11th Parliament First Pay-Off: Each MP get’s Ush. 312m for new cars!

A total of 165 billion shillings is urgently needed by Ministry of Finance to procure new vehicles for the 527 newly elected MPs” (NTV Uganda, 26.01.2021).

It is estimated that each Member of Parliament (MP) is getting Ush. 312 million shillings or about $84,600 US Dollars. If you want a decent sedan in the Republic that costs about Ush. 50 million shillings or about $13,500 US Dollars. So, the MPs have an easy access to not only posh cars, but also ability to pocket the money too. Some could even pay-off campaign debts and other expenditure for the campaign period.

This is a clever way of compromising the MPs. We are also seeing the state is doubling the amount of money spent from one term to the next. As in 2016, the Ministry of Finance wanted Ush 85 billion shillings. Now in 2021 they want to double that plus some with 165 billions shillings.

In regard to that. The Parliament have grown substantially between the two terms. The 10th Parliament had 459 MPs, but the 11th Parliament will have 527 MPs. That is a stark rise in the amounts of Representatives in the August house. That is why all the costs of operation and expenditure of the state will grow. That is happening without any significant growth in the tax-base or domestic income for the state. This is adding the bill without a plan for how to pay it.

To give and make car expenditure such a big sum of funds. The MPs is getting a lavish payout and a huge envelope just after the elections. This is a giant pay.-off and a token of what’s to come. We expect funds for “suits” and whatnot too. The MPs already have perks, salaries and compensations, which is making them wealthy from the get-go.

The MPs have the ability to enrich themselves while in office. The state is funding their lives, but not compensating them for representing a constituency, but they are able to get wealth. The MPs can with the job get rich and live like successful businessmen. That is what they can. There is so many avenues and means of living large. That is created by them and they have plenty of ways to get paid.

The spending on the cars is just one out of various schemes to give the MPs money. That not to talk about the NRM MPs who can go to NRM Caucus before a favourable vote can get envelopes too. That has happened in the past and wouldn’t be shocking, if that happens in the 11th Parliament too. That is the sort of game the General does. He compromise his MPs with “cheap” money to get his will. This will happen again and the MPs will be eaten by their greed.

The MPs will get a salary, allowances and whatnot. This is just the first one. The state does this and will continue to do so. Because, the “High Above” and the General is supporting this. Since this compromise them and get them in his pocket. Peace.

Opinion: Biden have a pitiless job ahead

Yesterday on the 20th January 2021 the inauguration of Joe Biden happened. President Biden has a mountain to climb ahead. That’s not his fault, but his predecessor who was inept and incompetent at his job. Biden has more issues to fix, than what he had as the Vice-President during the first Obama Term.

Now, there is not only the humongous need for swift intervention and planning to stagnate a crisis with the COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. Which the previous administration downplayed and didn’t really stomach. They only let people die and didn’t properly intervene. Trump Administration and their COVID-19 Taskforce was a useless entity. Only to booster business and enterprises in favour of the government. It wasn’t made to stop the spread of the virus or actually make a difference. That is why the spread is so massive, the amounts of death is spiralling out and by the time Biden became President. The numbers of deceased in the Republic because of it was the amount of 400,000 citizens. That all happened because of the inept Trump administration.

Yes, the commentators will now blame all of these on Biden. Biden will be thrown into hot fire and be burned. The test is if the White House can defend what they do and how they are fixing it. They need to address it properly and let science do its work. As the previous bastard-in-chief didn’t care and thought pseudo-science and conspiracy theories could heal the wounds. Alas, it is never like that.

Other, than that… Biden has to fix the economy. Work on the growing deficits and the negative rates hitting the financial institutions. As yet another Democrat have to clear the air after a Republican botches a working economy. Where the safeguards and financial integrity have been traded on quick-get-rich schemes and less oversight. That has been key things done in the Trump years. Also, the tax-cuts and enriching the elites, while the state has cut on the basics and support system for the poorest. Social security and Medicaid for all have been hit hard, but big-men in business have priority citizens.

Biden has to also work in a very split society. Created with amplified visions of the Republicans. Who rather see the Republic burning than listening to any sort of facts. The President have to look into, investigate and prioritize criminal proceedings not only into the insurrection of the Capitol. The President has to also investigate fellow Congress members and Senators who was in on it. Not to forget the need to look into Right Wing Extremists and militias who has thrived during the Trump Presidency. These has been shielded and the authorities have given them a silent “pass”. Now, it is time to do something about it.

Biden has a lot of work ahead. Not only write Executive Orders. Even though he got revoke certain aspects. He got to go head-on. Show that he is different than Trump, but also show integrity and accountability. Just as the most corrupt and incompetent administration has left the White House. The rampant nepotism and lack of protocol have to be investigated. All the breaches of codes by the former administration. There was so many who broke the Hatch Act and other codes while in office. The Trump Administration needs to be investigated in the Foreign Emoluments Clause and if their associates did violate this in their tenure. That only makes sense now. It will hurt the Republican party, but they need to be accountable and take responsible for their actions.

Joe Biden has so many hurdles. Not only does his Secretary of State have to prove that the United States cares, but also have some plans for their policies. As in the past one, these could be bought and fixed by simple gestures to the Man on the Throne. That has to change now. Especially, if the US is back to normalcy. We know that will take time, as the Trump administration ensured the Biden administration starts with no ready vetted cabinet members or appointments. Just to show their vicious, loser mentality and how they don’t care about stability.

The Biden administration have only hard work ahead and a lot of dirt to clean out. Biden better handle with not only caution, but with finesse. As there will be no easy way out and the only way is face the harsh realities. This is an unforgiving role and a place very few wants to go. He has to fix and clean a mess. A shambles of a government and make people trust it again.

Trump proved he could break a system. Trump proved the ills of society. Now, Biden needs to heal and fix the system. That will hurt, be painful and be a process. It will not happen over night, but is a needed task. Especially, if the world is supposed to trust the US and its values. Because, those are in the bin and someone has to rehash it.

That is Biden right now. That isn’t a fun journey. Neither is it reality TV or a fun segment on SNL. No, its dedication and honouring principals. What Biden should know and see is that those principals and codes are worthless to the Republicans. That is why he has to shook them and get them into submission. Just like they do to Democrats when they are in power. Since, the Bi-Partisanship only matters to Democrats, but not to Republicans in power. That is why Biden has to seal the deals and be fierce at some point. Not only humble and show humility. He needs to be strong and be resilient.

As all the ills of the previous administration will be put on him. Even if it isn’t true. However, that is how unforgiving his task is. To takeover after a train-wreck of an administration must be restless. The Biden administration needs to revitalize and rejuvenate departments, which has been weaponized by the previous ones. That will not be easy, but a needed task. Unless, the President will have civil servants and other appointments working against him. Peace.

Brexit: Rees-Mogg’s Red Herring

Key thing is we’ve got our fish back. They’re now British fish and they’re better and happier fish for it”Jacob Rees-Mogg MP (14.01.2021)

Today in Parliament, the Tories and especially Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg got on the defensive. As the Tories and the whole United Kingdom is starting to feel the effects of leaving the European Union (EU) and the hurdles the new Withdrawal Agreement puts in place. All these significant hurdles are passed onto the consumer and the exporters. The ones that was promised less red-tape and more “control”. Alas, that was all a lie from the Brexiteers, as they call it fear-mongering.

However, in the month of January, only mere weeks into the Brexit finalization and becoming a third country. The businesses, the fisheries and other companies are feeling the “new normal”. Already on the 7th January 2021 Seafood Scotland came out with a statement saying: “Scottish seafood exporters hit by a ‘perfect storm’. Where they explained it further: “It problems in France meant consignments were diverted from Boulogne sur Mer to Dunkirk, which was unprepared as it wasn’t supposed to be at export frontline”. The organization continues to say: “In a very short time we could see the destruction of a centuries old market which contributes significantly to the Scottish economy”.

So, just by wording a few sentences from Seafood Scotland. The fish doesn’t seem more happy by becoming pure “British”. I am sure that the Tories is having a “Finding Nemo” moment. As the lies and deception isn’t helping the fishing industry nor their new trouble to get seafood exported. The government wasn’t prepared for the new form of export and neither the possible cost. Therefore, the British seafood either got dumped or destroyed before it got to the European markets.

The Tories and Rees-Mogg can act a fool. However, he should stop the red herring. He knows perfectly well that the government released nearly right before the Agreement went into play on the 1st January 2021. They released new guidelines and proved how businesses could operate with examples on the 31st December 2020. So, it was not like the Seafood Industry was prepared and neither was the state.

Yes, you have gotten the fish back, but what value does it add if it ends up in the bin and not somebody’s table? That is waste and destruction of good wholesome produce, which is destroyed by some red-tape, which this government through agreements have made. Therefore, Brexit is causing more harm and more troubles then the industry could foresee. They we’re not warned in time and neither did the Tories give additional training to its border officers to secure every consignment.

That is why the statement of Rees-Mogg shows his arrogance, as he will not take responsibility for the damage caused. He wants to put a British Flag on the Fish, but he will not make sure it becomes Fish and Chips. No, he wants fish dead out of whatever and sing the national anthem to it. That is foolish and so is his pride. Instead, of taking accountability and finding measures. He wants patriotism to save the fish. That is really ridiculous and shows that his a proper hob-nob.

The Tories didn’t care about the fisheries or the fishing industry. They just used them as tool for their ends. That is why it’s not biting now and the fishermen isn’t catching a break. No, they are catching their fish and preparing it for shipment, but the government isn’t giving them the tools to secure the vessel to next port. No, they either blocking it or standing them at sea with nowhere to go. That is the sick reality here.

Maybe, the Scots to package the fish in the Union Jack and send the rotting fish directly to Rees-Mogg office. So, he could taste and smell his own medicine. The side-product of his politicking together with fellow Brexiteers. As his not personally hit by this, but him and others created the ‘Perfect Storm’. Therefore, he as one of the responsible for it. That he should taste some of the “British Fish” who got lost in red-tape and is now ready for a landfill. Peace.

Brexit: Scottish seafood exporters hit by ‘perfect storm’ of Brexit disruption (07.01.2021)

Zimbabwe: MDC-Alliance – Party President Nelson Chamisa letter – The Fog Will Soon Clear (07.01.2021)

Brexit: UK as a Third County have a new customs regime [and it has consequences for trading too]

The United Kingdom government unleashed the case studies for Border Operating Model for Controlled Goods. Meaning all sort of goods that is going from one trading block to another one. One type of goods going from one customs union to another. Now that from today… the United Kingdom is separated from the European Union. There is whole new levels of red-tape.

The leaflet called ‘ The GB/EU Border – Case Studies – The Border with the European Union’ made by the Border and Protocol Delivery Group. This came out yesterday on the 31st December 2020 and would be valid from 1st January 2021. The government little to no time to prepare the various of industries, exporters or importers of the new factors. Neither party could be prepared for this. As companies on both sides of the Channel couldn’t be prepared for all of this.

Either industry will have their needed paperwork. As the ones importing/exporting have to ensure that the hauliers, exporter and importer are all working together to secure the whole process.

The main deal now is that the ones doing these sort of businesses are:

GB EORI number

EU EORI number (if you are conducting any EU customs processes)

Customs declarations for both imports and exports

UK and EU safety and security declarations

Rules of Origin (the FTA confirms that no tariffs or quotas will apply on goods that qualify)

Sanitary and phytosanitary controls

International convention requirements – such as those under the Common Transit Convention (CTC)

If that sounds easy… it is not. The new system is very hectic and a new bureaucracy to follow. The ones moving goods and transporting it. They have a new world to live and abide by. The expenses of this additional steps will be put on the consumer and the citizens themselves. There will also be less trading between the parties. As the ones who can avoid these steps and trade within the European Union will do so as well. While the ones who has too. Got to sweeten the deals to become viable. Especially trading from the UK into EU. The ones from EU to UK will be more pricey, as the hauliers and importers needs bigger margins to cover the costs of importing.

For instance before the Whiskey has left Scotland and gotten to Brussels it got 12 steps to get there. Where all the various of entities along the way needs the right paperwork to get processed to be allowed to enter and do the initial trade of the whiskey itself. Not only does the EU importer needs to have the right documentation and secure the right paperwork. So does the trader within the UK. These both needs to certify and secure the documentation. So, that the transporter and freight Company is secured. Also ensure that process is righteous before a carrier oversees the discharge from the UK market into the EU. This is an transaction where both ports of entry have to be signed off. That means the port of departure and entry needs to verified before importer of Scotch Whiskey can get its order in Brussels. This here will make it more costly and a hassle to import it.

If the Brexiteers and the ones supporting the enterprise promised less red-tape. This whole case study leaflet proves them otherwise. Every single industry and exporters has much more hassle and paperwork to fix. The same the ones importing from Europe. This will all be stressing and cause delay of goods transferred between the parties in question.

It is just a matter of time before the Brexiteers feels this. Especially, the ones who promised seemingly no consequences what so ever for leaving the EU. Peace.

Brexit: The European Research Group’s Legal Advisory Committee – Opinion on the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (29.12.2020)

Brexit: So long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Well, Douglas Adams didn’t write this piece. Neither was this hitch-hiking in a galaxy far-far away with a towel. However, it has been a long journey from the referendum to re-issued elections. Changes of Prime Minister’s and a whole lot of organizational mess. So many sackings and letters of resignations. The whole Brexit will go down as a hectic blunder and mess.

The Tories and Boris Johnson can claim victory yesterday. The Prime Minister got too. Because this is all he has. Not like the man has a superb result or anything. The disputed withdrawal agreement of the past versus this one will be icky subject no matter what. The Brexiteers got their will, but maybe not considering the costs. The bills and the extra payments on everything will be billed to the ones who voted this thing. The businesses and the enterprises trading will forfeit that burden on the consumer i.e. the citizens.

The wealthy will not feel so touched by this. The global funds and banks have already moved. Even the ones owned by Tory officials and Tory MPs. These have moved the HQ to Dublin or Frankfurt way before the deal was settled yesterday. They wouldn’t risk losing profits or having EU Single Market to trade in.

The UK are still part of the market with a shoddy trade deal. They have lost all the perks of being a member state. The UK is a Third Country and will be that from now on. Not having benefits or having access as before. There will be more red-tape, more customs issues and standards to figure out.

The UK will really be hit, as the European Commission stated yesterday even with their agreement: “Even with the new EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, there will be big changes on 1 January 2021. On that date, the UK will leave the EU Single Market and Customs Union, as well as all EU policies and international agreements. The free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between the UK and the EU will end. The EU and the UK will form two separate markets; two distinct regulatory and legal spaces. This will create barriers to trade in goods and services and to cross-border mobility and exchanges that do not exist today – in both directions” (European Commission, 24.12.2020).

So, the oven-baked deal and ready set cooking offering of the Tories was never there. Still, to this day there will be an aftermath and effects, which both parties wasn’t prepared for. The promises and pledges of an easy transition was a lie. If it was that easy. It wouldn’t have costed the UK so much already.

Boris celebrating yesterday is because he has too. The publicity stunt of a victory have to look like that. The political gambit of the whole enterprise lives on it. Not like the Brexit will deliver anything substantial in the end. Only more costs and more problems for all. These changes will cause logistical problems, bottle-necks and lorries awaiting their turn in Kent. That is just how things are going and not for the better. Not like Boris is out there ensuring the care or paperwork is prepared for all exports or imports to the UK. No, his enjoy the spoils of his previous victory in Downing Street No. 10.

And you know the UK want to be alone, when the European Commission stated this as well: “Foreign policy, external security and defence cooperation is not covered by the Agreement as the UK did not want to negotiate this matter. As of 1 January 2021, there will therefore be no framework in place between the UK and the EU to develop and coordinate joint responses to foreign policy challenges, for instance the imposition of sanctions on third country nationals or economies” (European Commission, 24.12.2020).

The UK want to do everything on their own as a sovereign. Why bother have alliances or agreements that can be beneficial for all the neighbours and European nations in the first place? When you can solve everything and all threats alone. That is what the Tories are working for and doing. They clearly thinks Whitehall, Downing Street and City of London can cruise on its own without help. That says a lot. They didn’t even want to negotiate or talk about it. As it could be of mutual interests to be partners and co-operate on international security and intelligence. However, the MI-6, MI-5 and Scotland Yard is clearly more operative than the 27 Member States combined.

This shows how some principals are bonkers. The ideal of sovereign is self-destructive. At one point the UK will call for their friends in Europe and seek for co-operation on these matters. Now it seems like a time to cease. However, when the buck stops and they need friends. They will call Brussels and Paris for help. Now it seems like bad timing as they are leaving the EU. However, these sorts of things only make the UK fragile and less measures to secure itself. The needs for cooperation on these matters are vital for all. Therefore, very striking that they wouldn’t even consider it.

Prime Minister Johnson lives on his own hubris. That is shown again. Boris the Blade is back-at-it. A red herring and NHS to the rescue. The UK should expect more austerity and lack of financial growth for the foreseeable future. An self-inflicted recession on top of nationalism, which only will back-fire. Because, the poorest will be further hit and have even less options. While the rich finds new ways to trick the system. That is just the way of the Tories. Peace.

Opinion: The NRM Way isn’t bettering the Youth Employment like Museveni claims..

At 76, I have no blood pressure because I don’t stress myself like some people who have been worrying too much yet this is not good to their health. You need to tell this to Ugandans that if they follow the NRM advice, the problem of unemployment will be solved” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (24.12.2020)

That the President is so proud of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ways really says a lot. As the numbers haven’t really changed much or the realities on the ground is much of the same. The public cannot eat the GDP or import numbers. Even if he proclaims greatness that way.

Just like the numbers of participation in the economy for the ages of 15 to 25 years old. Numbers from Macrotrends proves a steady 55 % from the year of 1991 until 2015 when the numbers gotten worse and by 2019 the numbers was down to 51,91%. Still no matter how you look at this numbers in a Republic full of youth and younger generation born after the “liberation” of 1986. Most about 50% of them are not participating in the economy and most of them have never had the ability to do so.

In a DHL Article from 2019: “The situation is grim. A 2015 study by the same organization revealed that the proportion of unemployed youths had risen from 12.3 percent in 2013 to 18.6 percent in 2015, while recent data by the African Development Bank painted a much gloomier picture, placing unemployment figures at up to 83 percent of the nation’s youth population” (DHL – ‘The solution to Uganda’s youth unemployment crisis’ 26.09.2019).

The gig-economy and lack of financial policies helping them. All the money schemes from the government haven’t helped over the years. The NRM haven’t delivered to the youth or made it possible for them to get work or participate in the society. That is why they are willing to do whatever to get food on their plate. This isn’t sustaining society or creating natural growth.

When the President says Ugandans should take his advice. The numbers of unemployment and non-participating is worsening. While the state is stagnate, deficit-financing and a huge debt-burden created by this government. Therefore, this President better seek other advisors and other skilled people. Since his drowning the economy and giving less good lessons to the public,

Instead of giving the public gifts and pledges with promising results. The President will bring bailiffs, sheriffs and undertakers to secure the loans and debts are repaid. The next generation has to figure out the problems created of late. It is the next government and next regime who needs debt relief and austerity means to settle the score. As the President haven’t made it better financially for the economy or industries in general. If he did, the participation of the youth would have been substantially better.

Therefore, the promise to follow the NRM way is really special and weird in concern with the numbers and the lack of proper results. It is not like he has revolutionized or made things possible for more people to get jobs. This is worrying and that his not considering his missteps or where he went lost.

The man has had the time to prove it, but he is careless about it. As the poverty and unemployment is a nice niche to get grants and donations. The rampant poverty is a good way to get multi-national organizations to fund his operations and if he switched this. He would actually have to rise the tax-base and state revenue. Which means the government would actually need to put the work in and deliver for its citizens. That is to much to ask for this President.

His getting free money and can use the poor as an scapegoat to be served funds without doing anything. That is how it seems. This is why your supposed to trust the NRM way and the polices of the President. Because, he needs the naivety and lack of understanding to continue to eat of other people’s plates. Peace.