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

IT SHOULD BE BIG LESSONS FOR NRM GIVEN THE ON-GOING POWER SCANDAL

It is not possible to conceal a blunder for so long.  The NRM thought that it would go many miles covered as it kept on deceiving Ugandans and the international community over developments including a very vibrant economy.  Many did not know that NRM was leaving on deceit and continued to survive, unfortunately, whoever thought that some of us who have kept criticizing the regime are just opportunists.

It is a fact that we now have loading shedding on a daily basis.  If you are not power load shedded during the day, then you are a sure victim at night.  Many of us thought that load shedding had come to pass, but it is very disappointing to see what is going on, and one can imagine its implication to the whole economy.  People have been stealing whatever they can get their hands on under the cover of supporting the NRM, and today, they are champions buying all the cement and building materials you can think of.  They are buying land left and right from the impoverished Baganda, and those Baganda who are not smart enough to buy cheaper land where it exists are surely likely to be the paupers of tomorrow, that is the NRM which has so many well qualified people with most senior positions having people with Masters degrees, but the economy a real mess!

In the mean time, NRM should learn from the facts.  If you are told that the life span for a head of state to be useful is 10 years, whatever your ambitions, even when you are the best visionary, just know that the law of diminishing returns eventually catches up with you and, definitely, what we are experiencing in Uganda is good testimony of the truth.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka

USING THE MODEL OF THE EAST AFRICAN REVIVAL IN CLUBS COMMITTED TO LIFE TO BEING HIV NEGATIVE (CCOLIHINEF)

By William Kituuka

P. O. Box 2678,

Kampala.

Email: wkituuka@gmail.com

Section I. What is your idea?

• Indicate in one or two sentences the essence of your idea.

The idea which falls under Creating New Ways to Protect Against Infectious Diseases – wants to use the model of the East African Revival (Saved ones) in Clubs Committed for Life to Being HIV Negative Through Fellowship (CCOLIHINEF), in that if school going children/students are encouraged to join these clubs with do’s and don’ts well stipulated as well as constant regular fellowshipping as it is with the East African Revival, chances are that they can live a life without HIV till death.

•  Why is your idea an unconventional or creative approach to the problem outlined in the topic?

The idea of using the model of the East African Revival in Clubs Committed for Life to Being HIV Negative Through Fellowship, is a creative approach to keep the children through youthful life to old age free of HIV contracted sexually as it has been very successful with people who have kept to the norms of the East African Revival.  We have seen couples married life to one faithful partner up to death of either partner without contracting HIV. 

It is simply a code of conduct that can be observed by any one of any faith.  The Do’s and Don’ts plus regular fellowship with group-mates keeps those who believe in this approach in constant view of attaining the set objectives, which in this case would be to have one faithful partner who is from the group with a commitment to see to stable relationship of husband and wife re-knewed through fellowship hence keep HIV at bay.  Among the Don’ts for example: Going for social interactions like dancing with those of opposite sex; Avoid making friends with non-members of the club given the peer influence from such; Avoid walking alone mostly on the part of girls; Avoid watching videos that are meant for grown ups as many usually have sex related content; Avoid writing letters to those of the opposite sex or receiving letters from them; Watch the dressing code as it at times induces people’s attention; and not missing fellowshipping without a serious reason to do so.      

• Describe the scientific basis for your idea and why you expect it to succeed.

The idea is using the model of the East African Revival which has been tested since it was started in 1930 in Rwanda and other areas of East Africa.  Those who religiously observe the Do’s and Don’ts as stipulated in the code of conduct plus regular fellowshipping where they exchange ideas and seek solutions to problems have lived fruitful lives, with stable families and HIV which is sexually contracted has not had chance to have them as its victims.  The scientific basis is that the norms of the fellowship keep at bay the channels that are known to be positive in facilitating the spread of the virus hence one cannot get it sexually.  The children in school are living testimonies of those who have been and continue to be victims of HIV and are worried as to whether they can live fruitful lives as couples without the virus infection. 

So, when they are brought together in a club arrangement; plus fellowshipping and the associated prescribed activities, it is certain that many will emerge victorious in life as free from HIV which is a headache to many scientists.

Section II.  How will you test it?      

Describe your experimental plan, including any new technologies or tools to be developed.

The project is to start with organizing a meeting with Head teachers of secondary schools targeted to participate from Wakiso district and brief them about the project design and intended objectives.  Then students from the sampled schools shall be briefed so as to introduce the idea to them and interest them to join the clubs.  The recruited members will get a copy of the Code of conduct; that is, the Do’s and Don’ts; a constitution for each school club to be discussed and days of fellowshipping to be agreed on at each school.  Club members of each school to be visited once a week by a member of the organization staff to assess the progress and discuss any outstanding issues.  Members of each school club will be expected to give reports of their activities in writing.  Members shall also be party to organized joint activities meant to promote the set objectives.  A monthly Magazine contributed to by all participating schools to be published and circulated.  Organization staff to make weekly reports of visits made at participating schools. 

 

• What essential data will you generate during your Phase I?

Number of members; performed fellowship meetings in each school; Challenges as stipulated by club members; Information regarding new member recruited by students at school and out of school; Reports on the inducements/temptations the members have avoided that could lead them to potential HIV sources; Conformity to the Don’ts which is a challenge to the youths; Community activities that members may have participated in including helping the sick; Periodical check of HIV status of the club members at least every 6 months to ensure that they remain HIV negative.  

• If your experiments in Phase I are successful, what are the next steps?
1. Start a national campaign by meeting officials from the Ministry of Education in Uganda; Uganda AIDS Commission and the Ministry of Local Government as well as the Social Services Select Committee of Uganda’s National Parliament to get them learn about the idea and discuss the strategies for scaling out nationwide;
2. Use the media both print and electronic to publicize the innovation and get to the recruitment drive for club members countrywide when prospect members are not green about the idea;
3. Print club constitution copies in English and some 4 regionally spoken languages. 
4. Use Workshops targeting counselors in HIV/AIDS so as they add club information on their current agenda in fighting HIV. 
5. Get club information as a national drive among all strata of the population. 
6. Get focal schools throughout the country where clubs will be directly supervised by our staff. 

Have increased staff numbers to manage regional offices and hence make supervision efforts up the ground recipients.