent, Self-sustaining National Economy       Building an Integrated,       Independent, Self-    sustaining National    Economy (cont’d) Self-sustaining National Economy (cont’d)	(a)           A basis for building an independent, integrated, self-sustaining national economy on course, through full recovery from a collapsed economy by 1986. (b)           Attained unprecedented macro-economic stability and growth which are cornerstones for gradual poverty eradication. -         Inflation had reduced from 240% in 1986 to an average of 6% p.a. -         GDP growth rates averaged 6.5 % p.a. -         Industrial growth regi-stered, and services sector recovered, thus reducing dependency on agriculture alone. -         Tax revenues registe-red steady  increase from Shs. 44 billion in 1986 to over Shs. 1,000 billion. -         Poverty reduced from 56% to about 34%. (c)           Liberalisation policy of privatization and divesture from business by government yielded remarkable results; e.g. improved marketing of produces and crops like cotton, coffee, tea, etc; improvements registered in transport, telecommu-nications, availability of all essential commodities; expansion of real estate construction in all Uganda’s towns and districts. (d)           The venue of non-traditional exports registered an increase, rising from about US$ 39.4 million to about US$ 250 million by 1999.	·        Investment in value adding industries still slow. ·        Percentage of tax-collections to the GDP still below international standards. ·        Majority of the rural people still earning very little in terms of household incomes. ·        Agriculture remains largely primitive and subsistence. ·        Investments in heavy industries still slow. ·        Financial sector not fully reformed, very narrow ·        Creeping unemploy-ment of young graduates.	a)  The economy has registered over-all growth of ten-fold the size of 1986. -  Revenue collection from 10% of GDP to over 13%, the target is 18%. b)  The structure of the economy has fundamentally changed from merely depending on agriculture to more dependency on services – rising from 36% in 1986 to almost 50% in 2011; industry from 9.9% in 1986 to 23.2% in 2010; while share of dependency on agriculture has shrunk from 53.9% in 1986 to 22% in 2010. c)   Tremendous reduction in poverty levels from 56% in early 1990s to now 23% by 2010; a reduction of almost 50%. ·        To illustrate poverty redu-ction, one needs to examine improvements in tangible welfare of the masses. ·        Cemented floor house have rose from 33% in 1991 to 62% by 2010; grass-thatched houses therefore reduced from 67% in 1990s to 37% by 2010. ·        Brick-walled houses rose from 16% in 1990s to currently 57%. ·        Other parameters may be household items like beddings, plates, electrical s etc. d)  Oil discovery which is bound to revolutionize the entire economic structure.
6.    Restoring , Rebuilding Infrastructure and Social Service Amenities	(a)           Unprecedented rehabi- litation of the country’s transport infrastructure; Roads: In 1986, total national road network of trunk roads was 7,900 km, by 1999, the rehabilitation and motor able roads had increased to 10,500 km; District roads and urban roads were fully reconstructed. ·        Railway, especially Kampala-Malaba rehabilitated. (b)           Rehabilitation of power sector:  By 1986, power production at Jinja Dam was 60 megawatts, this was rehabilitated to the installed capacity of 150 megawatts and a new Dam constructed on East Bank of the Nile, projected to produce 200 megawatts of power. ·        Rural electrification commenced. (c)           Telecommunication industry liberalized thus improving on efficiency. (d)           Social services sector registered tremendous recovery.  Emphasis put on the main resource development through education reforms and improved health services.  By 1997, the Movement had launched the UPE; resulting increased enrollment from about 2 million pupils to over 7 million by 1999.  Number  of classrooms increased from 28,000 to over 70,000.  The enrolment of girl-child under UPE went up; Secondary schools were rehabilitated; changes started in University education; vocational education. ·        In the Health sector, the NRM had achieved tremendously in the programme of eradi-cating the killer diseases among mothers and children through Universal Immunisation Programme. ·        Uganda had registered successful campaign to reduce HIV/AIDS. ·        Major health facilities fully rehabilitated . ·        Successful Malarial Control programmes. ·        In the water sector, there was improvement in access to safe water which by 1986 was at 15%; but was by 1999 over 50%.  Equally water for production had increased from 28,000 million litres per annum in 1986 to close to 60,000 million by 1999.	·        Dependency on donor support affecting the pace of reconstruction of mainly roads and power generation. ·        Poor super-vision affecting the quality of the works.	a)  The length of tarmac roads has increased from 1,900 km in 1986 to more than 3,000 to date.  Major reforms in the Road sector have occurred since 2006 with establishment of a National Road Authority and a Uganda Road Fund – to facilitate the delivery of road maintenance services. ·        To date the National Road network has gone to almost 20,000 km, compared to a mere 7,900 km in 1986 with oil revenues expected, the NRM is poised to revolutionize the country’s Road network.  Refer to 2011 NRM Manifesto. ·        Air transport has greatly improved. b)  Power/Energy sector, the NRM has made remarkable achievement:- Currently the power sector has capacity 595 mega-watts from a mere 60 mega-watts in 1986; when Bujagali is commissioned in 2012, an additional 250 mega-watts will be added.  This is set to cause a huge fundamental change. Power/Energy Sector ·        New Hydro-power projects are underway; Buseruka, Ishasha, Nyagak for West-Nile region; and in plan is Karuma to generate 700 mega-watts; Ayago – 700 mw, Isimba – 120 mw and Aringa – 400 mw.  Indeed this is a real revolution. c)   The ICT Sector has seen tremendous positive growth since 1999.  With liberalization of tele-communications and establishment of ICT – Ministry sector is becoming a leading contributor to the country’s GDP.  Some remarkable achievements include increased telephone subscriber base.  To date, the subscriber base has risen to over 11 million, a dramatic jump from 2.2 million in 2006. ·        ICT service coverage has now extended to major trading centers and districts; 80 districts are connected to district websites; 198 Secondary schools have Computer laboratories – more are in plan.  Uganda is steadily matching into ICT revolution. d)  Social services Targeting human resource develop-ment. ·        1997 - UPE launched.  As a result 8 million children attend school ·        2007 – Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Free Business Technical Vocational and Business Techni-cal Vocational and Entrepreneur Training (BTVET) launched.  Enrollment in Secondary schools has since increased from 412,367 in 2007 to currently 1,194,000 students. ·        University education has tremendously expanded.  From one (1) State University in 1986, to 6 Public Universities to date and over 22 private Universities currently enrolling about 100,000 students, up from about 5,000 in 1986! The number of young people graduating from Universities and other tertiary institutions ready to enter the labor market is about 150,000 p.a There is a plan to start a petroleum institute at Kigumba University. e)   Health Policy of Health for all – though immunization; good hygiene and nutrition.  Diseases such as polio, guinea-worm, leprosy, and measles are almost eradicated. ·        There is a health facility for the population in a radius of 5 km coverage of 74%) after constructing new health facilities in rural areas. ·        There is a Health centre (Min. Hospital) at every Constituency level called HC IV.  Every Sub-county has a Health Centre at every Parish. ·        The NRM is on record for providing exemplary and pioneering leadership in addressing HIV/AIDS problems. ·        Malaria is almost eradicated through measures of; Indoor residual spraying, insecticide treated nets, larviciding – i.e. strategy of killing the mosquito larvae in the breeding sites before they become adult mosquitoes. f)      Water sector ·        Access to clean water for domestic, production and industrial usage – has over the years improved – from 10% in 1986 to 65% currently in rural areas, and from less than 1% in small towns in 1986 to 73% currently served by NWSC. Currently, the number of people who access safe and clean water within a radius of 1 km is 17,817,000 (i.e. 65%).
7.    Strengthening Capacity to Fight Corruption and Integrity Building	·        Complete elimination of overt looting and extra-judicial killings by state agents. ·        Revival of accountability institutions:  Auditor General’s Office; Public Accounts Committee of Parliament; Criminal Investigation Department of Police; Establishment of IGG for the first time in history of Uganda; free media exposing fraud and graft; a Ministry for Ethics and Integrity set up etc. ·        Divesture of public enterprises.	·        Challenge of tracking sophisticated graft due to weak-nesses in C.I.D; ·        Inadequate ideo-logical orientation, curtails public officers who misuse office; ·        Ineffective judiciary, which mishandles or delays cases of corruption. ·        Narrow economic base which exposes the public sector to big pressures from a competing business community.	a)  Institutions of accountability very strong and efficient. b)  Citizen awareness about issues of integrity and accountability on the rise. c)   Regular elections – Hold leaders accountable. d)  Rapid economic transformation – will lead to more resources and eliminate the temptation to depend on the state.
8.    Capacity of Disaster Preparedness and Consolidation of Resettlement Programmes for the hitherto Marginalised and Displaced Persons.	a)  Hardly any Ugandans refugees stranded in neighbouring countries. ·        Marginalised persons such as nomads resettled through ranch restructuring of 1993. ·        Land Reform law of 1998 which guarantees right of tenure to former squatters (Bibanja owners).  Some become bona-fides, while all squatters are now protected by the law. ·        The plight of salary earners has been dramatically addressed.  The dignity of civil servants has been restored. ·        Karamoja issues addressed through special programmes.	·        Some salaried workers in key social service sectors such as teaching, Health, Police, still had gaps. ·        Karamoja not yet fully resettled  and disarmed. ·        Land issues still a challenge. ·        Terrorism in the Acholi, Lango, Teso and West-Nile had created IDPS.	a)  The Amendments to 1998 Land Act, have decisively secured the tenure of the small Bibanja owners. b)  With improved revenue collection, the welfare and salaries of civil servants are steadily and surely improving. (Secondary school teachers can afford to buy cars!). c)   The pension scheme is well streamlined. d)  Disaster preparedness has dramatically improved. e)   With total peace, there are no Ugandan refugees out of Uganda; all IDPs were closed in Acholi, Teso, Lango and West Nile. f)      Karamoja has been pacified and its water problem being addressed.
9.    Consolidating Greater Regional Cooperation and Observance of Fundamental Human Rights of all African Peoples.	·        Actively promoted the revival of the East African Community. ·        Revived the Pan Africanist Movement. ·        Actively extended solidarity to the liberation movements in Southern Africa; Southern Sudan, etc. ·        Actively contributed to peace building in the Great Lakes region: Rwanda, Burundi and DRC. ·        Continued to provide Horsley environment to many African refugees.	·        There were challenges of slow pace of East African Federation. ·        Instability in the Great Lakes Region threatening the cause of Pan Africanism. ·        Imperialism remains a challenge and threat to the achievement of meaningful regional integration and pursuit of Pan Africanist goals.	e)   The process of East African Federalism is on a steady course.  The NRM leader-ship continues to playing a leading role. f)      Peace is being achieved in the Great Lakes region; Southern Sudan.  With a Free Southern Africa, prospects of Intra-African trade have become very bright.  Uganda, particularly, has prospered due to Regional Trade with East Africa, DRC, South Africa and Southern Sudan. Uganda’s mission in Somalia has been a success and greatly contribute to a good informational image for Uganda.
10.           Strategy of a Mixed Economy	·        By 1999, Uganda’s economy had been systematically and successfully liberalized. ·        Fruits of a private sector led economy were being realized, in areas of: marketing, transport, essential goods, booming housing sector; and reduction of corruption hitherto in the parastatal bodies. ·        Governments’ concentration on macro-economic stabilization very successful.	·        Challenges of managing divesture especially Commercial Banks, Airlines and Railways. ·        Excess liberalization affecting the role of state controls.	a)  The Private sector is very vibrant in Uganda. b)  The National Planning Authority has been operationalised to deal with the vision and strategic development plans and mitigate the effects of excessive and destabilizing shocks characteristic of laizez-faire economies. c)   Strategic interventions like Bonna Bagagga-wale; NAADS are assisting to eradicate massive poverty.
11.           Financing Public      Infrastructure using      Internal Borrowing      and Creation of     Employment	·        The Economy had recovered and an environment for internal resource mobilization fully existed.	·        Resistance from external financiers who do not support the policy of self-reliance by developing countries. ·        Poor saving culture by the population	a)  Government is able to meet most of its budget require-ments from domestic revenue. b)  Many roads, hydro power projects, rural electrification, the railway construction, schools, defense projects are now being funded using internal resources. c)   A saving culture is being encouraged through SACCOs. d)  Public – Private partnership is on the rise.
12.           Focused Human Resource Development and Capacity Building in Technical and Public Service Sector.	·        A conducive environment for the policy/strategy existed.	·        Educational reforms slow. ·        Manpower challenges. ·        Funds	a)  Science and Vocational Education have been universalized. b)  Expansion in all levels of education as a foundation. c)   Specialized colleges such as Petroleum Institute, Hotel Management etc.
13.           Preservation and Development of National and Indigenous Culture	·        Traditional and cultural institutions restored and constitutional. ·        Vibrant local artists emerged. ·        Antiquities Sector rehabilitated.	·        More funds to do research in African Heritage needed. ·        Negative forces misleading some cultural leaders.	a)  Constitution and Institutions of Government are now strong to guarantee stable development of the cultural sector. b)  Patriotism campaign to supplement cultural development.
14.           Consolidation of Programmes which are Responsive to Gender and Marginalised Groups	·        Affirmative action programmes for women, youths, workers, P.W.D.s, Nomads, landless already part of Government policy and part of the 1995 Constitution. ·        Education for women supported through Affirmative Programme of awarding 1.5 points to female students joining Public Universities. ·        All political offices at National and Local levels to have minimum of one-third for women. ·        Land Reform Law in place to protect the poor squatters.	·        Full operationali-sation of appropriate laws.	a)  More hitherto marginalized groups such as women, youths; workers have now a louder voice and actively participate in political, economic and other social activities. b)  More students from marginal districts access University, though the policy of District Quota System for the best 11 students in every district. c)   Specific programmes for empowering women through micro-finance programmes.
15.           Environment Protection	·        The NRM Government established NEMA for the first time. ·        Ministry of Environmental Protection established. ·        Environmental Awareness Campaigns. ·        UWA established.	·        Lack of effective control by NEMA. ·        Poverty and insufficient energy leading to environmental degradation. ·        Insufficient ideological clarity by the masses.	a)  Government providing strong support to NEMA. b)  National Forest Authority established to improve forest Management. c)   Environmental awareness campaigns are existing.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.