Iran Urges Implementation of Free Trade Agreement with Iraq (20.08.2016)

Iraq Iran Border

TEHRAN – Head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Valiollah Afkhami Rad called for efforts to implement a free trade agreement with Iraq that officials from the two countries signed two years ago.

In a meeting with a delegation from Iraq’s Ministry of Trade in Tehran, Afkhami Rad said in order for a boost to the volume of bilateral trade exchange, Iran and Iraq need to carry out a free trade agreement signed by the two countries’ officials at an exclusive exhibition organized by Iran in Baghdad back in 2014.

To implement that agreement, Tehran and Baghdad can begin with preferential trade arrangements and then reciprocally eliminate tariffs on certain goods, he added.

For his part, Iraq’s Deputy Trade Minister Walid Habib al-Helou, who is heading the delegation, hailed Tehran’s support for Baghdad in the fight against terrorism which has contributed to Iraq’s victories over the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group, saying that it has further motivated Iraqis to boost trade exchanges with Iran.

In May 2014, Iranian first vice-president called for a major boost to the economic ties between Tehran and Baghdad, saying the two neighboring countries should draw up a plan to raise the volume of their annual trade turnover to $20 billion.

And last week, Chairman of Iran-Iraq joint chamber of commerce said Iran’s share of Iraq’s annual foreign trade is totally inadequate, saying China and Turkey have overtaken Iran in exports to Iraq.

Iraq’s market has a capacity of $190 billion in annual trade, while the total volume of Tehran-Baghdad trade exchange in the past three years makes up a small percentage of that number, Yahya Al-e Eshaq deplored.

North Carolina: E.Coli Bacteria identified in Water Supply (19.08.2016)

Water PR 19.08.2016

Dr Noah Manyika | I don’t believe that the $15 billion is missing (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahsH2VHI6Lo

Let me cut right to the chase and say to President Robert Mugabe: I am sorry Mr. President, but I do not believe that the fifteen billion dollars is missing. I cannot believe that it is missing simply because you tell the nation that it is. The reality is that fifteen billion dollars does not just go missing. Somebody knows where it is and why it is where it is” (…) “This is a serious matter that needs every Zimbabwean to be seriously exercised about. We are entering a period where we cannot afford not to be vigilant, not to be suspicious of a party that has become accustomed to doing evil” (…) “It is important for the international community to recognize that our minister of finance’s desperate pleas for help do not mean Zanu PF has changed, or that it does not have a plan to foil the will of the people in 2018. It is one thing to be desperate, and quite another to have changed one’s ways” (…) “Like the $15 billion we are asked to believe is missing, we are also asked to believe that this government has nothing to do with the disappearance of Zimbabwe’s sons and daughters like Itai Dzamara, Rashiwe Guzha and others before them” (…) “Countrymen, this is Dr. Noah Manyika from Build Zimbabwe saying: Do not believe a lie. Is there not a cause? #BuildZimbabwe”

Opinion: The Kampala Conundrum with Musisi, Kamya, Lukwago and even Katongole!

ragga dee Daniel Kazibwe

As the NBS Frontline tonight shows is the bitter fight of political power in Kampala. Something that President Museveni wants to see. He wants the city to be in a limbo and less results of progress as the Opposition. The citizens of Kampala votes for opposition leaders and he doesn’t have loyalty amongst them. He even tried to bring a populist in Ragga Dee aka Daniel Kyeyune Kazibwe. This backfired!

Well, today wasn’t a new show as the one of called amends with Kampala politics didn’t get that. The other ghost in the room where the Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katongole; whatever he does he does inform the President and might advise him on the potholes in Nakawa or so. But if it is a job just giving to loyalist of Museveni and live the good life like “Minister without Portfolio” than the people of Kampala and the whole Republic is being fooled to pay taxes to pay for job; which initially isn’t a job. Why hire Mr. Sing Katongole into a job if there aren’t any work, aye?

All of this is happening after, the aftermath of General Election of 2016, where the Kampala and Wakiso voter was discarded and disfranchised during the Presidential and MPs vote; as the Electoral Commission wasn’t delivering voting material on time and wasn’t interested in giving the locals any time to vote after the “sudden” screw-up from the Dr. Badru Kiggundu Commission this instance.

Parliament Meeting KCCA Aug 2016

With this in mind you already have a hostile environment between the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Dr. Jennifer Musisi who has always liked to be selected and handpicked by Museveni to an honourable position. Well, because she doesn’t have the heart to be elected by a constituency. Uganda Federal Alliance President and MP Betti Kamya who talked briefly and went in on the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago like he was his pupil; since she just continued where the other. Before he had the ability to address her over a stream; this happens because NBS TV wouldn’t like to have the two politicians in heavy discussion. Since NBS had already the natural moderator in Norbert Mao there in the studio.

Hon. Betti Kamya want to lead the ship since she has a cabinet position, that she was given when she wanted to give up her faith in real politics and lose her credibility to suck-up to President. Many might say it in nicer words, but she came from the desert and into a feast. Therefore she acts fierce and force likes the NRM mouthpiece Ofwono Opondo who had to give in his sentiments. An when a so-called opposition sounds like a “semi-automatic Opondo” it is time to give in the UFA party and call it “NRM-Light”.

Also Betti Kamya wants to continue the depressive train of dissolution of the Cabinet Minster running Kampala; because of the way Hon. Frank Tumbewaze impeached the Lord Mayor and went full front political battle where he with the mercy of his Executive used the NRM machinery and court trials to demote the opposition Lord Mayor of Kampala.

There already an issue of who does what on the top of the hierarchy of the Capital City in Uganda, as the Executive Director of KCCA Musisi feels she has reasons to run and appointed to work for the city. The same is with the Cabinet Minister of Kamya now who feels she has special place as she is a Minister and Parliamentarian who are appointed to oversee the City. Whatever the Presidential Advisor of Kampala does or don’t is not really the question as he hasn’t made a word in public since the appointment Mr. Katongole. Lastly it is the elected and not appointed by Presidential decree, Lord Mayor Lukwago. He also should have a place and also authority, not only these who are selected and handpicked by the Central Government to run and oversee the city.

NBS KCCA

There are many hands, there are even more constituencies and Local Councillors who has agendas down to the grassroots where the citizens live day to day. All the leaders on top will have egos, but also certain degree of righteous reason to work and hopefully live-up to the potential of their positions.

There we’re talk of making amendments to the KCCA act last year that we’re shuffled, the newly elected Cabinet Minister Kamya want to review it and put into Parliament again. KCCA Act of 2010 says this about the Mayor: “The functions of the Lord Mayor are to (A) be the political head of the Capital City” (KCCA ACT 2010 Part III Section 9). So whatever role the other positions says the current law is clear on this point as the KCCA shall be judiciary and policy maker. Then about the Executive Director the law says: “(2)The executive director shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Public Service Commission” (…) “(3) A person shall qualify to be appointed executive director if he or she is of high moral character and proven integrity, and is qualified to be appointed a Permanent Secretary in Government Ministry” (KCCA ACT 2010 Part III Section 17). The importance of the Executive is that the President appoints and that the person is qualified to an extent. The role of Executive Director does this: “to be the head of the public service in the Authority and to head the administration of the Authority, including divisions and wards” (…) “to be responsible for the management of all public funds of the Authority and accountable to Parliament” (…) “be responsible for coordination and implementation of national and council policies, laws, regulations, byelaws, programmes and projects” (…) “advise the mayor and Authority on Government policy” (KCCA ACT 2010 Part III Section 19). With this law text proves that the Head, the Lord Mayor are the Political Head, but the Executive Director are the one that implement and advise the mayor. That means that this law has by some definition done what can be seen as a coup d’état of any elected Mayor of Kampala.

The Coup d’état is that the Lord Mayor Lukwago can be advised by Executive Director Musisi after the KCCA ACT of 2010 can act as proprietor of the City without a doubt. The Political Head isn’t directed by this to do anything in particular other than run the KCCA meeting as funny laughing secretary of KCCA, being the ceremonial leader of the city and monitor, but the implementing factor is Musisi. This is the coup of Parliament in 2010. We can now see that this law hurts the ones that are not loyal to Museveni and his NRM; who could before get somebody who we’re a gullible leader as Lord Mayor who could just creep around and grabbing brown envelopes instead of working!

The reason for the trouble is the many hands and the evident program to silence the Lord Mayor who seemingly getting elected somebody who is opposition. Something Museveni doesn’t accept therefore they did this to control the area and make sure the NRM got their way. So the Musisi, Kamya and Lukwago fighting will continue and if he get impeached or tried to get him to vacate the office during the 10th Parliament term. Please, don’t be surprised as one of the longest parts of the KCCA ACT 2010 is actually Part III Section 12 that should show what was important for the legislators at the time. It is 2 pages long! Show’s the valid grounds for usage of this part of law compared to the rest of the law.

So the conundrum for Kampala continues and will be like this as long as Museveni and his Regime keeps the capital run like this. He wants in-fighting to weaken the leadership so he can control it with strawmen instead of elected men or woman. They can be corrupted something that is harder for a elected man who feels responsible for his constituency and the citizens as the rigged leaders and corrupt leaders are loyal to head whom pays them. Peace.  

Lumumba says PASTOR Evan Mawarire is done!! – 10 minutes with Vimbai 18/08/16 (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMAXI_VPehU

“Lumumba says he did not Insult the President of Zimbabwe. He says he is a Politician not a protestor. He says PASTOR Evan Mawarire is done!!” (My Zimbabwe The revolution shall be hash tagged, 2016)

Press Statement: Appoinment of Executive Director for the PAU (18.08.2016)

UG Petroleum Authority 18.08.2016

Uganda: Danida built the Courts, M7 donate 100m to a SACCO, 150m to the MPs for Cars and so on!

Buguma UPF

Today is a weird news day, the news from Uganda are scattered and shows the ability of nobility from Ugandan Government isn’t there. The impunity from Uganda Police Force continues as the loyal men to IGP Kayihura doesn’t cares about the law. While President Museveni drops a few coins, while his MPs ask for millions shillings worth of cars themselves; and there over 400 MPs so the amount of money used on the cars are huge. At the same time the news of Danish Tax Payers have built most of the Courts, the NRM steady progress is in the hands of foreigners and not in the hands of the allocations done by Ugandan Parliament. If so, then they would have contributed some cash for the cement that constructed these buildings. And so it goes on!

Just as Dr. Kizza Besigye goes to Court to be allowed to leave for United Kingdom for his meetings with Ugandan Diaspora, FDC P10 and others who support his cause abroad. The former District Police Commander Aaron Buguma showed his disgrace for Law and Order with not joining his own court trial as his own boss Inspectorate General of Police (IGP) Edward Kale Kayihura the other day. So the law is different it seems depending on who it is served upon, especially the ones who supposed to guard it can run away from their brutal behavior against citizens.

M7 17.08.2016

While the riches of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the walking budget, showed his mercy at the Bwebajja Fruit Sellers SACCO got Ush.100m and also giving away tools. This came today as Court Justice Bart Katureebe said this in Parliament: Danida built almost all the courts in Uganda, but why isn’t gov’t not taking interest in this. You have courts sharing offices with bars”. That means the Danish Tax Payers monies built the Courts of Uganda, not used the extended revenue made Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) or the generate tax that President Museveni so proudly speaks of. EU spokesman Kristian Schmidt: “Praise for Denmark by Chief Justice: “Danida built almost all the courts in Uganda”.

Members of Parliament procurement of cars:

Each of the 427 MPs will receive UGX150m by October to buy new car to travel to their constituencies, according to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Parliament will have to process a supplementary budget amounting to at least UGX64bn to finance the MPs car grant. This comes after Parliamentary Commission rejected proposal by finance ministry to finance MPs car grant in shifts with priority given to newly elected MPs” (WBS TV Uganda, 17.08.2016).

UNRA Presser

If the greed of the Members of Parliament wasn’t big enough their road safety fears are extended as the men and woman have discussed building a fly-over to make sure they are well. While the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) need to do this instead of securing better roads so there is less accidents and incidents to secure road safety. The road projects are most likely to be fulfill are the ones where foreign donors dolce out money or grants through bilateral and multinational organizations as International Monetary Funds or World Bank instead of through the ordinary budget of the allocated funds in the fiscal year. So that the MPs have the balls to order fresh from the factory SUVs and ask for fly-over to secure their working place is disgusting.

Another issue today: “Appearing before the parliamentary committee on ICT, minister of ICT and National Guidance Frank Tumwebaze admitted that the NRM government has finally given up trying to control the internet especially social media usage in Uganda. Tumwebaze said “every time government tried to block social media, within a few minutes, Ugandans were already back on after invoking VPNs “(virtual private networks)” (The Observer, 18.08.2016). So the VPN shows the sanctions for national security doesn’t work… so the reality is that the Ugandan Government are beaten by technology and their own public will to do what they do. The only danger this is to the Ugandan Government is that the NRM cannot be only source of information and where the intelligence they are gaining. Therefore the Opposition will have a place to share information without fear online and on social media even if the Ruling Regime bans it or tries to shut it down.

I should have commented on the closure of Greenhill Academy for being World Bank and Mark Zukerberg (Facebook Founder) donated school for having books with explicit content; while the reports that most UPE schools lacks books or equipment. So the ironic side of the closure is amazing and foolery from the state. But wanting to take control of private institution is not strange in the context of micro-management style of the present day NRM.

There are always more, this my little update on today’s Movement news and the Parliament of Uganda. This has been hazardous… this has been special and would not be the last. Because this government cannot help themselves and we who follows now it! Peace.

UNHCR working with Government of Uganda and emergency response partners to contain cholera outbreak amongst the newly arrived South Sudanese refugees in Adjumani district, Uganda (18.08.2016)

uganda_ssudan2

49 South Sudanese refugees and one Ugandan national have been confirmed to have contracted the disease. 

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 18, 2016 – The Government of Uganda and United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are implementing containment measures in the recently-opened Pagirinya settlement in Adjumani district following confirmation of an outbreak of cholera.49 South Sudanese refugees and one Ugandan national have been confirmed to have contracted the disease. 44 have been provided with treatment and subsequently discharged from health facilities having fully recovered, while two patients remain in quarantine.

Additional measures are being taken to ensure the outbreak doesn’t spread further. Those who have contracted the disease are having their houses disinfected and their water supply drained while a door to door awareness-raising campaign takes place. The sale of fresh produce at markets and on the road side has been restricted. Other sanitation strengthening activities, such as chlorination of water points, garbage cleaning, strengthening of hand-washing facilities and the distribution of water guards, have been intensified. As a result, the number of new cases continues to be small but health teams continue to pay close attention to individuals displaying any potential symptoms.

Cholera is an acute infectious disease, usually shared through the consumption of contaminated food and water, which can potentially prove fatal. Sufferers endure symptoms that include acute watery diarrhea and vomiting.

The majority of people found to be suffering from the outbreak are located in reception centres in Pagirinya settlement, with smaller numbers found to be suffering in the settlement itself and at Elegu collection point. Pagirinya is currently hosting more than 30,000 South Sudanese refugees, all of whom arrived in the last 6 weeks.

“We have received a large number of young children as refugees over the last month or so, who are particularly vulnerable to this possibly lethal disease,” said acting Representative to Uganda Bornwell Kantande.  “Together with the Ministry of Health and our health partners, we’ve rapidly implemented response measures to contain its spread. We’re continuing to do our best to reduce the number of people living in these reception centres as quickly as possible, not only to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, but so that these people can begin to rebuild their lives as soon as possible.”

Decongestion of transit and reception centres remain a top priority. Refugees are being relocated to the recently-opened Bidibidi settlement in Yumbe district where, in line with Uganda’s generous settlement approach, they will be provided with plots of land on which to build new homes and to grow agricultural crops.

More than 80,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to Uganda since the outbreak of violence in Juba on 8 July. Over 85% of the new arrivals are women and children, with children comprising 64 percent of new arrivals. They report that armed groups are attacking villages, killing civilians, sexually assaulting women and girls and forcibly recruiting young men and boys in to their ranks.

Rasta Kaseke | From Ian Smith to the Black Smith Mugabe #Tajamuka (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oauutnheMLw

Zimbabwe civil servants’ August pay to be delayed (Youtube-Clip)

“Civil servants in Zimbabwe are up in arms over the latest delay of their pay dates. The government says August salaries will also be delayed and are to be paid at least one week late. Here’s Farai Mwakutuya with the details” (CCTV Africa, 2016)