Another look into the Oil-Road Cost: “Package 2” Hoima-Butiaba-Wanseko Road!

In the newest report of Oil Roads, which is expected to borrow funds for. The China Exim Bank is supposed to be provider of 85 % of the cost of the operation and building of the roads in these projects. I will only look into one of them, as I have previously looked at this significant one.

This is the Hoima-Butiaba-Wasenko Road. A project that was supposed to start in 2015 and was clocking in funds from the state budgets in 2017. Back in 2015, the road was estimated to cost $126m USD. Today, with the recent report, the same road is costing $179,538m USD. That is jump of nearly $50m in a five years time. In addition, of these bloated funds, 85 % of it will be loaned from China and the rest 15% covered by the Government of Uganda (GoU).

In 2017, this project was designated the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which signed a deal in January 2016. However, by the time of the report 2019, it is another Chinese Company who has the contract. This is Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CRC) Ltd. With the recent contract, the loans are clearly getting direct back to the Chinese, as their corporations are the ones with the contracts to build. A clever way of borrowing and then getting returns.

With this mind, we can see the changes, see over the years how the price has changed. If Members of Parliament was afraid of the price per kilometre in the past. They should be now. As the changes of price on the same project has changed significantly. There is no doubt, that the Chinese government are getting added loans on each of the packages in this deal. As this is just one of the roads in question.

This is 111km is now costing 659,921,964,460.17UGX in Ugandan terms or 659bn shillings and that equals to about 5,9bn shillings. Therefore, the prices has sky-rocketed and the price per kilometre is abnormal and extremely costly. The overpriced asphalt and the consultation is in absurd levels. The previosly estimated price for this road was about 444bn shillings. Therefore, we can see rising price between the years in both currencies. About 200bn shillings growth in 5 years. 

To many cooks and too few ingredients. They are boiling soup on nails on this one. Wonder how this will end. As I felt in 2017, that the pricing of this particular road was a bit too much, but now they have just escalated it.

We can wonder whose eating, but someone is. We just don’t know who, because there been designated funds to build this one in the past and it has still not commenced. Surely, this road will be built, but at what point. However, with the added loans, the pressure should be on. Also, to secure the oil so it makes financial sense too. That the added value is there. It got to be. Because this project is over the top. This is the real OTT service, paid for by the Chinese and the tab is all taken by the Ugandans. Peace.

Rep. Elijah Cummings letter to Secretary of Defence Mark T. Esper on the Emoluments Clause violations at Trump Turnberry (18.09.2019)

Opinion: The Trump Administration is an open bazaar of corrupt behaviour

In the days when hyenas of hate suckle the babes of men, and jackals of hypocrisy pimp their mothers’ broken hearts, may children not look to demons of ignorance for hope.”Aberjhani

This was anticipated with the sort of figure that the President is. The way the Trump Organization has done its business and operated. They would embed itself with the state and earn on the Presidency. It is not complicated, but they are using twists and turns to earn profits on the time in the oval office.

If it is Jared Kushner, the White House advisor and Middle East ninja, whose has bought himself expensive buildings and needs refinancing, whose gotten Middle Eastern finance for favourable foreign policy.

The same is the buy-off’s of Chinese Trademarks for Ivanka Trump and the rest of the Trump Organization. This being done, as the American government is putting more tariffs, but their business there is booming.

To top it off, the President is getting foreign dignitaries to spend time at his leased state building, renovated to hotel in Washington D.C. or at the other golfing estates. As he has meetings with the Japanese Prime Minister or anyone else. It is also all the weekends travelling to the estates, staying over and golfing there. While the state pays for the President, Secret Service and other government officials who stays at these plays. All of this is monies in the pocket of the President.

His spending time and using so many days at his estates, if it is Miami or elsewhere. As he spends the weekends and is not in office. All of the money spent on travelling and people residing there to secure the head of state. This is blatant misuse of power and reckless spending.

To top this off is the Trump Turnberry in Scotland, where the President has a special agreement between the local airport, Department of Defence and his estate. Which the DoD air-planes flies off to this place to refuel, which is far out of the map and ordinary scheduled air-time. Where it overstay’s and let the personnel overnight plenty of miles away. This is a scheme to fill the pockeets of President and his company.

Yet another trick of the trade. The millions upon millions of dollars spent on properties and estates, in the mercy of budget deficit and possible recession. A President blessing misspending and corrupt behaviour, where paying his hotels, his limited produced products and you will get a feast at the oval office.

President Trump does this, because the corrupt behaviour has no consequence. Not like the Senate going to bother. Not like the Courts cannot be stalled and he can misuse the “executive privilege” like a psycho. Because, that what he does and that is why no subpoena is followed, but awaiting judgement in some court in the United States.

This is why the United States is a Banana Republic, which the President can misuse his power without sanctions. Where he can enrich himself and the codes of laws doesn’t matter. The GOP is loyal lapdogs, who wouldn’t care about 100x Tin-Pot Dome scandals in our time. If Exxon or Chevron paid Trump to drill oil in Alaska. It would be cool, nobody would give a flying fuck. The President is allowed too.

If you have a dollar, remember to drip a few cents on the President. Than, he will open up doors, ensure laws are made to fix your issues and make it easier for you to operate. So, go to Trump Hotels, buy Trump products and finally connect with the White House. Then you’ll have it easy to set-up business in the US. Peace.

RDC: Communique de Presse – L’Eglise du Christ au Congo Appelle la Justice a Eclairer l’Opinion sur la Controverse Autour de 15 Millions USD (17.09.2019)

Zimbabwe: Press Release on Court Judgment on 2% Intermediated Money Transfer Tax (18.09.2019)

Opinion: Is the 64th CPC another car scandal in the making?

When Ofwono Opondo today said the Parliament bought 80 cars for the upcoming 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC). I could help to recall the previous similar event at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007. As with that time the sudden need for buying car for a short time period comes up.

Not only the reckless spending on visitors coming for a conference, but also the lack of tenders and procurement protocol. Just like last time, when the CHOGM taskforce just enforced a bid through a company owned by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kuteesa. Who knows what happen this time around. Who owns the company that was procured from and by what protocol was it made?

Because, now the amount of cars is much more. We can wonder if they will be is idle and left behind, as the 30 BMWs left at the Ministry of Works and Transport post 2007. As the CHOGM cars was already not the newest model, but a two year old. Whose tender was questionable at best. Even the President questioned it in a letter back-in-the-day.

Therefore, when the Press Conference today, says the “Parliament” aka the state bought 80 cars or vans for the event. So, let it be clear, the Value for Money is peanuts and the usage minimal. The state would have been better off, renting all rentals and not buying. Which means they have to find ways of using them. Unless, they plan to store them of site at MoTW.

Surely, the VIPs could have used the old ones and leased cars. They don’t newly minted cars fresh from the factory or unused even. They surely just want to arrive and on-time to the conference itself. But, the government want to splash out money like no tomorrow.

We remember the procurement scandal surrounding the CHOGM. The state should be more careful with their ways of buying these cars. There is no proof of value of money, neither the way the tenders nor the budget was for it. Lastly, not plan for usage or whose need for these post-CPC.

That seems like a mismatch of work and also questionable spending at best. When the same government has done the same stunt a decade ago. It should be obvious, that they could have the capacity to do this again.

So, be warned… it is a scandal in the making, unless Ofwono knows something we doesn’t as it is not like the documents, the proof and purchase methods are proven at this point. Unless, a Parliamentary PAC is looking into it or the Auditor General looks through the paperwork. Which we only will know in the next budget year or something. Peace.

Zimbabwe Council of Churches: Deteriorating Human Security Situation and Deteriorating Economy (16.09.2019)

Brexit: Hilary Benn MP letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson (16.09.2019)

Zimbabwe: Press Statement on the disappearance of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association President Dr. Peter Mugombeyi (15.09.2019)

Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights: Statement on the Alleged Abduction of Dr. Peter Magombeyi (15.09.2019)