A Nigerian poverty female minister ‘had 19million British pounds in several of her bank accounts:

18 April, 2024

 

By World Media

 

A corruption investigation into a suspended Nigerian minister whose job is to help poverty-stricken people has recovered £19 million from more than 50 bank accounts, a financial watchdog has alleged.

Betta Edu, the humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation minister, has been suspended since January over the alleged diversion of £505,000 of public money into a personal bank account.

Nigeria’s economic and financial crimes commission has now said that after six weeks investigating the ministry, it had found “many angles” to examine, the BBC reported.

Ola Olukoyede, the commission chairman, told the latest edition of the agency’s newsletter: “As it is now, we are investigating over 50 bank accounts that we have traced money into.

“That is no child’s play. That’s a big deal.”

President Bola Tinubu in early January ordered “a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transaction”, and officials suspended several government aid programmes.

At the time Dr Edu, 37, denied any wrongdoing. Her office said she had approved the transfer into a personal account, which was not in her name, but said it was for the “implementation of grants to vulnerable groups”.

The recovered money had already been transferred to government coffers, Mr Olukoyede said, but warned that the investigation could be lengthy.

He said: “We are exploring so many discoveries that we have stumbled upon in our investigation. 

“If it is about seeing people in jail, well let them wait, everything has a process to follow.”

Nigerians complain that Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country remains plagued by corruption, despite regular government vows to clean it up.

The country in 2023 scored 25 on Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

 

 

Omuddukirize wo bubudamo wano Mubwakabaka bwa Buganda(African refugee) nga ava Congo, ow'emyaka 93 abadde asula n'emisota, ne mubwavu obuyitirivu anunuddwa:

Mulindwa nga atawaana ne refugee we Congo atafuna nga ko buyambi bwonna wano Mubwakabaka bwa Buganda!
 
 
6 November, 2023

 

Bya Tonny Kayemba

 

MZEE Sylvano Ssengendo 93, Omutuuze w'e Kalagala mu ggombolola y'e Nakifuma mu Mukono ng’ ono abadde asula mu nnyumba eri mu mbeera embi era ng’ejudde emisota anunuddwa.

Ssengendo  ennyumba mw'abade asula ebadde yaggwaako oludda era nga yasibako bisanja nga enkuba bw’etonya emugwerako kw’ossa okulwanagana n'emisota egibadde gimuyingirira buli kiseera okuva mu kisiko ekimwetoolodde.

Ono olumu abadde asula njala oluvannyuma lw'okubulwa eky'okulya n’akimutusaako ate nga ataawanyizibwa ekirwadde kya aniya ekyetaaga okulongoosebwa.

Ono nga teyazaala mwana  nga ne baganda be agamba bafiira mu lutalo e Congo gye baali basibuka ye kwe kuwangangukira mu Uganda.

Ekifulukwa kyabadde asulamu kyamuweebwa eyali mukama we wabula eyafa n’amulekawo ng'ono ennaku wabadde agiyonkera yonkera obutaaba okutuusa bwe yadduukiriddwa abazirakisa .

Rashid Mulindwa Omutandisi w'ekitongole ekirabirira abataliiko mwasirizi ekya Ekirooto Mission Charity Organization ekisangibwa e Kireka mu Munisipaali y'e Kira yadduukiridde omukadde ono n’ebikozesebwa mu bulamu obwabulijjo era  nga yamupangisiriza ennyumba mwe yamusengukidde wamu n'okumugulira ebikozesebwa okuli: Omufaliso, bulangiti, amasuuka, ebbaafu, wamu n'ebyokulya ebitandikibwako wamu n'engoye.

Mulindwa agamba okumanya omuntu ono yali agenzeeko ku kyalo kino ng'aliko gy’akyadde wabula olw'omutima ogw'okuyamba kwe kubuuza abantu abali mu mbeera embi mu kitundu kino alabe engeri ‘yokubayambako era kwe kumutuusa ku muzeeyi ono gwe yasanga ng’ embeera gyalimu eyingula ezziga kwe kuyita mu banne b’akola nabo ne bamudduukirira wabula nategeeza ng’obuyambi buno bwe butamala nga wano wasabidde abazirakisa okubakwasizaako ng'ali ku ssimu nnamba 0752 738 177 ne 0781 333 458

 

Mulindwa(kkono) nga ali nomukadde munyumba gyamufunidde okupangisa 

 

 

The Judiciary worker, Mr Kisambira doesn't regret murder-suicide threats as junior workers in Uganda receive petty wages compared to their senior workers:

 

By World Media

Stanley Kisambira (R) talking to the media

Judiciary driver Stanley Kisambira whose audio clips in which he threatened to commit murder-suicide so as to kill a judge and his bodyguard has responded to the permanent secretary who gave him only five days to defend himself.

In a defense written by his lawyers from the Centre for Legal Aid, Kisambira says he doesn't regret his statements and has asked the judiciary PS Dr Pius Bigirimana to cease from further absurdity.

 

Kisambira, a driver of Mbale High court judge Godfrey Namundi can be heard in the audio clips complaining about salary disparities in the judiciary for drivers and expressing his dissatisfaction with earning Shs 200,000 since joining the justice system in 2008.

 

In the same clip, Kisambira is heard saying he is very annoyed, disgusted and can even ram into a stationary vehicle and kill a principal, bodyguard, and himself - three people at once which is more painful compared to a bodyguard who only kills one principal. This was in reference to the recent murder of the state minister of Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations by his own bodyguard Wilson Sabiiti.

 

In a May 16 letter, Bigirimana accused Kisambira of misconduct, saying he would have used the right means as provided for under the public service standing orders as a public servant, other than running to social media to address his grievances.

 

"Inciting violence and threatening to intentionally cause an accident is unprofessional, criminal and punishable in the strongest terms. In addition, uttering false information that you are only paid Shs 200,000 contravenes section F-r of the public service standing orders."

 

As such, Bigirimana asked Kisambira in the letter to explain his act of gross misconduct within five days of receipt of this letter. Failure to do this, Bigirimana threatened to subject Kisambira to disciplinary measures including dismissal from the judiciary.

 

But in response, Kisambira's lawyers say that it was premature for Bigirimana who is also the judiciary's accounting officer to convict him of gross misconduct.

 

"Further to yours HC/P 10701 dated 16 May 2023, prematurely convicting our client of gross misconduct” and threatening to subject him to “further disciplinary measures including dismissal from the judiciary service,” we are instructed to reply as follows," reads the one-paged letter response.

 

The letter adds: "With great respect, your indecorously worded missive was not only premature and misconceived, but has also brought the judiciary service into disrepute."

 

According to Kisambira's lawyers, their client accepts no liability whatsoever for the contents or circulation of the audio clip at issue.

 

"A private communication, it contains protected political opinion and does not reasonably imply what you allege (incitement to violence, threatening accidents, uttering false information, etc).... as you rightly stated, our client did the right thing to express his dissatisfaction." reads the letter.

 

According to the Centre for Legal Aid, Bigirimana's reference to section p–b of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021 which talks about the procedure for conducting government, is plainly disingenuous and hereby "denounced, with contempt".

 

"You stretched the interpretation of that section by falsely implying that the alleged audio clip was an “official correspondence…which came into the possession of our client in the course of his official duties...Please cease and desist from further absurdity," advises the letter.

 

The lawyers further indicate that Kisambira enjoys what they have described as absolute immunity under the law to freely express his dissatisfaction in a peaceful manner, without fear of retaliation or victimization by his employer or the state.

 

"Take further notice that pursuant to sections 6(1) and 75(g) of the Employment Act 2006, you are barred from targeting an employee's political opinion as the reason for dismissal or imposition of a disciplinary penalty," adds the response.

 

To support their response, the lawyers have quoted several laws that they say Bigirimana as accounting officer of the judiciary should have looked upon before writing to Kisambira. They say the public service regulations on code of conduct further bars him from implementing any disciplinary procedure before the completion of proper investigations.

 

Accordingly, they have asked Bigirimana to terminate what they have described as a travesty of justice, and immediately provide Kisambira a decent package of appropriate interventions to address his dissatisfaction.

 

Following the audios by Kisambira, he was arrested and detained at Kampala Central police station for two days but he was later released on police bond.

 

Sources in police said that he had to be released because it was not right in their view to take him to court simply because he had talked about his grievances and that the best solution is for the judiciary to review his salary.

 

On social media platforms, Kisambira has been hailed as brave for exposing the low salaries of judiciary rank-and-file members. A fundraising campaign has been initiated to support Kisambira in obtaining legal representation and welfare.

 

The campaign encourages donations, emphasizing Kisambira's role as a whistleblower who spoke out about the exploitation of the judiciary. The flyer states, "Kisambira is ready to be punished or sacked but won't be silenced."

Nb

It is a very good debate that is going on especially for the workers' pay in this country just after the recent celebration of the International Workers' Day on 1st May, 2023.

Apart from that African politics of Uganda National Resistance Movement, the workers day celebrations were about a living wage.

 

The Union members and their struggles all over the world have their International Workers Movement. Eight-hour day movement that advocated 8 hours work for any worker. 8 hours recreation. And 8 hours rest.

One cannot see any wrong with this worker discussing about his small wages as compared to the wages of some of the African workers who are very rich multi-millionaires in this country!

 

 

IN UGANDA, THERE SHOULD BE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AN AFRICAN SOCIAL WELFARE:

The Inspector General of Government, Ms. Kamya has decided to audit the lifestyle lives of government officials so that she can be able to arrest corrupt officials:

 24 October, 2021

The new Inspector General of Government, Ms Beti Kamya. PHOTO/DAVID LUBOWA

The Summary 

IGG Beti Kamya said her vision is to quickly reverse the massive theft in public offices by making citizens know that the cost of corruption is why they cannot have the services they pay for.

 

The office of Inspector General of Government (IGG) plans to adopt lifestyle audit to catch corrupt public officials in the next five years. 

IGG Beti Kamya said her vision is to quickly reverse the massive theft in public offices by making citizens know that the cost of corruption is why they cannot have the services they pay for.

“We want to exhibit the faces of corruption in every classroom, living room place of worship, entertainment and every bedroom so that everybody can recognise it,” she said.

Ms Kamya, who was meeting the European Union (EU) delegation led by Ambassador Attilio Pacifici in Kampala on Thursday, cited the case of multi-billion property confiscated by the court from Geoffrey Kazinda and forfeited to government.

Ms Kamya said in the lifestyle audit, the IGG would push for even primary school children to recognise illicit wealth at home and ask their parents whether their salary can afford the new expensive car, luxurious houses, overseas schools and holidays they enjoy abroad.

 

The poor African man with a walking stick

 

“We want teachers in posh schools to give home work to their 10-year-olds in 5th Grade to write down their fathers name, place of work, job title, and car they drive and its cost, a picture of their houses and discuss it openly in class,” she said.

Ms Kamya said she also wants adults and children to start being embarrassed and ashamed of their unexplainable wealth.

“We value our engagement with the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah and ask for support to rally MPs in the fight and we intend to engage the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the Leader of Opposition in Parliament,” she added.

Findings

Ms Kamya said preliminary findings show that Uganda is losing Shs20 trillion annually to corruption, which totals our entire annual revenue collection from taxes.

“It is criminal that poor Ugandan break their backs to work and pay taxes, but very few people take it all for themselves to live luxurious lifestyle and have massive wealth that they cannot consume in their lifetime,” she said.

Ms Patricia Achan, the deputy IGG, said through the Leadership Code Act, they will raise the verification activity, beginning with the staff of the IGG, then verify wealth declaration of all accounting officers.

“The intention is to rescue at least 20 percent of the Shs20 trillion lost per year,” she said.

 “We need to give corruption a face, unmask and expose its face so that everybody can recognise it. It will incite Ugandan to despise it, hate and avoid it,” she said.

Ms Cissy Kagaba, the executive director of Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, said adopting the lifestyle audit was a good measure, but the IGG should capture every one and not pick on only a few individuals.

“After the lifestyle auditing, we want to know what next because people often make declarations, but the issue of verification has been a challenge,” she said.

 

About lifestyle audit

Lifestyle audits, also known as lifestyle checks or lifestyle monitoring, are an accountability tool that can be used to detect and prevent corruption. Such audits are conducted when the visible lifestyle or standard of living of an individual appears to exceed their known income level. The detection of such discrepancies can raise the red flag, warranting closer inspection.

In such instances, an assessment of the individual’s income, assets and investments can be undertaken to determine if such seemingly extravagant expenditures could have come from illicit gains. If the audit shows a mismatch between a person’s known income and assets compared to their lifestyle and spending patterns, then there is an increased risk that the person is deriving alternative income from sources that constitute a conflict of interest or illegal activity, including embezzlement and bribery.

As verification often includes assessments of an official’s household, the approach is particularly helpful in detecting whether corrupt proceeds could have been under the names of family members or associates.

Lifestyle audits are best used in conjunction with other anti-corruption measures, including the criminalisation of illicit enrichment, establishing obligations for regular declarations of assets, incomes and interests, as well as unexplained wealth orders.

However, the viability of this approach is contingent on public access to the content of asset and income declarations, and the interest and ability of civil society to engage in lifestyle audits concealed.

Source: Transparency International

The poor housing of a citizen of Uganda in these modern times
The poor housing of a citizen of Uganda in these modern times
Whole farming communities are being killed by mudslides and heavy rains in Western and Eastern provinces of Uganda
Whole farming communities are being killed by mudslides and heavy rains in Western and Eastern provinces of Uganda
Governmenti ya Uganda okutta tewali kizibu kyonna.
Governmenti ya Uganda okutta tewali kizibu kyonna.
The rich Africans in Uganda do run their own bank at home.
The rich Africans in Uganda do run their own bank at home.
These are common sprawling slum housing in many big cities on the continent of Africa.
These are common sprawling slum housing in many big cities on the continent of Africa.
In the Hamar tribe of Ethiopia, one understands it is a custom for women to demand men to whip them good. And it is difficult for modernity to stop such a practice without inciting those women to join the social welfare system that can help their livelihood as they struggle to find a sensible living wage!
In the Hamar tribe of Ethiopia, one understands it is a custom for women to demand men to whip them good. And it is difficult for modernity to stop such a practice without inciting those women to join the social welfare system that can help their livelihood as they struggle to find a sensible living wage!
Peter Magoola and his wife, Ruth Mirembe<br />at the police station.<br />One wonders where in the African traditional socialist communities is the modern welfare system? Surely Socialism first started in Africa. One only knows about its promotion as Ujamaa during the rule of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. One reckons these young parents could not release their child to the neighbors. Certainly no one was interested to help look after such a sick kid for the parents to go and work for a living! Most probably the kid had cerebral malaria. And the parents had not enough money to pay for the national medical treatment. This is where it gets even worse when the crocked pastors come in to provide the unnecessary spiritual treatment!
Peter Magoola and his wife, Ruth Mirembe at the police station. One wonders where in the African traditional socialist communities is the modern welfare system? Surely Socialism first started in Africa. One only knows about its promotion as Ujamaa during the rule of Julius Nyerere of Tanzania. One reckons these young parents could not release their child to the neighbors. Certainly no one was interested to help look after such a sick kid for the parents to go and work for a living! Most probably the kid had cerebral malaria. And the parents had not enough money to pay for the national medical treatment. This is where it gets even worse when the crocked pastors come in to provide the unnecessary spiritual treatment!
The Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu:<br />This religious leader talks as if teen pregenancy in Uganda has happened only of recent. Even in the bible girl teenagers used to be married off and to normally get children. What he does not preach is how old was Mary the mother of Jesus when she became pregnant. Anyway it is the responsibility indeed for the governments of today to put up welfare systems for such vulnerable people in society. It should be said that the religious organizations receive lots of money from international friends. The government should be able to tax them so that it can then be in a better financial position to establish these modern African social welfare systems in this country.
The Uganda Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu: This religious leader talks as if teen pregenancy in Uganda has happened only of recent. Even in the bible girl teenagers used to be married off and to normally get children. What he does not preach is how old was Mary the mother of Jesus when she became pregnant. Anyway it is the responsibility indeed for the governments of today to put up welfare systems for such vulnerable people in society. It should be said that the religious organizations receive lots of money from international friends. The government should be able to tax them so that it can then be in a better financial position to establish these modern African social welfare systems in this country.
The woman delivered from Kisiizi Hospital in Western Uganda. PHOTO/FILE/COURTESY<br />Uganda as a Christian African country has no social welfare systems to meet such vulnerable people&#039;s needs.
The woman delivered from Kisiizi Hospital in Western Uganda. PHOTO/FILE/COURTESY Uganda as a Christian African country has no social welfare systems to meet such vulnerable people's needs.
Ms Catherine Akello with her new born triplets.<br />Uganda as a Christian African country has no such thing as a modern social welfare system to assist such vulnerable individuals of the state. But there are many churches and mosques in the country where these religious organizations do not pay tax and yet have annual budgets of billions of shillings to work with.
Ms Catherine Akello with her new born triplets. Uganda as a Christian African country has no such thing as a modern social welfare system to assist such vulnerable individuals of the state. But there are many churches and mosques in the country where these religious organizations do not pay tax and yet have annual budgets of billions of shillings to work with.
The common available agricultural products of milk and egg that can upgrade maternal child health in Africa.<br />&quot;Although the maternal mortality rate is better than the sub-Saharan average of 533 deaths for every 100,000 lives, the absolute numbers represent way too many women dying needlessly while trying to bring life into the world.&quot;<br />Indeed such a technical statement underlines the need for the East African countries to unite for the sake of a better Agricultural production. The example can be traced easily in milk and egg production. These are the agricultural products this article wants to talk about if African mothers and their children can survive child birth. These are tropical states that can produce enough milk and eggs for African mothers to have weekly on official subsidy by the tax payer.
The common available agricultural products of milk and egg that can upgrade maternal child health in Africa. "Although the maternal mortality rate is better than the sub-Saharan average of 533 deaths for every 100,000 lives, the absolute numbers represent way too many women dying needlessly while trying to bring life into the world." Indeed such a technical statement underlines the need for the East African countries to unite for the sake of a better Agricultural production. The example can be traced easily in milk and egg production. These are the agricultural products this article wants to talk about if African mothers and their children can survive child birth. These are tropical states that can produce enough milk and eggs for African mothers to have weekly on official subsidy by the tax payer.
President Museveni boarding the expensive presidential jet recently.<br /><br />One believes that there are many citizens out there who want to agree that there is no show of responsibility on the part of the rich for the poor of this country where this government can try to reduce its own exorbitant expenditures. There is that responsibility of running the state of this nation for all. Then there is that respect that one gets when one is well off and gets concerned and puts his efforts in helping the lives of the poor. That is why the saying is true that says: Charity begins at home. President Museveni has always been at the fore front of receiving the tax payers&#039; money since he started to go to school in Uganda. There were the school bursaries of the 1960s for the poor parents&#039; children. The high wages of M7 when working in Parliament just after the independence of this country. The exile he went through in Tanzania and Mozambique near both Presidents of those countries. The return of Dr. Obote when M7 was Vice-President. And being the longest serving African President of Uganda for now 40 years and counting. President M7 is a rich man now. What then does the bible say about the rich who could not mind the poor people and they were very busy eating and developing themselves and their countries?
President Museveni boarding the expensive presidential jet recently. One believes that there are many citizens out there who want to agree that there is no show of responsibility on the part of the rich for the poor of this country where this government can try to reduce its own exorbitant expenditures. There is that responsibility of running the state of this nation for all. Then there is that respect that one gets when one is well off and gets concerned and puts his efforts in helping the lives of the poor. That is why the saying is true that says: Charity begins at home. President Museveni has always been at the fore front of receiving the tax payers' money since he started to go to school in Uganda. There were the school bursaries of the 1960s for the poor parents' children. The high wages of M7 when working in Parliament just after the independence of this country. The exile he went through in Tanzania and Mozambique near both Presidents of those countries. The return of Dr. Obote when M7 was Vice-President. And being the longest serving African President of Uganda for now 40 years and counting. President M7 is a rich man now. What then does the bible say about the rich who could not mind the poor people and they were very busy eating and developing themselves and their countries?
This is the NSSF offices in Western Province at Mbarara city.<br />These are longtime NRM who came with nothing.<br /><br />They are now swimming in lots of money they are proud of earning. Well what would one expect of such a spectacle.<br />One would have wished that an African social welfare program would be formulated from such hard working workers so that this country would feel very proud of the sweat and contribution of these financial heroes!<br />It is indeed a deseparate situation to watch this rich government fighting tooth and nail over the underpaid and overtaxed poor workers long term financial contribution to this country!<br /><br />One can bet there are over 30 percent children of these workers who are not going to study properly because of national economic poverty.
This is the NSSF offices in Western Province at Mbarara city. These are longtime NRM who came with nothing. They are now swimming in lots of money they are proud of earning. Well what would one expect of such a spectacle. One would have wished that an African social welfare program would be formulated from such hard working workers so that this country would feel very proud of the sweat and contribution of these financial heroes! It is indeed a deseparate situation to watch this rich government fighting tooth and nail over the underpaid and overtaxed poor workers long term financial contribution to this country! One can bet there are over 30 percent children of these workers who are not going to study properly because of national economic poverty.
Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, Minister for Karamoja Affairs, also a Member of NRM majority Parliament for Manafwa, Eastern Province of Uganda.<br /><br />One cannot forget the history of the old days of colonial governance in this very country when the Indian business community played about with the Ganda tribes people who constantly enjoyed living like their great grand parents in very dangerous African grass thatched houses.<br /><br />Through lots of criticisms and all that historical turmoil, the Ganda tribes people had to pull up their socks and accept with their own efforts the up coming modern living and development.<br /><br />It is unfortunate that the Karamojong tribal people up to day have their human rights abused left, right and center in this so called Pan-African independent country by their very African brothers and sisters!<br /><br />If these Karamojong African tribes people do not try to pull their own socks up, who exactly do they think will do it for them?<br /><br />By continuing to roam their God given savannah grasslands looking after cattle, the dodgy African NRM leadership reckon their communities do not need these iron roof tops on their grass thatched housing.<br /><br />Unfortunately such unchanging African traditional Agricultural practices are becoming their undoing!
Ms Mary Goretti Kitutu, Minister for Karamoja Affairs, also a Member of NRM majority Parliament for Manafwa, Eastern Province of Uganda. One cannot forget the history of the old days of colonial governance in this very country when the Indian business community played about with the Ganda tribes people who constantly enjoyed living like their great grand parents in very dangerous African grass thatched houses. Through lots of criticisms and all that historical turmoil, the Ganda tribes people had to pull up their socks and accept with their own efforts the up coming modern living and development. It is unfortunate that the Karamojong tribal people up to day have their human rights abused left, right and center in this so called Pan-African independent country by their very African brothers and sisters! If these Karamojong African tribes people do not try to pull their own socks up, who exactly do they think will do it for them? By continuing to roam their God given savannah grasslands looking after cattle, the dodgy African NRM leadership reckon their communities do not need these iron roof tops on their grass thatched housing. Unfortunately such unchanging African traditional Agricultural practices are becoming their undoing!
May Day, May Day International Labour Celebrations by the Members of the Young Communist League celebrating May Day in Manchester, England.
May Day, May Day International Labour Celebrations by the Members of the Young Communist League celebrating May Day in Manchester, England.
There is the building and maintenance problems in one of the student dormitories on the campus at Makerere University!<br />Such academic problems and what else that continue to pile up in this famous African Uganda University were expected. Students who do not work and earn a living cannot study without financial assistance. It is therefore only those students who have very rich parents who will be able to receive graduate credentials in this college. With the economy limping as it is these years, it is the rich politicians&#039; children who will be able to graduate in this college as it is done in the nursery, primary and senior secondary schools. That is why the NRM is working hard on the hill of Makerere to continue to grapple with such a poor academic scenario as it politicizes left, right and center this country for many years and counting!
There is the building and maintenance problems in one of the student dormitories on the campus at Makerere University! Such academic problems and what else that continue to pile up in this famous African Uganda University were expected. Students who do not work and earn a living cannot study without financial assistance. It is therefore only those students who have very rich parents who will be able to receive graduate credentials in this college. With the economy limping as it is these years, it is the rich politicians' children who will be able to graduate in this college as it is done in the nursery, primary and senior secondary schools. That is why the NRM is working hard on the hill of Makerere to continue to grapple with such a poor academic scenario as it politicizes left, right and center this country for many years and counting!
This is the School&#039;s poster on the main road leading to this school.<br />It is all about an education system of hot air(dysfunctional). One would not hear many countries locking up teachers for encouraging kids to pass exams. Here in Uganda, kids are not even supposed to own or use a telephone to improvise their education. Let alone to study websites that can help them pass their exams. One believes that is why the poorly paid teaching professionals are up to mischief and some have run away from their jobs as they cannot afford essential government services. It is better to run in exile other than to face imprisonment. According to the UNEB Act, once convicted, these Youth Education professionals face the possibility of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years or hefty fines of up to Shillings 20 million!
This is the School's poster on the main road leading to this school. It is all about an education system of hot air(dysfunctional). One would not hear many countries locking up teachers for encouraging kids to pass exams. Here in Uganda, kids are not even supposed to own or use a telephone to improvise their education. Let alone to study websites that can help them pass their exams. One believes that is why the poorly paid teaching professionals are up to mischief and some have run away from their jobs as they cannot afford essential government services. It is better to run in exile other than to face imprisonment. According to the UNEB Act, once convicted, these Youth Education professionals face the possibility of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years or hefty fines of up to Shillings 20 million!

NRM ELECTIONEERING TO STAY IN POWER 2015

Posted on 7th January, 2015
The idea of building a hospital or school in Buganda is good, but what worries me is how both will benefit the ordinary peasant and his children, most of whom will not be able to afford the fees. Unless the Ag Khan will allow the hospital to provide some basic health services for free or on subsidy.
Up dated by Bobby:
17 February, 2017
What is really missing is the extent to which the Kingdom can run Not For Profit Operations: ie generate income from projects the profits of which go into a pool used to meet identified needs in the Kingdom. This is what is absent at the moment- it seems to me. As you point out, what is the purpose of setting up a good school if the children of the peasant can not afford to attend it?  A school that operates on the same lines as Kings College Budo will not necessarily benefit the ordinary muganda child-just as  a person like myself attended Budo, so will other children from the rest of Uganda attend Mayiga's school if it is of good quality and they can afford the fees.
The Kingdom needs to be a modern institution that addresses actual needs in the society, and not just those of the eleites and the privileged, or those who have connections to the Kabaka.
Who owns the palace? Is it the Kabaka or the people of Buganda?
How much did the developmental Aga Khan pay for the land? Who took this money?
How will this money benefit the ordinary Muganda?
Is the Aga Khan hospital going to be free or will it be as expensive as the AK hospitals in Nairobi and Mombasa?
Why doesn't the Katikkiro get back Buganda land previously leased to UG govt, whose leases have expired and use these to build hospitals and schools on ?
An example of this is the land formerly leased to Radio Uganda which was bought by Mwenda's sister after she sold goats.
Where is the money this man collected as Ettofali ?  
Did he ask for this money to build Masengere or for Kasubi ? 
Apart from hosting Mayiga's TV station what use is Masengere to an ordinary Muganda?
The problem here seems to be that Mayiga thinks that he can pull and tug Buganda to support his businesses, while he is at the same time erasing away the very symbols of Buganda like the Kasubi tombs, the Lubiri and the National Anthem.
He thinks that Baganda are so greedy and stupid to sell their identity for a fake investor's hospital or school, they know that they will not afford.
The Baganda are aware of the grand plans previously created by the colonial  globalisation mafia and the hitherto detailed plan to obliterate Buganda's identity to create the client East African union.
The Baganda know why the Kasubi tombs were burnt, and most importantly why they have never been restored.
They also know why the Lubiri was neglected for 30 years after they started restoring Twekobe.
They know why the Kabaja's palaces are on his private land from his mother's side, and why he is not allowed to stay in the Lubiri.
The Baganda also know why Mayiga especially goes around Buganda and the diaspora shutting down nationalistic Buganda organisations.
The Baganda also know what Mayiga and his cabal are doing in Buganda Land Office.
I am nearly convinced that Mayiga is completely unaware that what Mrs Mpanga hinted on is common knowledge now in Buganda.
The Baganda know they have been stitched up, and by whom exactly.
.They will get out of this somehow but the first casualty will be Mayiga, in the bloody internal purge which will ensue.

 

The Uganda Economy will stagnate in 2015, says an economic expert: 

Traders sell their merchandise at Nakasero Market, Kampala recently.

 Traders sell their merchandise at Nakasero Market,

  Kampala recently. Economic experts predict that

  price stability will be heavily affected by food prices

    and weather patterns in 2015.

PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE. 

Posted  Wednesday, January 7  2015 

 

Without proper policy coordination, current government actions only make the State a predatory agent in the economy – acting like a virus eating its host says Fred Muhumuza as he predicts Uganda’s economy in 2015.

Kampala. Trust me the economy this year will be playing us games, not as an intelligent opponent, because it is not, but still able to inflict pain on many people as it delivers joy to a few.

While we shall all face some of the economy’s weapons such as prices of common goods and services on their way up, not all of us will be aware of the underlying causes like the financing of government debt and trends in the dollar. Individual political inclination notwithstanding, the manoeuvers by politicians will impact the economy around us not least by diverting attention of the bureaucracy from economic management to political survival and longevity.

The inability to predict both the political and geographical weather makes it a daunting task to attempt even the wildest of gausses on economic trends for 2015. However, because certain things are bound to happen or, should I say not to happen, one is able to sketch an outline of the economy in terms of growth, price stability, jobs creation, trade and competitiveness, and welfare improvement.

Economic growth

Growth will remain subdued as it has been for the last five years mainly on account of constrained effective demand, delays in major government projects, and poor service delivery that affects general economic activity.

According to the revised national account figures, final consumption expenditure declined to 1.6 per cent in 2013/14 up from 12.1 per cent in 2010/11. By implication, inventories, which include goods produced but not sold, increased from minus 1.8 per cent (shortage of production) to 17.8 per cent (excessive production) over the same period.

Similarly, general government consumption declined from 45.8 per cent to 13.9 per cent in the past three years. These trends are bound to persist as government borrowing from the domestic market (call it private sector) continues to crowd out real private sector activity (both consumption and investment). This is not to forget that 63 per cent of Ugandans live on less than two dollars a day. Increased government borrowing, largely on account of anticipated expenditure on elections, subdued tax revenues, and debt service above 10 per cent of the budget, will define fiscal policy contribution to service delivery and growth.

The limited focus on improving the quality of public institutions for greater effectiveness and corruption will continue to limit the anticipated benefits from public sector projects. 

It is important to note that most public infrastructure investments provide one-off growth impacts by way of positive changes in stock of infrastructure, which does not re-occur in the subsequent years. Accordingly, sustainable growth can only come from increased private sector activity, which in Uganda is being constrained by limited demand and high business costs.

Price stability

The common price stability index discussed in development policy discourse is the consumer price or inflation. This is largely because of high prioritisation by monetary policy practitioners arising from adverse potential political and socio-economic impacts in case of high inflation. Otherwise price policies should also focus on exchange and interest rates which affect external and domestic competitiveness of the private sector.

Uganda primarily uses interest rates as a means to an end of inflation control rather than a stimulus of private investment. This policy stance is not expected to change in 2015, when interest rates are likely to remain high on account of the need to remove politically motivated monetary injections as well as issue more fiscal bonds to finance the government deficit.

In view of increased liquidity injections by the public sector and high interest rates, both private consumption and investment will remain subdued. This will contribute towards low inflation and also moderate exchange rate movements.

The demand for foreign exchange will be moderated by reduced pressure to import, resulting in adequate reserves despite slow growth in exports related to low growth in global markets. Government efforts notwithstanding, price stability will still be heavily affected by food prices and related weather patterns.

Jobs creation

It is a pity that Uganda, like many of its peers in the low-income country category, never tracks jobs and related unemployment in a consistent and realistic manner. Wild, and possibly weird samples that are far in-between, are often used and quite often on the basis of bad definitions. I, therefore, find it difficult to comment on expected trends in job creation using official unemployment figures. However, on the basis of the basic economic principle that labor is demanded for purposes of meeting current and expected future demand for goods and services, it is probable to conclude that few jobs will be created in 2015.

External trade

Imports will continue to exceed exports due to failure to resolve key domestic supply constraints leading to loss of Uganda’s competitiveness in regional and global markets. A notable setback has been the civil strife in South Sudan (20 per cent), which had developed as Uganda’s leading export destination country followed by Kenya (11 per cent), DRC (5 per cent) and Rwanda. Going forward Uganda needs to diversify her exports within the region and beyond – a feat that will not happen in 2015.

Thus, international trade, which is one of the recommended drivers of growth and jobs through exports will continue to elude Uganda in 2015. Similarly, Uganda will hardly sell anything to its leading sources of imports like India, China and Japan.

Welfare improvements

The recent poverty figures which show a decline to 19.7 per cent in 2012/13 up from 24.5 per cent in 2009/10 highlight a mix of fortunes. The results also show that 63 per cent of the population remains vulnerable while 79 per cent are not sure of having two meals a day. Livelihoods fluctuations by way of diseases, droughts, and erosion of real incomes through inflation, will see many households retreat to consolidate whatever little they have carried from 2014.

Recent talk of a growing middle class is more of an academic theft of reality that lowered the threshold to a mere Shs160,000 per month. A more strategic approach that links the middle class status to the envisaged middle income status GDP per person of Shs850,000 per month would be more realistic way to track inclusive growth. Unless Uganda’s academia wish to continue feeding on the economics of the 1970s!

The confessions about failure of government programmes for social protection and empowerment such as Naads, means that both poverty and vulnerability will continue in this year.

Economic planning and management

Finally, the economic fortunes of the country in 2015 will remain dependent on the balance and sequencing of policies towards sound economic and financial management. There is no doubt that Uganda focusses more on resources mobilisation and allocation compared to development of strategic and focused project plans.

It will be too early to expect the revised National Development Plan (NDP-2) to resolve the planning weaknesses that are not even well appreciated across government. The continued thinking that rent proceeds from natural resources and increases in the stock of public assets rather than good policies will be the driver for sustainable growth threatens to make 2015 another year of lost opportunities and half harvest.

Additional policies are needed to enable monetary policy promote financial intermediation and private investments rather than mere price stability tool and provision of exceptional returns to interest-seekers in financial markets.

The design and operationalisation of fiscal policy should also be supportive of the growth agenda over the medium term as opposed to the current inclination to spend even when projects are absent or not ready. Economic benefits of growth, jobs and better business environment expected from many public sector projects will remain deferred to a far future beyond 2015.

The bulk of the citizens, therefore, will have to rely on chance events such as weather and good luck to maintain or improve their plight in the New Year. Otherwise, the common and the not so common man and woman will continue to see the old year, 2014, replicated this year.

 

Dr Fred K Muhumuza, is a senior manager at KPMG Uganda working with the Financial Services Inclusion Programme,

fmatwooki@yahoo.com

 

 

In Uganda, the Lost pension cash is now estimated to be, Shs270b. This is cash for the expanded Civil Service.

Uganda has no national state pension for all the eldery people of this country.

 
By Yasiin Mugerwa

 

Posted  Friday, June 12  2015 
 

 

Parliament.

The pensioners’ cash that was allegedly misappropriated by officials in the ministry of Public Service, has increased from Shs165.4 billion to Shs270b after MPs on the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) opened fresh investigations into the scam.

The committee, chaired by Ms Alice Alaso (FDC, Serere Woman), found that another Shs88.2b was taken on the pretext that it was going to National Social Security Fund (NSSF) as workers’ contribution for the years 2010/11 and 2011/12.

However, the NSSF Act exempts pensioners from social security contributions. 

“We have decided to open investigations into the loss of Shs270b through the pension scam because this matter is no longer subjudice,” Ms Alaso said.

“The case was dismissed by court and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not appealed. Our rules don’t bar us, there is nothing subjudice. We must listen to the pension scam; the country is interested in knowing who stole this money,” she added.

The case was dismissed on April 13 on grounds that the State had failed to bring witnesses to testify against the nine suspects. Later, police investigators were accused of messing up the case amid allegations of bribery.

However, there was awkwardness in the committee after Mr Martin Onya, the acting commissioner pensions, told the committee that even Parliament approved the ministry policy statements with the Shs88.2 billion allocation.

“We didn’t know about it (loss of Shs88b) until the auditors raised it,” Mr Onya said. 

When Mr Onya told the committee that Parliament made no objection to the policy statement containing the Shs88b, Mr Emmanuel Dombo (Bunyole East) said: “They misled Parliament and they think they can use that as a defence.”

Shs15.5b paid to ghost firm

Emerging details have also indicated that another Shs15.5b was paid to a non-existent law firm (Hul and Partners) “purportedly in respect of the pensioners due to delays in payment and was not supported with adequate documentation”. 

ymugerwa@ug.nationmedia.com

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