Hey guys am off to the Village for xmas.
I will miss you all.
I will be back when the University opens
for the 2nd semester.....Really?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Christmas is knocking, Receive it with Love and reconciliation
The only reason why we have Christmas is because we need to reconcile ! The beginning of all separation in God's creation started when male and female stopped to directly love and hence started to fight each other.
Rejected love or denied love create emotional stress, spiritual stress as well as physical stress resulting in more or less violence or tension and separation between those who actually have been made to love each other eternally
How much have you truly love the one God gave you? you may notice only once you have lost him for a long time. The single most valuable thing on earth and in heaven is a true love partner sharing all with you eternally.
Only on the basis of such true love between husband and wife can all children and neighbors grow up happily and free of stress and tension. To appeal to you to regain such true love relationship is the purpose of this Christmas message.
God is Love,Christmas is all about love,Christmas is about God and Love.Love is the key to peace among all mankind.Love is the key to peace and happiness within all creation.Love needs to be practiced - love needs to flow - love needs to make happy
Love starts with your partner, children and family and expands to all world
God bless all mankind.
Happy Christimas to Blogville.
From Gerald
Rejected love or denied love create emotional stress, spiritual stress as well as physical stress resulting in more or less violence or tension and separation between those who actually have been made to love each other eternally
How much have you truly love the one God gave you? you may notice only once you have lost him for a long time. The single most valuable thing on earth and in heaven is a true love partner sharing all with you eternally.
Only on the basis of such true love between husband and wife can all children and neighbors grow up happily and free of stress and tension. To appeal to you to regain such true love relationship is the purpose of this Christmas message.
God is Love,Christmas is all about love,Christmas is about God and Love.Love is the key to peace among all mankind.Love is the key to peace and happiness within all creation.Love needs to be practiced - love needs to flow - love needs to make happy
Love starts with your partner, children and family and expands to all world
God bless all mankind.
Happy Christimas to Blogville.
From Gerald
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Ebola! Ebola!!! Please spare me,my family and my country
Today is my saddest day, not because I have lost some one but because I have had that cases of Ebola have spread to Mbarara, my home district. I tried to call my Mumy to find out how she is.
The conversation was simple
How are u Mum? I asked in a low tone voice.
Am o.k. son.
Is what am hearing about Ebola true Mum?
Yes, but don’t worry son, the doctors are hear trying to attend to patients.
Everything will be fine don’t worry. Just cool down and do your University exams.
Indeed, I cooled down and entered in for my Public relations exam .
Immediately after the exam I tuned on a radion only to hear that the Doctor heading Bundibugyo hospital, a laboratory technician and the hospital matron have passed a way.
They got contracted with the deadly Ebola Virus when trying to treat Ebola patients. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Back at the University, students are advising me not to go home for Christmas or else I risk getting Ebola. But my answer is NO. After my exams on 14th Dec. I will try to finish up with what am doing and go home by 22nd Dec.I will have my Christmas with my family on whatever cost.
Scientists say Ebola is both the common term used to describe a group of Viruses belonging to genus Ebolavirus, family filoviridae, and the common name for the disease which they call, Ebola hemorrhagicfever.
These viruses are characterised by a long, filamentous morphology surrounded by a lipid viral envelop. Ebola viruses are morphologically similar to the Marburg Virus, also in the family Filoviridae, and share similar disease symptoms. Ebola has caused a number of serious and highly publicized outbreaks since its discovery
Yesterday media reports show that two people had died, to day, three doctors are confirmed dead This brings the death toll to 25, with six more new cases recorded and four medical workers placed under quarantine.
In one week, the rate of infection has risen to 65, an increment attributed to free human movement and people's ignorance of the disease since September.
The government said last Wednesday that the outbreak was an unknown strain after analysis was done on tissue samples at the laboratories of the Atlanta-based Centre for Disease Control. But tests came months after the disease had spread to 14 villages in the affected district.
Latest reports from the troubled zone show that seven people from the family of Mr Jeremiah Muhindo, who recently died of the disease, have all been admitted at Kikyo Health Centre IV in critical condition.
Although the government insists that the death toll is now 25, unconfirmed reports show that the number is persistently increasing, with the current figures showing 37 people who have so far died.
The disease spreads mainly through human fluids, notably blood.
An outbreak in uganda in 2000 killed at least 170 people in Gulu District, including Dr Mathew Lukwiya, the then medical superintendent of Lacor Hospital, who first identified and later relentlessly spearheaded the fight against the deadly hemorrhagic fever.
It was believed that Ugandan soldiers who were then returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo brought the disease into the country.
The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 in Sudan and in a nearby region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire).
Outbreaks of Ebola have also occurred in the Ivory Coast and Gabon. Since then, experts have said the disease is usually containable because it kills its victims faster that it can spread to new ones.
The conversation was simple
How are u Mum? I asked in a low tone voice.
Am o.k. son.
Is what am hearing about Ebola true Mum?
Yes, but don’t worry son, the doctors are hear trying to attend to patients.
Everything will be fine don’t worry. Just cool down and do your University exams.
Indeed, I cooled down and entered in for my Public relations exam .
Immediately after the exam I tuned on a radion only to hear that the Doctor heading Bundibugyo hospital, a laboratory technician and the hospital matron have passed a way.
They got contracted with the deadly Ebola Virus when trying to treat Ebola patients. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
Back at the University, students are advising me not to go home for Christmas or else I risk getting Ebola. But my answer is NO. After my exams on 14th Dec. I will try to finish up with what am doing and go home by 22nd Dec.I will have my Christmas with my family on whatever cost.
Scientists say Ebola is both the common term used to describe a group of Viruses belonging to genus Ebolavirus, family filoviridae, and the common name for the disease which they call, Ebola hemorrhagicfever.
These viruses are characterised by a long, filamentous morphology surrounded by a lipid viral envelop. Ebola viruses are morphologically similar to the Marburg Virus, also in the family Filoviridae, and share similar disease symptoms. Ebola has caused a number of serious and highly publicized outbreaks since its discovery
Yesterday media reports show that two people had died, to day, three doctors are confirmed dead This brings the death toll to 25, with six more new cases recorded and four medical workers placed under quarantine.
In one week, the rate of infection has risen to 65, an increment attributed to free human movement and people's ignorance of the disease since September.
The government said last Wednesday that the outbreak was an unknown strain after analysis was done on tissue samples at the laboratories of the Atlanta-based Centre for Disease Control. But tests came months after the disease had spread to 14 villages in the affected district.
Latest reports from the troubled zone show that seven people from the family of Mr Jeremiah Muhindo, who recently died of the disease, have all been admitted at Kikyo Health Centre IV in critical condition.
Although the government insists that the death toll is now 25, unconfirmed reports show that the number is persistently increasing, with the current figures showing 37 people who have so far died.
The disease spreads mainly through human fluids, notably blood.
An outbreak in uganda in 2000 killed at least 170 people in Gulu District, including Dr Mathew Lukwiya, the then medical superintendent of Lacor Hospital, who first identified and later relentlessly spearheaded the fight against the deadly hemorrhagic fever.
It was believed that Ugandan soldiers who were then returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo brought the disease into the country.
The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 in Sudan and in a nearby region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire).
Outbreaks of Ebola have also occurred in the Ivory Coast and Gabon. Since then, experts have said the disease is usually containable because it kills its victims faster that it can spread to new ones.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Meeting the Queen......
I was not going to put anything on my blog, reason! Am so busy.
Jaybabe you’re the other reason I had to. ….loI…
I was one of the journalists accredited by the commonwealth communication body to cover the commonwealth conference here in Kampala.
This has given me a lot of exposure. The Serena conference centre where the commonwealth summit is taking place is just opposite the hotel where Iam.
This hotel called the imperial royal is extremely classic. The media centre where all journalist converge is beyond my description…just let me try..ok.
There are around one thousand laptops, approximately seven hundred journalists, a business centre where Commonwealth business press releases are placed, an ICT and telephony help dest, speakers,free printers, big screens, a projector where we can see what’s going on, speeches are re-played for us. Writing stories is going on as usual..
Meeting the queen has not changed me at all, I thought I would feel big but I am still Geraaaaald…..lol.
Today she was officially opening the commonwealth summit. Her speech was so touching; she was calm with a soft down voice. She talked of love, Peace and the need to transform rural communities.
She talked of respecting differences and promoting understanding. This touched my soul, my heart and with no minute I was feeling her voice in me.
How many among you accept your neighbors difference? You Jaybabe??? Lol…
Then she said, “we need to treat others the way we would like to be treated.”
I will put some pix for u here..
Jaybabe you’re the other reason I had to. ….loI…
I was one of the journalists accredited by the commonwealth communication body to cover the commonwealth conference here in Kampala.
This has given me a lot of exposure. The Serena conference centre where the commonwealth summit is taking place is just opposite the hotel where Iam.
This hotel called the imperial royal is extremely classic. The media centre where all journalist converge is beyond my description…just let me try..ok.
There are around one thousand laptops, approximately seven hundred journalists, a business centre where Commonwealth business press releases are placed, an ICT and telephony help dest, speakers,free printers, big screens, a projector where we can see what’s going on, speeches are re-played for us. Writing stories is going on as usual..
Meeting the queen has not changed me at all, I thought I would feel big but I am still Geraaaaald…..lol.
Today she was officially opening the commonwealth summit. Her speech was so touching; she was calm with a soft down voice. She talked of love, Peace and the need to transform rural communities.
She talked of respecting differences and promoting understanding. This touched my soul, my heart and with no minute I was feeling her voice in me.
How many among you accept your neighbors difference? You Jaybabe??? Lol…
Then she said, “we need to treat others the way we would like to be treated.”
I will put some pix for u here..
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I am back!!
Guys. I have been missing blogville so much. As you might have been reading in the press. Makerere University is in financial crisis, it cant even pay for Internet service as a results we have not been having Internet for the last 1 month.
I tried to post something on my blog from a cafe but the net. was very throw . I gave up .
Now am back.
There was Makerere University cultural Gala, Over 20 different tribes from Uganda, Kenya ,Tanzania, RWANDA, Buruni, China,Southern Sudan, and Norwegians participated. I took some picture.Just see them and compare with your culture
I tried to post something on my blog from a cafe but the net. was very throw . I gave up .
Now am back.
There was Makerere University cultural Gala, Over 20 different tribes from Uganda, Kenya ,Tanzania, RWANDA, Buruni, China,Southern Sudan, and Norwegians participated. I took some picture.Just see them and compare with your culture
Friday, September 21, 2007
Losing my young sister.I still remember what I went through.
1994 was the year that I will live to remember, it’s the year in which I came to remember the real meaning of death, the year in which I came to question my self why should God chose to take a way my sister whom I cherished most.
I have had many happy moments in my life with my great family, parents, brothers, sisters but my time with young sister Helen was always special, because we were age mates, she was 8 years old and I was 10years.We could play together our traditional Banyankole game Gogoli
At her tender age, Helen was the most precious thing that God had given our family; she was kind, beautiful and well brought up with a Christian background, neigbours liked hugging her. My Dad had nicknamed her ‘queen Helen’.
The day was February 1994, Helen started getting severe sickness, my mother took her to the hospital and it was found out that she had heart complications. The doctor told us that she couldn’t survive.
One moth later, She got worse, it was clear for us that she was going to die We didn't want her to die in a cold Mbarara hospital emergency room, we thought they were doing nothing for her, yet refused to let us take her die from home.
So the whole family came to see her there, to say well by to her. I walked in to the florescent-lighted room where my sister was laid waiting for her death. I had been hysterically sobbing, but cleared my throat enough to tell her ‘I love her’. She smiled for the first time to me but she didn’t say anything to me. A smile I had missed so much and still long to see.
I started crying inside Mbarara Hospital, I think I caught every ones attention, the guards forced me outside.
Outside, the sky was the most magnificent blue. For the first time in years I spoke to God. I prayed earnestly that day to God that part of me believe she can still exist. I asked God to show her mercy I asked God to stop her pain. I asked God to take my sister.
At around 11:00 she was pronounced dead, it was a sadden heart attack No matter the days that have passed, I can still feel her nearby and there are times that I remember her and I start shedding tears, I still miss her as longer as she still lives in my memory.
I wish I could turn back the years and once again hear her voice. I would tell her that out of the sisters I have got now, she would still be my choice. Her memories can’t be erased.
I find it hard for me to understand the real meaning of death. People that we play with, joke with, and move with; study with, stay with; one time can disappear completely like my sister.
I have had many happy moments in my life with my great family, parents, brothers, sisters but my time with young sister Helen was always special, because we were age mates, she was 8 years old and I was 10years.We could play together our traditional Banyankole game Gogoli
At her tender age, Helen was the most precious thing that God had given our family; she was kind, beautiful and well brought up with a Christian background, neigbours liked hugging her. My Dad had nicknamed her ‘queen Helen’.
The day was February 1994, Helen started getting severe sickness, my mother took her to the hospital and it was found out that she had heart complications. The doctor told us that she couldn’t survive.
One moth later, She got worse, it was clear for us that she was going to die We didn't want her to die in a cold Mbarara hospital emergency room, we thought they were doing nothing for her, yet refused to let us take her die from home.
So the whole family came to see her there, to say well by to her. I walked in to the florescent-lighted room where my sister was laid waiting for her death. I had been hysterically sobbing, but cleared my throat enough to tell her ‘I love her’. She smiled for the first time to me but she didn’t say anything to me. A smile I had missed so much and still long to see.
I started crying inside Mbarara Hospital, I think I caught every ones attention, the guards forced me outside.
Outside, the sky was the most magnificent blue. For the first time in years I spoke to God. I prayed earnestly that day to God that part of me believe she can still exist. I asked God to show her mercy I asked God to stop her pain. I asked God to take my sister.
At around 11:00 she was pronounced dead, it was a sadden heart attack No matter the days that have passed, I can still feel her nearby and there are times that I remember her and I start shedding tears, I still miss her as longer as she still lives in my memory.
I wish I could turn back the years and once again hear her voice. I would tell her that out of the sisters I have got now, she would still be my choice. Her memories can’t be erased.
I find it hard for me to understand the real meaning of death. People that we play with, joke with, and move with; study with, stay with; one time can disappear completely like my sister.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Should Uganda legalize homosexuality.
The rate at which Uganda is moving as far as moral degeneration is concerned is really worrying.
It is a well-known fact that Uganda in the East and Central Africa is the first country to think of legalizing prostitution. Now there comes homosexuals who are demanding their rights to do their stuff publicly.
However, this doesn’t seem to come easy for homosexuals in Uganda. The demand for their rights hit the wall when most Ugandans also took to the street to demonstrate against legalising homosexuality.
Most Ugandans seem to hold a common belief that homosexuality is behaviour something that one does. It is a chosen lifestyle, which is abnormal, unnatural, ant-culture, changeable, and hated by God.
They believe, it is a mental disorder and or an addiction. It typically starts during teenage years when a post-pubertal youth decides to become gay or lesbian. The root cause is molestation as a child or poor parenting.
For the past couple of weeks, I have seen Ugandan media struggling to strike a balance between supporting the oppressed minority homosexuals or oppose it as a moral degeneration.
As a journalist, there are some issues that you may discuss and people begin questioning your sexual orientation, but you need to be strong and point out the positive and negative and leave the public to decide. For that case I am straight please…o.k.
Personally, I hold a belief that Homosexuality is a sexual orientation something that one is. It is an unchosen orientation, which is normal, and natural for a minority of adults, fixed. It is neither a mental disorder nor an addiction.
It is caused by a genetic predisposition towards homosexuality, which is triggered in young children by some unknown element in the environment. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether it is acceptable or Unacceptable by God.
Homosexuality is illegal under colonial penal code legislation still in force in Uganda and many other English-speaking countries in Africa. The laws reflect a deep aversion among many Africans to homosexuality.
The constitution of Uganda is quiet about homosexuality. Thus homos have exploited that loophole to take to the street to demand for their rights.
What I hate to hear is that homosexuality is a European thing, believe me, homosexuality existed even before Uganda existed.
Now that gays and lesbians exist in Uganda and the rest of the continent. They have paid a high price for their sexual orientation: they face discrimination, and even torture and jail.
Majority of Ugandan seem to agree that, giving homos the right to practice it in public is unaccepted.
Yaah, that sounds good for our culture, but very dangerous too, because it would breed the highest form of secret moral degeneration.
The minister of ethics and integrity is drafting a proposal to be presented to parliament against homosexuality
However, I think that, there are certain things that the government can’t set standards for and morality (homosexuality) is just one of them. Prostitution is the other.
For example we have laws against prostitution, but don’t we have prostitutes in Kampala? They are everywhere. Thus the standard of morality depends on an individual and should not be set by the government.
If Uganda and all other African countries want to stump out homosexuality, then there is a need for concerted efforts to make it a concern to everyone. It's unfortunate that to some people, they still think being a gay is a human right May be a human right in Europe, not Africa.
It is rather shocking that some Ugandans have found it brave and worthy that the gay community in Uganda was contemplating a political status by threatening to form a political party of their own.
May be they thought that this would help them get sympathy from the president who may feel his power threatened.
Nonetheless, in this hostile environment, gays and lesbians are trying to organize. They are also receiving support from certain sectors of the Anglican Church. Religion continues to play a major role in Uganda, but some pastors have come to realize that the church and Ugandan society cannot continue to reject gays and lesbians.
If the government wants to stop homosexuality, then it should look for ways of curbing funding which is dropping into these rights groups, which are advocating for homos.
Now to our legislatures who are working for their bellies. I can not imagine at this material time when there are several pressing issues like illegal acquisition of land, corruption, insecurity, poverty, among others being left out by the legislature and instead thinking of such none issues! Like whether to Legalize homosexual or prostitution. Legalising the two sins means legalizing sex no matter what age or gender, in addition to legalizing HIV/AIDS infection in the country
It is a well-known fact that Uganda in the East and Central Africa is the first country to think of legalizing prostitution. Now there comes homosexuals who are demanding their rights to do their stuff publicly.
However, this doesn’t seem to come easy for homosexuals in Uganda. The demand for their rights hit the wall when most Ugandans also took to the street to demonstrate against legalising homosexuality.
Most Ugandans seem to hold a common belief that homosexuality is behaviour something that one does. It is a chosen lifestyle, which is abnormal, unnatural, ant-culture, changeable, and hated by God.
They believe, it is a mental disorder and or an addiction. It typically starts during teenage years when a post-pubertal youth decides to become gay or lesbian. The root cause is molestation as a child or poor parenting.
For the past couple of weeks, I have seen Ugandan media struggling to strike a balance between supporting the oppressed minority homosexuals or oppose it as a moral degeneration.
As a journalist, there are some issues that you may discuss and people begin questioning your sexual orientation, but you need to be strong and point out the positive and negative and leave the public to decide. For that case I am straight please…o.k.
Personally, I hold a belief that Homosexuality is a sexual orientation something that one is. It is an unchosen orientation, which is normal, and natural for a minority of adults, fixed. It is neither a mental disorder nor an addiction.
It is caused by a genetic predisposition towards homosexuality, which is triggered in young children by some unknown element in the environment. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether it is acceptable or Unacceptable by God.
Homosexuality is illegal under colonial penal code legislation still in force in Uganda and many other English-speaking countries in Africa. The laws reflect a deep aversion among many Africans to homosexuality.
The constitution of Uganda is quiet about homosexuality. Thus homos have exploited that loophole to take to the street to demand for their rights.
What I hate to hear is that homosexuality is a European thing, believe me, homosexuality existed even before Uganda existed.
Now that gays and lesbians exist in Uganda and the rest of the continent. They have paid a high price for their sexual orientation: they face discrimination, and even torture and jail.
Majority of Ugandan seem to agree that, giving homos the right to practice it in public is unaccepted.
Yaah, that sounds good for our culture, but very dangerous too, because it would breed the highest form of secret moral degeneration.
The minister of ethics and integrity is drafting a proposal to be presented to parliament against homosexuality
However, I think that, there are certain things that the government can’t set standards for and morality (homosexuality) is just one of them. Prostitution is the other.
For example we have laws against prostitution, but don’t we have prostitutes in Kampala? They are everywhere. Thus the standard of morality depends on an individual and should not be set by the government.
If Uganda and all other African countries want to stump out homosexuality, then there is a need for concerted efforts to make it a concern to everyone. It's unfortunate that to some people, they still think being a gay is a human right May be a human right in Europe, not Africa.
It is rather shocking that some Ugandans have found it brave and worthy that the gay community in Uganda was contemplating a political status by threatening to form a political party of their own.
May be they thought that this would help them get sympathy from the president who may feel his power threatened.
Nonetheless, in this hostile environment, gays and lesbians are trying to organize. They are also receiving support from certain sectors of the Anglican Church. Religion continues to play a major role in Uganda, but some pastors have come to realize that the church and Ugandan society cannot continue to reject gays and lesbians.
If the government wants to stop homosexuality, then it should look for ways of curbing funding which is dropping into these rights groups, which are advocating for homos.
Now to our legislatures who are working for their bellies. I can not imagine at this material time when there are several pressing issues like illegal acquisition of land, corruption, insecurity, poverty, among others being left out by the legislature and instead thinking of such none issues! Like whether to Legalize homosexual or prostitution. Legalising the two sins means legalizing sex no matter what age or gender, in addition to legalizing HIV/AIDS infection in the country
Monday, September 3, 2007
Big Brother Africa. what do you make of it?
For along tme,I have been a strong critic of Big Brother Africa because of its obscenity which I think was destroying our Innocent African culture.
I can’t imagine people striping themselves naked during shower hour forgetting that they are being viewed by almost the whole continent.
I know that Ugandans have had a history in Big brother. Gaetano the former Ugandan Housemate had live sex with Abbey, something which I think was a shame to Uganda and Africa as a whole. However Ugandans welcomed him in Millions and up to now, the guy is always on billboard all over streets of Kampala.
Nevertheless, Yesterday I was excited with whole show.The excitement the whole country (ofcourse Uganda) got after it was announced that Uganda’s Maureen has survived eviction could not leave me down.
Ugandan Maureen will celebrate her 28th birthday this week in the house and I can’t wait to watch that. May prayer is that she is not put up again for eviction.
Maureen survived eviction while Kenya's Jeff Anthony took the eviction walk, giving Maureen another chance to win the $100, 000 prize.
I still remember that Maureen became a nominee after Zimbabwe's Bertha used her prerogative as reigning head of house to save Meryl and replace her with Maureen. Maureen was graceful enough to hug Bertha whom viewers referred to as ‘snake’ after she revealed that she had nominated Maureen.
Indeed she is a snake, Although I don’t dispute that Maureen is not the best in the house, I think yesterday was not her day to go out. There are still Housemates who should be evicted first before Maureen. The likes of Kwaku, Ofuneka, Bertha and Meryl should go before Maureen.
Who is my pick?
I find it hard to pick my best participant in the house nevertheless; I think Tatiana and Richard are better than the rest. Very many people seem not to like Richard because of his passion for women but that guy is extremely cleaver than the rest.
What if I was in the house?
I hate striping my self naked in front of the public so I would cover the camera with towel before showering.
I can’t imagine people striping themselves naked during shower hour forgetting that they are being viewed by almost the whole continent.
I know that Ugandans have had a history in Big brother. Gaetano the former Ugandan Housemate had live sex with Abbey, something which I think was a shame to Uganda and Africa as a whole. However Ugandans welcomed him in Millions and up to now, the guy is always on billboard all over streets of Kampala.
Nevertheless, Yesterday I was excited with whole show.The excitement the whole country (ofcourse Uganda) got after it was announced that Uganda’s Maureen has survived eviction could not leave me down.
Ugandan Maureen will celebrate her 28th birthday this week in the house and I can’t wait to watch that. May prayer is that she is not put up again for eviction.
Maureen survived eviction while Kenya's Jeff Anthony took the eviction walk, giving Maureen another chance to win the $100, 000 prize.
I still remember that Maureen became a nominee after Zimbabwe's Bertha used her prerogative as reigning head of house to save Meryl and replace her with Maureen. Maureen was graceful enough to hug Bertha whom viewers referred to as ‘snake’ after she revealed that she had nominated Maureen.
Indeed she is a snake, Although I don’t dispute that Maureen is not the best in the house, I think yesterday was not her day to go out. There are still Housemates who should be evicted first before Maureen. The likes of Kwaku, Ofuneka, Bertha and Meryl should go before Maureen.
Who is my pick?
I find it hard to pick my best participant in the house nevertheless; I think Tatiana and Richard are better than the rest. Very many people seem not to like Richard because of his passion for women but that guy is extremely cleaver than the rest.
What if I was in the house?
I hate striping my self naked in front of the public so I would cover the camera with towel before showering.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
My academic Journey so far.
Today, I begin my 1st semester in 3rd year. This means that I am left with one year to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
Through out my academic life I have gone through thin and thick. I thank my Mum for her efforts that have made me reach where I am. I believe I am on the right path.
This semester I have to set targets and work hard to achieve them.
First of all, I have got to decide subject combination to do. I have a great passion for print journalism than broadcast, so I have to go with newspaper editing, Photojournalism, Political Science, Public Speaking and if possible do one minor in Public Relations.
I have to read hard to excel in my academics. I will be in the library from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, read textbooks for print and continue writing for our online paper www.theivorypost.com.
Always consult my Professors especially in areas where I am weak.
Raise my CGP to 4.2. I thank God that since joining this University, my CGP has been on a rise and I think I will keep it raising, this will help me join any world class University of my choice for my Masters.
I pray to God that he continue guiding me snd my parents .
If all goes well, you too can be invited for my graduation party.
Thank you
Through out my academic life I have gone through thin and thick. I thank my Mum for her efforts that have made me reach where I am. I believe I am on the right path.
This semester I have to set targets and work hard to achieve them.
First of all, I have got to decide subject combination to do. I have a great passion for print journalism than broadcast, so I have to go with newspaper editing, Photojournalism, Political Science, Public Speaking and if possible do one minor in Public Relations.
I have to read hard to excel in my academics. I will be in the library from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, read textbooks for print and continue writing for our online paper www.theivorypost.com.
Always consult my Professors especially in areas where I am weak.
Raise my CGP to 4.2. I thank God that since joining this University, my CGP has been on a rise and I think I will keep it raising, this will help me join any world class University of my choice for my Masters.
I pray to God that he continue guiding me snd my parents .
If all goes well, you too can be invited for my graduation party.
Thank you
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Why Uganda–Congo relationship will remain sour.
The hunter is now the hunted. Everyone knows that Uganda is a Military power force in the great Lakes Region, isn’t it? So why is Congo behaving so stubbornly? Why is the Lion so much despised by the antelopes? Who is the King of the jungle, Congo or Uganda?
Should we believe that there is a shift in the balance of power in favor of Congo?I think the root cause of the tension between these two neighboring countries is the discovery of oil.
It has soured the already volatile relationship between Uganda and Congo. Congo too believes that it has a big share of oil reserves under her Lake Albert waters.
Therefore, there is a feeling that if Uganda begins exploiting oil first, it will automatically be exploiting Congo’s oil since the two countries seem to share the same oil source.
The country exploiting oil first is likely to benefit much more than the other and that’s why Congo is ready to delay oil exploration by keeping the Albertine region insecure.
Rukwanzi Island. Uganda believes this disputed area belongs to Uganda.
The Congolese government too believes the island belongs to Congo. The Island is rich with resources like oil and fish.
Ugandans once inhabited the island but left it on orders of the Ugandan government in 1980s after it was found that the island could disappear in water. The Congolese saw this as an opportunity, they occupied the island and set up a military barracks.
I find this strange; if Ugandans left the island due to our fears why claim it now? I think this excuse is just strange; we should just blame ourselves for leaving. We were just postponing problems.
Now Rukwanzi Island, in the southern part of Lake Albert, is at the heart of a fire fight between DR Congo government troops and Ugandan forces, which has left a British contractor dead.Carl Nefdt worked for Heritage Oil, one of two companies prospecting for oil in the area.
He died when Congolese forces attacked a Heritage Oil barge – a long boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying heavy loads on rivers or canals – on Lake Albert. The Congolese armed forces have now occupied the disputed Rukwanzi Island, a move likely to further escalate tensions with Uganda.
Unless this issue is resolved these area will have no permanent peace.
President Kabila not a Congole. Very many Congolese believe President kabila is not a Congole. They think he is a Rwandan of Banyamulenge origin. To win their hearts, Kabila has to fight for their territorial integrity by taking over Rukwanzi Island. Therefore if Congolese see Kabila in conflict with Uganda and Rwanda there is no reason to doubt his nationality.
Bemba Factor. During last year’s elections in Congo, Uganda indirectly supported Bemba against Kabila, He lost elections but Jean-Pierre Bemba's camp said that the results, which gave incumbent Joseph Kabila a win, were fraudulent.
Bemba continued causing havoc in Kinshasa. Kabila defeated him militarily and he fled to Portugal where he is now nursing the wounds. There is a possibility that Bemba will still come back, as a former rebel leader. It’s also still possible that Uganda will support him to stage a guerilla war from Eastern Congo, which has a tradition for lawlessness.
LRA likely to join the fray. If Uganda continues its support for Bemba, there is a possibility that Lord Resistance Rebels of Joseph Kony who have got a safe heaven in Eastern Congo will find it easy to convince President Kabila to help them to continue terrorizing Uganda as a revenge on Uganda government for supporting Bemba.
This is likely to put the Juba peace talks between Uganda and the LRA rebels in limbo.
President Yoweri Museven has often protested against the presence of LRA rebels in Eastern Congo and he once made ‘inflammatory’ statement that Ugandan forces would be deployed to the volatile eastern Congo, unless Kinshasa government and the UN peace mission (MONUC) dealt with members of the LRA who had fled there.
But instead Congo has given a soft landing to LRA. Questions whether Congo government supports LRA still linger in Ugandan mind.
Twenty one years of warfare by the LRA has devastated northern Uganda and displaced more than 1.6 million people, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than 10,000 children have been kidnapped by the rebels and forced to become fighters, porters and sex slaves. Uganda, at one point, chased the LRA up to the Sudan, with Khartoum's permission but never routed them.
There is much to fear, if Uganda re-enter Congo Rwanda is likely to do the same, as Congo also houses the Interehamwe Rebels who have terrorized Rwanda using Congo as their base.
UN-siding with kabila.? What is surprising the Ugandan government is that the UN hasn’t come up to condemn the Kinshasa government.
Congo also think that UN has failed to hold Rwanda and Uganda directly and unequivocally responsible for abuses committed by their own troops or by the forces of the factions they support in areas under their respective control especially during the 1996 Uganda-Rwanda invasion of Congo.
Despite UN deploying its largest peace keeping force in Congo, the mineral-rich eastern part of Congo, bordering Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, remains the most unstable area in the country, with violence breaking out regularly that often pits rival militias, including groups from neighboring countries, against each other and leaving civilians dead.
Great Lake conflicts continue to present the biggest security crisis in the continent, contributing to the worsening of the humanitarian situation in much of central, southern and Eastern Africa.
Should we believe that there is a shift in the balance of power in favor of Congo?I think the root cause of the tension between these two neighboring countries is the discovery of oil.
It has soured the already volatile relationship between Uganda and Congo. Congo too believes that it has a big share of oil reserves under her Lake Albert waters.
Therefore, there is a feeling that if Uganda begins exploiting oil first, it will automatically be exploiting Congo’s oil since the two countries seem to share the same oil source.
The country exploiting oil first is likely to benefit much more than the other and that’s why Congo is ready to delay oil exploration by keeping the Albertine region insecure.
Rukwanzi Island. Uganda believes this disputed area belongs to Uganda.
The Congolese government too believes the island belongs to Congo. The Island is rich with resources like oil and fish.
Ugandans once inhabited the island but left it on orders of the Ugandan government in 1980s after it was found that the island could disappear in water. The Congolese saw this as an opportunity, they occupied the island and set up a military barracks.
I find this strange; if Ugandans left the island due to our fears why claim it now? I think this excuse is just strange; we should just blame ourselves for leaving. We were just postponing problems.
Now Rukwanzi Island, in the southern part of Lake Albert, is at the heart of a fire fight between DR Congo government troops and Ugandan forces, which has left a British contractor dead.Carl Nefdt worked for Heritage Oil, one of two companies prospecting for oil in the area.
He died when Congolese forces attacked a Heritage Oil barge – a long boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying heavy loads on rivers or canals – on Lake Albert. The Congolese armed forces have now occupied the disputed Rukwanzi Island, a move likely to further escalate tensions with Uganda.
Unless this issue is resolved these area will have no permanent peace.
President Kabila not a Congole. Very many Congolese believe President kabila is not a Congole. They think he is a Rwandan of Banyamulenge origin. To win their hearts, Kabila has to fight for their territorial integrity by taking over Rukwanzi Island. Therefore if Congolese see Kabila in conflict with Uganda and Rwanda there is no reason to doubt his nationality.
Bemba Factor. During last year’s elections in Congo, Uganda indirectly supported Bemba against Kabila, He lost elections but Jean-Pierre Bemba's camp said that the results, which gave incumbent Joseph Kabila a win, were fraudulent.
Bemba continued causing havoc in Kinshasa. Kabila defeated him militarily and he fled to Portugal where he is now nursing the wounds. There is a possibility that Bemba will still come back, as a former rebel leader. It’s also still possible that Uganda will support him to stage a guerilla war from Eastern Congo, which has a tradition for lawlessness.
LRA likely to join the fray. If Uganda continues its support for Bemba, there is a possibility that Lord Resistance Rebels of Joseph Kony who have got a safe heaven in Eastern Congo will find it easy to convince President Kabila to help them to continue terrorizing Uganda as a revenge on Uganda government for supporting Bemba.
This is likely to put the Juba peace talks between Uganda and the LRA rebels in limbo.
President Yoweri Museven has often protested against the presence of LRA rebels in Eastern Congo and he once made ‘inflammatory’ statement that Ugandan forces would be deployed to the volatile eastern Congo, unless Kinshasa government and the UN peace mission (MONUC) dealt with members of the LRA who had fled there.
But instead Congo has given a soft landing to LRA. Questions whether Congo government supports LRA still linger in Ugandan mind.
Twenty one years of warfare by the LRA has devastated northern Uganda and displaced more than 1.6 million people, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. More than 10,000 children have been kidnapped by the rebels and forced to become fighters, porters and sex slaves. Uganda, at one point, chased the LRA up to the Sudan, with Khartoum's permission but never routed them.
There is much to fear, if Uganda re-enter Congo Rwanda is likely to do the same, as Congo also houses the Interehamwe Rebels who have terrorized Rwanda using Congo as their base.
UN-siding with kabila.? What is surprising the Ugandan government is that the UN hasn’t come up to condemn the Kinshasa government.
Congo also think that UN has failed to hold Rwanda and Uganda directly and unequivocally responsible for abuses committed by their own troops or by the forces of the factions they support in areas under their respective control especially during the 1996 Uganda-Rwanda invasion of Congo.
Despite UN deploying its largest peace keeping force in Congo, the mineral-rich eastern part of Congo, bordering Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, remains the most unstable area in the country, with violence breaking out regularly that often pits rival militias, including groups from neighboring countries, against each other and leaving civilians dead.
Great Lake conflicts continue to present the biggest security crisis in the continent, contributing to the worsening of the humanitarian situation in much of central, southern and Eastern Africa.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Just how Ugandan Media is shrinking !
With the government liberalizing media in 1993, a lot of private media houses were set up. Today we have more than 100 FM stations in Uganda, 10 newspapers and 20 television stations.
However, while the media is growing in Uganda, serious journalism is not.
Many of the stars of FM are not hardnosed muckrakers who are serious professionals. Most are musicians, comedians, pastors, even witch doctors with a personality for radio. Many are content to let callers "vent" their emotions, then take a break every so often for a two-minute "news bulletin." Other mix news with comedy and you can feel the dilemma.
Many of these FM stations emphasize the entertainment role more than the information role. They play music throughout the day and only spare an average of 20-minutes a day for news. This is very dangerous to journalism.
As a result people have remained in the shadows of information. People get less information on AIDS, poverty eradication, hygiene, farming, and governance. Rural based FM stations are not engaged in any serious kind of journalism, they read announcements and are tools used by witch doctors to advance witchcraft and other false beliefs.
People ultimately decide how their press should act. Perhaps Ugandans are no longer terribly interested in knowing the "deeper issues." They definitely aren't listening by the time you mention that the unseasonable rains that have swept away the roads, really have to do with a hole in something called the ozone layer. It is a general malaise that seems to taken root in East Africa and spreads to Africa as a whole.
Democratically, Uganda’s radio stations and print media have had a reputation for independence since the government loosened its controls of the media in the early 1990s, but their news coverage is fair minded and the popularity of interactive talk-shows and live public debates known as “ebimeeza” is due in large part to their respect for the rules of journalistic balance and the need to air all political views.
As a result, the privately owned media have won the public’s respect and have defended themselves effectively.
However, government controlled media have kept their stance as a government mouthpiece, UBC TV and Radio have continued to be used as a tool by the government to deny opposition the opportunity to advance their information to the grassroots.
Last month Gawaya Tegulle a program host of ‘Tonight with Tegulle’ on UBC television was suspended for hosting Col.Dr.Kiiza Besigye leader of the main opposition party FDC.
It has been reported that some ministers and an official from the president’s office called top UBC management protesting Besigye’s presence on the air. This caused panic among the managers, and it was reported that they considered stopping the show. Fearing that this was going to cause embarrassment to the government and their profession, they instead settled for simply blocking live telephone calls from the audience.
Unlike Kenya, Uganda opposition leaders face big challenges in accessing public media channels or those owned by NRM supporters. One can recall another incident two month ago when Dr. Besigye was due to appear on a Kitgum-based Kitti FM and the generator was switched off reportedly on the orders of the RDC, who phoned the manager threatening to close the station indefinitely.
The basics of an independent, accountable public broadcaster have yet to be achieved in Uganda, and UBC’s future is falling short.. We should select an independent board that is committed to rescuing the editorial integrity of the UBC. It is unlikely that with the current management people will have faith in UBC as a public broadcaster. The government is now happy with UBC because it’s the type of broadcaster it wants to have.
UBC is widely known to be a snakepit, where people of integrity fall victim to vicious power politics and are squeezed out, leaving mediocrity to thrive. The current management has not reversed this culture or put their mark on the institution. As a result, it may well prove to be a victim of its own inefficiency.
As all this happens, international bodies who measure press freedom are judging us. Their opinion is that freedom of expression in Uganda is shrinking. According to the 2006 Global Press Report by Reporters Without Borders, Tanzania is the region's best-rated country for press freedom. It is in 88th position. Uganda dropped from 80th to 116th on the index. Kenya is in the 118th among the 168 countries evaluated.
By this measure, Uganda is the most troubling case because of its steep decline to the lowest position it has occupied since the Index was launched five years ago.
Journalists should worry about their future, especially in Uganda, where anyone, even the, unprofessional, can go an a radio or television and do whatever comedy they want.
If we are to take the practice of journalism as a profession, then journalists must demonstrate that it is special, that it offers something of real value, and can prove its value to the public.
In Uganda, there is a need now, more than ever, among journalists to identifying sense amid the nonsense, sifting the important from the trivial, and, yes, for telling the truth.
These goals constitute the best mandate for a free press in a democracy and these goals are lacking among Ugandan journalists. Red Pepper is attacked for publishing all the sorts of lies; it continues to contaminate minds with trash every day. It’s such things that erode our values as journalists and keeps our profession questionable in the court of public opinion.
Today Africans live in more" democratic conditions" than ever before. This, again, might not mean much beyond the fact that we vote in elections but governments, in the end, may still steal. But at least more of us are voting, and have a wider choice of candidates to pick from.
The shabby state of press freedom is, therefore, a symptom of the democratic dead end Uganda seems to have hit. It's also a sign of how much the Ugandan media itself might have squandered its credibility as it struggled to find a new role after the heady 1990s and the falling away of many old-style dictatorships.
Talking about freedom of expression and press freedom as the foundations for a strong democracy is important, but it is also the task of responsible media figures to use this freedom to improve the everyday welfare of citizens.
Objectives such as the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving the number of people in the world living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger, will remain routine, perhaps even forgotten, if the press fails to make them an issue.
However, while the media is growing in Uganda, serious journalism is not.
Many of the stars of FM are not hardnosed muckrakers who are serious professionals. Most are musicians, comedians, pastors, even witch doctors with a personality for radio. Many are content to let callers "vent" their emotions, then take a break every so often for a two-minute "news bulletin." Other mix news with comedy and you can feel the dilemma.
Many of these FM stations emphasize the entertainment role more than the information role. They play music throughout the day and only spare an average of 20-minutes a day for news. This is very dangerous to journalism.
As a result people have remained in the shadows of information. People get less information on AIDS, poverty eradication, hygiene, farming, and governance. Rural based FM stations are not engaged in any serious kind of journalism, they read announcements and are tools used by witch doctors to advance witchcraft and other false beliefs.
People ultimately decide how their press should act. Perhaps Ugandans are no longer terribly interested in knowing the "deeper issues." They definitely aren't listening by the time you mention that the unseasonable rains that have swept away the roads, really have to do with a hole in something called the ozone layer. It is a general malaise that seems to taken root in East Africa and spreads to Africa as a whole.
Democratically, Uganda’s radio stations and print media have had a reputation for independence since the government loosened its controls of the media in the early 1990s, but their news coverage is fair minded and the popularity of interactive talk-shows and live public debates known as “ebimeeza” is due in large part to their respect for the rules of journalistic balance and the need to air all political views.
As a result, the privately owned media have won the public’s respect and have defended themselves effectively.
However, government controlled media have kept their stance as a government mouthpiece, UBC TV and Radio have continued to be used as a tool by the government to deny opposition the opportunity to advance their information to the grassroots.
Last month Gawaya Tegulle a program host of ‘Tonight with Tegulle’ on UBC television was suspended for hosting Col.Dr.Kiiza Besigye leader of the main opposition party FDC.
It has been reported that some ministers and an official from the president’s office called top UBC management protesting Besigye’s presence on the air. This caused panic among the managers, and it was reported that they considered stopping the show. Fearing that this was going to cause embarrassment to the government and their profession, they instead settled for simply blocking live telephone calls from the audience.
Unlike Kenya, Uganda opposition leaders face big challenges in accessing public media channels or those owned by NRM supporters. One can recall another incident two month ago when Dr. Besigye was due to appear on a Kitgum-based Kitti FM and the generator was switched off reportedly on the orders of the RDC, who phoned the manager threatening to close the station indefinitely.
The basics of an independent, accountable public broadcaster have yet to be achieved in Uganda, and UBC’s future is falling short.. We should select an independent board that is committed to rescuing the editorial integrity of the UBC. It is unlikely that with the current management people will have faith in UBC as a public broadcaster. The government is now happy with UBC because it’s the type of broadcaster it wants to have.
UBC is widely known to be a snakepit, where people of integrity fall victim to vicious power politics and are squeezed out, leaving mediocrity to thrive. The current management has not reversed this culture or put their mark on the institution. As a result, it may well prove to be a victim of its own inefficiency.
As all this happens, international bodies who measure press freedom are judging us. Their opinion is that freedom of expression in Uganda is shrinking. According to the 2006 Global Press Report by Reporters Without Borders, Tanzania is the region's best-rated country for press freedom. It is in 88th position. Uganda dropped from 80th to 116th on the index. Kenya is in the 118th among the 168 countries evaluated.
By this measure, Uganda is the most troubling case because of its steep decline to the lowest position it has occupied since the Index was launched five years ago.
Journalists should worry about their future, especially in Uganda, where anyone, even the, unprofessional, can go an a radio or television and do whatever comedy they want.
If we are to take the practice of journalism as a profession, then journalists must demonstrate that it is special, that it offers something of real value, and can prove its value to the public.
In Uganda, there is a need now, more than ever, among journalists to identifying sense amid the nonsense, sifting the important from the trivial, and, yes, for telling the truth.
These goals constitute the best mandate for a free press in a democracy and these goals are lacking among Ugandan journalists. Red Pepper is attacked for publishing all the sorts of lies; it continues to contaminate minds with trash every day. It’s such things that erode our values as journalists and keeps our profession questionable in the court of public opinion.
Today Africans live in more" democratic conditions" than ever before. This, again, might not mean much beyond the fact that we vote in elections but governments, in the end, may still steal. But at least more of us are voting, and have a wider choice of candidates to pick from.
The shabby state of press freedom is, therefore, a symptom of the democratic dead end Uganda seems to have hit. It's also a sign of how much the Ugandan media itself might have squandered its credibility as it struggled to find a new role after the heady 1990s and the falling away of many old-style dictatorships.
Talking about freedom of expression and press freedom as the foundations for a strong democracy is important, but it is also the task of responsible media figures to use this freedom to improve the everyday welfare of citizens.
Objectives such as the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving the number of people in the world living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger, will remain routine, perhaps even forgotten, if the press fails to make them an issue.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Shady Pastors, here is what to do.
As you read stories about some born again pastors you may begin questioning yourself whether they are good shepherds of the flock.
In Uganda, one of the best business one can do is to begin a born again church.
Churches, which once were respected as sanctified places of worship are now, used for all sorts of abuse, which includes sodomy, rape, coning followers’ of their money and even shocking some with electricity. Ugandans should be careful with the mushrooming pastors in the country because many of them are just crooks whose plan is to rob the unsuspecting poor.
I can't imagine a Ugandan who spends a whole day working as a wheel- barrow pusher, only to get money and hand it over to his pastor. This is daylight robbery! I think good pastors are not supposed to demand money to help people who need their services.
What angers me is that pastors pretend to follow Jesus' example yet they do the reverse.
Jesus healed the sick without asking for money and told his disciples to do the same, if we are to take pastors as today’s disciples, we must ask, “What are they doing?’ Church leaders should borrow a leaf from the life of Christ, who drove the moneychangers from the temple.
Unlike Catholics and Protestants, born again pastors lack a central regulating body to control their work.
If a Catholics priest is found guilty of such crimes is excommunicated, we can recall what happened to Bishop Emanuel Miyingo.
I think lack of a central body to regulate the activities of born again pastors tarnishes the image of even the good pastors who are serving God diligently.
We should all know that Jesus Christ, warned us about the rise of "false Christ's." He said they "would deceive many, performing miracles in my name". He, however, gave all of us a tip, through which we could identify such 'fake prophets’.
He said, " Identify them by their fruits" (i.e. their actions and character). In their fledgling ministry, the early Apostles spent sizeable time battling fakes.
Now they are back. Who can help us fight them?First of all, its every body's responsibility, but I think the first responsibly lies in the hands of National Council for Born Again churches. Let it come out with codes of conduct, have every pastor register and be made aware consequences for misconduct.
Next, the DPP should institute charges a against some pastors, for example, Pastor Obiri of 'We are one with Christ Ministries’ who imported an electric gadget to shock unsuspecting church-goers into believing that they are experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.
He could be charged with disturbing religious assemblies, stupefying in order to commit a misdemeanor, or even assault depending on the facts.The gadget, which can be worn like a corset on the body or under the sole of a shoe, can generate up to 12 volts, enough current to "pleasantly" shock to the ground dozens of people at a time.
Others like Kanyanja whose house was usd by smugglers of wine should be investigated.
Paster Kitaka who sodomized his follower should face the law too.
In Uganda, one of the best business one can do is to begin a born again church.
Churches, which once were respected as sanctified places of worship are now, used for all sorts of abuse, which includes sodomy, rape, coning followers’ of their money and even shocking some with electricity. Ugandans should be careful with the mushrooming pastors in the country because many of them are just crooks whose plan is to rob the unsuspecting poor.
I can't imagine a Ugandan who spends a whole day working as a wheel- barrow pusher, only to get money and hand it over to his pastor. This is daylight robbery! I think good pastors are not supposed to demand money to help people who need their services.
What angers me is that pastors pretend to follow Jesus' example yet they do the reverse.
Jesus healed the sick without asking for money and told his disciples to do the same, if we are to take pastors as today’s disciples, we must ask, “What are they doing?’ Church leaders should borrow a leaf from the life of Christ, who drove the moneychangers from the temple.
Unlike Catholics and Protestants, born again pastors lack a central regulating body to control their work.
If a Catholics priest is found guilty of such crimes is excommunicated, we can recall what happened to Bishop Emanuel Miyingo.
I think lack of a central body to regulate the activities of born again pastors tarnishes the image of even the good pastors who are serving God diligently.
We should all know that Jesus Christ, warned us about the rise of "false Christ's." He said they "would deceive many, performing miracles in my name". He, however, gave all of us a tip, through which we could identify such 'fake prophets’.
He said, " Identify them by their fruits" (i.e. their actions and character). In their fledgling ministry, the early Apostles spent sizeable time battling fakes.
Now they are back. Who can help us fight them?First of all, its every body's responsibility, but I think the first responsibly lies in the hands of National Council for Born Again churches. Let it come out with codes of conduct, have every pastor register and be made aware consequences for misconduct.
Next, the DPP should institute charges a against some pastors, for example, Pastor Obiri of 'We are one with Christ Ministries’ who imported an electric gadget to shock unsuspecting church-goers into believing that they are experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit.
He could be charged with disturbing religious assemblies, stupefying in order to commit a misdemeanor, or even assault depending on the facts.The gadget, which can be worn like a corset on the body or under the sole of a shoe, can generate up to 12 volts, enough current to "pleasantly" shock to the ground dozens of people at a time.
Others like Kanyanja whose house was usd by smugglers of wine should be investigated.
Paster Kitaka who sodomized his follower should face the law too.
In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter also echoed the warnings of Jesus about fake "men of God." He said: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you..."
The apostles warned that these false teachers had never renounced the "hidden things of dishonesty, craftiness" and "handling the word of God deceitfully.
"It is normal for some Christian to be sad and disillusioned when they discover that their preachers and spiritual leaders are not living up to expected standards.
However, it is also important to know that God always has some individuals who will not betray
His word at the altar of materialism and financial gain.
Apparently, fake men of God will only continue to arise.
Therefore, my humble appeal to fellow Christians is that they must be equipped with knowledge, which will help them have an insight into these fakes and they would be able to discern - and avoid them.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Inside the stinking Makerere University Halls of Residence.
Recently I went with my friend Eddie to cover a news story at UPC’s Uganda House. While inside,we branched off for a short call, I found out that the whole building was in a mess,Broken water Pipes, everywhere. I guess if Mama Miria is not serious floods of Urine will soon chase her from office.
However this experience was not new to me, back at Makerere University we are faced with a more serious crisis than that I saw at Uganda House.
Most Halls at the university are in a poor state, they face insufficient water supply, electricity breakdown, poor hygiene, and most of them are in a state of decay and require complete renovation.
Although I hail from a cleaner Livingstone Hall,The likes of Nsibirwa, Nkrumah,Lumumba, Mary Stuart,Complex and UH just needs your prayers .When we were told that we are to leave Livingstone for Nsibirwa during recess, we started cursing our selves coz we couldn't imagine staying in stinking Nsibirwa for the entire eight weeks.
I think Nsibirwa takes a Gold medal as a most smelling hall at campus, it can set records and break them still.Its lavatories are flooded with water, faces are always hanging on dry bowels because of constant water cut offs, as a solution to the filthy nature of their toilets, some students of Nsibirwa have decided not to use their toilets and go to other halls or nearby hostels.
Stepping into Insibirwa Toilets! Oh my God. I feel devastated to write this because my minds are so irritating, recalling packed to brim bowels of faces floating in these toilets.
I can't entirely blame the administration though it bears the greatest blame.Once your inside Nsibirwa toilets, You may wish you were born illiterate not to read obscene words written everywhere on the wall.The so called 'states men' can abuse the President,their own guild, Vice Chancellor, Chancellor and even some people outside Uganda.Yes, they have freedom of speech but this should be responsibly exercised.
They can write how Kenya has the Most ugly first Lady in the world,how kenyan chics are menisers,how westerners are tribalists, who was raped in whose room, how she was screaming and other stupid stuff I can't even blog about.
Inside their messes, is a real mess, almost all Hall's messes smell beans and posho, with food droplets everywhere on table. You may think Kindergartens eat from here.Cleaners are always busy pursuing their bachelor of arts in gossiping while cooks are doing their degree of food science in eating.
Can this situation be reversed? Yes, but it should be through privatizing these halls .Serious management of these halls can only be done by a private investor.Indirectly the government is telling us it has failed to properly manage these halls.
Currently private students pay shillings 340,000 per semester for food and accommodation to stay inside the University but they don’t get the services which they pay for as their money is used to cater for the budget of the government students as well.
I can't imagine finishing my recess and I get away from such stuff.
However this experience was not new to me, back at Makerere University we are faced with a more serious crisis than that I saw at Uganda House.
Most Halls at the university are in a poor state, they face insufficient water supply, electricity breakdown, poor hygiene, and most of them are in a state of decay and require complete renovation.
Although I hail from a cleaner Livingstone Hall,The likes of Nsibirwa, Nkrumah,Lumumba, Mary Stuart,Complex and UH just needs your prayers .When we were told that we are to leave Livingstone for Nsibirwa during recess, we started cursing our selves coz we couldn't imagine staying in stinking Nsibirwa for the entire eight weeks.
I think Nsibirwa takes a Gold medal as a most smelling hall at campus, it can set records and break them still.Its lavatories are flooded with water, faces are always hanging on dry bowels because of constant water cut offs, as a solution to the filthy nature of their toilets, some students of Nsibirwa have decided not to use their toilets and go to other halls or nearby hostels.
Stepping into Insibirwa Toilets! Oh my God. I feel devastated to write this because my minds are so irritating, recalling packed to brim bowels of faces floating in these toilets.
I can't entirely blame the administration though it bears the greatest blame.Once your inside Nsibirwa toilets, You may wish you were born illiterate not to read obscene words written everywhere on the wall.The so called 'states men' can abuse the President,their own guild, Vice Chancellor, Chancellor and even some people outside Uganda.Yes, they have freedom of speech but this should be responsibly exercised.
They can write how Kenya has the Most ugly first Lady in the world,how kenyan chics are menisers,how westerners are tribalists, who was raped in whose room, how she was screaming and other stupid stuff I can't even blog about.
Inside their messes, is a real mess, almost all Hall's messes smell beans and posho, with food droplets everywhere on table. You may think Kindergartens eat from here.Cleaners are always busy pursuing their bachelor of arts in gossiping while cooks are doing their degree of food science in eating.
Can this situation be reversed? Yes, but it should be through privatizing these halls .Serious management of these halls can only be done by a private investor.Indirectly the government is telling us it has failed to properly manage these halls.
Currently private students pay shillings 340,000 per semester for food and accommodation to stay inside the University but they don’t get the services which they pay for as their money is used to cater for the budget of the government students as well.
I can't imagine finishing my recess and I get away from such stuff.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Is Museveni serious on corruption?
A lot have been said about President Yoweri Museven and his corrupt government, the most recent being the headline in the New Vision where the President said “I Won't Tolerate Corruption”
I have never been convinced that the President is committed to fighting corruption in Uganda.
First of all a lot of corrupt NRM Cadres have been left free after being implicated in corruption scandals because they support the ruling government or they are close associates of President Yoweri Museven.
We should recall the sale of UCB.It was because of NRM’s corruption which led to the bankruptcy of the Country's largest government-owned Commercial Bank . UCB controlled over 80% of the commercial banking market but NRM"s ruling clique gave themselves fraudulent loans worth over 62 billion shillings which they have classified as "delinquent loans.
Certain evils in government like sectarianism, corruption and outright thievery are the cause of Uganda's economic mismanagement. This is the gov’t where appointments to high political and corporate positions are mostly based on tribal origin. Fraudulent loans from UCB were granted exclusively to Tutsis and Himas in order to boost their economic dominance over others. Briefcase and paper companies were concocted and flooded Kampala through which millions were borrowed on the basis of a person's ethnicity and signature. The bankruptcy of UCB has very serious adverse repercussions for Uganda's economy.
The problem with many Ugandans is that they forget easily. How could you forget a
Bassajjabalaba-style bail out from President Museveni.Ask your self what has been done after the recommendations of Justice Ssebutinde’s Report into the junk helicopters which couldn’t even fly from Entebbe to Kampala and yet they were bought to fight Kony in Northern Uganda?. What of the current crisis of supplying fake seeds and pangas to the IDPS? What of the GAVI funds. Don’t also forget the Global Fund.
Name them…
The Prosecution of the three Ministers should not excite any one, these guys are used as baits or protective the real corrupt people are in top leadership. In any case where have you ever seen someone going to court with a gang of supporters chanting in support of that fugitive? If the fight against corruption is to be taken serious then Salem Sale and Kahinda Otafiire should be in prison for buying fake helicopters and plundering Congo respectivelty.
I am forced to believe that the arrest of three former health ministers was precipitated by pressure from the British government. Actually the British government was considering changing CHOGM citing political intolerance and embezzlement of public funds with impunity by government top officials. It also cited the misappropriation of donor money from the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids, TB and malaria and the funds meant for immunization where the culprits had not been prosecuted.
Wait after CHOGM we shall go back to our old ways..
I have never been convinced that the President is committed to fighting corruption in Uganda.
First of all a lot of corrupt NRM Cadres have been left free after being implicated in corruption scandals because they support the ruling government or they are close associates of President Yoweri Museven.
We should recall the sale of UCB.It was because of NRM’s corruption which led to the bankruptcy of the Country's largest government-owned Commercial Bank . UCB controlled over 80% of the commercial banking market but NRM"s ruling clique gave themselves fraudulent loans worth over 62 billion shillings which they have classified as "delinquent loans.
Certain evils in government like sectarianism, corruption and outright thievery are the cause of Uganda's economic mismanagement. This is the gov’t where appointments to high political and corporate positions are mostly based on tribal origin. Fraudulent loans from UCB were granted exclusively to Tutsis and Himas in order to boost their economic dominance over others. Briefcase and paper companies were concocted and flooded Kampala through which millions were borrowed on the basis of a person's ethnicity and signature. The bankruptcy of UCB has very serious adverse repercussions for Uganda's economy.
The problem with many Ugandans is that they forget easily. How could you forget a
Bassajjabalaba-style bail out from President Museveni.Ask your self what has been done after the recommendations of Justice Ssebutinde’s Report into the junk helicopters which couldn’t even fly from Entebbe to Kampala and yet they were bought to fight Kony in Northern Uganda?. What of the current crisis of supplying fake seeds and pangas to the IDPS? What of the GAVI funds. Don’t also forget the Global Fund.
Name them…
The Prosecution of the three Ministers should not excite any one, these guys are used as baits or protective the real corrupt people are in top leadership. In any case where have you ever seen someone going to court with a gang of supporters chanting in support of that fugitive? If the fight against corruption is to be taken serious then Salem Sale and Kahinda Otafiire should be in prison for buying fake helicopters and plundering Congo respectivelty.
I am forced to believe that the arrest of three former health ministers was precipitated by pressure from the British government. Actually the British government was considering changing CHOGM citing political intolerance and embezzlement of public funds with impunity by government top officials. It also cited the misappropriation of donor money from the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids, TB and malaria and the funds meant for immunization where the culprits had not been prosecuted.
Wait after CHOGM we shall go back to our old ways..
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The end of Henry's PL era.
Before the death of Alan 'the cantankerous' the other shocking news I had was the departure of Thiery Henry to Barcelona.I couldn't believe that the lad has left for the club which fulfils his dream. 
The object of his glare was a Barca side that had just denied him club football's ultimate prize – and to rub salt into the wound, had done so by playing the sort of football Henry cherishes , the same style of football that Arsenal plays.
Although Iam a red devil i can't fail to accept that Henry was a thorn in a fresh for not only Man United but all other clubs in the league for goal scoring ability.
Henry has been a loyal servant to Arsenal and they have had the benefit of two titles and three FA Cups over a career spanning 364 games and 226 goals, a true charactor of a legend and indeed Henry will remain a legend to many at Arsenal.
What is making me ponder is the way a man who has always claimed to be more loyal to the club leave? this tells us something that in football no any prayer should claim to be loyal that he can't leave.The fact is that every player wants to achieve and if he is satisfayed that his club can help him realise his dream then he wilk stay if its the reverse, for sure he will leave. We may say that Henry at Arsenal had achieved every thing but the desire to add on a Champions league medal couldn't keep Henry at Emirates.
The other question is who gained in the deal and who lost?.This Reminds me of Deal or No Deal on NTV. Wenger a Professor of Economics is known for making lucrative deals and indeed he still demostrated this .At almost 30yrs of age Henry has passed his best and he is nearing his retirement, selling him at 16pounds was exploitationto Barcelona.
Indeed Some Barca fans have questioned the wisdom of paying so much for someone who turns 30 in August but Henry's charm offensive has won over the vast majority of those doubters before a ball has been kicked.
To bring most of Barc fans who doubted his cost,Henry was quick to say that he chased the autographs of former Barcelona stars Hristo Stoichkov and Romario in 1993 and saying that Barcelona were the only club in the world he was prepared to leave Arsenal for.
To Arsenal fans who still believe in Henry he has this message for u "I will have you in my head and my heart. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner. The club is in my heart and will remain within my heart for ever."
"Thierry has been tremendous for us since he arrived in 1999," Wenger said. "He has excelled both as part of a team and individually. In short, he has become an Arsenal legend. Personally, I would like to thank Thierry for the huge
contribution he has made to the club's success over the past eight years. To his great credit, he has mixed skill and style together with an appetite for winning. It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing. On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him the very best for the future."
I support neither Arsenal nor Barcelona but I wish you lack Henry, I will miss watching you in PL although you have given us an opportunity to beat Arsenal home & away...Actually the Baganda will be calling Arsenal 'KIMPE KYEKUBIRE"
The object of his glare was a Barca side that had just denied him club football's ultimate prize – and to rub salt into the wound, had done so by playing the sort of football Henry cherishes , the same style of football that Arsenal plays.
Although Iam a red devil i can't fail to accept that Henry was a thorn in a fresh for not only Man United but all other clubs in the league for goal scoring ability.
Henry has been a loyal servant to Arsenal and they have had the benefit of two titles and three FA Cups over a career spanning 364 games and 226 goals, a true charactor of a legend and indeed Henry will remain a legend to many at Arsenal.
What is making me ponder is the way a man who has always claimed to be more loyal to the club leave? this tells us something that in football no any prayer should claim to be loyal that he can't leave.The fact is that every player wants to achieve and if he is satisfayed that his club can help him realise his dream then he wilk stay if its the reverse, for sure he will leave. We may say that Henry at Arsenal had achieved every thing but the desire to add on a Champions league medal couldn't keep Henry at Emirates.
The other question is who gained in the deal and who lost?.This Reminds me of Deal or No Deal on NTV. Wenger a Professor of Economics is known for making lucrative deals and indeed he still demostrated this .At almost 30yrs of age Henry has passed his best and he is nearing his retirement, selling him at 16pounds was exploitationto Barcelona.
Indeed Some Barca fans have questioned the wisdom of paying so much for someone who turns 30 in August but Henry's charm offensive has won over the vast majority of those doubters before a ball has been kicked.
To bring most of Barc fans who doubted his cost,Henry was quick to say that he chased the autographs of former Barcelona stars Hristo Stoichkov and Romario in 1993 and saying that Barcelona were the only club in the world he was prepared to leave Arsenal for.
To Arsenal fans who still believe in Henry he has this message for u "I will have you in my head and my heart. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner. The club is in my heart and will remain within my heart for ever."
"There are only two teams in the world who play football the way I like it," admitted Henry. "That's why I am leaving Arsenal for Barcelona
Which type of a gunner do you think he was meaning?. I think a gunner in name but not in character."Thierry has been tremendous for us since he arrived in 1999," Wenger said. "He has excelled both as part of a team and individually. In short, he has become an Arsenal legend. Personally, I would like to thank Thierry for the huge
contribution he has made to the club's success over the past eight years. To his great credit, he has mixed skill and style together with an appetite for winning. It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing. On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him the very best for the future."
I support neither Arsenal nor Barcelona but I wish you lack Henry, I will miss watching you in PL although you have given us an opportunity to beat Arsenal home & away...Actually the Baganda will be calling Arsenal 'KIMPE KYEKUBIRE"
Friday, June 22, 2007
Here is the so called Uganda's poor man's Budget.
Is uganda budget a poor man’s budget or a rich man’s budget?
The 2007/2008 budget which was read on Thursday June 14, 2007, left many questions un aswered.Many Ugandans were hoping that the government will present a better plan to generate revenue and spend it in the most beneficial manner. They expected the budget to sufficiently Adress issues like energy, infrastructural development , poverty, high taxation and information technology . Many Ugandans had thopugh that the government learnt from last year's budget, and will provide a more efficient budget which is capable of solving uganda’s problems unfortunately it was the reverse .
Areas of interest : energy, transport infrastructure, ICTs, Science and technology, industrial development; rural development, human development, security and government,
92bn for thermal generation
119bn for development of hydro power plants (Bujagali)
More incentives for export investors -10yr tax holiday
Government to fund 61.7% of budget locally
Taxes scraped: road licenses no more, income tax for airlines,
New taxes: environmental tax on motor spare parts, polythene bags, local service tax, local hotels tax, 18% and 21% tax increase on fuel
35bn for road maintenance, 15bn for completion of stalled roads
34bn for recruitment of secondary teachers
12bn to roll out NAADS( National Agricultural Advisory Services) to all districts
10bn for bonabagawale (prosperity for all) loans -to be managed by Prosperity for all desk in President's Office and Sub-county Chiefs
Agricultural loans to strengthen marketing and processing of local products
2b for marketing research in agriculture
11bn for recruitment of health workers and provision of drugs at Health centre IIIs
National Health Insurance scheme for later next year.
Soldiers' salary increased from shs. 140, 000 to 180, 000
15.6bn for local government pension arrears
10.2mUSD to fight corruption
7.5bn for model sub-county program
50bn fro IDB (international Development bank ) to support SMEs
33bn for local governments
7.5bn for local government pension arrears
200bn to pay pension arrears
80bn to be pensioners this year
Total resource envelope: 5025bn shillings
Dr. Ezra Suruma has said that most of this years budget will be funded by the government . He also noted that the government will emphasise the provision of energy, transport infrastructure, Science and Technology, rural development, human development, security as well as funding the education .
Dr. Suruma further highlighted that the government expect to get 5,025bn of which 61.7% will be financed from local sources . Uganda Revenue Authority, expects to collect 3, 190bn. The government expects donors to fund 38.3% of the budget.This is in line with government intention to fund most of its budget than last year where 44%of the budget was funded by donars
To fight illitacy in uganda t, the Education sector has been given a lions sharein the Budget. The sector’s budget grew by 5% to sh752.35b up from sh720.81b this financial year, which ends June 30. The closest sectors to the education budget were Economic Functions and Social services which grew from sh671.38b to sh720.70b; Works and transport from sh464.88b to sh563.70b; Security from sh377.26b to sh396.9b and Health from sh381.84b to 386.46.
This year’s budget read under the theme, "re-orienting government expenditure towards prosperity for all," will expand opportunities for local people to improve their incomes.
The minister also announced VAT reduction on residential properties to promote proper accommodation. The government is to loose about 2bn from this measure.
What must bring a smile to some Ugandans , the government has also scrapped off road license fees paid by all vehicles, except regestration charges . Dr. Suruma said that the government will lose about Shs 80bn which it was getting in these road fees.
But the government as expected has increased excise duty on fuel from shs.450 to 530 per liter of diesel. Diesel has been increased by 18% and petrol by 21%. This will help the government get 56bn shillings. But the government intoduced road fund to help develop infrastructure to ensure marketing of fermers product.
All the East African cauntries decided to ban polythene/plastic bags (buveera) of less than 30microns and impose 120% excise duty on the rest. Importation and manufacturing of these buveera is banned with effect from July 1st, 2007.
Dr. suruma also proposed a fixed levy of 0.25USD per kilogram of hides and skins, introduction of a 10% environmental levy on used motor vehicle spare parts. This will add to the already existing 10% environmental levy on importation of used motor vehicles
This budget has shown the resilience of the Ugandan economy. To register an economic growth of 6.5%, maintain inflation at 7.8%, the Uganda Revenue Authority collecting a surplus of shillings 2,566 billion in a time of electricity shortage, high oil prices is very remarkable," said President Yoweri Museveni
“ I want to be optimistic that a people who have been able to grow at a rate above 6% per annum over the last 15 years while at war and without oil, can grow even faster while we are not at war and when we have oil," Dr. Suruma said.
The budget performance is measured according to how much it contributes to more gainful economic activities (production), and thus contributing to poverty reduction.Is this a poor man's budget.
The 2007/2008 budget which was read on Thursday June 14, 2007, left many questions un aswered.Many Ugandans were hoping that the government will present a better plan to generate revenue and spend it in the most beneficial manner. They expected the budget to sufficiently Adress issues like energy, infrastructural development , poverty, high taxation and information technology . Many Ugandans had thopugh that the government learnt from last year's budget, and will provide a more efficient budget which is capable of solving uganda’s problems unfortunately it was the reverse .
Areas of interest : energy, transport infrastructure, ICTs, Science and technology, industrial development; rural development, human development, security and government,
92bn for thermal generation
119bn for development of hydro power plants (Bujagali)
More incentives for export investors -10yr tax holiday
Government to fund 61.7% of budget locally
Taxes scraped: road licenses no more, income tax for airlines,
New taxes: environmental tax on motor spare parts, polythene bags, local service tax, local hotels tax, 18% and 21% tax increase on fuel
35bn for road maintenance, 15bn for completion of stalled roads
34bn for recruitment of secondary teachers
12bn to roll out NAADS( National Agricultural Advisory Services) to all districts
10bn for bonabagawale (prosperity for all) loans -to be managed by Prosperity for all desk in President's Office and Sub-county Chiefs
Agricultural loans to strengthen marketing and processing of local products
2b for marketing research in agriculture
11bn for recruitment of health workers and provision of drugs at Health centre IIIs
National Health Insurance scheme for later next year.
Soldiers' salary increased from shs. 140, 000 to 180, 000
15.6bn for local government pension arrears
10.2mUSD to fight corruption
7.5bn for model sub-county program
50bn fro IDB (international Development bank ) to support SMEs
33bn for local governments
7.5bn for local government pension arrears
200bn to pay pension arrears
80bn to be pensioners this year
Total resource envelope: 5025bn shillings
Dr. Ezra Suruma has said that most of this years budget will be funded by the government . He also noted that the government will emphasise the provision of energy, transport infrastructure, Science and Technology, rural development, human development, security as well as funding the education .
Dr. Suruma further highlighted that the government expect to get 5,025bn of which 61.7% will be financed from local sources . Uganda Revenue Authority, expects to collect 3, 190bn. The government expects donors to fund 38.3% of the budget.This is in line with government intention to fund most of its budget than last year where 44%of the budget was funded by donars
To fight illitacy in uganda t, the Education sector has been given a lions sharein the Budget. The sector’s budget grew by 5% to sh752.35b up from sh720.81b this financial year, which ends June 30. The closest sectors to the education budget were Economic Functions and Social services which grew from sh671.38b to sh720.70b; Works and transport from sh464.88b to sh563.70b; Security from sh377.26b to sh396.9b and Health from sh381.84b to 386.46.
This year’s budget read under the theme, "re-orienting government expenditure towards prosperity for all," will expand opportunities for local people to improve their incomes.
The minister also announced VAT reduction on residential properties to promote proper accommodation. The government is to loose about 2bn from this measure.
What must bring a smile to some Ugandans , the government has also scrapped off road license fees paid by all vehicles, except regestration charges . Dr. Suruma said that the government will lose about Shs 80bn which it was getting in these road fees.
But the government as expected has increased excise duty on fuel from shs.450 to 530 per liter of diesel. Diesel has been increased by 18% and petrol by 21%. This will help the government get 56bn shillings. But the government intoduced road fund to help develop infrastructure to ensure marketing of fermers product.
All the East African cauntries decided to ban polythene/plastic bags (buveera) of less than 30microns and impose 120% excise duty on the rest. Importation and manufacturing of these buveera is banned with effect from July 1st, 2007.
Dr. suruma also proposed a fixed levy of 0.25USD per kilogram of hides and skins, introduction of a 10% environmental levy on used motor vehicle spare parts. This will add to the already existing 10% environmental levy on importation of used motor vehicles
This budget has shown the resilience of the Ugandan economy. To register an economic growth of 6.5%, maintain inflation at 7.8%, the Uganda Revenue Authority collecting a surplus of shillings 2,566 billion in a time of electricity shortage, high oil prices is very remarkable," said President Yoweri Museveni
“ I want to be optimistic that a people who have been able to grow at a rate above 6% per annum over the last 15 years while at war and without oil, can grow even faster while we are not at war and when we have oil," Dr. Suruma said.
The budget performance is measured according to how much it contributes to more gainful economic activities (production), and thus contributing to poverty reduction.Is this a poor man's budget.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
CHOGM IS HERE GUYS
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), will be held in Kampala from November 23-25 will have alot media coverage, with news reports from Kampala forming international headlines.
This is an opportunity to show our beautiful country before a worldwide community. It will also bring both and long term benefits to our country with millions of dollars that will pour into the cauntry.
But will that one change internationally perception of uganda ?The success or failure of Chogm should therefore be of deep concern to all Ugandans including those in opposition. CHOGM should not be seen as going to improving the image of President Yoweri K. Museveni and his collapsing government, but that of all Ugandans who understand the need to uplift our poor economy and the ability of our small, struggling country to play on the international stage.
This is an opportunity to show our beautiful country before a worldwide community. It will also bring both and long term benefits to our country with millions of dollars that will pour into the cauntry.
But will that one change internationally perception of uganda ?The success or failure of Chogm should therefore be of deep concern to all Ugandans including those in opposition. CHOGM should not be seen as going to improving the image of President Yoweri K. Museveni and his collapsing government, but that of all Ugandans who understand the need to uplift our poor economy and the ability of our small, struggling country to play on the international stage.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The dilemma of District quota system
In a bid to make higher education accessible to the poor, the government came up with the district quota system in 2004.
The move was to see each district get an equal number of students admitted on government to Makerere University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University.
This is a good policy because it’s likely to create equal opportunity for all Ugandans to attain education. Previously government sponsorship benefited students from well to do families. Those well to do families who could manage to send their students to high performing schools, their children had an opportunity to raise high poits for government scholarships.
The government is facing a tough challenge in administering the district quota system because of anomalies in birth certificate. From the start of this programme I though it was going to be an uphill to manage the quota system given poor procedures in acquiring birth and death registration.
Who can tell that Mr. so. and so. Was not born from Katakwi if he can go to Katakwi and bribe the chairman LC1 to get an introduction letter which can help him get a birth certificate of Katakwi district even if he was born from Kampala. Such flaw in the system makes it hard for students from poor families to benefit from that affirmative action
Automatically some students from well off districts will end up conniving with local leaders in poor districts to abuse the policy by forging their credentials and others are likely to disguise themselves as residents of remotely located districts.
In Uganda corruption is at its best students will have to always present forged birth certificates and falsify their districts of origin in order to gain admission on Government-sponsorship. If the whole process was not marred by to many flaws, distict quota system could have brought up an equal balance in education where some students would be forced to join up- country schools so as to compete favorably and get admitted.
I still look sat this as one of the best education policy policy the NRM government has ever produced but the problem is that the government and other politician have failed to sensitize the public the way it works for example some parents in rural areas even don't know that their sons and daughters can be admitted on government, they still have a mentality that government scholarships are for those who are financially well off, academically sound, and most importantly "known".
To day even a student with 10 points who sat his HS from a rural school can be admitted on quota system and that one who scored 22 points from Kampala can miss out. Is there any one to explain such to parents and students who hail from rural areas?
Can the people concerned go back to the drawing board carry out mass sensitization such that the public can help them to identify the culprits?
The move was to see each district get an equal number of students admitted on government to Makerere University, Gulu University, Kyambogo University and Mbarara University.
This is a good policy because it’s likely to create equal opportunity for all Ugandans to attain education. Previously government sponsorship benefited students from well to do families. Those well to do families who could manage to send their students to high performing schools, their children had an opportunity to raise high poits for government scholarships.
The government is facing a tough challenge in administering the district quota system because of anomalies in birth certificate. From the start of this programme I though it was going to be an uphill to manage the quota system given poor procedures in acquiring birth and death registration.
Who can tell that Mr. so. and so. Was not born from Katakwi if he can go to Katakwi and bribe the chairman LC1 to get an introduction letter which can help him get a birth certificate of Katakwi district even if he was born from Kampala. Such flaw in the system makes it hard for students from poor families to benefit from that affirmative action
Automatically some students from well off districts will end up conniving with local leaders in poor districts to abuse the policy by forging their credentials and others are likely to disguise themselves as residents of remotely located districts.
In Uganda corruption is at its best students will have to always present forged birth certificates and falsify their districts of origin in order to gain admission on Government-sponsorship. If the whole process was not marred by to many flaws, distict quota system could have brought up an equal balance in education where some students would be forced to join up- country schools so as to compete favorably and get admitted.
I still look sat this as one of the best education policy policy the NRM government has ever produced but the problem is that the government and other politician have failed to sensitize the public the way it works for example some parents in rural areas even don't know that their sons and daughters can be admitted on government, they still have a mentality that government scholarships are for those who are financially well off, academically sound, and most importantly "known".
To day even a student with 10 points who sat his HS from a rural school can be admitted on quota system and that one who scored 22 points from Kampala can miss out. Is there any one to explain such to parents and students who hail from rural areas?
Can the people concerned go back to the drawing board carry out mass sensitization such that the public can help them to identify the culprits?
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Here is the Worst Tuesday of my life
Its a Tuesday Morning and Iam in a PR class, the lecturer is busy explaining the differences between PR and Advertising she is clad in a red dress and every body in class is giving enough attention to her. She has just been wed the Previous Month and she seems to be tired probably because of spending sleepless nights.
In class Iam one of the serious contributors and even when the class seem to be bored I try to keep saying something so as to keep the class at par.
She has been one of my best lecturers and I remember last semister we had an argument in class about who was the best lecturer I insisted she was the best because she knows how to drive points home although you may not distiguish her notes from those on the net and text books... I suggested it was the only weekness she had.
On that very Tuesday in class she started swelling " some of you came at this
University when you didn't know how to talk but b'se of the little communication skills you can now make noise in class" . "for example Sylivia" I said' Sylivia is one of my class mate .. she is shy but she made it to JRC and she was appointed a minister.. i saw this as an achievement worth mentioning.
The other word i hard from her was "go out of my class" smartly I left.
after class i went to apologise she refused . I wrote an apology she still denied it.
up top now i don't know whether its written any where in the University rules that mentioning Sylivia is a an offence.
i don't know wether she will mark my paper or whether i will be allowed in to do her test.
If Iam not mistaken i think she is a Disgrace to her fellow lectures and her profession
In class Iam one of the serious contributors and even when the class seem to be bored I try to keep saying something so as to keep the class at par.
She has been one of my best lecturers and I remember last semister we had an argument in class about who was the best lecturer I insisted she was the best because she knows how to drive points home although you may not distiguish her notes from those on the net and text books... I suggested it was the only weekness she had.
On that very Tuesday in class she started swelling " some of you came at this
University when you didn't know how to talk but b'se of the little communication skills you can now make noise in class" . "for example Sylivia" I said' Sylivia is one of my class mate .. she is shy but she made it to JRC and she was appointed a minister.. i saw this as an achievement worth mentioning.
The other word i hard from her was "go out of my class" smartly I left.
after class i went to apologise she refused . I wrote an apology she still denied it.
up top now i don't know whether its written any where in the University rules that mentioning Sylivia is a an offence.
i don't know wether she will mark my paper or whether i will be allowed in to do her test.
If Iam not mistaken i think she is a Disgrace to her fellow lectures and her profession
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Do we need NGOs in uganda?
I am intriguid by the way NGO business is shriving in uganda, When critically analysed NGOs are just doing nothing and we can be sure poverty will remain high in uganda. With little restrictions and regulations by the government, very many people have resorted to forming NGOs under the guise to assist the poor out of poverty when actually they are just making profits. .
Despite of very many NGOs in uganda the living conditions have remained awful,little water, malnourished children, poor sanitation . Its hard to believe that some NGOs especially in Northern uganda are exploiting internally displaced persons by soliciting funds from donors without remiting to the community, what "human face" are they portraying ?
No one can doubt that NGOs get alot of funding from both the government and international donor agencies, but the most fundamental question is the way this aid is implemented .Does it actually uprift the poor conditions of people. I still urgue that while aid given through the government can be mismanaged through corruption and embezzlement, it should also be noted that aid given through NGOs makes little impact too because such projects have proliferated and personal gains.
While often recognising these contradictions and difficulties, agencies operational on the ground argue that they do make a difference through the provision of services, such as water or health care hence complementing on the work of the government in fighting poverty. which i think is true though its still difficult to evaluate whethere aid projects have an overall impacts on poverty statistics .
With the increased emphasis on promoting processes of social change,development projects which build water-wells and NGOs involved in aid projects are private, voluntary, non-profit organisations with altruistic and philanthropic motives. Often they are perceived to be in a better position to reach the poor than governments or large financial institutions and are seen as having a more "human face"but in truth this "human face" is just theoretical .
The emergence of NGOs is commonly explained as an institutional response to market or state failures. They are often viewed as being less bureaucratic and more flexible, and therefore more capable of responding to emergencies, promoting work at grassroots level and involving the participation of local people. NGOs are also seen as being cheaper, more efficient and non-political and therefore more equitable in their disbursement than governmental aid.
With all the intellectual arguments sorrounding the role of NGOs in developing economies, I still hold that we should ask our selves whether we really need NGOs in fighting poverty in uganda? yes, wemay need them . but which kind of NGOs do we need and how should they be regulated. Uganda is often held as a model because poverty has slowed down directly or indirectly as a result of development cooperation betwween NGOs and a reforming government, its one of the country where improvement in livelihoods can be attributed to the work of NGOs and aid funding.Therefore it seems aid can work if well implemented and incorpareted into structural adjustment programmes and given a clear povety alliviation component. Therefore support Minister Ecweru that NGOs wishing to operate in uganda pass through a sieve and those seen uncapable be told to go away.
Despite of very many NGOs in uganda the living conditions have remained awful,little water, malnourished children, poor sanitation . Its hard to believe that some NGOs especially in Northern uganda are exploiting internally displaced persons by soliciting funds from donors without remiting to the community, what "human face" are they portraying ?
No one can doubt that NGOs get alot of funding from both the government and international donor agencies, but the most fundamental question is the way this aid is implemented .Does it actually uprift the poor conditions of people. I still urgue that while aid given through the government can be mismanaged through corruption and embezzlement, it should also be noted that aid given through NGOs makes little impact too because such projects have proliferated and personal gains.
While often recognising these contradictions and difficulties, agencies operational on the ground argue that they do make a difference through the provision of services, such as water or health care hence complementing on the work of the government in fighting poverty. which i think is true though its still difficult to evaluate whethere aid projects have an overall impacts on poverty statistics .
With the increased emphasis on promoting processes of social change,development projects which build water-wells and NGOs involved in aid projects are private, voluntary, non-profit organisations with altruistic and philanthropic motives. Often they are perceived to be in a better position to reach the poor than governments or large financial institutions and are seen as having a more "human face"but in truth this "human face" is just theoretical .
The emergence of NGOs is commonly explained as an institutional response to market or state failures. They are often viewed as being less bureaucratic and more flexible, and therefore more capable of responding to emergencies, promoting work at grassroots level and involving the participation of local people. NGOs are also seen as being cheaper, more efficient and non-political and therefore more equitable in their disbursement than governmental aid.
With all the intellectual arguments sorrounding the role of NGOs in developing economies, I still hold that we should ask our selves whether we really need NGOs in fighting poverty in uganda? yes, wemay need them . but which kind of NGOs do we need and how should they be regulated. Uganda is often held as a model because poverty has slowed down directly or indirectly as a result of development cooperation betwween NGOs and a reforming government, its one of the country where improvement in livelihoods can be attributed to the work of NGOs and aid funding.Therefore it seems aid can work if well implemented and incorpareted into structural adjustment programmes and given a clear povety alliviation component. Therefore support Minister Ecweru that NGOs wishing to operate in uganda pass through a sieve and those seen uncapable be told to go away.
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