FARE THEE WELL DR. GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA (LOURDELIAN)

FARE THEE WELL DR. GEORGE WILLIAM MAYANJA (LOURDELIAN)

It is sad the passing on of the Child Specialist - Dr. George William Mayanja of the well known Victoria Medical Centre on Lumumba Avenue.  I learnt the news of the death during the early personal announcements on CBS 88.8 FM.  I 1^st learnt that Dr. Mayanja was seriously sick from Norah Mukasa the in-charge of SMACKOBA Office at the NOOK, she told me that the doctor had been taken to India; this was at a time when we thought that he knew better the answer to some question that had been posed regarding the past activities of the Old Boy’s Association where he has for long been a big mobilize and schemer for the organization’s better health.

It is sad Doctor Mayanja is gone, however, he leaves a lot of challenges for those of us who are still alive, more so the Old Boys of St. Mary’s College Kisubi and those in medical practice.  Many times he had no boundary between his on funds and his personal contribution to the good health of the Old Boys Association.  Many times news of the death of an old boy of the school could reach him and out of his pocket would raise at least shs 100,000 on behalf of the Association.  His works at SMACK and contribution to its current beauty are part of his efforts.

I cam e to know Doctor Mayanja while I was still in Nile Bank around 1990 when he opened a clinic at Spear House, shortly after I left services of the bank,Dr. Mayanja remained my good friend and would on many occasions give me courage; he would endeavour to give me some lunch and would give me some good audience, and more so, he encouraged me to be active in the Old Boy’s Association business, and I must say, because of that effort, I have been able to make the contribution to the school up to the work on this sad news.

In 2001, I got a motor accident and I was rushed to Dr. Mayanja’s Clinic on Lumumba Avenue, the Doctor was around, he immediately got medicine to reduce my pain, organized for an immediate x-ray of my chest and after comforted me that I was to be okay.  We thought about payments long after I had got out of danger.  I will surely miss Dr. Mayanja.   

When I called on Dr. Mayanja in the course of 2005, he encouraged me to do some work for St. Mary’s College Kisubi as preparations were being made to celebrate centenary in 2006.  I started work at Mbire’s office on NSSF Towers where I was for one month.  Thereafter, Dr. Mayanja talked to Brother Edward Bukenya Head teacher at St. Mary’s College Kisubi to get some office facility for me at the school such that work on the school website and other work could be done seriously.  Before I went to Kisubi, Dr. Mayanja had endeavoured to facilitate me to do the work.  I will surely miss him.

Around May 2006, Dr. Mayanja told me that there was need to open an office for the Old Boys in town to ease coordination prior to the centenary celebrations.  The office was acquired at the NOOK and furnished.  The mobilization efforts are self explanatory given the big turn-up of Old Boys for the function.  It is because Dr. Mayanja encouraged me that I have able to make the various contributions to the school including writing the school history.

In 2001I started a Magazine by the name of Career Tips, and I was able to interview Dr. Mayanja, the article is: “Trainee Doctors in the Medical School lack facilities,” and, I wish to share excerpts from the article.  Asked about his family background and where he studied, Dr Mayanja said, “Our family (Late Ddamulira along Entebbe Highway) is Catholic.  I studied at St. Savio Junior School before joining St. Mary’s College Kisubi for O and A’ levels.  I went to Makerere University Medical School where I graduated in 1976 with MBChB.  I trained in United Kingdom in Pediatrics under self sponsorship and obtained a Diplomate in Child Health of Royal College Glasgow.  I also hold a Diplomate in Tropical Child Health (DTCH) from Liverpool Tropical School – UK.”

Regarding his working experience Dr. Mayanja said, "I have been a Medical practitioner since 1976.  I worked in nairobi - Kenya (1977/1978), in Zambia in 1978/79 and in United Kingdom from 1980 to 1990.  During my stay in U.K, I practiced medicine in National Health Services, and then in Private Hospitals (Great Portland Hospitals and Humans Hospital - London).  In 1990 I returned to Uganda and we formed a group medical practice which operates Victoria Medical Services originally at Spear House and now at Plot 52 Lumumba Avenue and also Gowas Street Entebbe.

I am also a part time Paediatrician at Kisubi Hospital.  I have also been a part time lecturer at Makerere Medical School, Department od Paediatric and Child Health up to 1998.  I am a former Chairman of Uganda Sickle Cell Association.  I was Vice - President Uganda Paediatric Association from 1995 - 1997, and I am a member of Uganda Paediatric Association.  I have been a member of the council for the Old Boys of St. Mary's College Kisubi (SMACK) caucus."

Asked about what prompted him to come back to Uganda, Dr. Mayanja said, East - West home is best.  I returned after 13 years." 

Dr. Mayanja told me that Medicine is a vacation one takes up when he has real interest in helping the people if one is to enjoy it.  One must have an inner feeling for the people, in particular the poor."

When I interviewed the Late J. C Kiwanuka, J C was grateful to Old Boys of St. Mary's College Kisubi, more so , he was grateful to Dr. Mayanja who met his pay after he had been got off the payroll until he completed 50 years continuous teaching service at St. Mary's College Kisubi. 

I wish to appeal to the Old Boys of St. Mary's College Kisubi to turn up in Huge numbers at Seguku - Nazziba village 6 miles Entebbe Highway to give a fitting send off to our fallen brother, a great SMACK pillar and a dedicated Medical Doctor.  He deserves a hero's send off.

Dr. Mayanja, we shall greatly miss you, however, it is our hope that one day we shall meet, because in ll we do, death awaits.

 

With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence - o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away! ~ Thomas Moore

And this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ~ John 6:39-40

"God, give strength to the family members of Dr. George William Mayanja so that they can stand during this trying time of the loss of the Doctor."

"Doctor George William Mayanja  Weraaba."

William Kituuka Kiwanuka 

Fellow Lourdelian and friend.

WE CAN LEARN FROM THE ILLUSTRATION BELOW OF NOT GIVING UP

 

A lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, What should I do?"    He said "keep driving".. Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse. "What should I do." The young lady asked? "Keep driving," her father replied. On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"   Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!" Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land, and the sun came out.  Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out." She said "But why now?" He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm, because you never gave up, your storm is now over. This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times". Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again. This story touched me! I hope it touched you! Feel free to pass it on to some people you know. Tell them: "Never give up, because GOD will never give up on you."

GNK

NEVER GIVE UP

"Never give up,
because GOD will never give up on you."
   

DO UGANDA THIEVES EVER IMAGINE THAT ONE DAY THEY WILL BE SKELETONS?

Corruption costs sh500b a year 

Monday, 21st January, 2008

By Milton Olupot

Corruption and ineffective public institutions are still undermining good governance in the country, a report by the African Peer Review Mechanism National Commission has said.

“The World Bank (2005) estimates that Uganda loses about $300m (sh510b) per year through corruption and procurement malpractices,” the 592-pages report notes.

It reckons that the Government would save sh30b annually by eliminating losses from corruption in public procurement alone.

Citing the 2005 Auditor General’s Report, it estimates that 20% of the value of public procurement was lost through corruption, prompted by weak public procurement laws, adding that procurement accounts for 70% of public expenditure.

The Uganda Self-Assessment Report and Programme of Action was yesterday launched by finance state minister Fred Omach at the National Planning Authority offices in Kampala. It is part of an initiative by African countries to assess themselves and each other on issues of democracy and good governance, economic management, corporate governance and socio-economic development.

“Corruption in procurement has adversely impacted on the quality of services meant to improve the quality of life, especially health and education,” says the report, which was presented to the President before it was launched.

“It has influenced death and poverty levels in Uganda. For private firms, the costs of production have been continually high and unpredictable.”

The Government did put up a number of legal and regulatory frameworks to fight corruption, the commission acknowledges. It lists the establishment of the Inspectorate of Government Act, the Leadership Code Act, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act and the Whistle Blower Act.

Despite these measures “the perception is that corruption has not decreased in the public sector”.

Two thirds of respondents believed corruption had increased, according to a 2007 survey by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. One third even believed it had increased a lot.

In another survey, cited in the report, almost half of the respondents reported that bribes were more frequently demanded today than five years ago.

Central region had the highest number of respondents believing demand for bribes had gone up (50%), while eastern had the lowest (40.3%).

The tendering process has also been prone to abuse, the report notes. Any expenditure in excess of sh5m has to be tendered.

“However, to win a tender, most companies expend a lot of resources including bribes to the district contracts committees

“This leads to shoddy work, classroom blocks that develop cracks within months and roads that become impassable soon after construction, since any bribes and kickbacks offered to influence the award of the tender have to be recovered by the contractor.”

Corruption, the report says, is caused by weak controls, bureaucracy and personal greed. The root causes of graft are identified as the breakdown of the rule of law, especially in the insurgency areas of the north, poor procurement systems and inadequate legal machinery leading to many cases being lost on technicalities, such as lack of evidence.

Other reasons cited are lack of linkages between the Police, the judiciary and the IGG, lack of technical capacity in public offices to carry out sound management activities, job insecurity and inadequate remuneration.

But the report also points at greed “driven by the insatiable desire for personal gain” and social pressure “where the wealthy are respected, regardless of their moral stand and method of acquisition of their wealth”.

The commission proposes improvement of accountability systems, by punishing the culprits and their collaborators, and strengthening the system of sanctions and rewards for fighting corruption.

On a positive note, the report observes increased enrolment in education with the introduction of universal primary and secondary education. It states that both secondary and tertiary education have benefited from the entry of private operators since the liberalisation of the sector.

The report identifies land as a source of conflict. Inconsistencies in the Land Act have left the tenants with no incentive to invest in the land, it notes.

“Dual and conflicting rights to land and limited access are fuelling disputes and conflict. The assessment determined that there was need to review issues of land and design and implement appropriate policies.”

On corporate governance, the report observes that Uganda is characterised by a largely informal and unregulated sector, with predominantly small, family-owned businesses. It calls the existing company law archaic and calls for new laws to match globalisation.

Environment protection issues are equally raised as an area of concern, particularly on the disposal of industrial waste.

The assessment shows that over the last five years, Uganda has registered significant progress in education, fighting HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation and the status of women.

The report also points out big strides in decentralisation and community participation. It, however, notes a widespread perception that the rapid multiplication of districts has bloated public service expenditure, resulting in less resources being available for social and economic services.

Unemployment, especially among the youth, is also pointed out as an area that needs to be addressed.

The commission, chaired by Prof. Elisha Semakula, conducted 200 expert panel interviews, 96 focus group discussions and 32 public hearings.

The Country Review Mission is due in Uganda from February 3 to 24 to ascertain the extent to which the report reflects the views of the people. Uganda will be reviewed in June this year.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR UGANDA NOW IS THE TRANSPARENCY WHICH LOOKS A BIG AND IS A REAL PROBLEM

Oil becoming diversionary - Museveni

By Francis Mugerwa 

Posted  Wednesday, September 21  2011 at  00:00

Hoima

President Museveni says increased household incomes, improved agriculture and industrialisation are key factors of Uganda’s transformation. He said there is now a tendency for many Ugandans to focus on oil than agriculture.

“There is a lot of diversion about oil. This oil we discovered yesterday. Suppose we had not discovered it, would we not modernise Uganda?” Museveni wondered. He made the remarks while presiding over the commissioning of the pediatric ward at Azur Christian Health Centre and a science laboratory block at Canon Njagali High School in Hoima town on Tuesday.

The President said agriculture and industrialisation can greatly improve productivity and transform Uganda’s economy. He said he sometimes forgets that Uganda has oil reserves. “I sometimes forget about oil.

I need to be reminded about it. I think a lot about agriculture and industries,” Mr Museveni said. His remarks come at a time when the 9th Parliament has put emphasis on the need to make public oil agreements and related deals.

Oil explorers discovered commercially viable oil deposits in the Albertine grabben, estimated to be well over 2.5 billion barrels of oil, and commercial production is anticipated to commence in 2015 according to some energy experts.

COULD HAVE MONEY MEANT FOR THE BICYCLES HAVE GONE TO FUND ELECTIONS?

Legislators summon company directors over bicycle deal

By Mercy Nalugo & ISAAC IMAKA 

Posted  Wednesday, September 21  2011 at  00:00

In Summary

The MPs on two committees insist the directors appear and not their lawyers over Shs5b bicycle deal.

MPs yesterday directed Parliament’s Sergeant-at- Arms, Mr Ahmed Kagoye, to issue summonses to the proprietors of an Indian-based company that was paid Shs5b to supply 70,000 bicycles for local council chairpersons.

The bikes were reportedly never delivered and the Ministry of Local Government has lost contact with the proprietors. The proprietors of Amman Industrial Tools and Equipment Ltd (Aitel), Mr Singh Muhinder and Mr Nishita Maini, were expected to appear before the Parliamentary Public Service and Local Government Committee yesterday but they never showed up. Instead they were represented by the former head of Procurement in the Local Government Ministry, Mr Robert Mwebaze, who said they had asked for more time since their lawyer was away.

“We want them and not their lawyers. Non-Ugandans cannot register a company unless there is a local person who is a shareholder,” said the committee chairperson, Ms Florence Kintu, while addressing journalists after the meeting.

Witnesses said the Bank of Uganda, acting on the advice of the Local Government Permanent Secretary, Mr Kashaka Muhanguzi, released $1.7 billion (Shs4.7b) for the transaction.

The committee proceedings were held in camera forcing Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, to storm out, saying she could not be party to decisions arising out of a closed-door meeting.

The journalists were locked out at a time Ms Kintu was reading a letter written by the Stanbic Bank officials informing the committee that they would not make it until Friday.

Ms Kintu, however, told journalists later that Stanbic Bank informed them that they were collecting all documents concerning the transactions with the Indians and want them to appear today. New information before the committee indicates that the Indians registered their driver as a shareholder.

mnalugo@ug.nationmedia.com & iimaaka@ug.nationmedia.com

NRM WILL LEAVE A LEGACY OF A MORALITY PROBLEM

Police probe Tourism billions cash bonanza

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By JOHN NJOROGE 
Posted  Wednesday, September 21  2011 at  00:00

KAMPALA

A special police unit is investigating Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Julius Onen, over suspicions he may have abused his office and misappropriated close to Shs7 billion in taxpayers’ money.

The unit is studying documents detailing how Shs7b remitted to then trade and tourism ministry by the Treasury for taxes and refunds to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) for the Protected Areas Management for Sustainable Use (PAMSU) project was spent.

According to documents seen by this newspaper, the Treasury disbursed Shs6.97b to the ministry under the instruction name PAMSU project between September 2009 and June 2010. Of the disbursements Shs3.486 billion was for Uganda Revenue Authority taxes and Shs3.484b meant to be refunded to UWA. But documents obtained by this newspaper indicate that the money, obtained over an 11-month period, was mainly spent on a cocktail of allowances.

Onen’s take
The documents also indicate that URA only received Shs392m in taxes between July 2009 and June 2010, while UWA received three payments totalling to Shs1.82 billion.

“I am employed to deal with policy, not money … I delegate all my accounting functions to my under-secretary,” Ambassador Onen told this newspaper yesterday, adding that all payments for allowances were well deserved, approved and properly accounted for.

Mr James Tukahirwa, Ambassador Onen’s principal assistant, however, said the ministry never touched the Shs3.486b meant for URA, insisting that Finance Ministry made a mistake in its disbursement instructions.
“PAMSU ended in 2008. This money was meant for PASU,” Mr Tukahirwe said, referring us to the 2009/10 National Budget. “Gross tax payments are mere book entries. The money is actually remitted to the Consolidated Fund,” he added, also referring this newspaper to the Accountant General.

The Budget showed the existence of another project called Protected Areas and Sustainable use (PASU), started under the 2009/10 development budget. It describes the project as one meant to purchase specialised equipment for national parks and game reserves, to build two bird viewing points and to construct cold rooms.

Shs4.31 billion was to be allocated to this project which, unlike PAMSU, ended in the same financial year it was started. Government however remitted Shs3.484 billion. But the ministry’s accountability shows anything far from specialised equipment—with most money used as allowances as shown below.

jnjoroge@ug.nationmedia.com