THE INDEPENDENT DEC 11 - 17 2015

Police on spot over brutality

Police on spot over brutality

Museveni 昀椀ghts for eastern vote : Uganda’s eastern region is turning out to be a ba琀琀leground in the 2016 elections and neither of Museveni’s key challengers; Besigye and Mbabazi are taking it for granted

By Ian Buruma Mbabazi’s model deserves

By Morris Komakech

2015 FDI in昀氀ows dip: Experts worried about job creation due to 5% drop

The presidential campaigns so far have gone with relatively no reported cases police interference.

The Electoral Commission said it is now independent and will announce the right winner of the 2016 presidential elections without fear or favour.

Milestone

Cranes claim 14th CECAFA title

Uganda Cranes beat bi琀琀er rivals Rwanda 1-0 to lift a record 14th CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the 昀椀nal in Addis Ababa. A 15th minute goal from striker Ceasar Okhuti was the only goal in a match where both sides wasted chances of scoring. The Cranes are the only team in the Council of East and Central African Football Association that have quali昀椀ed for the group stages of the 2018 World Cup quali昀椀ers. Cranes Coach Micho Sredojevic said the victory was proof that Uganda had a pool of talent. It was also a more symbolic victory for Micho who previously coached the Rwandans and lost to Uganda in the 2011 昀椀nals. About 18 of the players who took part in CECAFA will represent Uganda in the CHAN tournament due in January in Rwanda.

Mark Zuckerberg to give away 99% of Facebook shares

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg surprised the world when he announced that he and his wife would give away 99% of their Facebook shares to charity. Their stock in the social media network is worth more than $45billion. The pledge was made in an open le琀琀er, published on Facebook to their newly born daughter, Max. Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, said they were forming a new organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to manage the money, through an unusual limited liability corporate structure. “Our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities,” they wrote.

Inbox

Lukwago cannot be

wished away

Refer to: “How Museveni killed anti-Lukwago bill” (The Independent Dec. 04). In other words, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago is an enigma that cannot be wished away.

Lakwena

Pensions theft still alive

Tackle Obama’s ideas not the person

Refer to: “Obama’s contempt for Africa” (The Independent Nov.27). Mwenda, why do you think U.S. President Barack Obama’s message does not resonate with ordinary Africans? Why on earth do you have such a low and condescending a琀琀itude towards the African “peasant” and think issues about good governance do not ma琀琀er to them? Why do you think so lowly of the Africa “elite” and their genuine aspirations for a be琀琀er Uganda and Africa? Obama has every right to “lecture” Africans because America and the west have risen to a level which we in Africa strive to. As the adage goes, mind the message not the messenger and fools discuss personalities not ideas.

Sammy

Many Ugandans believe that with the loud hullabaloo that went on about the theft of pension funds some time back, that the vice is now history. This, it seems, is farthest from the truth and actually the looting of pensioners funds could still very much be in progress. I have had a chance to talk to some pensioners and I am yet to 昀椀nd anyone of them whose pension comes to him/her every month. Some of them jokingly told me that they thought that government had turned into the monthly cheque into a quarterly payment.

The discrepancies in payments vary from individual to individual. Gentleman X told me his stopped coming almost a year back and he has received nothing since. Gentleman Y said he receives some payments in some months and none in others. Lady Z said she used

to get her late brother’s pension on account but had taken ages without seeing any of it until she was pleasantly surprised to 昀椀nd some money on account recently. The one constant in all these people’s stories is that they are all not ge琀琀ing their pensions regularly and no one bothers to explain to them why they are not ge琀琀ing their pensions or if the missing months will ever be paid back to them. What is happening to our old people’s pensions? Why is there no o昀케cial explanation about what is causing the delays, omissions, etc in the payments of our retired o昀케cers’ pensions? Will the money our old people are missing ever be paid back? Are the Workers’ unions aware of these discrepancies, if so, why the loud silence? Is this situation not giving cover for another set of thieves to loot workers’ pensions?

Paget Kintu

Blame Africa’s love of Range Rovers

Refer to: “Obama’s contempt for Africa” (The Independent Nov.27). How many times has Africa sent election observers to the west? How many times have Africans lectured the western

world about morality yet we see they are very immoral? A person from the west should not even open his beak to tell us anything. The only di昀昀erence is that they got rich at the expense of blacks

so they have the money to come and manipulate self-seeking Africans to 昀椀ght each other in order to get money to drive a Hummer and Range Rover. Musinguzi Wilfred

Accept Obama’s lecture

Refer to: “Obama’s contempt for Africa” (The Independent Nov.27). Mwenda, you wrote: “Our states are young and hardly omnipresent in the lives of many of our people compared to their counterparts in the West”, thereby acknowledging that Africa is indeed still a “child” compared to the West. Why then do you find it contemptuous for the big brother to offer advice to his young brother? Is your problem advice or the fact that it is U.S. President Barack Obama who offers it? I am schooled in and deeply loathe the West’s social contempt for Africa, but also acknowledge that, apart from being affected by West’s own evolution, Africa is evolving at a different social milieu compare to the former. With globalisation in our midst, you risk suffocating with your obsession of Obama’s meddling since this is a fact beyond his and your control. Denis Musinguzi

Follow us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/TheIndependentMagazineUganda Follow us on Twi琀琀er @ h琀琀p://twi琀琀er.com/#!/ugandatalks

Obama should mind his own business

Refer to: “Obama’s contempt for Africa” (The Independent Nov.27). I totally agree with Andrew Mwenda that U.S. President Barack Obama has no business lecturing African leaders about governance, so long as he cuddles up especially to regimes like the one of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He only chooses to square it up with Africa because USA’s foreign policy is still dictated by old paradigms. He fails to

be critical enough of his socalled democracy, let’s call it an oligarchy in the words of President Jimmy Carter who acknowledged that the USA is run by big corporations. If we look at many social indicators in this so called great nation, compared to many African countries which the USA criticises, it has an abysmal track record. So, indeed, Obama should mind his own business.

Sasha

Editor, The Independent Publications ltd, P.o Box 3304, Plot 82/84 Kanjokya st, Kamwokya. Kampala,uganda.

Email: editor@independent.co.ug

Kyabazinga returns from UK studies

It was all jubilation in Busoga as the Basoga thronged the Bugembe- based palace of Kyabazinga Gabula Nadiope to welcome their king who has been away studying in the UK for a year. Delegations welcomed him with much fanfare at Entebbe Airport and drove with him in a convoy up to Jinja. Nadiope left the country shortly after being enthroned amidst a power struggle with Columbus Wambuzi, heir of departed Kyabazinga, Wako Wambuzi.

Standard Gauge Railway is priority, Museveni tells China

After Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged a $60 billion support for development projects across the continent, President Yoweri Museveni asked China to prioritize the building of the 3,000 km Standard Gauge Railway. The President, who was a琀琀ending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in South Africa on Dec.04, said Uganda’s most urgent need is building the railway line that will link Uganda with Kenya at Malaba, Rwanda at Mirama Hills,

Parliamentary candidates start campaigns

After being nominated on Dec. 02 - 03, candidates eyeing parliamentary seats o昀케cially launched their campaigns on Dec. 07. At a press brie昀椀ng at Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Badru Kiggundu, the EC chairman, said campaigns for both presidential and parliamentary candidates would end on Feb.16, 2016 - two days ahead of the Feb.18 election day. Though the total number of candidates standing in various constituencies had not yet been veri昀椀ed by the commission by Dec 04, Kiggundu said more people are increasingly o昀昀ering themselves for leadership positions.

Meanwhile, just a day to nomination day, the Constitutional Court threw out a petition by some

youth who wanted the court to declare that the Shs 3 million nomination fees was unconstitutional.

South Sudan at Nimule and the Democratic Republic of Congo at Aruu. The Chinese support to Africa includes $5b of grants in zero interest loans and US$35b in preferential facility and export credit loans and concessional loans. Xi Jinping announced that US $ 156m would go towards drought aid mainly helping in catering for food in a昀昀ected countries. The meeting was a琀琀ended by 15 African presidents in addition to Museveni and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma.

Museveni shu es permanent secretaries

President Yoweri Museveni has announced a reshu昀툀e of permanent secretaries. Among those a昀昀ected are Amb. James Mugume who has been moved from the Ministry of Foreign A昀昀airs to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. Others transferred include Rose Nassali from the Ministry of Education and Sports to the Judicial Service Commission, James Kagoda has been moved from the Internal A昀昀airs Ministry to Education and Sports. Patrick Mugoya is heading to the tourism ministry.

Launch of Standard Gauge Railway project in Uganda last year

Dr. Eng Badru Kiggundu the Chairman of Electoral Commission addresses the press about the progress in organizing 2016 elections on Dec 04. Looking on is the Vice Chairman Joseph Biribonwo. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

Amb. James Mugume

Uganda beats Rwanda to win 14th CECAFA trophy

It has been a great year for both players in the Uganda national team – the Cranes and supporters considering the recent victories. After qualifying for the World Cup 2018 group stages last month, the team of

home-based players beat Rwanda 1:0 in the Dec. 05 昀椀nal in Addis Ababa, Ethopia, to be crowned champions of the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

Mao chooses replacement as nomination ops

Many were anticipating that once elected as Member of Parliament for Gulu Municipality, Democratic Party President Nobert Mao would be the next Leader of Opposition in Parliament. However, the dream came to abrupt end on Dec. 02 when the name of the former presidential candidate was nowhere to be seen on the voters’ register. Neither did he have a national identity card as he missed the registration. With his nomination hopes up in smoke, Mao decided to front Lyandro Komakech, a research-

er, for the seat. Meanwhile, Electoral Commission Chairman Badru Kiggundu blamed the 昀椀asco on Mao “negligence” as he didn’t check for his name during the display period for the voters register and the ID registration period was extended twice to allow all voters verify their details. However, Mao’s lawyers have demanded a wri琀琀en explanation from the EC of the circumstances under which the details of the former MP, LCV chairman and presidential candidate were deleted from the register.

Ugandans warned on food safety

Following a report released by the World Health Organisation estimating that almost one in ten people fall ill every year from eating contaminated food with 420, 000 dying as a result, Ugandans running small food businesses have been urged to adopt standard hygiene practices as a way of ensuring food safety. This was in a speech read by Dr. Jane Aceng, the director general of Health Services in the Ministry of Health who was the chief guest at a food safety capacity building workshop in Kampala on Dec 07. The workshop, which was organised by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), was held under the theme; “For safe, quality food for everyone, everywhere.” FAO Country Representative Alhaji M. Jallow said food safety issues are important as unsafe food is a major source of food-borne diseases that not only a昀昀ect people’s well-being but also has negative economic consequences for communities. Participants from Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda and South Sudan a琀琀ended the workshop.

Score card exposes worst, bestperforming local councils

The local government councils score card assessment for 2014/2015 that is compiled by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) on Dec. 04 showed that Tororo District is the bestperforming local government while Kamuli was the worst among the 26 councils surveyed. Other well-performing councils include Gulu and Kabarole districts. The rating was based on legislation, budgeting and planning and accountability to citizens. The scorecard report, which shows that councilors in best-performing councils have a琀琀ained an advanced level certi昀椀cate and above, also revealed that local governments heavily depend on transfers from central government for their 昀椀nancing whereby these transfers accounted for 92% of local government budgets for the 昀椀nancial year 2011/12 and 昀椀nancial year 2014/15.

Pistorius found guilty of murder, bailed

South African Olympic medalist Oscar Pistorius faces lengthy period behind bars after the Supreme Court of Appeal in a Dec.03 ruling declared him guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013. The court overturned the lower court’s manslaughter verdict maintaining that the lower court did not correctly apply the rule of dolus eventualis - whether the o昀昀ender considered the fact that his actions could cause death. However the sixtime Paralympic gold medalist went back to court on Dec.08 for bail, which was granted at 10,000 rand (about $685). With this bail, Pistorius will stay out of prison until April next year when he returns to court. Under South African law, the minimum sentence for murder is 15 years in prison.

Nobert Mao at the Gulu EC offices for nomination exercise.

“Every Musoga’s homestead must have food, enough for consumption and sale. It’s a shame buying food when you have land” Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula nadiope IV

“When I hear of farmers being promised hoes, I feel like fainting” Victoria sekitoleko, former Agriculture minister

“During this CECAFA I have fixed all departments and everything about CHAN preparations, including international friendly matches” micho sredojevic

Dr. Miria Matembe , The Former minister of ethics and integrity, makes her presentation about vote buying during the 5th anticorruption convention on December 7. She strongly criticized vote buying in Uganda. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

“Most property grabbing crimes remain unreported because of blood relations” Principal Judge Yorokamu Bamwine

24

Number of NRM MPs unopposed in the parliamentary elections

Prime minister Rugunda (L) and Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri launch kiira ev uganda's hybrid car at OPM offices on December 7. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY

69%

Ugandans who say corruption has increased, according to a Transparency International poll

commission and Dr.

John

the former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission from Tanzania during the Sub-regional East African food safety workshop on December 7. INDEPENDENT/ JIMMY

15000

Children who will bene昀椀t from a nutrition programme sponsored by UNICEF

Money needed by Uganda ElectricityTransmission Company Ltd for electrical substations

SIYA

Ben Manyindo (R), The executive Director of UNBS talking to Awilo Ochieng Pernet (M) the Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius

Claude

Mosh,

SIYA

The Last Word

AThe battle for Kagame’s soul

By Andrew M. Mwenda

Inside the struggle by Rwandans to get their president to run again in 2017

nd so it was that on December 6, I was present at a Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) meeting to discuss the “third term”. A琀琀ended by over 3,000 party delegates, members wanted President Paul Kagame to pronounce himself – there and then – that he would be the presidential candidate of the RPF in the 2017 elections once the constitution is amended to remove term limits on the presidency. The meeting was charged. Delegate after delegate spoke with passion on why Kagame should be their presidential candidate.

From the way delegates spoke, it was clear that there was suspicion that Kagame would refuse their request. And the president was absent from the meeting a琀琀ending to the visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister to listen to their pleas. So delegates directed their energy to the First Lady, Mrs. Jeanne琀琀e Kagame, asking her to tell her husband not turndown the request to run. So intense were the demands on Jeanne琀琀e that she declared she was a琀琀ending the meeting as an ordinary party member, not as a First Lady.

Senior party leaders found themselves at pains to explain to the junior party members that the president will not turn down their request. “I have known this president for a long time,” an old man told the a琀琀entive delegates, “I can assure you he cannot ignore the pleas of Rwandans.” After explaining the personality of Kagame, he said: “So don’t be worried and agitated. He will say yes.” The highly respected Tito Rutaremera also joined those calling on delegates to be calm and be assured the president will accept their request to run as their presidential candidate in 2017. “He cannot ignore the cries of his people,” Rutaremera belabored.

For two years since the demands for amending the constitution to remove term limits began, the Rwandan president has not spoken clearly on the ma琀琀er. The last time he spoke, he said he is not looking for a third term. What the president meant is that he has not asked anyone to canvas for a third term on his behalf. Therefore there was genuine reason for the delegates to suspect Kagame would refuse. Didn’t he do exactly that in 1994? After RPF took power in that year, everyone wanted Kagame to be president. And they took it

for granted he would accept. He refused. For almost ten days neither side could budge: RPF wanted Kagame as president, Kagame insisted he did not want the job. Then Prime Minister designate, Faustin Twagiramungu, led a delegation of all the other political parties to plead with Kagame to accept to be president and he refused.

Finally a compromise was struck. Kagame would suggest someone he felt should become president and present him to the RPF for election. He proposed Pasteur Bizimungu. However, RPF and other political parties would accept this if Kagame agreed to become vice president and minister of defense. He agreed. It is rare in human history for a successful rebel leader of an armed struggle to insist on his political party crowning someone else as president. It is also a decision that caused a lot of friction in Rwanda and its consequences still hang heavily on Kagame’s conscience.

The Rwandan president is now acutely aware that the wisdom of multitudes of Rwandans is as important – or even more important – than his own. He can longer a昀昀ord to disregard popular opinion as he did in 1994. So when he 昀椀nally came to speak, he did not want to disappoint RPF delegates. But he also did not want to be stampeded into making a decision prematurely. In his speech, Kagame reminded the delegates that there is a constitutional amendment process that has been on going. The sticking issue is to remove term limits to allow him to contest again in 2017. But instead of asking him to make a decision now, he reasoned, they should wait until the process is concluded. And the crowning event of this process is a referendum on the issue. It is here that Kagame put his clincher.

“We need to ask ourselves, is our decision the right one?” he said as everyone listened a琀琀entively, “When Rwandans go to the referendum, they will be going to show their position, their worries and concerns about the country. Now they have not yet been given an opportunity to express themselves. What you expect from me, you thought you would get it today; no you cannot. We have to go through the process. If there is a referendum and only

55% say amend the constitution, I would not accept.”

Knowing Kagame, I do not think he will accept to run for president in 2017 if anything less than 90% favors him running again. The good news is that this is such as easy number for the pro third term advocates. Across that tiny country, a vast grassroots movement has been underway to petition the president to run again. It is a desire shared by the ruling party and other political parties alike – except for a small percentage of malcontents.

It is rare for any country to have such unanimity of opinion on what elsewhere would have been a contentious political issue. I therefore understand why many outsiders and skeptics think all this outpouring of support for Kagame to run for president in 2017 is a result of political manipulation by the president and his cohorts. If I had not been intimately involved in Rwandan politics, I would also have thought the same way. But any person with good knowledge of Rwanda will tell you the country is united behind its president.

Post genocide Rwanda is really unique among poor countries in almost every measure. With per capita income at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of $1,900, Rwanda is among the world’s ten most e昀케cient governments, according to the respected World Economic Forum. And all the countries in the top ten have per capita incomes above $60,000 except Malaysia, which stands at $25,000. With per capita revenue of $107 per year, Rwanda is the only country in this revenue bracket where government legitimacy depends to a large degree on the ability of the state to deliver public goods and services to ordinary people.

Outsiders may not understand this but their a琀琀empts to give summons on how Rwandans should govern themselves are increasing the passions of those who want Kagame to stay. The vast majority of Rwandans don’t want their president to cave in to external pressure. If there is a last push on Kagame to stay, it is the hubris of certain powers in our world.

amwenda@independent.co.ug

By Flavia Nassaka

‘We come in and disperse them: Violations of the right to freedom of assembly by the ugandan police ’. This is the title of the report launched on Dec. 07 byAmnesty International, a global nGo. The report shows how people have been manhandled and their rights violated by the police, an institution that is supposed to protect them. The report found that the police arbitrarily arrested political opposition leaders and used excessive force to disperse peaceful political gatherings, making it hard for the public to receive information and engage with politicians in the leadup to elections next year.

Among the key incidents noted is when presidential candidates John Patrick Amama Mbabazi of the TDA Go-Forward pressure group and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Dr. Kizza Besigye were arrested. On July 09, the two were put under preventive arrest to sabotage their plans to hold consultations with voters in Eastern Uganda. They were arrested at the time when opposition political parties under The Democratic Alliance (TDA) were engaged in discussions about the possibility of 昀椀elding a single candidate against incumbent President Museveni, who is seeking a 昀椀fth elective term.

In a statement, Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East Africa says members of the opposition have been repeatedly put under preventive arrest and the police have indiscriminately 昀椀red tear gas and rubber bullets at peaceful demonstrators.

To come up with the report, Amnesty International conducted 88 interviews with torture victims, eyewitnesses and senior police o昀케cers in addition to analyzing video footages taken at di昀昀erent scenes between the months of July and October.

But, even without this report, the security institution has engaged in several misdeeds with impunity. For instance on Nov.16, supporters of the Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago su昀昀ered the wrath of the police when they tried to defy the Electoral Commission’s move to halt their candidate’s nomination awaiting guidelines from government. Though Lukwago was arrested near his home in Wakaliga others su昀昀ered serious injuries that ended them in hospital. Isaac Kugonza, a young journalist with a new television – Delta TV is one of

Police on spot over brutality

One year after it rebranded, the force gains notoriety

them. When the Independent visited him in Mulago hospital on Nov 17, the 24 year old who had a swollen eye was still in severe pain that he struggled to sustain a conversation or keep his eyes open.

Kugonza who doctors said was injured by a blunt object couldn’t tell what exactly hit his head. He said the police was 昀椀ring tear gas yet the rowdy crowds were throwing stones. ” I also saw a police man shoot in the air. Everything happened so fast. I found myself bleeding but I don’t know who beat me”.

Kugonza’s case represents myriad instances in which police operations have left civilians and members of the opposition political parties injured. Some people are treated in the most demeaning way opposed to principles of good policing. One of the scenarios that has a琀琀racted wide spread condemnation with a social media hashtag #SomeoneTellKayihura, a reference to the inspector general of police is when

Fatumah Zainab Naigaga, a member of FDC was humiliated.

For Naigaga, a mother of two, Oct 10 was like any other normal day until her and fellow FDC members got involved in an accident along the Mbarara highway just a few kilometers from Masaka town as they headed to a western Uganda district of Rukungiri. The entourage including party 昀氀ag bearer Dr. kizza Besigye, Leader of Opposition in parliament Wafula Ogu琀琀u and MPs were traveling to launch a countrywide mobilization drive ahead of their candidate’s nomination on Nov 04.

The police according to Naigaga threw what she called metallic thorns (metallic spikes) onto the road falling in front of the fast moving Tororo County MP Geo昀昀rey Ekanya’s car, which in trying to dodge them, knocked another car ahead.

“I could not take in the unfair treatment and merciless acts of the police towards opposition politicians which I strongly and

Leader of Opposition Wafula Oguttu is arrested during an opposition demonstration in Kampala. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

loudly opposed,” she said.

She was then surrounded by female o昀케cers who tried to arrest her. This soon turned into a scu昀툀e as more o昀케cers joined with some pulling her legs and others her hands. In a fear minutes she was stripped naked. “In the struggle to resist the arrest, my blouse was torn into pieces and all I was left with was a bra,” she said. “The 昀椀ght was still on as I had to 昀椀ght for what I was left with so that I don’t get undressed although the ones holding my legs over powered me to the extent of ge琀琀ing my trousers down to the knees.”

In anger and desperation, Naigaga admits 昀椀nally pushing her trousers o昀昀 since they had reached the knees. To her, harm had already been done and there was nothing more to save.

“Of course they 昀椀nally over powered me and managed to bundle me onto the police cabin truck although I resisted pushing me under the seats”. She was detained at Mbarara police station before being released later on the same day.

He shared a cell with Mukulu

Christopher Aine Kato is another victim who has no kind words for the police after his experience with them. He is still nursing injuries from police arrest on Sept 13. His left hand was beaten to the extent that a month after the incident he still found trouble stretching it.

“After handcu昀케ng me, they started beating me with a metal rod asking me to tell them who we are working with in government”, Aine told the Independent as he

unbu琀琀oned his shirt exposing black scars on the back and hands. He is the head of security of presidential hopeful John Patrick AmamaMbabazi’s Go forward pressure group. A son to one of the 27 National Resistance Army (NRA) armed 昀椀ghters Lt. Col Julius Aine, he was arrested a week after Mbabazi’s eastern region consultation trip that was largely marred with teargas and even live bullets. Aine who said was beaten on the wrists, ankles and knees was arrested as he left the Go-forward o昀케ces based on Nakasero road in Kampala.

“Plain-clothed men all of a sudden jumped out of 5 Toyota Premios holding AK 47 guns. To me this was like a movie scene but before I knew it, I was already handicapped. This however wasn’t a surprise because my allies had already told me I am on the wanted list by the IGP”, he said adding that what surprised him was the manner in which he was handled. “When they 昀椀nally put me in the car, they started squeezing my ribs until one of them ordered in Luganda that, Mutekekoak’abagoole”. This means they were ordered to blindfold him.

Whenever, he tried to ask why he was being tortured the beating increased. The same day he was taken to two safe houses before being driven to Nalufenya police station in Jinja but along the way, they injected him. “I wasn’t familiar with the two safe houses where they 昀椀rst took me but when I got to Nalufenya, I was put in the same cell with Jamil Mukulu. That’s when I realized where I was. I got so scared because my cellmate couldn’t talk to me. I pleaded with them to transfer me to another cell”.

In Nalufenya, the men introduced him to an o昀케cer called Nixon Ayesigire Karuhanga whom they referred to as their boss. At this point, the torture reduced since Ayesigire recognized him as the son to the bush war 昀椀ghter. But this didn’t guarantee his release. He was only released days later after communicating to his boss.

These cases are some of the most recent violations of human rights by the police. Following such events, the police always come out to defend their actions for instance; the IGP while appearing on national television after Naigaga’s incident said the lady undressed herself in order to taint the image of the institution. He also said media houses that expose their excesses would face action. This a琀琀racted a lot of criticism from talk show pundits and human rights activists who pin the police for being brutal when dealing with the opposition.

‘Police

is partisan’

Nicholas Opiyo, High Court advocate and Human rights lawyer is not entirely surprised as he says the police has mastered the strategy of discouraging the opposition.

“They have moved away from the civil-

ian and democratic police to a brutal regime and partisan police,” said Opiyo.

He said there is an inherent right to peaceful demonstration provided in our constitution that everybody must be allowed to exercise that right in accordance with law.

“In a democracy, people must be involved in their governments either by way of demonstrations or presentation. But over time, demonstrations in Uganda have become synonymous with riots. Riots are not demonstrations. So the twisted conception within the police force is that all demonstrations are riots which is wrong”, Opiyo said. Dr. Livingstone Ssewanyana Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative agrees. He said whereas the State has a duty to keep law and order, their tactics in the recent cases are actions outside the law for political, not national peace reasons.

“Their work is designed to lessen competition from opposition parties, which sends a worrying signal in the context of the upcoming elections,” he said.

Critics say on several occasions, even when events are peaceful, police o昀케cials have got into a habit of scare mongering by deploying heavily. In fact columns of foot patrols and motorized guns and snipers have become a common sight whenever the opposition conducts any form of gathering.

On Oct 18, the Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international rights organization released a statement condemning the manner in which people are arrested and the fact that the police 昀椀red teargas canisters directly at individuals, turning the canisters into projectiles that caused injury, in addition to the harmful e昀昀ects of teargas on the skin, eyes, and breathing during Amama Mbabazi’s consultations in eastern Uganda.

The statement reads in part that, witnesses from each location told Human Rights Watch that the gatherings were generally peaceful and had barely begun when police arrived and released teargas. In some cases, the candidate had not yet arrived. Dozens of people said they were injured or felt ill from the teargas, and some were injured by rubber bullets and police beatings”.

Police brutality is not a surprise, for the institution has for long topped lists of institutions that torture people. For instance, the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) report 2013 indicated that the police was responsible for 177 cases of torture commi琀琀ed in the country in 2012. The report a琀琀ributed this to the heightened confrontation between the police and opposition which always ended in beatings in order for the o昀케cials to extract information from those arrested.

Also, in 2011, just after the polls, reports by HRW show a special unit of the police – Rapid Response Unit carried out torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings by beat-

ing people with objects including batons, glass bo琀琀les, metal pipes and in some cases inserted pins under detainees’ 昀椀ngernails. Also, on several occasions opposition politicians were arrested for unrealistic and unmeasurable reasons such as preventing one from a commi琀琀ing a crime, disobeying ‘lawful’ orders and inciting violence among others.

There are fears that the same might happen in this election period although the 昀椀rst two weeks of presidential campaigns have been generally peaceful with the police not interfering in the a昀昀airs of candidates and supporters. However questions linger on how the o昀케cers are briefed when going for operations.

Fortunate Habyara, the Deputy Commandant at the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) of Uganda Police told The Independent on Oct 22 that they always warn their sta昀昀 to use minimum force when conducting arrests.

“If you are dealing with an armed person, then the minimum force may defer from a person who has no arms. While arresting, each case is judged with its own merits”.

He said, on a daily basis, before going for the day’s operations, o昀케cers are briefed on how well to conduct a speci昀椀c operation by a person going to deploy them.

Habyara agrees that at times, the o昀케cials misbehave and go against the set principals. He pointed out that those who caused an accident on Masaka road on Oct 10 are still being investigated and will face disciplinary action if found guilty. He said the unit has put in place an avenue to issue in feedback and so far they get about 100 complaints per day.

To make the 2016 general election meaningful and achieve its purpose of advancing elections as the guarantor of democracy, Ssewanyana says it is important that key organs of the state like the police not only act but must also be seen to act with the highest level of professionalism and non-partisanship.

He however cautions political players especially those in the opposition to act responsibly and within the laws of the land and appreciate that they equally have an obligation to avoid unnecessary commotion and disruption of the life of citizens.

Opiyo says Police in their actions should treat every party fairly not according to preferential treatment to the NRM. Police should also admit to their mistakes sometimes as they are subject to independent scrutiny and investigation. “They should rather get back to their role of ensuring that the exercise of human rights is not only respected but guaranteed. The Public Order Management Act should be enforced but not be used to gag free expression, movement and assembly of Ugandans contrary to the provisions in the Constitution”, he said.

Other victims

Still nursing mental wounds

News about the disappearance of Norman Tumuhimbise, the National Coordinator for the Jobless Brotherhood a group of graduates who have failed to get jobs made headlines. Many took to social media to announce that the soft spoken father of a two-year-old daughter had passed on. Two months after his mysterious disappearance, the 30 year old still nurses physical and psychological wounds from torture.

“I get nightmares. I see strange faces chasing me in my dreams that at times I am forced to scream. I also tend to hear people moving around my house even when they are not there”. This condition recently forced him to visit a psychiatrist at a Kampala hospital and was initiated on treatment.

Tumuhimbise who is one of the pioneers of Police Training School Kabalye was kidnapped on the evening of Aug 19 after he and colleagues successfully dropped two piglets painted in di昀昀erent colours at parliament, as a way of demonstrating against parliamentarians who they refer to as greedy politicians who focus on their sel昀椀sh interests rather than the needs of the people they represent. He told The Independent that as he approached the gate at his home based in Kasubi, a low end suburb of Kampala, a gentle man called him by name before requesting to have a chat with him in his Runyankore mother tongue. As he turned to talk to the stranger, the phone rang and all of sudden two men got hold of his hands from the back deterring him from picking the call.

He was there and then carried to a Toyota Noah which had parked just adjacent to him. Tumuhimbise became unconscious only to wake up in a very dark room that he couldn’t see the people or a thing around him.

“I only felt a chair and table in front of me. I was feeling so much pain in the back and the joints but I couldn’t tell the cause. What I vividly remember is the voice that pierced through the dark”. Three di昀昀erent men asked him the same questions using di昀昀erent tactics. The 昀椀rst one was very harsh whereas the other two used a low tone. The 昀椀rst man who referred to him as og’omwiru (this peasant) interrogated him in the local language Runyankore asking about who funds the brotherhood and that he explains more about the message they had a琀琀ached to the piglets that read, ‘we may resolve to have temporary instability if

it can guarantee permanent stability of our motherland Uganda’. He also asked about where Tumuhimbise got the information he used in his new book titled “Unsowing the Mustard Seed.”

Tumuhimbise’s response that no one funds them and that he had got information from the President’s close associates annoyed the seemingly arrogant man who ordered that they spray directly into his eyes. The very painful chemical in that spray has a昀昀ected him so much that he can’t read or walk in the sun without specs. Whenever he removes them, tears endlessly 昀氀ow. Since his release on Aug 26, Tumuhimbise’s troubles have been on an increase. The Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) from where he had been pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Law expelled him because of his association with pigs yet his landlord of seven years on Sept 01 issued him a notice to vacate the premises because of too much inconvenience regarding the issue of security.

“Recently I found a gentle man at my place. When he left, the landlord told me that he is one of the men who have been frequenting the premises telling him to chase me. To my surprise I found the same man dressed in police uniform at Old Kampala police station when I went to record a statement”.

Deprived of parenthood, Kaggwa is scared of living with his children

Looking at Kaggwa’s face and hands, you could think he is an accident victim. He has numerous scars. But when he introduces himself as Vicent Kaggwa, the spokesperson of the NRM poor youth, it tells the whole story. One will understand what happened especially if you are the type that watches the local bulletins.

Kaggwa together with colleagues in the party who support former Secretary General Amama Mbabazi have been hoping from one police cell to another following numerous demonstrations on Kampala streets which in most occasions end in serious injuries as they engage in scu昀툀es with the police.

Kaggwa told The Independent that he’s no longer scared of being beaten or sprayed with tear gas for he expects this whenever he goes out to demonstrate. But, July 16 scared the 25 year old youth activist. He never anticipated it for he had no plans of striking but was only arranging a trip

to Kenya. At 10 am, while at his home in Katanga, a 昀椀lthy slum in Kampala, three Toyota Noah cars arrived. An unspeci昀椀ed number of plain clothed men armed with pistols jumped out.

“When I heard the cars park, I went to the window to see who had arrived but in less than a minute they were already inside meanwhile people started gathering at my house. They shot in the air to disperse them”.

Kazibwe who has since relocated his children said all he thought about was to 昀椀rst hide them and then deal with the strangers. But, he didn’t have enough time to do this. They threw him in the car and drove away. He later learnt that they were the Police 昀氀ying squad. They took him to Central Police Station (CPS) before eventually driving o昀昀 to Entebbe road. Along the way he became unconscious and woke up in a place he couldn’t recognize.

“They woke me up by beating my ribs with very cold water. It was so painful but not as beating my toes with a metallic rod. When I couldn’t answer their question about why I support Mbabazi, they slapped my ears and the face hard”.

For the four days they held him, Kazibwe’s hands and legs had been tied on the chair. They could only untie the hands whenever they brought him food.

His arrest a琀琀racted hashtag #freeVicent which went viral on social media. This online demonstration helped Kaggwa and he was returned to CPS as early as 5am and by 6 am he was out.

“Everything was done fast. They gave me a bond without a stamp. They even gave me transport but ordered me not talk to anyone, not even the media”.

A month later on Aug 26 security operatives returned to Kaggwa’s house. This time at around 2 am on a Wednesday morning for a house search. They said he was suspected of owning illegal 昀椀re arms.

Without a search warrant, they dashed into the house pulled out everything but nothing was recovered. In their usual manner of shooting in the air to scare away the neighbors, they instead went away with Kaggwa. Five of his neighbors were arrested too.

Mugasha was arrested while collecting signatures

The King of Tooro, Oyo NyimbaIguru celebrated his 20th anniversary (Empango) on Sept 12. Empango is always a day to reckon with in Fort Portal for most aristocratic Batooro and well-wishers throng the western Uganda town in anticipation.

Gilbert Jomo Mugasha, a supporter of Amama Mbabazi saw this as an opportunity to hit two birds with one stone since so many

people would show up for the royal ceremony.

“I didn’t get time to talk to supporters on 12th so I decided to get my aspirant’s nomination forms signed the following day which was a Sunday”, he told The Independent.

As a person who stays away from home, he had planned to visit several relatives after collecting signatures. Li琀琀le did he know he would spend the next two days in a police cell.

“ I was con昀椀dent that I was doing nothing wrong in volunteering for Amama Mbabazi only to be arrested like a chicken thief by the District Police Commander (DPC) of Kabarole “ At around 10 am on Sept13, Mugasha who was driving from Boma, an upscale village located a few kilometers south of the town made a stopover at a bodaboda stage in Mpanga market along the Fort Portal- Kampala highway. At the stage were about seven riders who he gave the forms to sign but in about 10 minutes, the District Internal Security O昀케cer (DISO) who he later learnt was called Edmond Kamanyire had arrived. In another few minutes of argument DPC Geo昀昀rey Nkaheebwa arrived in a Toyota Premio. He was there and then bundled in the car and driven o昀昀.

Nkaheebwa who has since been transferred told Mugasha that the district supports only one presidential candidate and they would not let him continue with the exercise. The o昀케cer destroyed the forms in addition to giving him several slaps before reaching the Central Police Station located in Boma. Meanwhile, he was made to leave his car behind.

“The car arrives later being driven by the DISO and then the DPC orders us to witness a search. They ransack the whole car but in vain, spilling all over documents and belongings”

All of a sudden, a plain clothed police o昀케cer recovers notes of 50000 thousand shillings counterfeit money allegedly recovered from the car, a thing that shocked Mugasha. To him, this was an intentional act done to frame him. In fact it gave them a reason to torture him the more for he was beaten and kicked by the DPC whenever he tried to speak.

A victim of circumstance

Robin Wabulembo, a Makerere University youth activist didn’t have to take a taxi or a bodaboda (motorcycle) from Jinja road to Uganda National Theatre to catch his 3pm appointment. It’s a walk able distance and in fact it takes less than

twenty minutes for one to reach. However, his journey was intercepted when the police arrested him as he approached Embassy House, the building which hosts Ministry of Education o昀케ces.

“As I walked, I saw a number of police o昀케cers standing but didn’t mind them so I moved on. But a few steps ahead, two men grabbed both my hands from behind. I was so scared with the talk of torture chambers and safe houses in town”.

Wabulembo was immediately bundled in a double cabin with o昀케cers si琀琀ing side by side. They immediately drove to the eastern gate of parliament from where more six youths were arrested.

Li琀琀le did he know that on the same afternoon of Sept 29, a group of activists had stormed parliament to demand for electoral reforms. They held placards with writings and shouted on top of their voices that they wanted electoral reforms.

In the double cabin, Wabulembo saw some 15 to 20 youths negotiating with security to let them into parliament.

“I couldn’t recognize any of them. When I asked the six that joined me in the car, they were also not aware of what exactly was going on. The o昀케cers drove us to CPS”.

At the police station, more and more people kept joining them. It’s from here that he realized he was arrested because of rioting since he met Kawempe mayor Mubaraka Munyagwa with whom they have engaged in several demonstrations in the city before.

When he tried to inquire about why he was arrested, the o昀케cer beat him on the head with the baton. As if that wasn’t enough the o昀케cer whose uniform had no name or number sprayed teargas into them while in the cell. They were helpless. Wabulembo said it was by the mercy of God that no one among them fainted.

Even though the beating would increase whenever he tried to ask, he didn’t stop making noise until the group was separated. Some were taken to Jinja road police station yet others to Kiira road police station.

“I spent two painful days at Kiira road. Though I don’t know the name of the o昀케cer who tortured me, I might not forget his face because he slapped and kicked me several times telling me that am an enemy of the state. From Kiira road, they took me back to CPS to meet the rest of the people I was arrested with”. While the rest were released on police bond, Wabulembo and Munyagwa were taken to court and released on a cash bond of Shs 300,000.

Additional reporting by Agnes E. Nantaba

Museveni 昀椀ghts for eastern vote

mbabazi could replace Besigye as regional opposition favourite

By Agather Atuhaire

Analysis of political campaigns often throws up unsubstantiated claims and the commentary on the 2011 general elections is no exception.Among the popular myths being peddled is that President Yoweri museveni won the north. He did not. In fact he got his least votes there – 27% in nwoya, 29% in Gulu district, 39% in Kitgum, 49% in lira, 46% in Pader. museveni’s highest tally was 70% in otuke, and 60% in oyam.

Instead, the 昀椀gures in northern Uganda show two outcomes that are often mixed up. The 昀椀rst is that the opposition vote that previously went to Museveni’s main rival Kizza Besigye in that region, was split between him and the Democratic Party candidate Nobert Mao. The other is what is widely known; that Museveni defeated Besigye in that region for the 昀椀rst time.

Another emerging myth related to the northern one is that Museveni has previously performed badly in eastern Uganda and is likely to be routed in 2016 by independent candidate Amama Mbabazi, the former prime minister and NRM secretary general who is leading the Go-Forward coalition.

The pundits point at the three districts of Soroti, Serere and Kaberamaido where Museveni lost to Besigye. In Soroti, Besigye garnered 61.9% of the vote against Museveni’s 34.9, in Serere Besigye got 55% and Museveni 40.8%, and in Kaberamaido Besigye got 51.9% against Museveni’s 43%.

The other strong point is that Besigye had beaten Museveni in about half of the region’s districts in the 2006 election.

In reality, Besigye might have done be琀琀er in eastern than elsewhere, but Museveni defeated him hands down in eastern Uganda. The sense of Besigye’s strength in eastern Uganda is re昀氀ected in the numbers. In the 32 districts that comprise the greater eastern region, Besigye’s tally was about 28%, two percentage points above his national average vote tally of 26%. Museveni on the other hand saw red in eastern Uganda if his average vote tally there is compared to his national average. In the 32 districts, he got an average of 65%, which is three percentage points below his national average of 68%. Therefore, Besigye is strong in eastern Uganda but he did not defeat Museveni there. But 2016 is not 2011.

In a presage of what possibly lies ahead in 2016, some observers say, 昀椀ve ministers from eastern Uganda failed to

secure the party 昀氀ag in the primaries for members of parliament. Ministers Daudi Migereko, Sarah Opendi, Jessica Alupo, Asuman Kiyingi, and Irene Muloni were beated in the October races.

President Museveni appears to be succumbing to the doomsday outlook for his prospects in eastern Uganda. It is widely believed it is the reason he on Nov.11 engineered a Museveni in a minireshu昀툀e to replace the ministers that saw him appointed three easterners to replace two westerners and an easterner in his cabinet.

That was a surprise because Museveni has never appointed ministers from one region in a single reshu昀툀e. It would have been less surprising if it had been from the West which has always seemed to be his favorite when it comes to choosing ministers but not the East which has until recently had only three cabinet ministers. What is more surprising is that two of the people he was replacing (Kategaya and Nyakairima) were from the West. Octogenarian Kirunda Kivejinja, Bukedea Woman MP Rose Akol, Bunghoko South MP Michael Werikhe were appointed to replace the late Eriya Kategaya, the late Aronda Nyakairima, and the late James Mutende.

The timing of the reshu昀툀e also caused wise-watchers to wink. Many wondered aloud why Museveni was carrying out a reshu昀툀e, less than three months to the end of his term after he had comfortably left some of the slots un昀椀lled for more than two years. Kategaya’s position had been vacant for almost three years now since his death in March 2013.

The view in the bars and taxis is that Museveni plo琀琀ed the new appointments as a strategy to neutralize his opponents in the region. Bubulo East MP Simon Mulongo, who is also from the east, belongs to Museveni’s party and was defeated in the primaries, told The Independent Museveni was smart to make that move.

He said it was high time Museveni

Kizza BesigyeAmama Mbabazi

appeased and appreciated the people of eastern Uganda because they have felt marginalised for so long and could easily run out of patience at the polls in 2016.

“Do you know that the entire region from Jinja all the way to Karamoja had only three cabinet ministers?” Mulongo said, “How do you think that makes the people feel yet one region (Western) has 20 ministers?

“In fact, Greater Bushenyi alone has more than 昀椀ve and Sheema, one district has two cabinet ministers.”

Before the recent appointments, the Eastern region had Daudi Migereko as minister for Lands, Irene Muloni in Energy, and Jessica Alupo in Education. Mulongo predicts Alupo will not retain her cabinet position in 2016 because of her decision to stand as an Independent after losing in the party’s primaries.

But why is the region so important?

Eastern Uganda has over 4 million voters. In 2011, it had 3,520, 368 registered voters. It also had the highest voter turn up because of these 64% turned up to vote. The region has a volatile voting behavior and the records show how it easily changes from one candidate to another.

This, Mulongo says is because of the region’s social-economic status. Mulongo says because poverty levels are high in the region, its people are the most disgruntled and the most desperate.

They, therefore, are perceived to favour someone that they hope to change their fortunes. Mulongo says this makes the ruling party the most vulnerable in the region because the people think they have nothing to lose by not voting the party they think has marginalised them for long.

“I remember I was on Museveni’s campaign team in 2006 and the people in the region, especially in Teso would ask me why I was campaigning for someone who has marginalised us for a long time.” He said, “Teso told me they would vote for Besigye and indeed they did.”

Makerere University Professor, Sabiiti Makara, one of the authors of the popular book “Elections in a Hybrid Regime” agrees with Mulongo.

He says that people from Eastern Uganda have always felt left out and marginalised both economically and politically hence they feel they do not owe Museveni and the NRM government anything.

“People who feel marginalised can be easily swayed by the opposition,” Maka-

District museveniBesigye

Amuru

56.439.4

Budaka75.122

Bududa7919.4 Bugiri7027.4

Bukedea67.428.6

Bukwa90.57.8

Bulambuli80.817.95

Busia67.5428.8

Butaleja72.223.24

Buyende89.69.5 Iganga69.827.8

Jinja65.1531.85

Kabaramaido43.5651.89 Kaliro90.268.49

Kamuli80.5317.7

Kapchorwa78.2920.66

Katakwi71.6624.38 Kumi54.5841.17 Kweeli84.5214.47 luuka81.4216.52 manafwa76.1421.26 mayuge76.5520.49 mbale62.5835.63 namanyingo 78.3419.24 namutanda82.7913.38 ngora47.3748.2

Pallisa63.4333.38 serere40.855 sironko52.7146.0 soroti61.0934.59

Tororo59.2932.79

make Eastern Uganda a special case, according to Mulongo, is the region’s diverse ethnicities. He says because of many ethnic groups, the people in this region tend to have di昀昀erent aspirations.

“The East is the only region where people can’t speak to one another because of the sharp di昀昀erences in their languages,” he says, “as such, each ethnicity has its own expectations.”

This, analysts say, could work in Mbabazi’s favour. After declaring his Presidential aspirations in June, Mbabazi signi昀椀cantly chose to kick start his consultations from the Eastern region.

Before police stopped the process after he had held only three meetings, the region had already shown Mbabazi overwhelming support going by the crowds he a琀琀racted at these consultation meetings.

Sources say, Museveni was so threatened that he ordered Police to stop Mbabazi’s consultations with bullets and teargas. It did not help ma琀琀ers that the Electoral Commission and Police started making up unconvincing explanations about how he is breaching the law (Presidential Elections Act) before Police reprehensibly stopped his consultations in September.

Museveni realized Mbabazi could potentially threaten his interests in a region that has proved to be volatile. What is often missed is that Mbabazi might , in fact, instead claw away part of Besigye’s support in the region and hand Museveni another uncontestable win eastern Uganda

Sources say Museveni realized Mbabazi could potentially threaten his interests in a region that has proved to be volatile. What is often missed is that Mbabazi might , in fact, instead claw away part of Besigye’s support in the region and hand Museveni another uncontestable win eastern Uganda. The smart money would say they saw a similar scenario when Norbert Mao washed out Besigye’s popularity in northern Uganda.

The argument is that being the newest in the race, the region might choose him over Besigye and Museveni.

Makara reasons that’s why Museveni has been trying to reach out to the region in the recent past. He said the latest ministerial appointments could have been to make the people of the region feel included and appreciated.

Makara, however, doubts the ability of some of these appointees to deliver the political clout that Museveni needs in the region. He points at Kirunda Kivejinja who he says no longer wields that much in昀氀uence in the region.

ra said, “Museveni can’t risk losing over 4 million votes.”

Makara said the Eastern vote is still up for grabs and can be the decisive vote in 2016. Among the issues that

“Kirunda Kivenjinja has been losing elections in Bugweri County for three times now,” he said, “that means he doesn’t have any political weight anymore and might not be very useful to Museveni.”

Investors pumps Shs270bn into Utl

Inside Museveni’s war with Finance, UCC over telecom

By Haggai Matsiko

The anticipated arrival of new management at uganda’s oldest telecom company, utl, has several sector players and politicians sitting on the edge of the seats. Among them is President Yoweri museveni. The President has staked his goodwill to salvage what many see as a sinking company. In this, he is seen by some to be pursuing the sel昀椀sh agenda of his government to the detriment of the telecom sector.

This is part of what emerged from a meeting he held with Mohammed Al-Dairi, the Foreign minister of the internationally recognised government of Libya, which holds a controlling stake in utl.

The meeting occurred following a request for cabinet approval to shut down utl by the sector regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). The regulator wanted to treat utl like any other privatelyowned company that had failed to meet its contractual obligations, could not o昀昀er quality service, and was instead sinking under more debt year after year.

Godfrey Mutabazi, the executive director of UCC threatened to shut down utl in April. Even back then, however, informed watchers say they knew he would hit a wall with Museveni.

On paper, utl appeared beyond salvage. Cash strapped, with debts of over Shs360 billion outstripping its assets of Shs220 billion and a subject of countless lawsuits from debtors, UTL was not expected to live to see this December. UCC had reviewed UTL’s external audit reports for the years 2011-2013 and found the company was consistently making losses. It had also failed to pay the fees for the spectrum assigned to it, resulting in a Shs13 billion debt.

The company has also had management challenges and has had four MDs in 昀椀ve years. Donald Nyakairu was in 2011 replaced by David Holiday, who was also replaced by Ali Amir. In May this year, UTL appointed Mark Shoebridge to become its acting Managing Director after his predecessor, Ali Amir, resigned citing personal reasons. But others say he was pushed.

Early in the year, its workers accused it of

President Yoweri Museveni

Stephen Kaboyo

Aston Kajara

Godfrey Mutabazi

plo琀琀ing to rob them of their savings amounting to Shs. 15 billion.

The managers of utl had requested NSSF to return retirement bene昀椀ts of 1,986 employees, claiming the money was remi琀琀ed in error because pensionable employees cannot at the same time contribute to NSSF. Court blocked the move. Majority of bene昀椀ciaries belonged to the Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Company (UPTC), the precursor to UTL. UPTC was disbanded in February 1998 into; UTL, Post Bank, Posta Uganda and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

While government owns 31% of UTL, the majority shareholder with 69 percent is LAP GreenN, owned by the Libya Africa Portfolio (LAP) a subsidiary of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA). LIA is Libya’s main sovereign wealth entity, with investments valued at over US$ 50 billion. These entities were created during Gadha昀椀’s 40-year reign.

Even before Gadha昀椀 was overthrown in August 2011, the United Nations in March 2011 slapped sanctions on all the assets owned by LIA, and in e昀昀ect left companies like UTL in legal limbo.

Gadha昀椀’s ouster led to chaos in Libya and an eruption of 昀椀ghting factions led to a power vacuum. At the time, Libyan investments in Uganda were estimated to be about about $375 million. Museveni’s government soon took gingerly steps to keep the companies running because, although Museveni and Gadha昀椀 did not always agree ideologically and at a personal level, Libya was well respected in Uganda. It was heavily invested in Muslim a昀昀airs; including construction of the biggest mosque, the 15,000-si琀琀er Gadha昀椀 National Mosque in Kampala and the close relationship with the Toro royal family. Libyan assets included 69% shareholding in UTL and 49% ownership of National Housing and Construction Corporation. Libya also controlled Tamoil, a 昀椀rm which at one point controlled Uganda’s commercial oil depots in Jinja and had prospects of building the country’s oil pipeline from Eldoret, Kenya to Uganda.

The government, the same year, moved to take over utl. But it has never invested a coin. Even when LAP GreenN later regained control of UTL in 2012 because it was still cash strapped, the Ugandan company remained struggling. The situation got worse over the years until the regulator lost his patience in April this year.

At this point, UTL had accumulated debts to the tune of Shs53 billion in taxes to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and monthly contributions to UCC.

The other debtors, MTN and Airtel were breathing down Mutabazi’s neck, threatening unilateral court action, and urging the regulator to act and get

The nitty-gritties of the deal are being worked out by of昀椀cials at Finance, LAP GreenN and the of昀椀cials from LIPTIC in a series of meeting in international capitals

UTL to pay up, be penalized, or blocked from accumulating more debt.

Mutabazi had in the past got the competitors to be patient. When MTN threatened to block UTL’s calls over its failure to pay interconnection fees between 2008 and 2009, the regulator intervened and requested for more time on behalf of UTL.

Now, 7-years later, a hearing at the registrar of companies was instituted that could have resulted into the closure of utl.

New investor arrives

As pressure piled, UTL could no longer raise the $1 million (shs3.4 billion) it required for operational costs every month and severally failed to pay suppliers, including advertisers. In a brand driven market, UTL e昀昀ectively buried itself. That is when Mutabazi swung in. But he was counting the pennies, even as the

politics was in clear sight. The politics arrived in the form of a request by utl management for reprieve and Museveni’s meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Dairi.

In the meeting a琀琀ended by State Minister in charge of Privatisation, Aston Kajara, Stephen Kaboyo, UTL’s Board chairman and Wa昀椀k Al-Shater, Group chief executive o昀케cer of LAP GreenN, the Libyans announced that they had a plan to turn utl around.

After the Libyan o昀케cials made the pledge, sources say, Museveni turned and instructed his o昀케cials to give the investor time. “If these people are willing to raise money,” he is reported to have said, “then why should we revoke their licence, let us give them time to bring it.”

Museveni told o昀케cials that revoking utl’s licence was tantamount to dancing on a grave of a friend in reference to fallen Libyan leader, Col. Mammuar Gada昀椀.

He even ordered that the money utl owes the government be treated as equity injection. Insiders say Museveni had also directed the regulator to ask MTN not to block UTL calls and guaranteed that MTN’s money would be paid.

Museveni’s patience seems to have paid o昀昀. The LAP GreenN o昀케cials say they have got Libyan telecoms giant, Libyan Post Telecommunications and Information Technology Company (LPTIC) to take over all the African telecoms investments of LAP. LIPTIC is Libya’s state telecoms holding company. The company owns all the main state telecommunications companies in Libya including the two main state mobile operators Libyana and Al-Madar, the main state internet provider Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT), Aljeel and International Telecom Company, Hatef Libya.

Apparently, LAP transferred its telecoms investments in Africa to LIPTIC to consolidate and take advantage of the la琀琀er’s specialist expertise in the telecoms sector.

The arrival of LIPTIC is likely to shake up both the utility and the sector. Once again, utl is likely to see a change of manage-

ment. On the sector front, the dominant players like MTN and Airtel are likely to see the entry of a government -backed small player with a big punch.

For now, telecom market leader is not talking to the press. Asked to comment on the status of the utl debt in the light of the latest developments, Justina Ntabgoba, the Senior Manager Corporate A昀昀airs at MTN Uganda instead referred us to utl.

“Our interconnect arrangements with partners are subject to con昀椀dentiality undertakings,” she said, “Please refer to UTL as we are not aware of any intended change in ownership of utl.”

But Minister Kajara is optimistic.

“I can tell you that the current investor (LIPTIC) is more viable than the former,” Kajara told The Independent, “They presented us with a credible investment plan, monetary commitments, rescue plan and growth plan.”

The ni琀琀y-gri琀琀ies of the deal are being worked out by o昀케cials at Finance, LAP GreenN and the o昀케cials from LIPTIC in a series of meeting in international capitals.

The 昀椀rst o昀케cial contact between Ugandan o昀케cials and LIPTIC was Malta. After this, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda met the Libyan telecom investors in Dubai. As we went to press, another Ugandan delegation was set to meet LIPTIC o昀케cials in Dubai again.

LIPTIC o昀케cials have also been to Uganda, done diligence on utl, and have had several meetings with o昀케cials here. Government has also done due diligence on LIPTIC.

Once a pending shareholders’ meeting expected early next year takes place, utl o昀케cials will again update cabinet.

“We are at the tail end of 昀椀nalising the transfer agreement,” said Kaboyo.

As part of the deal, LIPTIC is bringing on board some $70 million (Approx. Shs230 billion). That is not much, but it is a good start on the path to recaptalisation of utl.

The investment part of the plan covers September 2015 to the same month in 2016 and involves both cash injections and investment in new equipment.

Sources say utl’s technology is almost obsolete. There has not been investment into utl since 2010. Yet according to experts, given the rate at which telephony technology changes, in a telecom company of its calibre, every three years, an investment of $100 million is required.

The company also has to meet its debt obligations.

President Museveni has pledged to dive in on the debt. Most likely, o昀케cials expect government to forfeit Shs53 billion, owed to the Uganda Revenue Authority and UCC.

Kaboyo said the plan in the works aims to reestablish utl’s credibility as a truly Ugandan brand, which is strategic and has potential to make government money; the reason Uganda must

UTL has been the only provider that government uses and never pays.

From State House to Uganda Police, among other departments, government has accumulated a debt over Shs. 11 billion in phone call bills

support it.

Although government is not pu琀琀ing hard cash on the table, Kaboyo says that the good will it has shown is critical to the company.

The Libyan ambassador to Uganda, Fawzi B. M Bouketf has in the past acknowledged that it is government support that prevented the closure of utl.

The government, for instance, has o昀昀ered utl incentives, including ensuring that all government o昀케ces use utl numbers.

Minister Kajara, told The Independent that government had gone to that extent to save UTL because it didn’t want to lose its only foot in the strategic sector that telecom is.

“Telecom is a strategic sector,” he told The Independent, “government needs to keep a hand there.”

It is a view favoured by Parlia-

ment. Legislators on the Parliamentary Commi琀琀ee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) early this year asked that utl be re-nationalised.

Kaboyo said that sentiment is driven by the feeling that when the government privatised all strategic businesses, it opened the country to external control and investors who make money and take all the dollars away.

Sel sh interests

But critics say the government is, in fact, the cause for utl’s woes because, one, it never pays its bills and has accumulated a debt of Shs11 billion. Two, as a shareholder, government has a duty to invest cash in the company— it has never.

At stake for Museveni, sources involved in the deal say, is the desire to save what is seen as Uganda’s national telecom company, used by government departments like Uganda Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), among others. Government owns a 31% stake in the company.

UTL has been the only provider that government uses and never pays. From State House to Uganda Police, among other departments, government has accumulated a debt over Shs. 11 billion in phone call bills.

In response, Kajara told The Independent that government pays and that what is left is just a small balance. “But most importantly,” the minister added, “We demand much more money from them. That money (Shs. 53 billion) is supposed to be in the Consolidated Fund.”

He insisted the focus is now on ge琀琀ing this investment that is coming in. But it seems Mutabazi is still waiting to swing the axe. “The President had given them (Utl) two months which have since expired,” he told The Independent early December, “So we will proceed with regulatory applications and act according to the law.”

The 60 days were from April. But as they neared expiration in June is when the Libyans met Museveni and got a new lease of life. The fate of utl is clearly far from decided.

Pope opens Jubilee year

Tells Church to embrace modern world even as he embraced history

By Angus Mackinnon

Pope Francis on Tuesday launched an extraordinary Catholic Jubilee year of mercy by opening a “Holy Door” in the walls of St Peter’s, embracing a 700-year-old tradition as he urged his Church to reach out to the modern world.

“This is the door of the Lord. Open to me the gates of justice,” the Argentinian ponti昀昀 said before being helped up three marble steps to push the giant bronze doors open.

In a break with tradition that re昀氀ected Francis’s modernising instincts, the order to open the doors was delivered in Italian rather than Latin.

The 78-year-old then paused on the threshold of the renaissance basilica for two minutes of silent prayer before walking inside in an act to be carried out by millions of pilgrims before the Jubilee closes next November.

Francis was followed gingerly through the door by his frail predecessor, the now-retired Benedict XVI, 88, and by hundreds of cardinals, bishops and male and female members of religious orders. Clutching a walking stick in his right-hand and looking extremely pale, Benedict, 88, was helped into the basilica on the arm of his assistant Georg Ganswein. Amid heightened security following recent terror a琀琀acks around the world, the Vatican said 70,000 pilgrims had packed into St Peter’s square and surrounding streets to watch Francis open the usually bricked-up wall in the facade of the renaissance basilica. Many had tears rolling down their cheeks or eyes clenched shut in prayer as Francis ordered the door open for the 昀椀rst time since the last Jubilee, in 2000.

scandal and internecine bickering in its upper echelons.

Tuesday’s celebrations will conclude in the evening when images by some of the world’s greatest environmental photographers will be projected onto the facade of Saint Peter’s in an initiative linked to the ongoing global climate conference in Paris.

- Mercy not judgement -The Jubilee, which runs until November 20, 2016, was called by Francis with the express goal of changing the way the Church is perceived by the faithful, lapsed believers and the rest of the world.

“How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy,” he said on Tuesday.

“We have to put mercy before judgment ... Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not be昀椀t men and women who are loved.” In a surprise move re昀氀ecting that aim, Francis announced in September that for the duration of the Jubilee, priests would be given special dispensation to absolve women who have had abortions.

In addition, some 800 priests around the world are to be designated “missionaries of mercy” tasked with encouraging higher levels of confession amongst believers.

Among them was Cecilia Koo from South Korea. “This pope says he is here to serve. He is one of my favourites,” she said.

Polish friends Teresa and Carolina were returning to Rome after coming for John Paul II’s Jubilee 15 years ago. “What will I change to mark the Jubilee? I think I’ll give some change to a homeless beggar that I usually ignore,” con昀椀ded Teresa.

Francis used his homily to underline the signi昀椀cance of his decision to start the Jubilee on the 50th anniversary of the end of the second Vatican Council, a gathering of bishops credited with a modernisation

of the Church that Francis is a琀琀empting to emulate. Francis said the 1960s council had allowed the Church to emerge from selfenclosure.

“It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces,” he said. “Wherever there are people, the Church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the gospel.”

For Francis’s predecessor, the Germanborn Joseph Ra琀稀inger, Tuesday’s ceremony represented a rare public outing.

The Emeritus Pope, as he is o昀케cially known, has lived in seclusion within the Vatican since retiring in 2013 as failing health left him incapable of running an institution beset by the clerical sex abuse

Those involved have been selected for their ability to preach well, understand human frailty and ensure the confessional is not experienced “like a torture chamber” as the pope has put it. Francis’s push for a less judgemental, more understanding Church has encountered 昀椀erce resistance from traditionalists opposed to any relaxation of teaching on hot-bu琀琀on subjects such as homosexuality, divorce and unmarried cohabitation.

Traditionally, Catholics were expected to make a pilgrimage to Rome to bene昀椀t from the indulgences on o昀昀er to the faithful who pass through the Holy Doors during Jubilee years.

Francis has e昀昀ectively done away with this custom by ordering cathedrals around the world to open their own Holy Doors. That will happen on Sunday, when Francis himself opens the door at one of Rome’s major churches, St John Lateran.

AFP

Pope Francis opens a “Holy Door” at St Peter’s basilica to mark the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, on Dec.8 in Vatican. In Catholic tradition, the opening of “Holy Doors” in Rome symbolises an invitation from the Church to believers to enter into a renewed relationship with God.

AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

By Flavia Nassaka

On Dec. 03, the Electoral Commission concluded nominations for those seeking to become Members of Parliament come 2016. It was a bad day on the road especially for those who use public means of transport as many taxis had been hired to ferry supporters. When I got to the stage, the few taxis available were `overloading’- forcing four passengers per seat contrary to the acceptable three.No one objected to this and in a few minutes, the driver hit the road. But it was not long before a tra昀케c police o昀케cer 昀氀agged down the taxi. In a familiar scene on Ugandan roads, the driver got out of the taxi and engaged in a short conversation with the female police o昀케cer. With the issue resolved, we drove on. That’s how a debate about corruption started.

A passenger lambasted the driver for giving the police woman a bribe and said that it encourages drivers to break the law knowing that they will give tra昀케c o昀케cers li琀琀le money and get away with it. But many thought it was OK for the driver to bribe. To a琀琀empt to justify the act,the taxi conductor volunteered that it is be琀琀er to pay the bribe which, he said; he paid at least once a week “Do you know how much we would be paying in 昀椀nes if tra昀케c o昀케cers were refusing this money?”he said.

Possibly unknown to the taxi driver, his conductor, and some of the passengers that supported paying bribes, it is such behavior that piles up to create a culture of corruption that is now making Uganda gain notoriety.

Just two days before this incident, on Dec. 01, Transparency International; a global NGO that tracks corruption related issues in di昀昀erent countries, had issued a report showing that about 75 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to have paid a bribe in the past year.

Police are most corrupt

The Transparency International report titled `People and Corruption: Africa survey 2015’ noted that those millions had to pay either to escape punishment by the police and court or they were forced to pay to get access to the basic services that they desperately needed. The researchers spoke to 43,143 respondents across 28 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa between March 2014 and September 2015 to ask them about their experiences and perceptions of corruption in their country.

Only 22% of the people interviewed thought that corruption had decreased in their countries. In Uganda over 60% of the 2,400 respondents sampled thought corruption had increased over the past 12 months. 38% of the respondents in Uganda said they paid bribe in a bid to use a form of public

Uganda ranked among most corrupt nations

69% think little is being done to curb the vice

service that should be free.

The police are seen as the most corrupt in Africa at 47%. The police are followed by business executives,who are seen as the second most corrupt group (42% say most or all business executives are corrupt).Government o昀케cials and tax o昀케cials rank as the third and fourth most corrupt groups(38% and 37% respectively).

Peter Wandera, the Executive Director of

Transparency International Uganda, told The Independent on Dec.04 that the rate of corruption in institutions like police, lands, courts, health and private companies in Uganda is way above the average in Africa. He said corruption had gone down only in the Uganda Revenue Authority.

Corruption in Uganda has been ge琀琀ing worse, according to the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Uganda was

Executive Director, Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) Cissy Kagaba debating about vote buying during the 5th anti-corruption convention on Dec 7. Experts say fighting corruption should be everyone’s duty. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

ranked 127th in 2010, 143 in 2011, 130 in 2012, 140 in 2013, and 142 in 2014. In terms of CPI, the higher the corruption, the higher is the ranking.

It should be noted that the CPI does not measure actual incidents of corruption but rather the extent to which citizens think corruption takes place. Uganda’s bad perception 昀椀gures could be as a result of the many stories of theft in public o昀케ces.

Wandera says Uganda has over the years passed good laws to curb corruption but failure to implement them remains a problem.

“That’s why you see that 69% of our respondents thought the government is not doing enough to 昀椀ght corruption,” he said adding that some institutions that are supposed to 昀椀ght corruption are corrupt themselves,” he said.

Wandera says curbing the vice comes with a lot of individual e昀昀orts and citizens also have a role to play by reporting those who solicit for bribes. But the Transparency International report shows that 35% of their respondents were scared of the consequence of reporting corrupt tendencies. It recommends that governments include clear anti-corruption measures with e昀昀ective reporting mechanisms where whistleblowers are protected.

Wandera says in Uganda it is now cheaper to pay a bribe than the 昀椀nes because the

system is not working. He said a taxi driver may opt not to buy the mandatory Third Party insurance because they know they will bribe pay their way out if caught.

“If that option wasn’t available, they would conform to the laws established,” he said.

He said although there are reports that show amounts of money that have been mismanaged or stolen, the reports and inquiries is never known to the public and the o昀昀enders are rarely implicated.

Fighting the vice

High pro昀椀le cases of corruption over time include the CHOGM saga in 2007 which became public in 2011 when high pro昀椀le people including then-Vice President Gilbert Bukenya were implicated for mismanaging billions of shillings meant for the CHOGM summit, the Global Fund scandal in 2008 when money meant for malaria and tuberculosis drugs ended up in the pockets of a few, the NSSF Temangalo land purchase put then Security Minister Amama Mbabazi on spot, the Pension scandal of 2012 where Shs169 billion meant for pension was swindled, and the Kazinda scandal in Prime Minister’s O昀케ce in which billions of shillings was swindled in a syndicate involving several ministries.

John Saturday, the Director Capacity Building at Public procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) says in 2014 up to 118 procurement audits were conducted in 118 entities and found that contracts worth Shs3.1 billion were corruptibly awarded to pre-determined bidders.

In other cases of corruption, Shs11.4 billion was advanced to providers without the required Advance Payment Guarantee of Security. John Saturday said this put the government resources at risk in case

the provider defaulted, that money would be lost because there will be no back up to recover the resources.He said Shs74.8 million was lost in contract awards in 2014/2015 昀椀nancial year.

Saturday said the government is moving to plug avenues of corruption after realizing that it is commi琀琀ed in a syndicate way.

He said 104 cases were investigated in 2014/2015 and 45 companies were suspended from procurement and disposal procedures because of corruption related and fraud issues.

In July, parliament passed amendments to the Anti-corruption Act 2013 to provide for con昀椀scating property of the people convicted, including property registered in names of relatives of the culprit.

An on-going commission of inquiry into the alleged mismanagement of resources in the roads body – Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has, for example, exposed o昀케cials who have been colluding in corruption tendencies right from awarding of contracts to implementation of work. On this commission are o昀케cials from accountability institutions like the o昀케ce of the auditor general, PPDA, and the Inspectorate of Government (IG).

John Saturday said, however, they are aware that when they plug one gap the corrupt use another. They are, therefore, strategically working together with other government entities involved in accountability especially those that can prosecute to bring o昀昀enders to book.

While implicating o昀昀enders would be easy, their biggest problem is gathering evidence to pin someone because di昀昀erent departments, institutions and individuals collude in very sophisticated ways. The Auditor General, John Muwanga, had earlier made similar observations while appearing on television. Muwanga said auditors mainly depend on reports provided by accountants yet some of them do not note critical issues.

Saturday said there are also other factors a昀昀ecting them like lack of resources, understa昀케ng, and grappling with a backlog of cases. He said the introduction of e-procurement would ease monitoring and award of tenders and ensure transparency.

Another way to 昀椀ght corruption, according to the Transparency International report, is to tackle poverty because they go hand in hand. Poverty makes people engage in corrupt tendencies. But graft in public service places is an added burden on people who are already struggling to a昀昀ord basic necessities like food and health care.

From Dec. 02 to 09 Uganda joined the world to mark the Anti-corruption Week which focuses on 昀椀ghting corruption. The UN initiated it in 2010 to highlight what people can do. The theme for this year was ‘Break the Corruption Chain’.

By Agencies

Santa Claus arrived early in South Africa — on a Chinese jet. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed multiple business deals and brought o昀昀ers of billions in new grants, loans, export credits, and investment funds as African leaders met for the sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, a triennial extravaganza that showcases development and security issues of concern to Chinese and African leaders.

Not surprisingly, Xi’s second presidential visit to Africa, which also included a stop in Zimbabwe, has refocused a琀琀ention on China’s expanded role on the continent. The story has dominated the airwaves and has been splashed across broadsheets around the world. But as is so often the case with China-in-Africa coverage, much of it should come with a warning label: Consume with a grain of salt. Here are 昀椀ve of the most dangerous — and persistent — myths about Chinese engagement in Africa that are reliably recycled by the press.

 The 昀椀rst — and most damaging myth is that China is in Africa only to extract natural resources. There is no question that the continent’s vast natural resource endowments are a big draw for Chinese 昀椀rms — just as they are for Western oil and minerals giants like Shell, ExxonMobil, and Glencore. Yet even in oil-rich countries like Nigeria, this is far from the whole story. In 2014 alone, Chinese companies signed over $70 billion in construction contracts in Africa that will yield vital infrastructure, provide jobs, and boost the skill set of the local workforce. Technology companies have also done much to accelerate local development. More than a decade ago, the Chinese telecom 昀椀rm Huawei established its West African training school in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Ever since, it has been honing the skills of local engineers who are rolling out the cell phone networks that underpin Africa’s telecommunications revolution. The story is the same in other sectors: Our China Africa Research Initiative team at Johns Hopkins University, which has sought to map Chinese engagement and analyze its impact, found Chinese factories in Nigeria employing Nigerians and producing building materials, light bulbs, ceramics, and steel from salvaged ships. As one Nigerian o昀케cial told me in a 2009 interview, “The Chinese are trying to get involved in every sector of our economy.”

 A second myth centers around the extent of Chinese involvement on the continent. Observers often dramatically overstate the scope of Chinese o昀케cial 昀椀nance — loans and aid — pledged to Africa and other developing countries. Granted, the Chinese are not terribly transparent about these 昀椀nancial 昀氀ows. Whereas members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which consists

Delegates and Heads of state attend the opening session of the Forum on Africa and China Cooperation at Sandton in Johannesburg, on Dec. 04. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced $60 billion of assistance and loans for Africa at the summit, signaling China’s commitment to the continent despite a recent fall in investment.

5 myths about Chinese investment in Africa

mainly of developed states, report their annual, country-level commitments of loans and aid, the Chinese do not. Beijing does, however, publish aggregate 昀椀gures every few years — and they are lower than some of the breathless reporting would suggest. Between 2010 and 2012, Chinese o昀케cial aid grew rapidly, but the total over those three years came to just $14.4 billion globally.

Compare that to a 2013 Rand Corporation study that tried to estimate Chinese aid by aggregating media reports. The 昀椀gure the study’s authors came up with was $189.3 billion for 2011 alone. Wonder what they counted? One media story included as a Chinese aid commitment in their study o昀昀ers a particularly stark illustration of their 昀氀awed methodology: In 2010, the business publication Tendersinfo News reported that

a group of Chinese businessmen signed 22 agreements worth $250 million at an Egyptian business forum. Se琀琀ing aside the fact that only a tiny percentage of memorandums of understanding like this ever result in real projects, the idea that such agreements would qualify as Chinese aid commitments is absurd.

Researchers at the Japan International Cooperation Agency Research Institute made a more rigorous e昀昀ort to estimate the volume of Chinese development assistance. Unlike the Rand researchers, they 昀椀gured that aid should include only the types of things that China, Japan, and other donor countries classify as o昀케cial development assistance — for example, grants and subsidised loans. Their estimate for Chinese aid in 2011 was a modest $4.5 billion.

Another equally surreal example of commitment in昀氀ation was the bizarre 2013 story from a Hong Kong newspaper that China had supposedly pledged $1 trillion in 昀椀nance for Africa by 2025, with 70 to 80 percent of this 昀椀gure coming from China’s Export-Import Bank. When the report appeared, the Chinese bank took the unusual step of posting an online denial and even reportedly threatened legal action. Yet the story continues to circulate. That the 昀椀gure was in the realm of fantasy is clear: Reaching this goal would have required some $83 billion per year. Although Chinese banks are increasingly active in Africa, our Chinese loan database shows that their total 昀椀nancial commitments in recent years have been roughly $10 billion annually. Even this level of 昀椀nance has been di昀케cult to disburse in countries worried about rising debt. In 2014, for example, such concerns led Ghana to cancel half of a $3 billion loan facility it signed three years earlier with the China Development Bank.

 A third persistent myth is that Chinese companies employ mainly their own nationals. Last July, when President Barack Obama told a group of African ambassadors in Ethiopia that “economic relationships can’t simply be about building countries’ infrastructure with foreign labor,” everyone knew he was pointing the 昀椀nger at China. But was this an accurate description of Chinese business practices? In a small group of oil-rich countries with expensive construction sectors — including Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Angola — governments do allow Chinese construction

昀椀rms to import their own workers from China. But elsewhere in Africa, the research is clear: The vast majority of employees at Chinese 昀椀rms are local hires. Hong Kongbased academics Barry Sautman and Yan Hairong surveyed 400 Chinese companies operating in over 40 African countries. They found that while management and senior technical positions tended to remain Chinese, more than 80 percent of workers were local. Some companies had localised as much as 99 percent of their workforces.

Our own research in Ethiopia found that nearly 4,800 Ethiopians were employed by the Chinese 昀椀rm that built Ethiopia’s urban light rail project. Another 4,000 Ethiopians worked at Huajian, a Chinese shoe factory close to the capital of Addis Ababa. In both cases, some local workers were even sent to China for management training. These practices make economic sense for Chinese companies. In order to bring workers from China, they would have to pay much higher salaries, plus pay for airfare, room, and board. There are certainly tensions around many Chinese worksites in Africa, but they tend to stem from disputes about salaries and work conditions — not whether jobs exist for locals.

 A fourth myth that won’t go away is that Chinese aid and 昀椀nancing is itself a vehicle for securing oil concessions and mining rights. As Richard Behar wrote in a 2008 article in Fast Company, China 昀椀nances “hospitals, water pipelines, dams, railways, airports, hotels, soccer stadiums, parliament buildings — nearly all of them linked, in some way, to China’s gaining access to raw materials.” The Rand Corporation study referenced above similarly suggested that China “gets an expanded supply of resource commodities expected as payback” for its aid. A 2009 Congressional Research Service report concluded: “China’s foreign aid is driven primarily by the need for natural resources.”

Yet earlier this year, a group of researchers who actually tracked Chinese aid commitments reported that natural resource acquisition did not explain the pa琀琀ern. Our own database has yet to uncover a case where Chinese aid was directly swapped for a mining or oil concession. Only one well-known deal comes close to resembling this practice. In 2007, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and two Chinese construction companies founded a joint venture to bring a moribund copper mine back to life. They then negotiated with China’s Export-Import Bank to secure a $6 billion commercial rate loan, guaranteeing repayment out of the future pro昀椀ts from the mine. The loan, which was later reduced to $3 billion, would be used to 昀椀nance infrastructure built by the two Chinese companies. Even in this case, however, it was clear that the primary interest of the Chinese companies was not access to mineral riches,

but 昀椀nding a way to 昀椀nance the infrastructure projects they wanted to build in a country with a poor credit history.

In most other cases where Chinese banks have demanded a secure 昀氀ow of income to guarantee large loans in Africa, there were no Chinese-operated mines or oil wells involved. For example, Ghana secured a $562 million loan to build its Bui Dam from China’s Export-Import Bank with cocoa produced by Ghanaian farmers. In a similar vein, it secured the $3 billion loan from the China Development Bank — the one that was later halved — with oil exports from a concession that was owned by British multinational Tullow Oil and other non-Chinese partners. In the Republic of Congo, China provided a $1.5 billion oil-backed loan, but has no oil assets. Petroleum is pumped there by European 昀椀rms Total and Eni.

 The 昀椀fth and 昀椀nal myth is that China has an insatiable appetite for African land, and perhaps even a plan to send groups of Chinese peasants to grow food in Africa that will then be shipped back home. In 2012, the chief economist of the African Development Bank called China the “biggest land grabber” in Africa. One widely circulated story alleged that China had purchased half the farm land in the DRC. Others claimed that Chinese were establishing rural villages across Africa. But in a book published in November, my research team and I examined 60 stories about Chinese agricultural investments, including the one in the DRC. We spent three years doing 昀椀eldwork and conducting interviews in over a dozen countries to check the facts — and out of nearly 15 million acres that Chinese companies reportedly acquired, we found evidence of fewer than 700,000 acres. The largest existing Chinese farms were rubber, sugar, and sisal plantations. None were growing food for export to China. And while countries like Zambia now host as many as several dozen Chinese entrepreneurs who grow crops and raise chickens for local markets, we found no villages of Chinese peasants.

Myth-making like this makes it harder to focus on a number of very real problems that exist with China-Africa engagement, such as resource transparency, sustainable timber certi昀椀cation, and the protection of endangered species. Distracted by imaginary problems like the ones outlined above, China-U.S. cooperation on Africa has moved at a glacial pace. Moving beyond mythology might make for a slower news day as Xi wraps up his visit to South Africa, but it will help create a be琀琀er informed basis for Western engagement with China — in Africa and elsewhere.

Source: Foreign Policy Magazine

By Flavia Nassaka

Has someone ever asked you to take a deep breath?Alternatively, have you ever asked someone to do so? Taking a deep breath is a common relaxation technique used when someone is angry, anxious, tense, or has suffered a panic attack. Doctors say deep breathing increases supply of oxygen to the brain allowing the body to calm down. That possibly mean if you took deep breaths often, you could possibly be calmer most of the time.

Dr Micheal Manyindo says the reason we breathe is to get oxygen needed in every part of the body especially the brain which is the body control center. With no oxygen in the brain, then all the other parts of the body are a昀昀ected. He says breathing properly can boost the body’s immunity to diseases. He advises people to train themselves to breath in the right way all the time.

Unfortunately, managing breathing is the last thing anyone thinks about. Infact we only get to think about breathing during times when one is struggling to or has completely failed to breath.

Dr. Rebecca Nantanda is familiar with this. She is a pediatrician and she treats children with breathing diseases at Mulago National referral Hospital in Kampala. Nantanda says the way you draw breath can a昀昀ect your physical and mental wellbeing.

“If one is breathing, you shouldn’t hear that they are breathing. If there is noisy breathing, this may mean that there is an obstruction in the airways,” she says.

She says anything that a昀昀ects the lungs or rib cage can cause an increased breathe rate.

“In people experiencing an asthma a琀琀ack, the airways become narrow making them breathe faster in order to meet their oxygen needs,” she explains. She says the normal breathing rate depends on one’s age. Young children tend to breathe much faster compared to adults. When we are younger, we all take deep, relaxing breaths. But as we age, the way we breathe changes as fear and stress set in. One starts having short sharp breaths to help prepare for the challenge you will have to 昀椀ght. Prolonged periods of stress mean we constantly breathe like this leading to poor exchange of oxygen and carbondioxide in the bloodstream and in the end the

How healthy is your breathing?

Physicians advise us to breathe a little bit slower

body will be deprived of vital gases.

She says that for babies below two months, their normal breathing rate should be below 60 times per minute whereas for children aged 2 to 12 months, the normal breathing rate should be below 50 times per minute. For older children, below 40 times per minute while at rest yet what’s normal for adults is 30 times per minute when at rest.

Breathing very fast means that there’s a problem with the lungs. She says the fast rate may mean that one has an infection. This makes the lungs sti昀昀er, prompting need for more e昀昀ort to breath leading to a high rate of breathing.

However she says you should only get worried when you breathe faster while at rest but when exercising, you will need a lot of oxygen to meet the exercise demands and the breathing rate will automatically increase.

Dr Manyindo says people can be taught to do away with poor breathing habits, like shallow breathing, but it requires practice and exercises.

“It’s healthy to breathe a lit bit slower. If you train yourself to do this, it will have bene昀椀ts for not just your heart but the brain too.

“If you are breathing and the belly is expanding rather than sinking in, that’s what we call diaphragm breathing,” he says. He

encourages people to breathe with their abdomen for it strengthens the diaphragm muscles leading to breathing more e昀케ciently. The diaphragm is a large sheet-like muscle that lies at the bo琀琀om of the chest cavity.

Though this kind of breathing is more useful during stressful times, he advises people to train themselves to do this all the time.

He gives the following tips on how to breathe well:

 Inhale deeply

 Exhale slowly and completely to empty the lungs and activate your diaphragm

 Hold for a moment to allow oxygen to saturate the cells

 Whenever possible breathe in and out from the nose

 Don’t get worried when the breathing rate changes while resting since oxygen needs are less when asleep leading to calm breathing

Doctors say breathing correctly means that our bodies are being supplied with the right amount of oxygen, replenishing our brain to improve the functioning of other body parts. If you are not breathing correctly, your body will lack the needed oxygen, leading to a host of health challenges.

Incredible results you get from walking 30 minutes a day

By Agencies

Taking a walk a day is kind of like that proverbial apple: There’s a good chance it’ll keep the doctor away. From helping you lose weight and de-stress to lowering your blood pressure and reducing your risk of many chronic diseases—going for regular walks is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your health, says Melina B. Jampolis, MD, author of the new book `The Doctor on Demand Diet’.

“Walking is the No. 1 exercise I recommend to most of my patients because it is very easy to do, requires nothing but a pair of tennis shoes, and has tremendous mental and physical bene昀椀ts,” she says.

Here’s what you can expect when you start walking for just 30 minutes every day, most days of the week:

Your mood will improve.

You know how sometimes, it takes a glass of wine or a square (or three) of dark chocolate to blunt the edge of a rough day? Well, going for a walk is a zero-calorie strategy with the same bene昀椀ts, says Jampolis. “Research shows that regular walking actually modi昀椀es your nervous system so much that you’ll experience a decrease in anger and hostility,” she says. What’s more, when you make your walks social—you stride with, say, your partner, a neighbour, or a good friend—that interaction helps you feel connected, says Jampolis, which boosts mood. Finally, walking outdoors exposes you to natural sunlight.

Your creative juices will start owing.

Whether you’re feeling stuck on a big brainstorm for work or you’ve been searching for a solution to a tricky problem, research shows it’s a good idea to get moving: According to a 2014 study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, Learning, Memory, and Cognition, going for a walk can spark creativity. “Researchers administered creative-thinking tests to subjects while seated and while walking and found that the walkers thought more creatively than the si琀琀ers,” says Jampolis. Your jeans will get a little looser.

This one may seem obvious, but it’s certainly a happy bene昀椀t for those who start walking regularly, says Jampolis. “As you continue to walk, you may notice your pants begin to 昀椀t more loosely around your mid-section, even if the number on the scale isn’t moving much,” she says. “That’s because regular walking can

help improve your body’s response to insulin, which can help reduce belly fat.” Ariel Iasevoli, a personal trainer at Crunch gyms in New York City, adds that walking every day is one of the most e昀昀ective low-impact ways to mobilise fat and positively alter body composition.

You’ll slash your risk of chronic disease.

The statistics are impressive: The American Diabetes Association says walking lowers your blood sugar levels and your overall risk for diabetes. Researchers at the University of Boulder Colorado and the University of Tennessee found that regular walking lowered blood as much as 11

may reduce the risk of stroke by 20% to 40%.

One of the most cited studies on walking and health, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002, found that those who walked enough to meet physical activity guidelines (30 or more minutes of moderate activity on 5 or more days per week) had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those who did not walk regularly.

You’ll keep your legs looking great.

As we age, our risk of unsightly varicose veins increases—it’s just not fair. However, walking is a proven way to prevent those unsightly lines from developing, says Luis Navarro, MD, founder and director of The Vein Treatment Center in New York City.

“The venous system includes a circulatory section known as ‘the second heart,’ which is formed by muscles, veins, and valves located in our calf and foot,” he explains. “This system works to push blood back up to the heart and lungs—and walking strengthens this secondary circulatory system by strengthening and preserving leg muscle, which boosts healthy blood 昀氀ow.” If you already su昀昀er from varicose veins, walking daily can help ease related swelling and restlessness in your legs, says Navarro. “Also, if you are genetically predisposed to have varicose and/or spider veins, walking daily can help delay the onset.”

You’ll start to get more “regular.”

If you currently praise co昀昀ee for keeping your digestive system going strong, get ready to start thanking your morning walk instead. That’s because a regular walking routine can greatly improve gastric mobility, says Tara Alaichamy, DPT, a physical therapist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. “One of the very 昀椀rst requirements an abdominal surgery patient is required to do is to walk because it utilises core and abdominal muscles, encouraging movement in our GI system,” she says.

Your other goals will start to seem more reachable.

When you become a regular walker, you will have established a regular routine—and when you have a routine, you are more likely to continue with the activity and take on new healthy behaviors. “I 昀椀rmly believe that walking regularly can help you to accomplish other goals you set your mind to,” says Kim Evans, a personal trainer and daily walker.

Source: Prevention.com.

By Ian Buruma

TThe politics of islamophobia

The more

Western

governments humiliate and bully muslims, the more ISIS wins European recruits

here are many roads to political disaster: greed, hubris, the charisma of the demagogue, and, perhaps most dangerous of all, fear. When people panic, they can become hysterical, and hysteria often leads to mass violence. When politicians convince people that they are in a life-or-death ba琀琀le – that survival is a ma琀琀er of “us or them” – anything becomes possible. Adolf Hitler combined all the elements of political catastrophe: hubris, charisma, greed, and the idea that “Aryans” and Jews were locked in a struggle for survival. Of course, none of the demagogues in the West today – from Donald Trump in the United States to Marine Le Pen or Geert Wilders in Europe – are comparable to Hitler. None has promoted dictatorship, let alone mass murder. But they are de昀椀nitely stirring up the politics of fear.

Trump, for one, also promotes greed, openly boasting of his wealth, and has somehow re昀椀ned outlandish hubris and contradictory posturing into a bizarre form of charisma. On the one hand, he promises to 昀椀x all the world’s problems, and to show China, Russia, the Islamic State, or anyone else who is boss. On the other hand, he claims that his vast and powerful country cannot take in desperate refugees from Syria, because, he warns, Muslim asylumseekers might stage “one of the great military coups of all time.”

Trump’s Republican colleagues in the race for the US presidency, such as Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and Marco Rubio, stoke similar fears about refugees. Cruz, as well as the supposedly more moderate Jeb Bush, even suggested that only Christians should be allowed into the US.

More than 10,000 people are killed every year by gun violence in the US – all but a handful for reasons having nothing to do with Islam. And yet all of the Republican candidates are proud of opposing gun-control measures; indeed, they have no problem allowing people to enter a school or a bar bearing concealed weapons. But even a

relative handful of Muslim refugees is too dangerous to contemplate.

This is not to say that terrible acts of Islamist terror could not happen in the US, or elsewhere. They have, and there probably will be more of them, so long as the Middle East remains in turmoil and revolutionary Islam appeals to disa昀昀ected Western youth. But it is hardly an existential threat.

An American friend of mine speculated that, “We might be one terrorist act away from a Trump presidency.” A spectacular murder spree by Islamists could spook Americans enough to vote for the greatest fear-monger. Anything is possible, but I don’t believe American voters would be that stupid.

The greater danger is, however, that the demagogues will drive even mainstream politicians into their camp. Since the November 13 terror a琀琀acks in Paris, François Hollande, the unpopular but altogether sensible French president, has been so afraid of being labeled a weakling by politicians of the right and far right that he has declared a national state of emergency – and war on the Islamic State (ISIS).

As long as France’s state of emergency lasts, police may arrest people without warrants, break down the doors of private residences in the middle of the night, take over restaurants and other public places with armed force, and generally behave like agents in a police state. Most French citizens are now so frightened of Islamist a琀琀acks that such measures are widely supported. But they are almost certainly counter-productive.

A national leader can declare war on a state, not on a network of revolutionaries. ISIS, despite its claims, is not a state, and Hollande should not treat it as one. Besides, even if bombing ISIS strongholds in Iraq or Syria makes military sense, it won’t break the spell of Islamist revolution for frustrated, bored, and marginalised young people in French slums.

On the contrary: The canny leaders of ISIS also rely on an apocalyptic “us or them” view of the world. Most Mus-

lims are not violent revolutionaries who condone, let alone admire, mass violence. ISIS seeks to broaden its support, especially among young Muslims, by convincing them that true Muslims are in an existential war with the West – that the in昀椀dels are their mortal enemies. For them no less than for Trump, fear is the most powerful weapon.

So the more a Western government allows its policemen to humiliate and bully Muslims in the name of security, the more ISIS is likely to win European recruits. The only way to combat revolutionary Islamist violence is to gain the trust of law-abiding Muslims in the West. This will not be easy, but arbitrary arrests are surely the wrong way to go about it.

Likewise, when it comes to civil wars in the Middle East, Western restraint is usually a be琀琀er strategy than hasty military intervention driven by domestic fear. Republican candidates in the US are already using the recent murder spree in Paris to blame President Barack Obama, and by extension any future Democratic candidate, for being weak. Trump has promised to “bomb the shit out of ISIS.”

This bellicosity has had the e昀昀ect of pushing Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, into distancing herself from Obama. Like Hollande, she has to assuage public fear by talking tough and promising more military action. Obama has consistently resisted the temptation to unleash more wars. His policies have sometimes been inconsistent and irresolute. But in his refusal to give in to panic and act rashly, he has been far braver than all the big talkers who accuse him of being a wimp.

Ian Buruma is Professor of Democracy, Human Rights, and Journalism at Bard College, and the author of Year Zero: A History of 1945.

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2015. www.project-syndicate.org

By Morris Komakech

Mbabazi’s model deserves attention

The core issue is the de-politicisation, decentralisation and standardisation of equitable development

Last week when I read the Go Forward Manifesto, I was struck hard by the central piece of their development proposal called Advanced Sub-County Model of Development (pg23). This model deserves our attention as voters as it will remove the clutter in our development planning. The proposal potentiates a standardised, equitybased development plan.

The ingredient which lacks in the Uganda 2040 vision is a standardisation and equity-based approach. As such, it is littered with micro-management style, and a lot of trial and error, where development is concentrated at national level, politicised, personalised and patronised by the President - leaving nothing concrete for the rural folks and those with divergent beliefs.

The Advanced Sub-County Model of Development has hit on a crucial development design, which should attract social transformational debate in the 2016 elections. The core issue in this proposal is the de-politicisation, decentralisation and standardisation of equitable development.

A 2014 World Bank Reports indicated that 84.23% of our people are rural based and engaged in subsistence livelihoods. Yet, 80% of quality education opportunities and healthcare services are concentrated in urban centres where less than 20% of our population resides.

The Sub-County Model allows us to scrutinise and correct that unnatural order of inequities. First, the JPAM manifesto proposes a formula upon which an equitable development can be achieved horizontally - at sub-county levels – by transforming the sub-county into an economic development unit; and, vertically, by claiming resources that are spent paying for the cost of patronage at the national level.

This, so far, is the best proposal and a winning formula for revitalisation of rural economies. A focus on standardised self-sustaining sub-

counties is a model where equitable investment in social servicestransportation, farmer’s cooperatives with bank/loan services, healthcare, education, recreation, green energy, sustainable environment projects, value adding industries, and markets, etc., can realistically get established closer to the people.

This model means that no matter where you are, you will have the same opportunities and services in your community - built and beautified, equipped and serviced, as well as replenished, with the same intensity, frequency and quality. This is sustainable, accountable, and equitable development.

The format of governance over politicises the county and neglects the Sub-county, thereby disabling rural productive. As a result, most of the districts are unable to raise taxes and develop a tax base sufficient to fund a district’s annual budget. There is a great opportunity to unlock rural potential by decentralising economic development to sub-county levels and guarding it against partisan politics.

When you travel to developed

I have taken the liberty to study the NRM Manifesto. In it, I found nothing captivating and appealing to commonsense

countries, we see standardisation of developments. Roads are designed, structured and developed in the same manner; streets sizes and designs, sign posts are all standardised. Housing, water, sewerage systems, public transportation, public libraries, recreation centres, and other social services are literally structured the same, in an orderly manner, and in development units called Boroughs, or special Wards in Japan known as Tokubetsu ku.

I have taken the liberty to study the NRM Manifesto. In it, I found nothing captivating and appealing to commonsense. In fact, one can correctly assert that it is a compendium of bravado. It does not offer a renewed hope that anything will be done differently than we already know.

In my consultation with the WesigeBesigye Campaign, there is a general consensus on egalitarianism –striving to point out that all humans are equal in fundamental worth or social status, and therefore, the role of government is to offer services equitably to stimulate the unleashing of innovation and production. Dr Kizza Besigye himself has been a consistent advocate of responsible public spending, smaller size of government, reduced costs in public administration, and a deliberate investment in critical areas of production, such as in education, agriculture, healthcare, green energy, electricity, social justice, and so forth. These are areas that I find a striking momentum for real social transformation.

Morris Komakech is a Ugandan social critic and political analyst based in Canada. Can contact via mordust_26@ yahoo.ca

By Isaac Khisa

Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) to Uganda are projected to fall by 5% this year in what experts say is a big blow to job creation for Ugandan workers and economic growth prospects.

The dip is being a琀琀ributed to delays in oil production, weak domestic and regional markets, and a slowdown in the global economy.

Latest data from Bank of Uganda (BoU) shows that FDIs are projected to reach $995.6 million, down from $1,051.6 million recorded in 2014. This is the fourth year in arrow that Uganda is registering a decline in FDI’s since 2011.

Adam Mugume, the director of research at the BoU, told The Independent that the declining trend in FDIs is a琀琀ributed to the subdued global economic growth and commodity prices especially in the oil sector, which have been the major pulling factor for foreign investors in the country.

World Bank has downgraded its outlook for global economic growth to 2.8% this year, 0.2 percentage points slower than in January.

“The oil sector has in addition been a昀昀ected by the delays in oil production licencing,” Mugume says, adding that weak domestic and regional demand that have traditionally pulled FDIs into Uganda also contributed to the sharp decline.

The decline in FDIs in the country has been re昀氀ected in the deterioration of the balance of payment and consequently the exchange rate depreciation.

Uganda’s export earnings are expected to drop by $200 million this year, a琀琀ributed to a decline in global trade. BoU estimates that the total export earnings are projected at $2.4 billion while the import bill is likely to be $6 billion. In 2013/14, Uganda’s total earnings from exports were $2.697 billion but declined to $2.644 billion the following year, while the total import bill in 2013/14 stood at $6.037 billion and $6.059 billion in 2014/15, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). Uganda was an a琀琀ractive FDI destination in the mid 2000s when FDI grew from $644.3 million in 2005 to $812.7million in 2008 mainly because of the positive prospects in the development of oil and gas sector. However, the positive trend was reversed by the global 昀椀nancial crisis, which saw the country’s FDI register a 37.7 % decline the cancellation of investments destined to the country took its toll. In 2010, the country witnessed initial recovery of FDI peaking at $1,159.1 million in the subsequent year, in the anticipation of the oil developments, but even this vibrancy

2015 FDI in昀氀ows dip

Gov’t urged to make country more attractive to foreign investors

was cut short by the decline in the global oil prices and the delays in issuing of production licences. The government has far awarded only one conditional production licence to China’s CNOOC.

Last September, Ernest Rubondo, the head of the petroleum directorate in the energy ministry, revealed that the government plans to issue several production licences later this year to France’s Total E&P and UK’s Tullow PLC. The production licences, however, are yet to be issued.

In addition, the oil companies and the governments in the region are yet to agree on the route of the oil pipeline to the coast for export. The oil companies are yet to agree on whether the oil pipeline from the oil rich areas of the albertine region should pass via Kenya or Tanzania for export.

Over the years, the allure of foreign investors in the country has been slow, say for a few, interested in 昀椀nancial services, energy, and manufacturing sectors.

George Mulindwa, the portfolio manager at Stanlib, told The Independent that

Uganda has to do more to a琀琀ract FDI like its regional counterparts.

“Kenya and Tanzania have a more diversi昀椀ed FDI opportunities suite. The tourism sector, for instance, in these two countries is be琀琀er placed to a琀琀ract FDI in resorts, hotel chains, with the la琀琀er especially having a larger middle class, generating more consumer demand-which is a key consideration for long term investment like supermarket chains and shopping malls,” he says. He adds that the unreliable power and very poor infrastructure does not bode well for Uganda as an FDI destination.

Mayur Madhvani, the managing director of the Madhvani Group of Companies, says although Africa is the next investment frontier, the slow progress in a琀琀raction of FDI is also a琀琀ributed to insecurity fears and Ebola.

“Foreigners look at Africa as one country...which makes them a li琀琀le bit afraid,” Mayur told the Independent. Mayur said there’s also need for the local entrepreneurs to up themselves and invest in various sectors of the economy instead of relying on foreign investors.

Mulindwa, however, says the future of FDI’s in the country remains positive with the stability on both the political and economic fronts playing signi昀椀cantly on this outlook.

“The global economic outlook concerning energy will also continue to play a role in the viability of further FDI in Uganda,” he says, adding that the price of a barrel of oil currently averaging $45 doesn’t bode well for further FDI in the oil sector

Oil Ring in Buliisa. The slow progress in the sector has affected Investment Inflows INDEPENDENT / JIMMY SIIYA

Citizens to boost tourism

EaC acts amid lower rate of international tourist arrivals

By Isaac Khisa

The East African tourism operators are desperate to tap into domestic tourism to boost an industry that has for years remained under-explored.

Tourism industry executives in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania told The Independent during the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo 2015 in Kampala on Nov.1719 that they are now courting domestic tourists in the region to make-up for the occasional shortfalls from international tourist arrivals.

“We are now looking at boosting domestic tourism in the region to relieve us from over-dependence on international tourists,” Martha Nansamba, the marketing manager at Uganda’s Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust, said.

For decades, the East African region has relied on foreign tourists mainly from the European Union, USA and Australia among other countries.

Nansamba’s views were echoed by Amos Wekesa, the chief executive o昀케cer at Great Lakes Safaris, who said the country’s tourism industry is looking at tapping into the domestic, regional, and the continent’s tourism potentials.

“We are currently looking at growing the domestic tourism. At the moment, 50,000 Ugandans visit Kenya’s tourist destinations earning that East African nation about $100million per annum. Now, it is time to make Ugandans visit their own tourism destinations or encourage Kenyan tourists to visit our tourism destinations,” Wekesa says. According to the industry executives, the domestic tourists, who consist mainly of expatriates, contribute on average 20% of the total tourists that visit the region’s tourism destinations.

The new developments come at the time when Uganda expects a slowdown in the tourism industry as the country heads to polls in February next year.

In 2014, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania registered an increase in tourism arrivals compared with the previous year citing peace, security and strong marketing campaigns.

Available data from the Uganda Tourism Board shows that tourist arrivals in the country increased from 600,000 in 2006 to 1.4million visitors in 2014 leading to a surge in earnings from $600,000 to $1.4million during the same period.

Reports indicate that Tanzania’s tourist industry earned $2.5 billion in the year ending January 2015, up from $1.89 billion the previous year.

It is expected that the number of tourist arrivals in the country will hit 1.2 million this year, up from one million visitors in 2014. `According to the 昀椀ve-year marketing blueprint rolled out in 2013, Tanzania anticipates to register two million tourists by the close of 2017, boosting revenue to nearly $3.8 billion.

Similarly, Rwanda’s tourism revenues grew from $293million in 2013 to $303m in 2014, representing a 3% increase, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

Between July 2013 and June 2014, Rwanda received 1.17 million visitors, compared to the previous year with 1.14 million tourists. Rwanda’s tourism has risen in the past decade, growing from $62 million in 2000, to the current 昀椀gures, with Gorilla permits counting for the largest portion. Rwanda hopes to earn up to $860 million by 2017.

On the other hand, Kenya earned $25.56 million from the tourism industry, marking the third straight annual decline from the $28.79 million earned in 2011, according to the country’s annual economic survey, due to a decline in tourist arrivals.

Kenya received 861,400 international visitors - representing an 11.1% decrease in arrivals mainly a琀琀ributed to negative travel advisories issued by some countries.

Johnny Magweru, the operations manager at the Kenya Tourism Federation, told The Independent that the country’s recent participation in the regional tourism expo to promote domestic tourism, helped ensure that its key foreign tourism markets lift the

travel advisories.

“Our previous participation in tourism exhibition in the region has had a great impact on our tourism. Since the tourism expo in Nairobi, we had the lifting of the travel advisories to Malindi. For a long time, Britain, US had imposed restrictions for their people to visit Kenya’s coast,” Magweru said.

“However, we are now interested in seeing more local tourists visiting our countries within the region so that we are able to sustain ourselves during time of reduced international tourist arrivals.”

Brian Kaddu, a luxury travel consultant at Rwanda’s Uber Luxe Safaris, said the Central African state is eying promoting domestic tourism in the region even as they look for foreign tourists.

He says the travel 昀椀rm is currently looking at sharing contacts with its counterparts across the region and the continent to ease handling of extension trips for tourists that visit the East African Community. So far, Uber Luxe Safaris has partnered with sandrick travels and Tropical ice in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively.

The Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo is an annual event in the East African region organized by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) bringing together travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, destination managers and other service providers along the tourism value chain, aimed at raising the pro昀椀le of Destination Uganda both domestically and regionally.

Staff of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee sanctuary attend to a guest during the Tourism expo. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

Internet revolution on

Cost of unlimited Internet access in Kampala could drop to as low as Shs 1,000 a day

By Independent Reporter

Only a small fraction of Ugandans is connected to the Internet, with the vast majority losing out on the immense opportunities that the Internet is providing to billions of people worldwide.

Currently, the total number of internet users in Uganda is estimated at just over 6.8 million in a population of about 40 million. Compared with the voice penetration of 53%, data penetration is still very low at just 25%, according to data from the Uganda Communications Commission.

The poor accessibility rates are mainly a琀琀ributed to high cost and poor network coverage. However, this is now bound to change for the be琀琀er after technology giant Google launched Project Link in Uganda to bring faster and world-class Internet services.

Following the successful completion of a metro 昀椀ber network in Kampala city, the company has launched a Wi-Fi ‘ho琀稀one’ network to improve the quality and a昀昀ordability of wireless access, geared towards meeting the bandwidth demands of Kampala’s growing number of smart phone owners. In partnership with Roke Telecom, more than 100 ho琀稀ones, dubbed ‘Rokespots,’ have been launched around Kampala where users can access a昀昀ordable and high speed mobile internet connections.

In recent years, telecom giants MTN Uganda, Airtel, Smile telecom, Africell and Vodafone have also invested heavily in setting up 4G infrastructure. MTN Uganda in particular has already unveiled its extensive 4G network countrywide, extending the latest broadband technology to major towns – totaling more than 75 4G network sites, in addition to thousands of 2G and 3G.

Google is also venturing into providing wholesale last-mile Wi-Fi access with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like MTN to leverage on its 昀椀bre infrastructure to bring high-quality Wi-Fi to homeowners, small businesses and mobile users on-the-go.

Speaking at the launch on Dec.03, 2015, Roke Telkom o昀케cials said the initiative is helping to connect more people to fast and a昀昀ordable broadband Internet.

The Wi-Fi ho琀稀one network is helping to equip MNOs and ISPs with shared infrastructure that they desperate need to deliver improved services to end users. Ela Beres, who heads the Wi-Fi e昀昀ort, said with the

help of Project Link’s new Wi-Fi ho琀稀one network, ISPs around Kampala would have access to shared infrastructure that can help them enhance their Wi-Fi services and meet the bandwidth needs of the city dwellers. He added that local providers can use the new network to bring Wi-Fi to people onthe-go in the city’s busiest locations such as the taxi parks, hostels, shopping malls, pubs, restaurants and arcades.

Roger Sekaziga, the Roke Telkcom CEO, said Uganda has lately experienced phenomenal growth in demand for Internet, fuelled by the advent of low-cost smart phones.

“Project Link’s Wi-Fi network allows us to deliver cheaper and more reliable Wi-Fi service to a quickly-growing, often underserved market segment,” he added. To owners of the facilities, cheap high speed internet o昀昀ers more opportunities for customers. The service has di昀昀erent price categories, ranging from Shs 1,000 per day to Shs 18,000 per month.

O昀케cials said going forward, the company plans to install wi昀椀 on all public transport vehicles. For Roke Telkom, which has been in operation for over ten years, the partnership with Google to implement Project Link could give it a big headway in the data market place. Google, which started as

a search engine over two decades ago, has over the years emerged as a global technology giant. Its push in developing countries has seen it test out innovative ways of ameliorating connectivity challenges. With the introduction of 3G and LTE networks, the company is targeting to provide the ‘lastmile’ link to connect remote locations to the 昀椀ber networks that connect countries and whole continents.

Since Uganda was connected to the sea cables seven years ago, prices of international bandwidth have fallen compared to the last decade, but the retail tari昀昀s of broadband have remained relatively out of reach for millions of potential internet users.

But as mobile phone devices evolve thus giving consumers various services beyond voice and text messages, data has over time become a key frontier for telecom companies as consumers take advantage of cheaper means of communication over more convenient social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and to deliver audio, video, and other media content over the Internet.

On a wider scale, the implementers of Project Link see it as causing a revolution in how whole industries and sectors operate and how services are provided to the citizens.

The Roke Brand Team James Byaruhanga (R) Timothy Musoke 2nd (R) Michael Mukasa (M) and Roger Sekaziga Roke Telkom CEO (L) display the brand campaign communication placards during the Launch of their Rokespots wifi connection within Kampala on December 4. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

Running a global money service

What are the key elements in your management style as a manager?

But the key element is recruiting the right people. The old man agement style of having people in an organization work under pressure through se琀琀ing a list of things to do under the time line doesn’t work anymore especially for the young people. They need to know what they need to do and do it their way sometimes from wherever they want to do it not necessarily in 08:00am to 5: 00pm o昀케ce se琀琀ing though of course coming to the o昀케ce does ma琀琀er for purposes of team work. I like to do things myself but I can’t do everything so that forces me to delegate. But it also depends on how much the business has grown. So in that aspect I focus on things like strategy and where the company or organization is heading as opposed to the ni琀琀y-gri琀琀y of things.

Whereas we also o昀昀er cheaper services, our biggest advantage is convenience.

How does the mobile money transfer platform work?

What is your assessment of the performance of international mobile money transfer services in Uganda?

We are coming from a situation whereby if you are in a country like South Africa and you would like to send money, you would be required to withdraw your money from the bank, look for a physical money transfer agent, pay him cash, 昀椀ll in forms with your identities and call the person home requesting them to go to an agent to collect the money during working hours. It’s so inconvenient in addition to the high costs. Now, the sender in South Africa uses his Visa or Master card debit card and the money is delivered directly to the recipient’s phone through a normal mobile money account, which can be cashed at their convenience.

We have been around for two years although most of the 昀椀rst year was spent in building the product. Transactions are done online through our website and the money gets directly to the account. Two messages come in from the telecom company and the other from Remit Uganda with the details of the sender. It’s real mobile money service that charges 5.4% of the total amount being transacted. While we keep growing, we intend to bring our prices lower for a quality and convenient service.

The Remit platform is known to only a few people in Uganda. How are you working to grow coverage?

We have spent a lot of time building and we are now at the stage when we are embarking on user acquisition and scaling up in technology terms. This involves

Stone Atwine is the CEo of Redcore Interactive, the mother company of Remit uganda, an international mobile money transfer service. He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba about their operations.

two things; acquiring new users and being at conventions of Ugandans in the Diaspora. We are also growing in terms of products to later include bill payments for people in the Diaspora without sending money to someone. We are jumping into Kenya and Tanzania and have plans of launching in Rwanda, Ghana and beyond.

Money transfer business has for a long time been dominated by the big boys; Western Union, Money gram and now MTN. How do you plan to outmaneuver them?

One of the advantages we have is that we really move quickly. We can make a decision faster than the big players and if it turns out bad or falls back on us, we can still easily reverse. Telecommunication companies are not our competitors but our partners whose technology must work well with us. Our platform is directly integrated with that of MTN mobile money and Airtel money. We have built from

the ground up doing mobile rather than physical agents.

What challenges are associated with international mobile money transfers?

The biggest challenge is regulatory compliance from all sides and access to 昀椀nance. Working in 昀椀nance is very di昀케cult as it requires licenses and partnerships at all levels. It is partly why it has taken us longer. You can set up a new business and have it up and going in two or three months but this cannot happen in 昀椀nancial transactions. It calls for processes that take more time. Even when you engage people in the developed world, they don’t just understand the business environment in a developing country.

How have you dealt with those challenges?

Its resilience; we accept to grow slower than a company based for instance in Silicon Valley. If they need developers or partners, they will get top talent. They can get 昀椀nancing even before they have the product. We will de昀椀nitely grow slower but we are very resilient and can therefore deal with the challenges slower with whatever capacity we have to eventually get the job done.

Going forward, what is your projection of Remit mobile money transfer platform in the next few years?

In the next two months, it will not be Remit Uganda because we are crossing borders to Kenya and in the 昀椀rst quarter of 2016, we shall be in Tanzania and Rwanda. In 昀椀ve years though, we should be a big company delivering to about ten to 15 African countries. Currently, we can send money to any mobile money number on Airtel and MTN.

Nigeria reduces MTN’s

to $3.4 billion

Africa’s largest telecommunication company, MTN, has succeeded in its bid to reduce a $5.2bn 昀椀ne imposed by Nigerian authorities for failing to cut o昀昀 5.1 million unregistered phone users. The 昀椀ne has to be paid by Dec.31.

Nigeria wants mobile phone companies to verify the identity of their customers for security concerns. MTN Group has been in talks with authorities since October when the original 昀椀ne was imposed.

MTN o昀케cials say the Nigerian authorities reduced the 昀椀ne by a third. Phuthuma Nhleko, the executive chairman at MTN said the 昀椀rm will re-engage with the Nigerian Authorities before responding formally.

Passenger train services resume in Kampala

Passenger train services resumed in Kampala on Dec 7 as hundreds of residents were ferried from Namanve to Kampala at the respective train stations. The 昀椀rst train leaves the Namanve station at 6:30 am and the journey takes an estimated 40 minutes to arrive at the Kampala station at a cost of Shs1500 per route. Passengers will have four trips in a day with the last journey starting at 5:30pm. The announcement of the train services was made a week ago in a joint communique by Uganda Railways Corporation (URC), Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Rift Valley Railways (RVR). The three partners agreed to resume passenger services following signing of a Passenger Services Agreement between the Government of Uganda, Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) on one part and Rift Valley Railways (RVR) on the other part in November to run the service as a pilot for a period of a year.

Google launches project link in Kampala

Google’s Project Link, an initiative to help connect more people to fast and a昀昀ordable broadband Internet, is launching a Wi-Fi ho琀稀one network to improve the quality and a昀昀ordability of wireless access to Kampala’s growing number of mobile phone users. The hotzone network will equip mobile network operators (MNOs) and Internet service provider (ISPs) with infrastructure they need to deliver improved services to end users. Ela Beres, Project Lead on the Wi-Fi e昀昀ort said the local providers will be able to use this new network to bring Wi-Fi to people on-the-go in the city’s busiest locations.

SMEs urged to embrace online marketing

Small and medium sized companies have been urged to incorporate online marketing in their sales and marketing strategies to further enhance business growth. Speaking at the 3rd edition of the Vodafone Powertalks held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, Allan Richardson, the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Uganda said there is a growing need for Ugandans to adopt online marketing and business to better compete at a global level. One of the panelists Victor Ndlovu, Country Manager, Visa Sub-Saharan Africa said adopting online payment systems will go a long way in fighting corruption across various industries. Another panellist, Dickson Mushabe, Founder and Managing Director, Hostalite Uganda said there are approximately 8.5 million internet users in Uganda with a growth rate of 17% which provides a wide market base and marketing platform for businesses in the country.

Etihad Airways launches ights out of Dar es Salaam

Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based airline, has unveiled its daily 昀氀ights out of Dar es Salaam, adding to the list a growing of Middle East carriers eyeing the region. The daily 昀氀ights operated with Airbus A320 aircraft, is set to a琀琀ract more passengers from Tanzania and its neighbouring states. Daniel Barranger, Etihad Airways’ senior vice president - Global Sales, said the service will not only provides guest with direct access to an exciting new business and tourism destination but also further strengthen the airline’s presence in East Africa and the entire continent. Other Middle

East carriers 昀氀ying out of Dar es Salaam includes; Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines and Fly Dubai.

Phuthuma Nhleko, the executive chairman at MTN

Allan Richardson, Vodafone Uganda CEO.

A passenger train moving through Kinawataka, Nakawa to Bweyogere from Kampala on dairy operations. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

Officials at the ribbon cutting ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar-es-Salaam

BIZ LAB

Dalton Ahimbisibwe; Shoe maker

alton Ahimbisibwe, 43, started making shoes when he realized that all people want to wear shoes. That was in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, in 2005. Together with a team of 昀椀ve artisans, the hand-made shoes are crafted with special a琀琀ention to maintaining both the quality and durability. Each member works on a di昀昀erent aspect of the shoe; some cut the leather into long strips while others glue them together before they are sewn to the shoe base. The leather is then wrapped around a shoe shaper made of wood or plastic before being cut to di昀昀erent sizes. Ahimbisibwe’s greatest challenge is using manual sewing and skiving machines, which delays the big orders. His biggest clients are pupils and NGO’s, which buy them for their sponsored children.

Success tips; Be creative, curve a niche

Ahimbisibwe explains that the key ingredient to success in the shoe-making business is creativity coupled with having an incomparable skill in creating and designing footwear for everybody. “After learning the basics, you should now 昀椀nd out on how to design the shoes and decide what type of shoes you want to produce and sell to the buying public,” he says, adding that the process involves rigorous research on recent trends in creating designs on the shoes. Though the main goal is to make a pro昀椀t, Ahimbisibwe cautions that the designs should not only a琀琀ract potential buyers but also be a昀昀ordable without sacri昀椀cing quality.

Amuge Barbra, (R) attending to a visitor during Housing Finance bank Mortgage clinic expo on December 2. INDEPENDENT/JIMMY SIYA

By Dominic Muwanguzi

We are all familiar with the English saying, “If wishes were horses...” used during moments of wishing for something be琀琀er but possibly out of reach. For Collin Sekajugo, the phrase is perfect to interpret the situation of desperate migrants risking death in the Mediterranean see as they seek to enter Europe.

If wishes were horses, these immigrants would be in Europe for holiday tourism and not as refugees. Even those that make it become rueful. They indulge in wishful thinking like: “If wishes were horses probably here is where we would be riding, playing and doing things as family on holiday at this beautiful place hoping to return to our home country with greater memories,” That is the concept of Sekajugo’s current exhibition. Interestingly, each word or group of words in this statement is the title to each painting in the show.

The artist chooses pale琀琀e, pa琀琀ern and imagery in this exhibit deliberately to visually emphasise to the viewer the futility inherent in wishful thinking. He deploys monochrome colours on canvas and inscribes names of countries that are involved in the migration problem to evoke feelings of misery, pain, and sorrow in the audience.

The central painting in this exhibition is titled, ‘If wishes were horses’. It is do琀琀ed with inscriptions of names of countries like Egypt, Iraq, Somalia and Syria that are contributing the biggest numbers of refugees in Europe. The painting also has words like ‘Hot dogs+Coke € 5 Welkomen’ that may imply the idea of consumerism and economic exploitation that is dominant in Europe. Notwithstanding, the plight that forced their 昀氀ight and the pain the endured on the journey, the refuges have to brace themselves for the next phase of economic exploitation.

The paintings on display also follow a particular pa琀琀ern of compacted objects on canvas and faceless subjects. Such composition evokes the idea of a suppressed lifestyle 昀椀lled with loss of identity (faceless subjects) and deprivation. The use of shredded paper collage recycled from food packs garment boxes, and fabrics add to the idea of suppression and dejection.

The paintings court the debate of how problematic these migrants have become to Europe in the context of the recent terrorists a琀琀ack on Paris. As Europe grapples with the idea of welcoming them, there are

If wishes were horses

Ugandan artist tackles desperate migration to Europe

elements within these refugees that have hidden motives to cause harm to these host countries. One of the bombers in Paris, it was discovered, had a refugee pass.

Sekajugo’s exposes both sides of the story of the migrant problem in Europe. This problem cannot be resigned to the 昀椀rst world alone. It is an issue for every single country on the globe. The homeless people, competition for limited resources, and resurgence in global terrorism are a global issue.

Even here, the artist reverts to his pet theme of safety, symbolised by the helmet motif in his paintings. The helmet is Sekajugo’s symbol for safety already employed in his series of Boda-boda paintings and drawings that speak of road accidents that come about as a result of riding these mobile motorcycle taxis without helmets. “The helmet is my symbol for safety used often on building sites by construction workers to avoid falling debris from the buildings, used often on roads by cyclists and passengers to avoid accidents, used more often on the ba琀琀le front by the military to guard against bullets. My opinion is that it plays an important role in our lives even though we may sometimes ignore it,” Sekajugo says. Migrants to Europe, it appears need to carry along a helmet – if not a physical one, at least a mental helmet to protect them from psychological distress.

The exhibition opened on Nov. 28 to Dec. 12 at the Collin Sekajugo Art gallery, located on Kenneth Dale lane, Kamwokya.

Journalists punished over Xi Jinping ‘resignation’

Four Chinese journalists have been suspended after erroneously reporting that President Xi Jinping resigned. A typographical error in the opening sentence of a report about Xi’s recent tour of Africa meant that instead of informing readers about a “speech” (zhi ci) given by China’s commander-in-chief, reporters referred to his resignation (ci zhi). The report was published by the o昀케cial China News Service and subsequently reprinted, before being corrected, by a number of leading websites. Among those reportedly punished for the blooper was Song Fangcan, the news agency’s bureau chief in South Africa, where Xi had been speaking at the end of a 昀椀ve-day visit to the continent.

Winston Churchill refused to pay tailor’s bills

Pakistan court asks Queen Elizabeth to return special diamond

A Pakistani a琀琀orney 昀椀led a court petition seeking the return of the famed Koh-iNoor diamond Britain forced India to hand over in colonial times. Once the largest known diamond in the world, the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor is one of the Crown Jewels. It is set in a crown last worn by the late mother of Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation.

A琀琀orney Jawaid Iqbal Jafree 昀椀led the court petition naming Queen Elizabeth II as a respondent in the eastern city of Lahore. The application asks that Britain hand

back the diamond, now on display in the Tower of London. Now, India also has made regular requests

Stonehenge a ‘secondhand’ monument?

French priest admits stealing 700,000 euros

Refusal to pay the bills of one’s tailor was eminently almost a point of honour among English gentlemen in past centuries and Winston Churchill, former British Prime Minister was no exception, newly released archives show. Britain’s World War Two leader had amassed a bill of 197 pounds by 1937 - around 12,000 pounds ($18,000) at today’s prices - with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole and Co before he was 昀椀nally asked to pay up. When Poole demanded pay, Churchill got angry and declined to clear the bill, vowing never to come back for the services. Despite the arrears, the tailor had continued to make clothes for Churchill, said James Sherwood, a historian who has examined Poole and Co’s archives. “Churchill said it was for morale, it was good for us [Henry Poole] to dress him and he wasn’t aware we were short of cash. He never did pay, and never came back – he never forgave us,” Sherwood added on Poole’s website.

Evidence suggests that Stonehenge, England’s greatest prehistoric monument could be a second-hand’ monument. New information reveals that bluestones, of which the monument is composed, were quarried in Wales 500 years before they were put up in Wiltshire, a south west county in England where Stonehenge stands. The discovery has prompted a theory among archaeologists that the monument could have 昀椀rst been erected in Wales. The archaeologists have also discovered a series of recesses in the rocky outcrops of hills in Wales that match Stonehenge’s bluestones in size and shape. They have also found similar stones that the prehistoric builders extracted but left behind, and “a loading bay” from where the huge stones could be dragged away. A professor of British later prehistory at University College London, Prof Mike Parker Pearson was quoted as saying “It could have taken those Neolithic stone-draggers nearly 500 years to get them to Stonehenge, but that’s pre琀琀y improbable in my view. It’s more likely that the stones were 昀椀rst used in a local monument, somewhere near the quarries, that was then dismantled and dragged o昀昀 to Wiltshire.”

A Catholic priest will be arraigned in court after admi琀琀ing he stole more than 700,000 euros ($741,000) collected from churchgoers and buyers of holy candles over a quarter of a century, the French public prosecutor’s o昀케ce said on Tuesday. Rene Heuillet, 80, confessed to pocketing proceeds of regular church collections between 1987 and retirement in early 2013, plus 100,000 euros from votive candle sales, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s o昀케ce in Foix, south western France. Apparently Heuillet spent li琀琀le of the money and the authorities had frozen 656,000 euros on his bank account. The statement said the case was brought to light by the priest who succeeded him in the Pyrenean mountain village of Saint-Lizier and the trial is set for Jan 16.

Frankly speaking

Living a passion driven life

Michael Niyitegeka is an expert in ITstrategy, management and Communication. He spoke to Agnes E Nantaba about passion rather than quali昀椀cations de昀椀ning work

Any three things we don’t know about you?

Ihave never studied IT but got there out of passion and interest. I went into the ICT faculty at Makerere University in 2004 to teach business courses in ICT. I spent more time there and was able to curve out my own niche in business and IT. I believe that quali昀椀cations should never de昀椀ne who we are or who we eventually become. I am an extreme family man and running really excites me. For the last 昀椀ve years, I have been running 10kms till I pushed to 21kms. I can dance to any music especially music by Gudlyf (Radio and Weasel) and Juliana Kanyomozi.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

It’s just being in a position of comfort with who you are.

What is your greatest fear?

I can’t imagine a situation where I fail to live to the expectations of my family.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I believe quite a lot in people and sometimes I fail to switch gear from believing to nonbelieving.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I always look at what makes someone a be琀琀er person rather than the weaknesses.

Which living person do you most admire?

My father Abel Nsabimana; together with my mother, in their modest means they gave us the very best. Along the way, you meet people who inspire you and drive you into doing things; Prof. Baryamureeba is one of them. The family of Mr. Charles Karamagi is another set of parents for me.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My wife is an amazing gift : I wouldn’t have asked for anything better than her

To an extent it’s my family although I also have a free giv ing spirit and want to always respond to a cause. Thank God for a wife who can guide me; I wouldn’t have asked for anything be琀琀er than her.

What is your current state of mind?

I am happy with what I am doing after leaving formal employment.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

The greatest dis-service we have done to this generation is to make them believe that there is somebody who is accountable for them.

On what occasion do you lie? Time was one of the easiest things to lie about.

What do you most dislike about your appearance? It used to be grey hair but I have grown to love it.

Which living person do you most despise?

I look down on people who live beyond their means.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

One who lives by what he promises to do.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Any woman who can own up her promises.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

the road and looking at what has happened generally, it’s not human magic but because she is a perfect complement.

When and where were you happiest?

May 14, 2005; it was not only a colourful wedding but also a con昀椀rmation that I was going to live with my best friend. My other happy moment was November 2004 when I graduated from the Summit Business School.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I haven’t been able to do competitive sport like football, volleyball and tennis.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I am contented with everything about and around me.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Living my dream of leaving formal employment before 40 years.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

The same Michael because I am living my purpose in life.

Where would you most like

Uganda and if it’s going to the speci昀椀cs, Fort Portal.

What is your most treasured possession?

The knowledge of God.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Seeing families break up is unbearable.

What do you most value in your friends?

Having unwavering interest in making my issues theirs.

Who are your favorite writers? I enjoy anything that helps me keep up with what is happening.

Who is your hero of 昀椀ction?

Eddie Murphy used to be an interesting character but of late I no longer follow up on 昀椀ctitious things.

Which historical 昀椀gure do you most identify with?

There has not been any other Michael Niyitegeka.

Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents, Mr. Charles Karamagi for his humility and Pope Francis; I am humbled by the things he does that seem like he’s breaking tradition like the Pope going to the mosque and removing shoes.

What are your favorite names? Mitchell; its one name that resonated with my wife and I on knowing we had a baby girl.

What is your greatest regret?

My a琀琀itude is that it has happened and nothing can be done about it

How would you like to die? God’s will.

What is your mo琀琀o? I live everyday as an opportunity.

By Yusufu Mubiru mubiruy@yahoo.co.uk

Car shakes, vibrations, and their causes

Most vehicle owners think that when their car shakes or vibrates, it means they need an alignment, this is not true. All that alignment will do is point the tyres in the right direction. You see, over time, your car goes through some hard hits like potholes, curbs, speed bumps, and just every day poor road conditions the misalign the tyres.

On the other hand, there are many other conditions that can cause your vehicle to shake. In short, anything that rotates can cause vibrations: Transmission, drive line, brakes, if they are worn, can allow vibrations to be transmitted from the engine, and of course tyres. The good news is that these problems are easily avoided or corrected.

There are other less common causes of car vibrations like worn suspension parts, brake rotor pulsation, and loose wheel bearings. All of these could give you a vibration or make your car shake. But I am addressing the most common problem associated with car shakes and steering wheel vibrations.

The most common reason for a car to shake is related to tyres, specifically poor tyre balance. This causes tyre shakes or vibrations. Most vibrations can be resolved by simply having your tyres balanced by a qualified mechanic. In a few cases, wheel balancing might not fix the problem and you might need a qualified mechanic for another diagnosis.

If the vehicle wobbles while accelerating hard, or climbing steep hills, this type of vibration is usually caused by engine mounts. If they become worn, vibrations can show up when accelerating hard, or pulling hills. Experienced mechanics can diagnose this easily, and again, this is the realm of the mechanic.

Poor tyre problems can be avoided by purchasing good quality tyres and by having all of the tyres carefully inspected when your car goes in for preventative maintenance service.

Why does the steering wheel in my car shake?

A number of things can cause steering wheel vibration and these include;

One (or both) of the front wheels or tyres are out of balance.

One (or both) of the front tyres are over or under inflated.

One of the front tyres is damaged. Usually sidewall damage, but could be tread separation. This is dangerous. Get it checked.

Steering gear (knuckles, rods, rack/ pinion) are worn or loose.

Wheel bearings are damaged, or axle (straight) is bent. Another, more expensive cause could be worn out wheel bearings. These need replacing.

Tyres wearing in a strange way or having a wheel that is out of round can both be signs of what is causing a vibration issue. If one of the front or rear brake pads (out of four) is seen wearing more than the other, this is a sign that the brake caliper is sticking. There are common problems that cause your steering wheel to shake when you apply the brakes. In order from least expensive to most, they are: dry guide pins, worn brake pads, and worn rotors.

So if your car has a vibration or a shake that is driving you crazy, I recommend having it checked as soon as possible. Like I mentioned earlier, leaving a vibration alone, hoping it will go away, will only lead to tyre chop and cupping, premature wear on suspension components, and worst of all, insanity. Yes, it will drive you crazy if it has not already .

By Jim O’Neill

Antimicrobial resistance

Campaigns are to alert people to the risk that antimicrobial resistance poses to their health and wealth

November marked a setback in the 昀椀ght against drug-resistant infections. Scientists announced that they had found bacteria that were resistant to colistin, known as an antibiotic of last resort. Even more alarming, they discovered that the gene providing the resistance could migrate from one strain of bacteria to another, meaning other types of infections could also become untreatable. The announcement prompted public health experts to renew their warnings that the world risks slipping into a deadly, post-antibiotic era.

But November also brought some good news – even if it received less notice. When the G-20 met inAntalya, the leaders of the world’s largest economies agreed that antimicrobial resistance was a threat to global growth. Buried in the last paragraph of the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the summit was an agreement to put the issue on the agenda of the organisation’s next meeting. “We agree that a琀琀ention should be given to global health risks, such as antimicrobial resistance, infectious disease threats, and weak health systems,” read the communiqué. “These can signi昀椀cantly impact growth and stability.”

This is an important development. The G-20 would be an ideal forum in which to take international action against antimicrobial resistance. The countries most at risk from the problem include Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRICs), none of which is a G-7 member. These countries are also among those most likely to 昀椀nd solutions to the challenge. Furthermore, the a琀琀endees at the G-20’s summits include heads of state and economic ministers, without whom no solution can be implemented.

The commitment by the G-20 is just one example of the momentum gathering around the issue. In October, G-7 health ministers commi琀琀ed their countries to help combat antimicrobial resistance. The problem was also discussed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne, and their counterparts from India, China, and Brazil.A number of leaders, including Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President Barack Obama, and, most recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have made personal commitments to address the issue.

Growing recognition of the gravity of the threat is an opportunity that must not be lost. Part of the war has already been won. We know what must be done to address the challenge, and much is already being accomplished. More people are being encouraged to wash their hands to minimise the spread of infections. Major campaigns are underway to alert people to the risk that antimicrobial resistance poses to their health and wealth.And we are improving the surveillance of superbugs, as we learn more about the dangers they pose to humans and animals. The United Kingdom, for example, has commi琀琀ed $300 million to support microbiology surveillance capacity in developing countries.

Speci昀椀c steps have also been proposed to speed up the adoption of state-of-the-art diagnostics in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and homes, so that the unnecessary use of antibiotics can be reduced.And we have also begun to combat the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture. Indeed, there are encouraging signs that leading US-based food manufacturers are changing their operations in response to consumer pressure. This could be the start of a big shift.

We estimate that marketentry rewards for about 15 new drugs would cost $16-35 billion over ten years

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies are gaining a be琀琀er understanding of the role that vaccines and alternative therapies could play in reducing anti-microbial resistance.And we are starting to prioritize the development of new drugs – as well as redoubling e昀昀orts to extend the lifespans of existing treatments.

In October, the UK and China agreed to establish a global research and development fund, with the aim of a琀琀racting £1 billion ($1.5 billion) in investment in research to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

The biggest question that remains to be addressed is how to divide the cost among governments, the pharmaceutical industry, health systems, development agencies, and large charitable foundations. This is where the focus of the discussion needs to be now. Fortunately, tackling the problem need not break the bank. Ensuring that future generations have access to e昀昀ective antimicrobial treatments will cost li琀琀le compared to other global challenges. We estimate that market-entry rewards for about 15 new drugs would cost $16-35 billion over ten years. This is a small price to pay relative to the estimated $100 trillion in lost global economic output if we do not act.

Finding about $2 billion a year over ten years to stop the return of infectious diseases is well within the means of the world’s 20 richest countries or 20 of its largest pharmaceutical companies. If they joined forces to fund a solution, the cost would be a rounding error in their bo琀琀om lines. But, given the size of the returns, it would be one of the wisest investments that they – or anyone – could make.

Jim O’Neill, a former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, is Commercial Secretary to the UK Treasury, Honorary Professor of Economics at Manchester University, a visiting research fellow at the economic think tank Bruegel, and Chairman of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2015. www.project-syndicate.org

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