Bank of Uganda report spells out growing non-performing loans and possible default of 9 banks!

Bank of Uganda’s late Annual Supervision Report of 2016 is finally out. Instead of mid-year, it was released in September. It must be reasons for that, since this is in the year two banks lost their balance and one was traded to another. The Crane Bank sale-off and losses have started most people, as also the expensive pens of the Bank. Therefore, with the procurement of pens must be the reason why the months from July to September to see the Annual report. The 2016 spreadsheet isn’t a fun read, it is dire and says something about the financial institutions, as well as the economy in general.

This report are telling stories of bad performing loans and the quality of them. When looking into that, you know that this is banking practice that supposed to be profitable. To loan money away that people save in the bank and gain interests. So, when the numbers are this crunching. When the state of affairs are so dire. When Government Securities and shortfall is what they are. Then you know there are failing prospects. As this the year after campaigns and elections. It is usually painful after the heavy spending and brown envelopes to anyone who support Mzee. That is why the costs and the non-performing loans are growing. But where that money went, is only known by the elite and the NRM. Take a look!

Non-Performing Loans:

The analysis of default by the banks’ three largest borrowers and an increase in NPLs by 200 percent revealed large potential losses. It showed that if each bank’s three largest borrowers were to default, with a loan loss of 100 percent, 13 banks would become under-capitalised with an aggregate capital shortfall of USh.513.86 billion. If NPLs were to increase by 200 percent, assuming the increase is in the loss category which requires full provisioning, 9 banks would become under-capitalised with an aggregate capital shortfall of Ush.247.39 billion. A decrease in interest income from government securities would not require any additional capital from the banks” (BoU, P: 4-5, 2017).

Loan Quality:

The banking sector’s overall asset quality continued to decline in 2016. The ratio of non–performing loans to total gross loans increased from 5.3 percent in December 2015 to 10.5 percent in December 2016. The increase in the NPL ratio was mainly on account of bad loans which more than doubled from USh.573.4 billion in December 2015 to USh.1,203.2 billion in December 2016” (BoU, P: 15, 2017)

Earnings and Profitability:

There was a drop in profitability of the banking sector in 2016. Annual after tax profits reduced by 44.2 percent or USh.239.1 billion from Ush.541.2 billion in 2015 to USh.302.1 billion in 2016. Average return on total equity (ROE) dropped from 16.0 percent to 8.3 percent while return on assets (ROA) halved to 1.3 percent during that period. Total expenses grew by 9.3 percent, mostly in the form of interest expense on deposits. Increased provisioning for bad debts also reduced the banking sector’s earnings for the year under review. Provisions rose by more than 100 percent, by USh.419.4 billion to reach USh.637.2 billion in 2016” (BoU, P: 16, 2017).

So this growth isn’t making the economy more healthy. It is more bad loans and losses of profits. The bankers are not benefit ting and the costumers will pay for the shortfall in the long run. The assets and the basic needs will not be covered. The dangerous levels of NPL can even kill of more banks. As the reports not spelling out the names, but saying 9 banks could be under-capitalised, that means the government has to come in with security to put the bank on its feet or trade it off. Like it did with the Crane Bank recently.

Therefore, there are warning signs of continuing to borrow without security for repayment on the debt. That gives way for non-performing loans. This is the whole idea and reason for the problems the 9 banks have. As the costumers and corporations borrowing funds, without capacity to repay. That means the planned interest, the planned profits and repaid funds disappear. So, the more borrowed funds to try to catch the losses, is creating a evil spiral of losses. Instead of generating the profits and interests as anticipated.

Clearly, the banking sector needs a revamp and the system needs a push to make sure they are run smooth. As the consequence of continuing like nothing, is that further banks will default and costumers will lose savings and the state has to cough-up funds to save the scraps of a bank. Peace.

Reference:

Bank of Uganda – ‘ANNUAL SUPERVISION REPORT’ (December 2016) Volume 7 (06.09.2017)

Opinion: President Museveni Defense of the Land Amendment is to be calling out the ones against it – ENEMIES!

The man who wants to sensitize and usually talk about the Republic as one, the Ugandan Republic. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on this Radio Campaign to defend and promote the Constitutional Amendment on Land Reform. The first interview has no showed his true character, since he is calling the ones who disagree enemies. He cannot manage to come with sufficient arguments to defend it. Like the issues inside Uganda will not be solved this. This here is not made for development of infrastructure or industrialization. The ability to grab land and without the issues they have today with the titles.

That is why the land titles and deeds are so important. The Republic should make it hard to take land, since this can be conned away from the villagers and citizens in general. Because the state made arrangements with investors and plantation owners. That is what most likely will happen. Because that is what President Museveni has done and tried to do as long his been the Executive of Uganda.

Just read the quotes from radio interview yesterday.

Favorable quotes from the Radio Show on Voice of Kigezi FM:

We are the only country in the region and may be in the world, who legislated to give land to the people; otherwise elsewhere, land belongs to government” (…) “The challenge that the government has is land owners who reject government compensation and run to court thereby making government projects stall. I even wonder what these liars mean by “government grabbing people’s land” and Ugandans must know these liars as their enemies and enemies of Uganda because they are against the development of the country” (…) “They are the same people who talk of unemployment amongst the youth but go on to frustrate government projects such as those in the energy and transport sectors that provide incentives for investment. They even frustrate investors directly as you are aware of the Amuru sugar project that has stalled for 6 years due to the same people” (…) “We need mass industrialisation to develop our country but these saboteurs continue to frustrate investors. I call upon all Ugandans to rise up against these people who are enemies of Uganda” (…) “We even risk denting our country’s image internationally and being isolated because of the character of these people. We have to expose and shun them; otherwise the rest of the world will misunderstand us” (Museveni, 2017).

The President, the government and his cronies will clearly find ways to spoil it. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the President will use the Land Amendment to make sure the projects and developments benefiting them will appear. President Museveni have to call the ones who stand against him “enemies”. He must surely dislike Mama Mabira, but she has switched to his team, so “no”.

This amendment will not create industrialization, the land issue will be more dire. Since this gives more power to the state. The state will overpower the citizens, the land can be taken away from them. President Museveni has no issue pushing this, because the earnings of profits and taking the land from the citizens will benefit the President and the NRM. This will not be for the greater good, it will be used as pawns for the citizens, that is why the ones who stand against it is enemies. They are not opposition, but enemies, because he fears the ones who oppose it.

The President should discuss it with manners, but he doesn’t, President Museveni has to address the ones who are disagreeing with him, as enemies. That is just proving his lack of thinking of democratic ideas and spirit, but he wanted to get rid of opposition parties after the recent elections. It fits with his modus operandi.

But that the ones standing in his way, are ENEMIES. Set worrying signs, they are not fellow peers, they are not of another opinion, but enemies. The warfare and bush-war spirit is still alive, because he has rig and cheat to win elections. He wouldn’t win in a fair fight. That is something the President knows. President Museveni should discuss the Constitutional Amendment with just words, not like this. However, the old man doesn’t know better or cannot change his character. Peace.

Reference:

Yoweri Kaguta Museveni – ‘President Museveni explains his radio land campaign’ (05.09.2017) link: https://www.yowerikmuseveni.com/president-museveni-explains-his-radio-land-campaign

President Museveni on Radio-Tour to explain either [Land Amendment] or (Land Grab) 101!

In the coming days near you, if you listen to the radio-channels of Voice of Kigezi, Radio West, Voice of Tooro ,Spice FM, Point FM and Radio Buddu. From today at 19:00 Uganda Time, the radio will filled with reasoning of Mr. President, His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Who for the moment are still trying to figure out a way of spoiling his own age and birthday, but that is for another day.

Right now he is on a quest to prove the validity and reasoning behind the Land Amendment in the 10th Parliament. The reason for the government sudden need to take more power and have the capacity to take land away from the current landowners and titles from the locals. That without following the current provisions and compensations for land. Because that is hassle, the state needs it for cheap. That is why the President will go on tour explaining, the brilliant legal scholar of Kahinda Otafiire and his minions. So that the people who listens will understand, that the reasonable theft of their livelihood is for the common good and that is just to follow the Don, follow the President no matter what. Here is the amendment in question!

“Amendment of Article 26:

“(3) Where the owner of property or any person having any interest in or right over property objects to the compensation awarded under a law made under clause (2Xb), the Government or local government shall deposit with court for the property owner or any person having any interest in or right over the property, the compensation awarded for the property, and the Government or local government shall take possession of the property pending determination by the court of any dispute relating to the compensation” (Otafiire, 2017).

“(4) The owner of property or person having any interest in or right over the property shall have a right to access the compensation deposited with the court referred to in clause (3),at any time during the determination of the dispute” (Otafiire, 2017).

“(5) Parliament shall, by law, prescribe the time within which any dispute referred to in clause (3) shall be determined” (Otafiire, 2017).

This provision of the law is not to make it better, by law it makes the state more powerful and the frugal mind can possess the land and develop on it. They will take the laws in their hands and make sure the developers get easier access, without having to make sure the facilitation or the boundaries are kept, in this spirit this quick transition is made for less transparent system and for more land grabbing in the hands of cronyism and of the state. This will only benefit the elite and the ones who wants to build sugar factories and plantations, without having to care for the locals, who has been living on the land for generations.

The speeches and his words, better be stellar, his lies better be sufficient and his stamina, better be top notch. Since, the way he will explain this otherwise, will be disastrous, since in the grand scheme of things. This is taking the hand that feeds districts and beating them with a stick. He better, come with some sort of play and some sort of argument that makes cow shit, look like chocolate. Because that what he needed be. Nothing else, just which, he needs to sprinkle the cow-shit and call it hot-fudge sundae. There is nothing else to do. Peace.

 

Reference:

Otafiire, Kahinda – ‘Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2017’ – 08.06.2017 – Uganda Gazette No. 33, Volume CX, Bill Supplement No. 7

Opinion: Prophet Mbonye are seeking wealth, not building a true church!

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless” – Ecclesiastes 5:10, (New International Version, NIV)

The Prophet Elvis Mbonye, the former bachelor of Development Studies at Makerere University. Who is now the grand prophet who surely knows deep into this mind that a Norwegian should write about his wealth and monies. Since, the prophet clearly cares more about wealth, than about the message. He sells audios and for 10k Uganda Shillings. So it not like his web-page is filled with the spirit of the lord, more like PR campaign for a snake-oil. Speaking of God, but claiming the prophet was able to foresee any world-event. Take a look!

According to the recordings from that fellowship, Mbonye said then: “A time comes when you have got to realise that God is here. And you know how you can be sure about that [he starts glowing at this point]? It is because I am not my own. There comes a time after the glory of God has increased [the stage gets whiter] … ” He ended the sermon by saying: “What is happening here is God in demonstration,” and quotes Acts 5:14-16. For the August 23 fellowship, Mbonye finished preaching at 8:57pm by calling out all those called Bruno. Three gentlemen showed up and he correctly told them the exact months and dates on which they were born, before sending the crowd into praise and worship songs. When most of the people had left the venue, I realised that organising this fellowship was more than just attendance and preaching. At Serena, I put my observations forward. “The whole setting of the venue you saw that day costs us over Shs 54 million every Tuesday,” says the 39-year-old prophet. “We hire the Fotogenix tent alone at over Shs 20m, the public address system and live coverage is about Shs 15m and the hotel charges us over Shs 10m. It is by God’s grace that we manage””(Nangonzi, 2016)

The last time we checked on Kampala’s self-styled pastor on the block, Prophet Elvis Mbonye, it was report how he had shopped a posh Range Rover valued at Shs650m. The upcoming pastor who pulls crowds that double what Pastor Robert Kayanja could even dare dream of, seems to have it all; talks good, dresses smartly, rides BMWs or Range Rovers of 2016 model, and performs miracles” (…) “The tickers for the gala dinner will cost Shs1m platinum; Shs750,000 gold; Shs500,000 silver and Shs300,000 bronze. The phone numbers are available for those who want to make special reservations. “The people that matter, meet here,” Mbonye is fond of saying. Go to Kololo Independence grounds on September 1, 2017 and witness for yourself” (Edge, 2017)

As this are showing is just more money. Money, money and money, this is not why Jesus Christ died for something as simple money. That he is seeking own personal wealth and glory. When his own web-page has poll on the most believable prophecy: “Which prophecy is the most remarkable to you?”, which continues: “1st Authentic Prophecy!!!, 2nd Brexit Prophecy Fulfillment!!!, 3rd DP Split Fulfilled, 4th Remarkable Prophetic Fulfillment!!! and 5th South Africa Xenophobia Prophecy”. Check his web-page, it is all there: www.prophetelvis.com. He doesn’t even hide is own swagger and belief in his powers.

This is all a PR scoop, a ploy to eat on narrow-minded people’s belief. In Mark 11.15-17: 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[d]” (Mark 11, New International Version NIV).

Clearly, Elvis Mbonye has made his temple for merchandise and not faith, not for prayers. It is a giant shopping mall of empty handed gestures in the spirit of the Lord, but not of faith. The salvation and the mercy, the prophet is eating of the hands of believers to gain his own wealth. As they can nearly afford their own food and drinks, while he drive luxurious cars and surely has mansion somewhere. The pledges and drives to get in money seems more like the thing. His web-page verifies that, as even authors pages has more stories on their books and believes, than the preacher or prophet Mbonye has. It is shell of church and is trading the fate in his capacity over the truth of the gospel he is preaching.

I write this piece because the Prophet started to block People on twitter, after he is now getting paid for having people close to his chair at meetings and getting believers to kiss his expensive sneakers. Clearly, the man a is fraud, who is more about the money, than about salvation and bringing hope from despair. It is amazing that people pay this man and eats of his ego. This is robbing people and doing it with the mercy of the gospel.

I will end with another passage of bible that is fitting from 2. Peter Chapter 2, 1-4: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (New International Version, NIV).

As Prophet Mbonye, claims he has visions of any single event transpiring on planet earth. Rest assure, his riches and fandom will vanish. As the quest for Bentley’s and Mansions will eat his heart and soul. Since it is not for the betterment of the soul or salvation from sin, but for creating himself a business on the naive and people who just needs a figment of hope. This sort of false prophets, the sort of teachers that promises gold, but ask for fortunes themselves. If he would make his congregation wealthy, he wouldn’t ask for millions of shillings in pledges. He would make sure the church knew how to make it themselves. Alas, that is not the case. He has made the church into a self-pleasing mall, a self-adorable stage, where he basks in glory and not in the divine spirit of the Lord.

It is a shame, that people follows the man and pays the man. That they put faith in the man and follows his words, believe them and eat it up like gold. But it might look shiny, but it is fake. The prophet knows this and the world should know to. I hope he prophesied about my writing ill about him, but the scripture and text of the bible is compelling. As it set the standard of the teachers and the leaders of our church. Prophet Mbonye is more into money, than faith. That is fact, mere fact and the Ecclesiastes 5:10 should be a warning, but it doesn’t seem so. Peace.

Reference:

Edge – ‘Prophet Mbonye asks flock Shs1m to sit on ‘holy chairs’ (08.08.2017) link: http://edge.ug/2017/08/08/prophet-mbonye-asks-flock-shs1m-to-sit-on-holy-chairs/

Nangonzi, Yudaya – ‘Uganda: Elvis Mbonye Talks About His Life As a Modern-Day Prophet’ (15.09.2016) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201609160049.html

Somalia: Al-Shabaab are trading Uranium from Galmudug State!

In Mudugh Province or in Galmudug State in Somalia, there are clear reports that the Al-Shabaab, the terrorist organization in Somalia are using the mineral rich Galdumug state or the Mudugh Province, Federation Republic of Somalia reputation is on the line. There is also a letter from Yusuf Garad Omar to Stephen Schwartz in August 2017 is compelling. The story it tells is dire, but also shows the Federal Republic of Somalia loyalty to the United States. Its need a loyal state on the Horn of Africa. The letter explicit says it only can beat Al-Shabaab with the support of the US and not alone. That means the Somali government don’t believe in their own capacity or own strength. As the AMISOM mission are under review and more training of the Somali National Army are progressing.

However, the Uranium extraction and exporting are proving that the mineral resources could be for the benefit of the Somali people, but instead is for the militia causing havoc. So for the Federal Government to get more taxation and resources, these sort of industry has to be taxed and be under control of the central government. Now it is being used by militia and exported so the Al-Shabaab can afford expensive weapons to fight AMISOM and SNA. Take a look!

IAEA report in 1984:

Surficial uranium deposits in Somalia are of the valley-fill calcrete type and occur in the arid Mudugh Province of the Dusa Mareb-EI Bur region. They are located in a belt about 240 km in length which is orientated parallel to the north-south regional tectonic framework. The uranium resources of the region amount to about 5 000 t U308 at an average grade of 0.1 % U308. Basement rocks constitute a 7 000 m thick succession of Jurassic to Quaternary ediments of the Somalian Basin. Uranium mineralization in the form of carnotite occurs in the uppermost Mercia Series. The origin of the uranium and vanadium is unclear due to a shortage of the favourable source rocks” (…) “The valley-fill calcretes of the Dusa Mareb-EI Bur region have formed in the Mercia Series of Miocene age. Collectively, the uranium resources are about 5 000 t at a grade of 0.1 % U308. Carnotite is the only uranium mineral present but the sources of both uranium and vanadium are largely speculative because accessible granite source rocks are situated several hundred kilometres to the north in Ethiopia. The geochemistry of the groundwater and the arid climate favours the precipitation of the carnotite in a manner similar to these fluviatile surficial uranium deposits in Namibia and Western Australia” (IAEA, P: 217, 220 1984).

Minerals of 2013:

Uranium: Documented uranium deposits are found in three areas of Galgaduud-Mudug and in Alio Ghelle in Bur Massif. These deposits need further exploration and evaluation, though in 1984 work began to develop them. The Alio Ghelle deposit is small carnotite deposit, with a reported indicated resource varying between 10-25 Mt at 0.07-0.08% U₃O₈” (Hussain, P: 3, 2013)

Al-Shabaab trading Uranium to Iran:

The letter, sent by Foreign Minister Yusuf Garad Omar, was addressed to U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz. Somalia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ahmed Awad confirmed on Thursday that the letter “has indeed been issued” by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Garaad Omar, whose signature is on the document. The Aug. 11-dated letter delivered an urgent warning to the U.S. that the Al-Shabaab terror network has linked up with the regional Islamic State (ISIS) faction and is “capturing territory” in the central part of the country. “Unlike past situations that required external intervention, the issue communicated today presents a problem for the larger global community and will not be constrained within the borders or our recovering country.” the Somali Foreign Minister’s letter said. Somalia and Iran had no diplomatic ties since January 2016, when Mogadishu officially severed Tehran relations and expelled its Mogadishu-based Ambassador accusing of spreading Shiism in Somalia. Nuclear weapons “This issue can be summed up in a single word: uranium,” the letter added. “Al-Shabaab forces have captured critical surface exposed uranium deposits in the Galmudug region and are strip mining triuranium octoxide for transport to Iran.” (Radio Simba, 2017).

This here should be interesting and also compelling, since the amounts of Uranium in the region and the powers it gives the Al-Shabaab. That the Al-Shabaab gets funding and shows they have the ability to trade uranium. Reports like that should worry anyone, and with that in mind, with the funding and resources of that trade. You understand why do not struggle to get enough money to buy ammunition and guns on the black-market. Since, the trades of lucrative uranium must be a splendid trade-off for some AK-47 and other weaponry. Peace.

Reference:

IAEA – ‘SURFICIAL URANIUM DEPOSITS’ (December 1984), SURFICIAL URANIUM DEPOSITS, IAEA, VIENNA, 1984 IAEA-TECDOC-322

Hussain, Abdulkadir Abiikar – ‘Minerals of Somalia: – From exploration to artisanal production to export’ (25.01.2013) link: http://somaliatalk.com/2013/minerals_of_somalia.pdf

Radio Simba – ‘(FULL DOCUMENT) Al-Shabaab Mining Uranium in Central Somalia to Send to Iran’ (02.09.2017) link: https://www.simbanews.net/full-document-al-shabaab-mining-uranium-in-central-somalia-to-send-to-iran/

US Navy Memo – “Subject: Strategic Readiness Review” (01.09.2017)

FAO calls for greater international support for Uganda’s growing number of refugees (31.08.2017)

FAO Director-General visits refugee settlements in Uganda’s North.

ROME, Italy, August 31, 2017 – The FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva called for greater funding for a sustainable response to the refugee crisis in Uganda, after concluding a visit today to refugee settlements in the country’s north.

The Director-General also reaffirmed FAO’s support to the Government of Uganda in its compassionate asylum policy under which land is allocated to refugees for shelter and cultivation.

“Uganda’s refugee model is an example to the world.  It is vital that funds be mobilized to support this effort so that refugees can provide food for themselves sooner rather than relying only on food aid, and so that refugees and their host communities can have a real opportunity to overcome hunger and poverty,” said Graziano da Silva.

“Uganda is giving not only food and land but hope,” he added.

Fastest-growing refugee crisis  
Uganda is host to the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world. Since July last year, more than one million South Sudanese refugees have crossed into Uganda. The refugees are predominantly women and young people and come from farming or livestock herding communities.

Graziano da Silva visited two refugee settlements, Agojo and Mungula 1, in Adjumani district near Uganda’s border with South Sudan.

At Agojo, the Director-General helped distribute crop and vegetable seeds to more than 1,000 refugee and host community households. This support will enhance families’ nutrition, and generate income from the sale of any surplus.  At Mungula 1, he inaugurated a micro-irrigation project that will provide the refugee and host community households with a reliable source of water for their crops and animals.

High-level dialogue
Prior to visiting the settlements, Graziano da Silva met with Uganda’s Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

“People don’t chose voluntarily to become refugees. We have a responsibility to help our brothers by giving them hope because it’s them today, but the situation could change tomorrow,” said Dr. Rugunda.

Under a new response plan, FAO is intensifying its efforts in providing livelihood assistance to refugees and host communities. The plan focuses on food and livestock production, nutrition, protecting the environment and enhanced technical support to the Government.

The Director-General’s visit comes after the UN Secretary General called on the donor community in June to strengthen their support to the refugee response. Uganda requires around $2 billion annually for 2017-2020 to address refugee needs, and donors have so far only pledged around $358 million.

 

Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU) letter to PM Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda – “Reminder: Remunerations Enhancement for Local Government Workers” (29.08.2017)

US: State Department plan shelving Special Envoys to the Great Lakes, South Sudan and Sudan!

The Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as part of the Trump Administration has clearly been working hard. Since the revamp of the Department of State, the Secretary has letter explaining cuts in the Department to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations at the United States Congress, Bob Corker. The United States government has clearly shifted their foreign policy and care for former allies. Their engagement are moving, but not as ready-made policy!

Tillerson wrote in his letter about this shift in African diplomacy or foreign relations:

The titles for following positions will be removed and the functions and staff assumed by the Bureau of African Affairs (AF):

U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa & Democratic Republic of Congo. The Special Envoy position currently is organized in AF, however the authorized staff positions and associated funding are currently in the Office of the Secretary and will be reprogrammed to AF. This will involve realigning 4 positions and $957,000 in support costs within D&CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs (AF).

U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan. This will involve realigning 6 positions and $4,408,000 in support costs within D&CP from the Office of the Secretary to the Bureau of African Affairs (AF). We intend to request that Congress repeal the statutory provision for this special envoy position, since a deputy assistant secretary in AF already fulfills the responsibilities” (Rex Tillerson to Bob Corker on ‘Special Envoys and Special Representatives’).

So the Department of State will remove the Special Envoys to the Great Lakes and Democratic Republic Congo, also to the Sudan and South Sudan. These are all nations where the United States has been involved and been important part of the development. Their sanctions and acts within these republics has been vital. That is why the opposition in the DRC has asked for stronger sanctions and travel bans on the Kabila government.

The others are the South Sudan, where the US are parts of the Troika, who is also major donors to the South Sudanese government. The newly independent republic, that got massive help from the Americans for their independence from Khartoum and Sudan. The Sudan has also been important for the Americans as they have tried to solve the crisis in Darfur and it has also worked well with them for their oil. The reasons for why usually the Americans has involved itself in foreign countries.

The US now clearly doesn’t see the value in Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and the other countries of Great Lakes. These are now undervalued, as the Special Envoys and their functions are now moved to others. The African Affairs staff gets more functions, as the Special Envoys will not create relationship it used to have.

The Envoy will have the same close work with Burundi, Rwanda, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan. All of these Republic will not be represented in a fashion that the United States has done before. This proves that the American government doesn’t care about the state of affairs or wanting to engage in the conflicts, the internal problems and the totalitarian governments. The US neglects its place and purpose in these republics.

So when the United States comes to the crisis in South Sudan and other places. They will not have the same connections or understanding of the republics. This will second-sourced information, instead of getting it directly.

The United States are downgrading their diplomatic leadership to all these nations, as the Special Envoys will be shelved by the force of the State Department. The Americans are clearly not caring or bothered by the conflict, the refugee crisis or the oppressive behavior against opposition. The United States are now distant and not engaged there. They will be far away and only there when it fits their interests. Peace.

#BoUPens: BoU bought cheap Cross Ball-Pens for a fortune!

I hate to say it, but the magical pens from the Bank of Uganda (BoU) wasn’t a fairy-tale as expected. It was a cheap corporate pen, that was bought for astronomical sums. They are not so expensive after all. It is Cross Rolling Ball Pen Nor Onyx AT0155-1, the price of this not as high as the Bank paid for it. Unless, they wanted to pay of their importers major profits, however, the Bank must have connections with the traders who sold it to them. If not, why did they pay so much for Cross Ball Pen in the first place.

First, the social commentary from earlier this month:

Hey, Bank of Uganda, the glorious BoU, if you ever need any sort office equipment. I can sell it to you and at lesser cost. It will be fraction of the 357,000 Uganda Shillings per Pens or 125m shillings for 350 pens. At the dollar-rate, you paid $105 United States Dollar for each pen, they must be magnificent and the best pens ever made for the mankind” (Minbane – ‘ Opinion: Bank of Uganda must have bought magical pens!’ 16.08.2017 link: https://minbane.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/httpwp-mep1xtjg-5gh/ ).

Than, by the price of $105 USD for every single Cross Ball Pen, which was made in China. These Ball Pens are really overpriced. On the American Amazon.com price are $36.62. The Amazon product explanation: “Onyx black resin finish with polished chrome appointments – Click off cap accented by a wide chrome band and a sophisticated perforated clip design – Includes one black gel ink rollerball refill (#8523) in pen – Cross Rollerball pens can be converted into a ballpoint pen or creamy porous felt-tip pen by changing the refill to desired type of tip (Refills sold separately) – Presented in a gift box” (Amazon – ‘Cross Aventura Onyx Black Rollerball Pen (AT0155-1)’ link: https://www.amazon.com/Cross-Aventura-Black-Rollerball-AT0155-1/dp/B0017UGOZC).

So if the Bank of Uganda are importing the pens, than the price would go up. Both most like not cost more than maybe around $60 USD a pop. Clearly, the BoU are liking the idea of the overpaying the pen. The Bank might have bought it from places like Corporate Gifts Pens, there they would get discounted for amounts of pens they would by. That is like if they buy over 100 pens, around $24,79, so the price of pens would be cheaper. Even engraved pens cost added on that page $5 each, that means the price would be around $29,79.

Still, with that the price difference are $70-75, which has to paid extra to the providers or suppliers. The government and the Bank of Uganda must be really proud of who they bought it from. If not, the Chairman or the leadership of the BoU really know the family or written-off the profits to paid their mortgage.

This here was not about quality or unique pen. Just a very ordinary pen. Not even in the quality of the Parker Pens. The BoU has really scammed the people and the Bank doesn’t care about the misuse of state funds. Peace.