The 10th Parliament: The Patrons of Greed!

“Ugandan taxpayers to spend Shs 197.8m annually on social media tax and data bundles for Members of Parliament. Parliament will provide at least 5GB monthly data bundles at Shs 30,000 and Shs 6,000 monthly Over the Top (OTT) tax for the 458 legislators” (Kampala Dispatch, 16.05.2019).

Well, so there we have it. Yesterday is yet another party in the 10th Parliament of Uganda. Where the Members of Parliament indulges themselves with funds on the taxpayers dime. Instead of serving the public with working services, they are more afraid of their own pocket, in the limited time they are in office and in the capacity of MP. Therefore, they have to ensure, that all things are covered for the bottomless years in Parliament.

The MPs are already tax-exemption for their salaries, so that the pay they are getting for being in office is already non-taxed. With this in mind, they are earning about $8,715 monthly, this without the various allowances.

The MPs have a Free State funeral all covered by the state. They have free suits and tailor-made clothes. They have eating allowances, town-allowances, consolidation fee, committee sitting fees, housing sitting fees, town running allowances, free lunch, social security, and so on. The ways of eating, as an MP is boundless, a boundless empty pit.

These 458 MPs just have to eat like there is no tomorrow. They are planning to get fat. These people are now mushrooming all sort of expenses and putting it on the state. I am sure by next year, the significant others expenses are covered by the state, the side dishes and the remittance to relatives is paid in full. Because, there are endless roads for these people to get the state to fill the blanks.

This will be their legacy, that they were eating on an empty plate, a state which by all means take up loans to build and run the Republic. If not await donors to be able to pledge for basics of the state, in that one, the MPs are preoccupied with their own earnings than actually serving the public. Certainly, the financial system isn’t that great, but they are becoming a huge burden on state, by definition and by their own making, as they are piling on demands, which the state has to comply with.

That is why they are the Patrons of Greed. The ones who has no other way to sustain themselves, than eating the meat of the dying carcass, that as what these people does, while in power. No bounds, no stop and no plans to settle for less. Only to get more and more without any considerations of the implications. That is what the Parliament and the MPs are doing. Peace.

Tanzania: Notice to Travelers Planning to Visit Tanzania (16.05.2019)

Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Sudan (16.05.2019)

The United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese stakeholders in their efforts to build lasting and sustainable peace.

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 16, 2019 – The Secretary-General commends the progress achieved during the negotiations between the Transitional Military Council and the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces regarding the modalities of the transition in Sudan. He urges the parties to maintain the positive momentum and reach agreement on the remaining details.

The Secretary-General is committed to continue working with the African Union in support of this process. The United Nations stands ready to support the Sudanese stakeholders in their efforts to build lasting and sustainable peace.

The Secretary-General stresses the importance of upholding the human rights of all citizens, and continuing to prioritize dialogue as a means to address outstanding differences. He also stresses the need to avoid any form of violence which could undermine the safety and security of the citizens as well as the stability of the country.

FAO raises alarm over disastrous drought in Somalia where over 2 million people face severe hunger (16.05.2019)

Life-saving and livelihood support urgently needed to prevent loss of lives.

ROME, Italy, May 16, 2019 – A disastrous drought in Somalia could leave some 2.2 million people – nearly 18 percent of the population – faced with severe hunger during the July-September period, FAO warned today.

The UN agency issued a special alert on Somalia, indicating that the number of hungry people in the country this year is expected to be 40 percent higher than estimates made at the beginning of 2019.

A deteriorating nutritional status is also of major concern, according to the alert. Acute malnutrition rates as well as the number of acutely malnourished children being admitted to therapeutic feeding centres have sharply increased in 2019.

“Rains in April and early May can make or break Somalis’ food security for the whole year as they are crucial for the country’s main annual harvest in July, following the “Gu” rainy season,” said Mario Zappacosta, FAO Senior Economist and lead of the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

“A significant lack of rains in April and early May has rendered dry and barren up to 85 percent of the croplands in the country’s breadbaskets, and according to the latest projections, food grown during the “Gu” season is likely to be 50 percent below average,” he added.

The latest projection is based on data gathered by FAO experts – including sophisticated analyses of rainfall, temperatures, water availability and vegetation health – that point to the worst drought in years. Some rains are expected in May, but these will be insufficient and arrive too late for crop and pasture recovery before the onset of the dry season.

For example, in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, which produces more than 60 percent of maize grown during the “Gu” season, severe dryness has prevailed so far, with only some scattered, below-average rains occurring in late April and early May.

Drought conditions also affected other major crop producing areas, including the Bay region’s “sorghum belt”, which accounts for more than half of the country’s sorghum production during the “Gu” season, and the “cowpea belt” in Middle Shabelle, Mudug and Galgaduud regions.

Drought takes a heavy toll on herders and their livestock

Poor rains since last October have also taken a heavy toll on herders and their livestock as vegetation has been drying up and water has been increasingly scarce.

The FAO alert warns of a worrying number of animals in very poor health conditions – due to low body weight and drought-induced diseases – in the country’s central and northern regions.

“Herders in the worst drought-affected areas – such as central Galgaduud and in northern Bari and Sanaag regions – have been forced to slaughter the offspring of their goats and sheep as they don’t have enough fodder and water for all their animals, and try to save the milk-producing female livestock,” said FAO Somalia Representative Serge Tissot.

Many herders have not been able to replace livestock lost during the 2017 drought that ravaged the country, so they already have less resources. Now, on top of that, as food and water become scarcer, they have to pay higher prices for trucked-in water and their daily food,” added Tissot.

Action is needed now to prevent loss of lives

Drought and early depletion of food stocks, compounded by declining employment opportunities and low wages for farmers, shortages of livestock products in pastoral areas as well as both heightened conflict and a reduction of humanitarian assistance since early 2019 have all led to a sharp deterioration of the food security situation in the country.

FAO is scaling up its response to prevent an already alarming humanitarian situation from getting even worse. For this, FAO urgently needs more funds as it aims to support 2 million drought-affected people this year by providing critical livelihood support such as cash assistance, quality seeds, tools, and other agricultural services so farmers can make the most of the next planting season.

To protect their remaining livestock, herders require vital support such as water and supplementary feed. Countrywide animal health campaigns must also be rolled out quickly – starting with emergency livestock treatments to keep animals alive, healthy and productive.

Currently, FAO has a funding gap of about $115 million in Somalia.

Burundi: Declaration sur l’execution de l’arret RPA 859 et saisie des biens meubles et immeubles dans dossier RMPG 697 bis/MA/BV/NTH (15.05.2019)

Sudan: AUC Chairperson commends the Sudanese stakeholder for the progress being made toward reaching a political agreement (15.05.2019)

Opinion: Do you want to drive Tax-Free on the Toll-Road? Dip through as part of the Presidential Convoy!

“The House has passed a clause in the Road Bill, 2018 that provides for paying of road tolls. The clause provides exemption to presidential convoy, emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire engines and military, police and other security vehicles on emergency duty” (Parliament of Uganda, 14.05.2019).

Well, if you find it expensive or outrages the new toll-roads built by the government. Where the public have to pay down debts as toll to pass. Then, you have one way to get rid of that problem; this is all thanks to the gentleman and nobles at the Parliament. Yesterday, they put a clause, an exemption for the Presidential Convoy. So that the convoy doesn’t need to pay to pass on these roads.

This is opening new possibilities. So, if your driving on the Entebbe Expressway. If you have the time. Just wait until the President and his people is riding pass. So, that you can join the convoy, because who knows whose part of it or not. Especially, if you have a tinted SUV or a White/Black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. You are set for life on this place. You might never have to pay again. Because your naturally part of the Presidential Convoy. Its all magic baby.

That is the gift of the Republic, where his majesty, His Excellency, the Fountain of Honour is blessing his peasants and servants, as they should oblige and follow suit. This meaning, every time they pass by the Convoy. They should dip through traffic and pass into it. Because, no one really knows whose a part of it or not. Except for the snipers, the luggage-cars and whatnot the President needs at all time. Also, a few of his advisors, as he has over a 100 of them to pick off at any moment of time.

That is why, the new way of driving cheaper is to tax into the convoy and drive through the tolls, as that is the way of exemption. Be a leech and a smart pawn. A person who is ruthless and has the ability to blend into the long line of cars, which is all supported by several of police cars, mambas, Special Force Command and an unlucky cousin. So, in that mix, a fellow random gentleman should pass by too. In such a manner, that he also escapes the added tax on the toll roads. That is just fair game. Peace.

The 848th meeting of the AUPSC on the 5th AU-United Nations (UN) Joint Review of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) – (15.05.2019)

Somalia: Fews Net – Seasonal Monitor – Dry conditions persist in much of northern Somalia and parts of central Somalia (14.05.2019)

[Useful Tool] Kiatta went from being a Godfather to a Felon!

[On IGP Kayihura] “How? I am not a policeman. I am his friend and I can’t stand anyone who dares to get in his way” – Abdullah Kitatta

Abdallah Kitatta, the Boda Boda 2010 Association leader and former ally of ex-IGP Kale Kayihura was today charged with unlawful possessions of firearms and sentenced to 8 years and 8 months time in prison. This happen at the General Court Martial today. Over the last two days the proceedings has happen and sealed his fate, as he was arrested by CMI during last year.

Therefore, the end of the former powerful patron of the state, even the former NRM Chariman of Rugaba Division. Certainly he had power, not only over the Boda Boda 2010, but also the connections within the Uganda Police Force. He was someone to be associated with and he could get vouched for.

Kitatta was someone who you would fear and his people could get a whim of something and deal with it. They would silence someone the authorities wanted to silence. That is why his not arrested for the possible crimes committed, but having arms. Which shows that the authorities and Police Force didn’t charge him with possible crimes, but with possessions. This is really giving a lenient sentence for the former godfather and patron.

Surely, the UPF, the former IGP and the President knows this, all of them has at one point used the services of Kitatta and therefore cannot charge him for that. Since, that was done in favour of them and he cannot tell those stories now.

In by November 2015 the Boda Boda 2010 had a reputation for extortion and thieving on accord by the Police, as the dreaded offices in Makindye was known about. As the Association would take care of their own and ensure the bypassers would loose their cash and even their boda. That is the sort of racket it was. That was reported about back-then. Who knows, what its been behind, which haven’t been in the open.

In this regard, I have a feeling that the charges could have been more severe, as the actions of the Boda Boda 2010 are much worse. Still, the authorities didn’t care about that, maybe because that would cause a headache for Kayihura or Museveni who both at one point blessed this operation.

Kitatta now has to fall on his sword, the man whose fallen from grace and is now a felon. Not a godfather, not a big-man, but just a man whose facing time behind bars. 8 years to be exact. Peace.