The Importance of Mobile Money in Uganda

As the Telecommunication companies like MTN are praised the by the government, the National Resistance Movement have clearly let the economy become addicted and need of the services provided by the different Telecom’s and how the operate as village banks. The further proof of this comes when looking into a study and of the value of Mobile Money. This is done by all of the Cellphone providers in different names, but has the same outcome. Either by sending money to village funds, paying for utilities or even add airtime for a friend. The report conducted and made by Economy Policy Research Center at Makerere University we’re an interesting read. Here is the quotes worth assessing over. The historical backdrop of the vast amounts of trillions shillings in the operations. Shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering that one third of Ugandan citizens use the Mobile Money and average rate of monies sent during a month are 250,000. With the amount of people and amounts traded by Mobile Money, it is a booming business and first trying of banking. But doing it directly by the phone and not at the offices of Standard Charted or Barclays. Just take a look!

After 5 years of operation of mobile money services, the average adoption rate stands at 250,000 persons per month from inception (March 2009) to December 2015. The increase in access to formal financial services, from 28 percent in 2009 to 54 percent in 2013, was partially due to increased access to mobile money 1 See UBOS (2016), “National Population and Housing Census 2014”, Uganda Bureau of Statistics: Kampala services (EPRC 2013). Thirty-five percent of Ugandan adults have a registered mobile money account (Intermedia 2016). An additional 13 percent access services via somebody else’s account, including that of an agent. Mobile money account ownership surpasses the use of both banking and nonbanking financial institutions (Ibid)” (Makwejje & Lakuma, P: 6, 2017).

Finally, mobile money balances are sensitive to monetary policy shocks, while the mobile money values of transactions are not. These results suggest that 1) Mobile money has helped households to substitute liquid and other lumpy assets for financial assets; 2) Mobile money has modest macroeconomic impacts; 3) Mobile money has the potential to improve the effectiveness of the conduct of monetary policy. These results provide additional evidence for policy makers to continue supporting the growth of mobile money platforms. In particular, policy makers should provide the policy and regulatory framework through which mobile money balances can become interest-bearing assets. This will further strengthen the monetary policy transmission mechanism because economic agents will be able to more directly respond to changes in the policy rate” (Makwejje & Lakuma, P: 17-18, 2017).

The authorities clearly has to assess it and look over the Telecom’s Mobile Money operations, as this is important part of transactions and business operations in Uganda. When such vast amounts of people using it and benefits from it. Where their funds turn digital and get traded instead of having dozens of shillings in their pockets as for balance for their trades. Also, gives the ability to send over needed cash up-country or even to family members. Therefore, the structure and the balances of people’s lives can be monitored and shows the interest-bearing assets. The help it has provided the society and also introduce a form of banking institutions to the public. Though this study did not look into the fortunes made by this sort of transactions compared to ordinary banking practices in Uganda. Which, would be interesting expose considering difference of cost for the consumer and Ugandan doing so. Peace.

Reference:

Mawejje, Joseph & Lakuma, Paul C. – ‘MACROECONOMIC EFFECTS OF MOBILE MONEY IN UGANDA’ (June 2017) – Economic Policy Research Centre, Makerere University

The Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) elects new board (11.07.2017)

Statement released by jailed Former Vice President of Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb, on the missing MMPRC funds (16.07.2017)

Representative Waters tables bill (HR. 442) to inquire documentation of Trump businesses financial transactions to Russia!

In the House of Representative, one of the Representative Maxine Waters of California have introduced a new bill on the 13th July 2017. This one is an assault directly on the cash flow to the Trump Organization and it’s possible connection to the Russian businesses and associates. This becomes important, as the President and his business hasn’t been transparent. Therefore, this is another try to get the President and his family to deliver the connections and funds earned from foreign sources like the Russians. Especially, since the revelation and revealing companies that the Trump Organization has been working with.

The Representative in Congress has gotten Co-Sponsors on the bill, they are Daniel Kildee, Gwen Moore, Al Green and Ed Perlmutter, they are all Democrats, but set the standard for their persistence wish to find the truth and within reason for what is seem as just in the American society.

The important parts of the bill is this:

Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the Treasury to provide certain documents in the Secretary’s possession to the House of Representatives relating to President Trump’s financial connections to Russia, certain illegal financial schemes, and related information” (Waters, 2017).

(1) loans, guarantees, or other forms of credit, made or extended by Deutsche Bank AG, the Bayrock Group LLC, Vnesheconombank Group (VEB), Sberbank of Russia, Alfa Group, VTB Group, Gazprombank, any subsidiary or affiliate of the foregoing, the Russian government, or any Russian senior foreign political figure (as defined under section 1010.605 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations), to

(A) President Trump;

(B) President Trump’s family members—

(i) Donald Trump Jr.;

(ii) Eric Trump;

(iii) Ivanka Trump;

(iv) Melania Trump;

(v) Tiffany Trump;

(vi) Jared Kushner; and

(vii) Seryl Stadtmauer (aka Seryl Kushner);

(C) President Trump’s associates—

(i) Paul Manafort;

(ii) Carl Icahn;

(iii) Felix Sater;

(iv) Gary Cohn;

(v) Carter Page;

(vi) Roger Stone;

(vii) Rick Gates;

(viii) Wilbur Ross;

(ix) Rex Tillerson;

(x) Michael Flynn;

(xi) Jeff Sessions;

(xii) Michael Cohen;

(xiii) Rhona Graff;

(xiv) Rob Goldstone;

(xv) Boris Epshteyn; and

(xvi) Michael Caputo;

(D) any Trump-owned, -branded, -licensed, or managed hotels, casinos, and golf courses, previously identified by the Department of the Treasury, including—

(i) the Trump Taj Mahal Associates, LLC, d/b/a Taj Mahal Casino Resort;

(ii) the Trump National Doral Miami; and

(iii) the Trump International Hotel, Washington, DC;

(E) any individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) in connection with—

(i) the property located at 666 5th Avenue, New York, NY; and

(ii) the property located at 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY; and

(F) the Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd., or the Best Sunshine Live Casino;

(2) any financial accounts located outside of the United States and any individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1);

(3) Deutsche Bank AG’s 2011 “mirror trading” scheme;

(4) the “Russian Laundromat” (also known as the “Global Laundromat” and the “Moldovan Scheme”);

(5) any money laundering violations involving individuals, businesses, or property described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (1);

(6) any violation of U.S. sanctions, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or section 953 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the “Logan Act”), by any person or entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (1);

(7) any “business rule” developed by the FinCEN to screen data under section 21 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 91–508, or subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code (collectively, commonly known as the “Bank Secrecy Act”), to identify financial transactions involving Russian senior foreign political figures, or any individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1); and

(8) any Egmont Group requests made to a foreign Financial Intelligence Unit, including Cyprus’ Financial Intelligence Unit, the Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS), pertaining to the financial transactions of any individual described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1)” (Waters, 2017)

In our time, there are enough questions to the ethical behavior on the New York Gang, which in implied in the current administration of running both the United States Government and the Trump Administration. This all puts all the dots together. If the New York Gang needs funding and gets it through agreements and deals done with Russians, clearly they will collude with them when they get into power. Like its seemingly has done and there are more than enough banks, transactions and unrevealed trades that has to surface to make the unanswered questions gone away. The President and his men are now in hot water. All of the fiscal and financial business together with all of this Russian operatives really proves the possible connections. That long before the Trump Campaign and other political aspirations. Even if he tried to run in the past as well.

It is time for the New York Gang to be transparent and open up. If not with time it will get ugly and the revealed truth will never disappear as long there are unanswered questions. Especially, since the President and his affiliates never reveal their true value or company profits. Therefore, the need for oversight and look into the businesses owned by him. They are still run by the family and within his reach. So he will know what Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and other leaders of the Organization are up-to. To think otherwise is foolish. Peace.

Reference:

Waters, Maxine – ‘H.Res.442 – Of inquiry directing the Secretary of the Treasury to provide certain documents in the Secretary’s possession to the House of Representatives relating to President Trump’s financial connections to Russia, certain illegal financial schemes, and related information’ (13.07.2017) link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-resolution/442/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Russia%22%5D%7D&r=1

The New York Gang meeting on the 9th June 2016 in the Trump Tower with yet another undisclosed Russian associate Akhmetshin!

I cannot call the White House under President Donald Trump, the Trump Administration anymore, I have the feeling with the scandals under the Warren G. Harding. Most people have mentioned Richard Nixon and Watergate, but there is also similarities with that time:

Ohio Gang, in U.S. history, a group of politicians who achieved high office during the presidential administration of Warren G. Harding and who betrayed their public trust through a number of scandals. Leader of the Ohio Gang was Harry M. Daugherty, a long-time political operative who was the principal manager of Harding’s political ascendancy and who was named attorney general of the United States. Other members of the gang included Albert B. Fall, secretary of the interior; Will H. Hays, postmaster general; Charles R. Forbes, head of the Veteran’s Bureau; and Jess Smith, an official of the Justice Department” (Britannica, 2017).

The latest to join the pack of people at the former undisclosed meetings in 9th June 2016, which was already with the Russian Lawyers Natalia Veselnitskaya, but there was one more person the oldest son of the American President Donald J. Trump didn’t disclose about. The mail also disclosed the knowledge of Emin Alalagrov who is a Oligarch representative. Who was someone Junior really knew and could contact on his phone. Therefore, in the mails he would talk with him to find the possible time for the meeting in the Trump Tower. These mails between Donald Trump Junior and Rob Gladstone, also showed that Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner and himself we’re present at the meeting. The latest revelation is that a former Ex-Spy and has a history, his name is Rinat Akhmetshin. Who has even had litigation his acts like this one:

In connection with the Dutch Action, Salisbury, S&R, and ECVK hired Akhmetshin, a former Soviet military counterintelligence officer. Upon being retained, Mr. Akhmetshin hacked into IMR’s computer systems and stole IMR’s sensitive and confidential materials. Defendants then sought to inflict maximum damage on IMR, including by using the fruits of this hacking to assist ECVK in the Dutch litigation” (Supreme Court of New York, 2015).

Akhmetshin is a former Soviet military counterintelligence officer who moved to Washington, D.C. to become a lobbyist. While working in Washington, D.C., Akhmetshin developed a special expertise in

running negative public relations campaigns. In connection with these negative public relations campaigns, Akhmetshin conducted media and legislative outreach, encouraged journalists to write negative articles in connection with his client matters, and developed close relationships with reporters in New York, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere” (Supreme Court of New York, 2015).

Let’s retract the E-Mails again, just to make sure the meeting isn’t forgotten about:

So let’s take the fellow information we can from the e-mails, which was on the 3rd June 2017 Rob Gladstone wrote to Donald Trump Jr: (Subject – “FW Russia – Clinton – privat and confidential”)

Good Morning. Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting. The Crown prosecutor of Russia met with his father Aras this morning and their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father. This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but it is part of Russia and it’s government’s support for Mr. Trump – helped along by Aras and Emin. What would you think is the best way to handle this information and would you be able to speak to Emin about it directly? I can also send this info to your father via Rhona, but it is ultra sensitive so wanted to send you first. Best Rob Gladstone”.

Later in the day – Donald Trump Jr answered: “Thanks Rob I appreciate that, I am on the road at the moment but perhaps I just speak to Emin first. Seems we have some time and if it’s what you say I love it later this summer. Could we do a call first thing next week when I am back? Best, Don”.

So Donald Trump Junior who has claimed on Hannity it was such a nothing and not anything. Still the verdict isn’t all out. He couldn’t be totally transparent with the public. Since he didn’t tell the public of all the people involved and the seriousness of the sentence from Rob Gladstone: “This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but it is part of Russia and it’s government’s support for Mr. Trump – helped along by Aras and Emin” (Rob Gladstone E-Mail to Donald J. Trump, June 2016).

Why do I compel it also to the Ohio Gang, since it isn’t only the closeness between the Trump family, that being the Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Junior and Eric Trump. The others who has been connected with Russians and Foreign Operatives are Michael Flynn, Michael Cohn, Carter Paige, Michael Caputo, Felix Sater and Jeff Sessions. Several times Kushner has had to fill the SF86 form again, since he hasn’t disclosed everything. The same has happen to Attorney General Sessions who didn’t disclose his meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

So it isn’t like the Administration has been upfront and honest. Because they know what it looks like and know the values of the hacked Democratic National Committee or Democratic Party hacking around the Presidential Election in 2016. Trump earned lots of political mileage. This together with the sudden operatives who delivered the internet DNC documents like Guccifer 2.0 and WikiLeaks. Even as Donald Trump Junior dropped his E-Mails chain with Rob Goldstone, he had talked with Julian Assange who wanted to disclose it on WikiLeaks, but Junior dropped on his own on Twitter. Therefore, the connections and knowledge of each other really surface.

Even today it is now known that White House adviser Sebastian Gorka who might also have connections to Kremlin. The amounts of people who has had positive connections are astonishing. Also Rex Tillerson and others have had that. Therefore, it soon hard to find someone who doesn’t have some sort of relationship or connections to Kremlin/Moscow.

If there are more people inside the White House with relationship, business or even has wealth there. Especially, since the unknown values of Trump Organization business there and the incorporated agreements in Russia. Doesn’t help that the IRS Tax Returns hasn’t been delivered, as well as all the ownership or royalties made the companies of the President.

It makes it more worrying that someone who has capacity for hacking and for pending negative public campaigns, with knowledge of how the Trump Campaign attacked the fellow Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party. Since the leaks came right after, the rest is history. But the connections and the peddling of information will come forward. If the Cambridge Analytica and Jared Kushner used the big data combined with Russian interference to make the campaign more successful. Especially if they worked closer to Rinat Akhmetshin, who is a former counterintelligence officer in the KGB.

Clearly, there are more stones to turn, but this will only become ugly for the Trump Administration or should I say the New York Gang! Peace.

Reference:

Britannica – ‘Ohio Gang’ (03.05.2017) link: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ohio-Gang

Supreme Court of New York – ‘International Mineral Resources B.V. VS. Rinat Akhmetshin, Patrick Salisbury, Salisbury & Ryan LLP, Eurochem Volga – Kaliy LLC’ (12.11.2015)

FAO issues alert over third consecutive failed rainy season, worsening hunger in East Africa (14.07.2017)

Number of people needing humanitarian assistance on the rise.

ROME, Italy, July 14, 2017 – Poor rains across East Africa have worsened hunger and left crops scorched, pastures dry and thousands of livestock dead – according to an alert released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The most affected areas, which received less than half of their normal seasonal rainfall, are central and southern Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, northern and eastern Kenya, northern Tanzania and northeastern and southwestern Uganda.

The alert issued by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) warns that the third consecutive failed rainy season has seriously eroded families’ resilience, and urgent and effective livelihood support is required.

“This is the third season in a row that families have had to endure failed rains – they are simply running out of ways to cope,” said FAO’s Director of Emergencies Dominique Burgeon. “Support is needed now before the situation rapidly deteriorates further.”

Increasing humanitarian need

The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in the five aforementioned countries, currently estimated at about 16 million, has increased by about 30 percent since late 2016. In Somalia, almost half of the total population is food insecure. Timely humanitarian assistance has averted famine so far but must be sustained. Conditions across the region are expected to further deteriorate in the coming months with the onset of the dry season and an anticipated early start of the lean season.

The food security situation for pastoralists is of particular concern, in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, where animal mortality rates are high and milk production from the surviving animals has declined sharply with negative consequences on food security and nutrition.

“When we know how critical milk is for the healthy development of children aged under five, and the irreversible damage its lack can create, it is evident that supporting pastoralists going through this drought is essential,” said Burgeon.

Livestock prices have plummeted because of poor animal body conditions and this, coupled with soaring cereal prices, has severely constrained pastoralists’ access to food.  Rangeland and livestock conditions are expected to further deteriorate at least until the next rainy season starts in October.

Poor crop prospects

In several cropping areas across the region, poor rains have caused sharp reductions in planting, and wilting of crops currently being harvested. Despite some late rainfall in May, damage to crops is irreversible.

In addition, fall armyworm, which has caused extensive damage to maize crops in southern Africa, has spread to the east and has worsened the situation. In Kenya, the pest has so far affected about 200 000 hectares of crops, and in Uganda more than half the country’s 111 districts are affected.

In Somalia there are unfavourable prospects for this year’s main gu crops, after the gu rains were late with poor rainfall and erratic distribution over most areas of the country. In the Lower Shabelle region, the main maize producing area, seasonal rainfall was about 50 percent below- average and drought conditions are currently affecting up to 85 percent of the cropland.

In Ethiopia, unfavourable belg rains in southern cropping areas are likely to result in localized cereal production shortfalls. Drought is also affecting yields in Kenya’s central, southeastern and coastal areas. In Tanzania, unfavourable rains are likely to result in localized cereal production shortfalls in northern and central areas, while in Uganda there are unfavourable production prospects are unfavourable for first season crops in the southwestern and northern districts.

Cereal prices are surging, driven by reduced supplies and concerns over the performance of current-season crops. Prices in May were at record to near-record levels in most markets and up to double their year-earlier levels.

This is what the Constitutional Amendment Bill of 2017 do: It makes it easier for the State to grab land!

The Constitutional Amendment Bill has been criticized and created worry, since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have worked for and to get their leader to stay in charge and executive as long as he pleases. That is the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. So the article 102 (b) could easily been seen as possible change to fit the life and the age of the aging President. Instead, the gazetted bill of retired Major General Kahinda Otafiire is about making it easier for the state to compensate and take land from civilians. Since they want to make more cheap and make it legal to take land. If so make it easier to settle in court. This is clearly making the road development and pipeline building cheaper, also giving the government more power. Just by looking at the text from the government. Take a look!

The purpose of the Bill is to resolve the current problem of delayed implementation of Government infrastructure and investment projects due to disputes arising out of the compulsory land acquisition process. The problem of delayed Government projects has caused significant financial loss to the Government amounting to millions of dollars in penalties paid to road contractors for redundant machinery at construction or project sites as the courts attempt to resolve the disputes, most of which relate to quantum of compensation” (Otafiire, 2017).

Original Article 26:

26. Protection from deprivation of property.

(1) Every person has a right to own property either individually or in association with others.

(2) No person shall be compulsorily deprived of property or any interest in or right over property of any description except where the following conditions are satisfied—

(a) the taking of possession or acquisition is necessary for public use or in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; and

(b) the compulsory taking of possession or acquisition of property is made under a law which makes provision for—

(i) prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation, prior to the taking of possession or acquisition of the property; and

(ii) a right of access to a court of law by any person who has an interest or right over the property” (Constitution of 8th October 1995)

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).

So now the part of the article 2 (b) was already giving the citizens and land owners set of rights, but not telling how the procedure for compensation for possible value of the land and neither loss of possible costs of moving. The new part of article 26, is about giving the courts rights to find compensation and awards to fellow citizens property.

What is new is even as the pending award and compensation to the land owner, the government still has right to take possession of the land. Which means the government even if the land owner or the one who has the title of the land has to move before the case is settled in courts. This means that the government can cease the land and later pay the people who lives on the land. So if the state and need to build infrastructure or any other project, they can take possession of the land and pay-off the ones living there later.

The Parliament can put a time-table for the possible ending of land dispute, but the possession is already cleared by the state. Therefore, the loss of possession and pending time depends. The real issue isn’t only the dispute, but no consideration of the loss of title, livelihood or even the possible all other costs like moving to another property or housing. This should have been taken in consideration when writing new standards. This one only gives positives to the state, but the citizens and owners of land titles get the hurt.

It is easy to see the Republic/State are the ones winning with the change of article 26 in the constitution not the citizens. The changes of the law is only to benefit the state and the ones acting by orders of the state, not for the citizens. This should be itself worrying as there are no part that is positive for the citizens in the amendment. The land can be possessed and has to wait for the time-table put forward by the Parliament and within that time while the dispute happening hopefully get compensated. Clearly, this is only giving more powers to the state, while taking away the total ownership of land. Since the state can possibly take possession and pay the title-owner later. Peace.

Reference:

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

Bank of Uganda: Resolution of Crane Bank Limited (13.07.2017)

President Museveni has directed that all Government Loans needs his “Personal Approval”!

“Parliament: President Museveni has written to the Speaker Rebecca Kadaga directing that all government loans must get his “personal approval” before they are tabled in Parliament” (Arinaitwe, 2017).

Yesterday in the Daily Monitor, all government loans has to go by and get approval by the President. So now, it is not all information relating to crisis. Neither is only the matters of grants, presidential donations or presidential handshakes for that matter. It is needless to say, more and more, if there was ever enough that has to get the provisions or the sanctions by the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

If there is a street in Kampala that has damaged sidewalk, soon the President has to be involved and check his budget. Since now if the government needs loans from either internal banks, state reserves or even multi-national financial institutions, his Excellency needs accept it all.

Certainly, this will hamper any development and stop all the financial inclusions and provisions, who when you look true it all had given lots of power to the Parliament and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). Therefore, the Public Finance Management Act, which gives the government a go-ahead actually to loan without the approval of parliament. Now the President orders all loans to be levied by him. That shows his need for control and his passion to cease all the cash.

We can clearly imagine the Ministers, the Members of Parliament and the Local Councilors, all have to travel to the august house of Okello in Entebbe or jointly to Nakasero to plea a deal and get vouches for their needed bills and needed funds. Especially, considering that all State Affairs are now handled by the State House. The need for the parliament and its functions are dwindling when the President are the one that decides these details.

There are clear misconceptions of power, when all the money are under control by one-man and he does the decision. The need for a director of Bank of Uganda is only for show, the fiscal policies and needed understand of the financial markets are bonkers, when the President takes it all in his hand. More and more, the values of Presidential Advisers and Ministers are just for the effort and show. Therefore, they will not turn against him, instead of actually doing the state needed function.

This I say, since even business agreement between trade-off of banks, of estate and public lands are arrangement directly in the chambers of the State House. With investors and merry-men who promises to make gold out of bulk goods and Chinese imports. So that former markets, farms and former private lands are extorted with the benefit of the President, without concern of the traders, the ones living in the houses or the general effect of these efforts. Even the destruction of the National Theater is a prime example of a short-con to gain personal wealth on former old institution in Kampala.

Transparency and good governance, budget control and fiscal responsibly only becomes words needed when begging World Bank and International Monetary Fund for steady cash relief, or even African Development Bank (AfDB). Since it is the stakeout and possible needs of the President those matters, not the general state of schools, hospitals or refugee settlements. If the President see the need and issue or if one, of his fellow cronies beg on their knees and kiss his ring. Then the offer will be settle as a token of loyalty.

Now that the PFMA is out-done and out-played, even outfoxed if you will, because of the Presidential personal approval, therefore the parliament values is close to zero. They are just leaflets of envelopes and extra personnel for him. The parliament is more a front and piece of possible “democratic” institution when needed be, but not in reality. Since the last word and the last decision of any value comes from the State House. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon – ‘Museveni takes over loan approvals, rejects 11’ (12.07.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-takes-over-loan-approvals–rejects-11/688334-4011990-124ocj0z/index.html

 

UNISFA condemns recent attacks in Abyei (12.07.2017)

To date, Abyei has no police service system in place and there is no functioning joint local administrative structure.

ABYEI, South Sudan, July 12, 2017 – The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) condemns all attacks perpetrated by unknown armed groups in Abyei Area which resulted in deaths and injuries of civilians.

UNISFA expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the victims and vows to investigate swiftly the attacks with the Joint Peace Committee, the traditional leaders, as well as Sudan and South Sudan governments, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

UNISFA emphasizes its commitment to implement its mandate to secure Abyei Area and to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, without prejudice to the responsibilities of the relevant authorities.

To date, Abyei has no police service system in place and there is no functioning joint local administrative structure. The absence of these systems has resulted in the increase of criminal cases.

The current influx of population in Abyei has contributed towards increased economic and social activities in the area. The unemployment among the youth is a cause of concern which also leads to manifestation of crime in various forms.

In light of the recent incidents, UNISFA has stepped up its security measures particularly in and around Amiet common market which is a vital economic hub for different tribal groups including Ngok Dinka and Misseriya. Most of the criminal incidents in recent months have taken place in the vicinity of the common market.

The last two months have seen an upsurge in cases of cattle-rustling, carjacking attempts and robbery/shooting incidents. In May, a grenade exploded in Amiet market resulting in injuries to some civilians.

UNISFA reaffirms that criminality in all its forms is a serious threat to the security situation in Abyei Area.

UNISFA urges all communities and groups to support the Mission in its efforts to maintain the degree of peace and stability that Abyei has been experiencing over the last two years. The criminal activities should not deter the significant progress made towards improving relations between the Messiriya and the Ngok Dinka communities.