Total Disconnect: A New Sim-Card Registration Drive by the UCC!

Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”Edmund Burke

The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) must be a idle force of civil servants, a big bunch of lazy people who has very little to do or even trying to make up work. Because yesterday, a breaking news, which shouldn’t be breaking news is happening again.

The UCC and the Telecom Companies have had several of drives and issues with their SIM-Cards over the last few years. As the companies was even suspended from trading SIM-Cards for a while. That is what has happen. However, it is no returning. The UCC and National Resistance Movement (NRM) likes to toy around with the public and the Telecoms as they are fountains of funds, apparently.

In this spectrum, lets build a timeline before yesterday. The first deadline for registration of SIM-Cards was on 21st April 2017. Second deadline was on the 19th May 2017, but that wasn’t enough either. Because of that, it was postponed to the 22nd May 2017. Alas, that was not the finalization. The registration run continued until 30th August 2017. This was the final one of that SIM-Card Registration drive. 

The issues in the last go around was between National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) with the National ID Number (NIN) activation on the SIM-Cards, as well as the technical difficulties with the UCC and the Telecoms. Therefore, as the OTT Tax is in play, the state should know, whose is who and know who pays the tax or not. The SIM-Cards should be registered in some sort of system already.

That was the issue of 2017. Now the UCC is revising this and reissuing the same sort of activity. For whatever reason they have. As they now did on the 29th March 2019. Why it is weird, is that the Telecoms had new guidelines selling the SIM-Cards from beginning of August 2017. Therefore, the need shouldn’t be there?

However, this is the latest: “The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has directed all telecom companies to verify the identity of their subscribers who hold multiple phone SIM cards” (91.2 Crooze FM, 29.03.2019).

Didn’t the new guidelines of August 2017 set the status clear of the ownership of the SIM-Cards, even if they have dozens of phones. The new guidelines from two years ago should have been proper and established the ownership. Especially, since all the SIM-Cards needs the NIN have to be registered now. Alas, that is apparently not the case.

How, bad can you do a job? Or how lazy are you, since you have to repeat it again? After reviewing and revising it, two years ago and tanking the Telecom Industry, because in the last go-around the state blocked the sale of the SIM-Cards. Therefore, expect something similar in this circus too. Expect it going back and fourth. Suddenly, the President will come with an final order combined with the Minister of ICT Frank Tumwebaze.

That is just how these things goes. The State House has to have a finale say, before the stamp of approval. Than, this saga might be close to end, before it returns to years later with a new modification. Peace.

Brexit: In the middle of nowhere…

Pay attention to where you are going because without meaning you might get nowhere.” A.A. Milne

Prime Minister Theresa May whose career has gone towards this day, this important day of leaving the European Union. The deadline day for leaving, which was set for today. The final votes today in the House of Commons on her deal with the EU. Which she and her cabinet has used two years negotiating and the best things her people was able to pull through. That has been voted down for the third time today. Also, any other sort of amendment. So, on deadline day, the Tories, Labour, SNP, DUP or anyone else roaming in Parliament couldn’t agree upon anything.

As this is happening, the President of the European Commission Donald Tusk has issued an Crisis Meeting in Brussels with EU27 and the possible end of the Brexit with a “No-Deal” on the 12th of April 2019 instead of today the 29th March 2019. That is two weeks over time. The milk is spilt by being on the counter for that long. The same is happening to the Brexit too.

The longer this is prolonged with the Tories and PM May at the helm. It is only getting spoiled. The results are watered down. The engagements of the government and the diplomacy is failing. Whatever, PM May though would happen today. Didn’t happen, her Molotov Cocktail and sweet offering of resignation didn’t get the troops behind her. She couldn’t even muster the whole Tories to stand by her deal on this Brexit Day.

This is a wimpy and wobbling government, a cabinet and party, which is commonly known for losing in Parliament. Who is not having the majority or even getting enough rebels above from the other party lines to vote for their agenda or in this manner, the Withdrawal Agreement. That is the weakness of this government. PM May is like a boat, who doesn’t know where to find safe harbour of even a safe haven in the midst of storm. She is caught out at see, cannot see land or even see lights to save herself or her boat. That is who she is at this very moment.

That she was trying to do a kamikaze move of jumping on the sword, so that the other leaders in her party could take over and salvage whatever that was left. Certainly, the Tories must feel the fatigue and the lack of clarity. Three times voting for the same thing and it has resulted in the same thing. A resounding loss for the government. Now, it is clear, that the UK and EU are going into hardships. As the UK and Tories cannot decide how to move forward. They could never get into a way, which complies with EU laws and regulations, an the internal infighting within the Tories, their marginal but needed coalition member the DUP; And than being able to get majority for that plan.

Now, we can await the verdict of the EU. As the UK leaps into a possible NO-DEAL territory, which means hardships, lack of control and congestion. Also, lots of new regulations, more hampering movement and who knows what. Since they are an Third Country to the EU without measured statutes or agreements put in place. This will clearly be hurting the economy of the UK. The elites of the Tories will not mind, but the public of UK will feel it on their pocket and prices on goods.

Well, this is the grand, stable and steady leadership of Theresa May, the Tories had two years time to finish it and still couldn’t find ways to settle it. It never would be easy, because there is all alliances, all stakeholders and the also the outside forces of the EU, which the UK has to follow in some way or another.

Let see how this goes to 12th April 2019. Expect a devastating no-deal. Don’t expect a General Election or a new Referendum. Because, there is only the MPs of the Tories who are allowed to be asked about the “No Confidence” in the PM more than ones and the MPs themselves, who are allowed to vote for the same deal three times. However, public is only allowed to vote ones for the most costly and self-harming ballot in their life-time. Alas, there is a double-standard there, you can cherry-pick that one.

This is all made by the PM and her party, who could have fixed it. They could have negotiated and tried other avenues. But seemingly they didn’t, the David Davis, Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and so on. Has all played their part, but not delivered anything significant. Peace.

Brexit: Statement by the European Commission on the vote on the Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons (29.03.2019)

Brussels, 29 March 2019

The Commission regrets the negative vote in the House of Commons today. As per the European Council (Article 50) decision on 22 March, the period provided for in Article 50(3) is extended to 12 April. It will be for the UK to indicate the way forward before that date, for consideration by the European Council.

A “no-deal” scenario on 12 April is now a likely scenario. The EU has been preparing for this since December 2017 and is now fully prepared for a “no-deal” scenario at midnight on 12 April. The EU will remain united. The benefits of the Withdrawal Agreement, including a transition period, will in no circumstances be replicated in a “no-deal” scenario. Sectoral mini-deals are not an option.

Uganda National Airlines: Let’s Get It Started!

“Everybody (yeah), everybody (yeah), just get into it (yeah), get stupid (come on)

Get it started, (come on) get it started (yeah), get it started”The Black Eyed Peas, ‘Let’s Get It Started’ 2003

Well, this week has been revealing in concerning the supposed newly minted airlines in Uganda. Where the state incorporated Uganda National Airlines Limited in January 2018. However, the supposed registration and certification happen this week. The documentation now shows, that the Ministers are owners of the Airline and it’s registered on the 26th March 2019 and certified on the 27th March 2019.

Alas, the state has already spent close to $30m USD on it, as they have procured several of planes for the operations and the first are supposed to arrive on the 31st March 2019. Therefore, the whole ownership and usage of state funds comes into question. As the Report to Parliament confessed that the state and the two ministries only owned 2 shares out of 2 million, until yesterday, when suddenly the Ministers of Works and Transport and Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development suddenly had 1 million shares each, a 50 50 split.

This all seems suspicious and within reason. Because, it has been done in wrong order and ensured to not follow procedures or anything of that fashion. As the State for the second time are infringed to deliver new funds to State Owned Enterprise, even as the ghosts of owners and registration suddenly appears. You can wonder, if they would have done this, if it didn’t get public scrutiny. Because, the scribbling document of ownership only appeared, when the Observer and other media houses questioned it.

This shows that there was something lurking and weird about it all. Where the insiders and the ones operating it, maybe, had shell-companies and significant portfolios, where they could earn the profits of this state owned enterprise. That would not be shocking, even if all the investments, all the funding and procurement have happen directly from the Ministries and with the blessings from above high.

With all of this in the open. It seriously question the operation, the ownership and who really controls the company as whole, because its hard to believe the two ministries does it. As it was incorporated in January 2018, but was registered shareholders yesterday, a year and two months after. Which is suspicious at best, if not revealing of how the state operates in this matters.

We can play along and act a fool, but that doesn’t change the remaining questions, the lack of trust and also the lack of protocol. As the state have toyed around spent fortunes on establishing, procuring and investing in the company, while it has been a ghost and non existing entity, which could be someone’s secret bank-account.

Certainly, this is not over and will leave a giant paper-trail that somehow will be resolved in the State House and by whoever the benefactor whose project this is. Because, that is the rule of the day and how these things are under this Presidency. It is common knowledge, but never really said or revealed, unless, family members of the President owns it or runs it. Peace.

Brexit: Democratic Unionist Party – Statement (27.03.2019)

URSB: Uganda National Airlines Company Ltd Certified today (27.03.2019)

South Sudan: University of Juba – School of Medicine – Closes Until Further Notice (27.03.2019)

A fresh report states the sketchy things about the ownership of the Uganda National Airlines Company Limited!

Hold fast to dreams,

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird,

That cannot fly.”Langston Hughes

Today, there was tabled a report on the 26th March 2019, reported titled: “Report on the Budget Committee on the Supplementary Expenditure 2 for FY 2018/19” especially the vote – “Vote 016 MOWT – USHS 280.046 For Financing Costs of Uganda National Airline”. In this report there are vital information coming up. That I will address, but also show, as it proves how the state plans to invest the taxpayers money on the airline, but also what sort of finance it has already.

The government clearly have already invested money into it, but doesn’t have ownership in it. That is what the report says. It shows intent of investing more in it, but not actual ownership of it. However, not claiming it, which is weird, but that is what they do. They are buying planes for it and investing in it, but not owning it. That is what they are initially saying. This is really rare and weird.

Here is the quotes from the report that matters in my sense:

The Government of Uganda has injected approximately 29.9 USD million into this company but has only 2 shares allocated to it”

Ministry of Works and Transport has requested for on additional Ushs 280,046,77 6,933 to cater for investment costs of the Uganda National Airline”

The Ministry of Finance, Planning ond Economic Development indicated that it was to use proceeds from MTN licence amounting to USD 60 million (approximately UGX 222 billion) to portly finance Uganda National Airlines”

The shore capital of Uganda National Airlines Company Limited is 200 million divided into 2 million shores of UGX 100. Of the 2 million shares only 2 shares worth UGX 200 to Minister of Works and Transport as well as Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. This makes both ministries to be minority shareholders holding only 0.0001% of the shores. At the moment the owners of the 99.97 shares are unknown. The owners will only be determined when the Directors decide to allocate the shares. It was asserted that the minority shares will be floated to the public. However contention arose as to whether the minority shareholders can float what they do not own. lt was however asserted that this move was undertaken to limit the liability of government. Hence a concern pertaining intension of government to establish o company that it already roles 10 be huge liability from the onset”

As you see, the $30m been invested in the Airline already. The Government and Ministry of Works and Transport, that they need more funds. Also, telling their lack of the shares in the company, while also planning to use licencing funds from MTN to cover the spending on the Company. Which later, in the Report states they will not, but I added to prove how the state spend the revenue it is getting.

The Uganda National Airlines is clearly not well-managed or well prepared, as it is a pile of expenditure, but not allocated what it needed. Since, the state is in need of more after spending millions already. As the first planes are coming in the coming week. Therefore, the National Resistance Movement and the ones behind it is clearly playing games.

They are spending public funds on a possible Uganda National Airline Company Limited, when they arrive. Since the report turned public the GCIC have claimed this in response to the report delivered. Which clearly shows the significant stature of the ownership in question.

They are claiming this:

CLARIFICATION: There has been misleading information regarding shareholding of Uganda Airlines Company LTD. The company was incorporated on 30th Jan, 2018. The company has 2 million shares. Minister for Works was allotted 1 million shares & Minister for Finance, 1 million shares. 3/3: In July, 2018, the management of the company allotted the entire shares of the company as follows:

1. Minister of Works & Transport (represented by Hon. Monica Azuba Ntenge)- 1 million shares.

2. Minister of Finance (represented by Hon. Matia Kasaija) – 1 million shares” (GCIC, 27.03.2019).

This is countering the facts in the report, that even before the ink is dry. Before the time and test of the knowledge given by the Ministry and the Government itself. So why does the GCIC have other indications and facts, than the report. You can wonder who gave them and where it is from? Why wasn’t this given as facts to Parliament and signed of by the Members of Parliament then?

Well, this will be played out in real-time. This is not a fan-fiction, West-Wing drama, no this is real live events of the operations and investing in the resurfaced Airline Company. This shouldn’t be that tricky or played out like this, but it is because the state and the ones involved in it. Because, there must be some loose ends, which is not yet caught. It will eventually. Peace.

Operation Wealth Creation Handles No Procurement, No Money (26.03.2019)

Puerto Rico: Statement by Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello (26.03.2019)