Today the FDC campaigns in Hoima; The Calvary had to act foolish; but with negations the activist was freed

FDC 22.01.2016 P6 Begining of Campaign in Hoima

Hoima starts off so well! FDC Convoy had their first stop-over at Katanga in Bugambe sub-county. Buhaguzi constituency in Hoima District. The fact that People’s President Dr. Kizza Besigye is addressing his people here in kiswahili points to changing demographics. Thanks to FDC Hoima leaders led by chairman Jackson Wabyona and candidates aspiring on FDC ticket on various positions for the good mobilization.

FDC 22.01.2016 P4

A police man at Kyarushesha police post threatened to shot at Journalists; who were covering the arrest of FDC supporters who were pinning Kizza Besigy’s posters at the venue where Besigye was scheduled to hold a rally there. The police man fired two bullets!

FDC 22.01.2016 P3

As he (the Police Man) contantly yells at journalists stoping them from capturing his actions. All the shootings happened in the presence of Kizza Bessigye before he start addresing the rally.

FDC 22.01.2016 P1

Defiance in action. We have held our rally at Kyarushesha Police Station; as we demanded the release of our mobilisers; who apparently were arrested by police for putting up Kizza Besigye posters. They fired bullets to chase the crowd away but nobody is moved and instead people continued to come.

FDC 22.01.2016 P2

By the time Kizza Besigye finished addressing the swelling crowd, our mobilisers had already been released! The power of numbers! #WesigeBesigye!

FDC 22.01.2016 P5 Hoima Main Rally

I think this was enough for today! Peace.

Water-Crisis in the City of Flint; Time to call in USAID to solve it as they do around the world; because water matters!

USAID_Water_Strategy_3-1_0

USAID and World Bank need to offer loans to Flint, Michigan; they can facilitate tap-water to the citizens of the city. This in a county where they have year after years of financial deficit and defaulted on budgeted projects of the city. This just by browsing through google after writing Flint, Michigan Budget Deficit, the articles goes back to 2009. That means 6 years where there been missing money for the county budget. This means that the country can’t deliver the community what it needs, because they don’t have the funds to finance what the town and county need.

Here is the USAID mission statement:

“Ending extreme poverty and promoting the development of resilient, democratic societies that are able to realize their potential. We fundamentally believe that ending extreme poverty requires enabling inclusive, sustainable growth; promoting free, peaceful, and self-reliant societies with effective, legitimate governments; building human capital and creating social safety nets that reach the poorest and most vulnerable” (USAID, 2016).

I will look at some reports of the water quality that has been in media where Cher and Big Sean has donated some Dasani water to the public because the bottles settle the issue with the tap-water that the county doesn’t have money to fix or use proper water-sources. Let’s say what certain reports done by various enteritis say about the water and economy in Flint. Take a brief look:

gm-confirms-flint-east-plant-closing

About Jobs and Poverty in City of Flint:

In a town of “In Flint, for example, absent other factors, employment would have declined by 12.7 percent between 1980 and 2009 because nationally, the industries it specialized in actually shrank over those years. However, Flint lost jobs in those poor performing industries in which it specialized faster than other metros due to a de!cit in the competitiveness of its existing local industries” (…)”At the most basic level, poverty results in lower standards of living. However, there are other, less direct effects that are even more troubling. For instance, poverty is highly correlated with low levels of education, and can thus trap individuals and households for generations, lowering socioeconomic mobility through lack of opportunity. The failure to combat the causes of poverty is also scally unsound; if those problems are not eradicated, state and local governments face smaller tax bases as well as higher outlays to support their populations. Poverty rates were well above the U.S. metro average in 2009 in all of Michigan’s metros except Holland and Jackson” (Michigan Economic Condition Assessment).

Flint GM Plant Workers

Economic situation in 2011 in Flint:

“In 2011, the numbers bear a startling story, as of 2009, 36,2 percent of Flint’s 102,000 residents were living below the poverty level, and nearly 20 percent were at an income level that was 50 percent below poverty level” (…)”In mid-1980s, General Motors – at a time when the company was experiencing records profits – laid off 30,000 autoworkers in Flint, eventually 80,000 in all, and shut down several factories” (Smith, 2011).

Emergency Manager takes control because of budget deficit:

“However, on December 1. 2011, the Governor of the State of Michigan appointed an Emergency Manager for the City of Flint, due in part to a deficit in the general fund, the decline in pooled cash, budget issues, and unfunded liabilities for post-employment benefits. The appointed Emergency Financial Managers and Emergency Manager  were authorized by virtue of their appointment to “act for and in the place and stead of the governing body and the office of chief administrative officer of the City of Flint” (…)”The General Fund deficit as of June 30, 2013, is now $12.9 million” (City of Flint, 2013).

Flint-sweepstakes

Assessment of the water from City of Flint in 2014:

“The City of Flint did experience drinking water issues in the summer of 2014. Issues began with areas of the city experiencing “rusty” water. This was largely due to the fact that the city distribution system contains hundreds of miles of cast iron pipe” (…)”The City of Flint received violations from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The violations included a total coliform and E. coli in August and September of 2014, and a corresponding total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violation in December of the same year” (City of Flint, 2014).

Flint Michigan

Water quality report 2015:

“Prior to April 30, 2014, the city of Flint purchased water of the City of Detroit. On April 30, 2014, the City of Flint switched from utilizing purchased water from Detroit to a new water source, the Flint City River. Subsequently to the change in source water, the City of Flint experienced a number of water quality issues resulting in violations of National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) including acute and non-acute Coliform Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) violations and Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) MCL violations” (…)”National Primary Drinking Water  Regulation (NPDWR) Violations – City of Flint:

Following the switch to the Flint River, the City of Flint experienced a series of NPDWR violations as follows:

Acute Coliform MCL violation in August 2014

Monthly Coliform MCL violation in August 2014

Monthly Coliform MCL violation in September 2014

Average TTHM MCL violation in December 2014

Average TTHM MCL violation in March 2015

Average TTHM MCL violation in June 2015” (US EPA, 2015).

Statement on quality of water in 2016:

“The American Water Works Association applauds President Obama for signing an emergency declaration that makes available federal aid for the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan” (…)”When a community changes water sources or water treatment, unintended consequences can occur. Water systems must be alert to these potential issues and have plans in place to address them” (…)”AWWA is committed to helping water utilities, elected leaders and customers in applying these and other lessons from the crisis in Flint” (AWWA, 2016).

Flint Michigan P2

Afterthought:

So with seeing this little evidence and also seeing how the state goes in with Emergency Managers both over-controlling the mayor and the city hall because of the growing deficit that surely must have taken emergency measures that must have been done to save budget funds.

The result that has caused havoc now has been visible since August 2014. That is more 17 months when they had it in after changing of water sources to the Flint River. It is staggering how long the results have been – if it is the pipeline or the source it is still scary to know that there been steady violations; that have been pushed under the rug or not discussed. I don’t know why the fuzz is happening now or if it is campaign season and that is why the Americans and world hear about water-quality and crisis in Flint.

The unemployment that goes back to foreclosure of car-factories and other automobile industry has destroyed the economy while the rich have moved from the central town to the suburbs in the county while the town has had steady rise of poverty in the city of Flint. That is why I ask for USAID to do their business and bore holes in the city of Flint in the state of Michigan. USAID has an mission to work amongst poverty and create possibilities and with the amassed levels of poverty in Flint, with closure of schools and abandoned houses an such proves the need for AID from USAID. They should come in with their programs to salvage and create better water with their technicians as they have done for decades in African Countries and Latin America, and help their own as they are in need.

Dasani

The bottles of Dasani given from Big Sean and Cher won’t do much but a tear-drop in the ocean. The emergency funding from the federal funds might help, but that is also done in fashionable loans so the debt burden on the City of Flint. So as a failed banana republic that usually gets programs and aid from USAID, it is time to deliver that to City of Flint. As they have unemployment on the levels of sub-Saharan Africa, they have high crime-levels and public with little faith in the government institutions. Schools are detreating and other institutions are weaker than before. People are living on non-working programs and many suspended as they have been living to long on this state-program. They work with poverty eradication that the City of Flint needs. They can start microfinancing programs to get people to start smaller businesses and grow the level of monies spent in the city. Fund them through water programs similar to WASH strategies of the USAID to secure the level of water quality and food security as a part of that. Something USAID can do in city of Flint. They have already lost some part of their autonomy as the Michigan state put in two Emergency leader both Emergency Manager and Emergency Financial Manager who overpower the people’s chosen leadership of the town and also control the monitoring of the functions of the town, this to get control of the deficit; but also leaving the limbo of the democratic institutions in the city. That means it fits perfectly to what kind of environment that USAID goes into which often is totalitarian or semi-democratic societies with big-men who are stronger control over government institution than ordinary procedure. This is the same with the Emergency leadership of City of Flint. So it not only the economic difficulties, unemployment rate, poverty standard, in the end it also fits the levels of institutional malfunctions to fix the budget deficit as the governor of Michigan has seen.

usaid_water_strategy

So if the USAID will follow their mission and do something good, use their skills and WASH programs, then they should put them into use in the City of Flint, Americans helping Americans. Not a vile and foolish picture, the money that US Government have put into USAID over the year, this here good be a good service back and prove that the money is well spent, as the USAID can finance and find way to fix the water and give of their knowledge to create a more prosperous society. City of Flint should try to get a Memorandum of Understanding to give way so that USAID can give the citizens of Flint what they deserve before Michael Moore makes another film displaying the deteriorating city he was raised in. USAID shouldn’t just build water wells in Afar region in Ethiopia, when there a city in America where they can’t get healthy water; their WASH personnel could really give AID and create development in Flint. This is if the City of Flint could accept it and give way to the organization to show way. USAID have the skill and manpower needed, Flint have not the funds or the situation to get out of it. This here is a decline of a city ever since General Motors starting to leave and move automobile factories since the 1980s. Therefore the reforms have to come and why not through USAID. They can bring hope and more then Big Sean’s bottles of Dasani. Peace.

Reference:

American Water Works Association (AWWA) – ‘Statement from AWWA CEO David LaFrance concerning Flint water quality crisis’ (19.01.2016)

City of Flint – ‘Annual Water Quality Paper 2014’ link: https://www.cityofflint.com/wp-content/uploads/CCR-2014.pdf

City of Flint – ‘Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30. 2013’

‘Michigan Economic Condition Assessment 2.0’ link: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2012/2/23-michigan-economy/0223_michigan_mid_metros.pdf

Smith, Jay Scott – ‘Flint’s economic fall like none other in the country’ (26.11.2011) link: http://thegrio.com/2011/09/26/flints-economic-fall-like-none-other-in-the-country/

USAID – ‘MISSION, VISION AND VALUES‘ (07.06.2016) link: https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/mission-vision-values

United States Environmental Protection Agency – ‘Transmittal of Final Report – High Lead at three residences in Flint, Michigan’ (04.11.2015)

GoU – ‘Banning the Recruitment and Deployment of Domestic Workers to Saudi Arabia and Other Countries (22.01.2016)

Uganda - Recruitment Saudi Arabia 22.01.2016Uganda - Recruitment Saudi Arabia 22.01.2016 P2Uganda - Recruitment Saudi Arabia 22.01.2016 P3

Press Release: Sauti Ya Vijana denounce JPAM and now Support President Museveni (22.01.2016)

Sauti Ya Vijana 10.11

We salute the media, all Patriotic youth forums present, members of the public, ladies and gentlemen. Before you today is the National Executive Committee and Regional Coordinators of Sauti Ya Vijana.

Preamble;
We are gathered here today after a series of consented regional meetings, consultations and guidance from all stakeholders including our partners in and around the world.
In these deliberations, Sauti ya Vijana unanimously agreed to revise our positions in regards to forthcoming national elections and conclusions have been drawn on these grounds:-

1.Declare our consented support for the NRM candidate Gen Yoweri K Museveni for 2016 presidency

2.Withdrawal of our petition to the UN Security Council for military support against a backdrop of the possibility of specious results of the 2016 elections.

3.Denounce our support for Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi and his Go forward pressure group.

Details.
1. Declaration of our consented support to Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
i) we Sauti Ya Vijana, on this day declare that we have decided to support Gen Yoweri K Museveni for president of Uganda 2016.
ii) The grounds of our support are clear minded. We are convinced that Gen. Museveni will offer Ugandans both the transformational & transitional leadership necessary at the time.
iii) We from Now henceforth join the NRM mobilizers to nationally canvass for votes for the president of Uganda.

Museveni UN 25092015 P1

2. Sauti ya Vijana withdraws its petition to the UN Security Council on the following grounds.
I ) After a 3weeks feasibility study (across the country) on the possibility of vote rigging, we express confidence in the Independent Electoral commission to deliver a free and fair election in February 2016.
ii) In our view a military struggle (war) will be unnecessary rather peaceful resolutions to any eventuality or uncertainty.
iii) Leaving nothing to chance we have set up sauti ya vijana election observation team. (SYVEOT) This team will monitor and observe the elections across the country. Consequently our findings will be translated into a report that will be published and distributed to government, International human rights organizations and all stakeholders.

AmamaNRMElection2016

3. Denunciation of Rt. Hon Amama Mbabazi and Go Foward.
I) we joined go forward with the confidence that it was the epitome of our aspirations as a transitional generation. However we have been dumfounded with the reality that ‘go forward ‘ is simply rhetoric with NO transparency, farsightedness, ego-centricism and smuggery fiefdom.
ii) Go forward has already failed. It’s a treacherous movement with self-centered individuals with cryptic intentions. We fear that these intentions are not in national interest and will only draw Uganda to Its perilous past.
iii) We have therefore unanimously agreed to revise our initial position and support Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
We thank you all for coming.

For God and my country.

Peter Mukiibi
Director; Information

Mzee bans NTV from the rest of the campaign trail; proves again how Two-Faced NRM can be; cries foul awhile ago about little media coverage

M7 16.11.15

Today the NRM-Regime is in panic mode or just wants to look foolish; maybe even both depending on which side of the Penndel that is hitting them at the set moment. First they had the nerve to yet again shut down a radio-station where Amama Mbabazi the independent Presidential Candidate we’re scheduled to be a part of show on air. This was at the Mbarara Radio Station of Endigyito FM of the MP Nulu Byamukama.

That is not really news anymore because the NRM-regime and its cronies in all the government institutions like police, army or electoral commission stifle the Go-Forward at every step of the way as thorns on roses.

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P1

At a rally of NRM Sole Candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni or Mzee the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) told the NTV camera men and journalist from the Kidaga campaign rally. The UPDF told the NTV that they are now banned from campaign trail of the NRM from now on. That is deep, and second breach in 24 hours from the NRM-Regime and the NRM-O. They surely must have a hissy fit. If not its Mzee who feels bitchy; either or he is stopping the free press and free media from telling the story as they see fit.

New Vision 71% 2011 - 2016

While New Vision the Government paper drops in the same week the same poll as it did earlier last summer, it was like in 2011 when NRM had 71% in the polls, the same they happen to happen now in January 2016 again 71%. Like a photo-copy in the same paper and such. I haven’t checked if the same journalist, but if it had been it would surely been nearly the same kind of commentary since the number we’re practically the same.

It is rumored that Mzee is furious that NTV used another poll then the ones used in New Vision, the one manufactured to suit the regime. He cannot look weak in front of the world in the final stages of the campaign trail. There is now at a stage where the President does not want to look like a fool. That is why the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to switch off transmission after hosting Presidential hopeful Hon. Amama Mbabazi on Tuesday from 9:30pm-12:00am. Because Mbabazi can’t speak his mind and deliver his message to the people at this moment. Just as they have closed KFM radio and shut Mbabazi out of radio-station in Karamoja during the campaign trail. There is also other media has gotten harassed by the police under orders of IGP Kale Kayihura and other leaders above him. Like the journalist during the Bukwo campaign of FDC who got destroyed cameras. Another one was the incidents where the journalist was shot on the first rally of Erias Lukwago in Kampala. Oulanyah’s men we’re also harassed journalists in Alalogi sub-county. I could go on, but the last straw at Parliament where the Ugandan Press Association Office on the 18th January 2016. There been so many incidents during the campaign trail this is just snippets.

NRM-P

So that the NRM-Regime yet again closes a radio as a result of a major opposition candidate has a show there proves the steady progress and free-thinking spirit of Mzee. Your free as long as the people eat out of his hands and doesn’t think for themselves. The next step was in hours to ban the NTV Uganda crew from following the NRM Presidential Candidate Rallies, we know it is boring and they struggle to get crowds that are why they had to hire 600 boda-boda drivers from the districts around to pick-up people and ride them to the rallies. That is so noble of the NRM, so they can get nice pictures and have the awesome shots of picturesque propaganda for #VoteSevo and #SteadyProgress Mike Sebula dream team.

National Resistance Movement can ban a media coverage, while they have earlier complained about the level of coverage while they hog the media and give little or less to minor parties or independent candidates. This here shows the arrogance and vile attempt of self-justified meager assessment of the media coverage and how the NTV is treating the NRM. It is so ironic that the party said this in November 2015.

Justine Kasule Lumumba

The Secretary General of NRM Justine Kasule Lumumba said this: “You should take note that our candidate has so far addressed 70 rallies and some haven’t even covered 20 of them” (…)”I have observed that some media houses are biased and do not cover all the candidates equall” (FakeBeast, 2015).

It’s funny that the Secretary General said this for two months ago and then sudden attack on NTV today at their campaign rally. So that they act differently than how they speak, but that is just like their boss and Mzee! They can’t help themselves, the NRM can speak the most Nobel way and pledge to save the nation. Initally they can speak of freedom of the press and free speech, while aggressively attacking journalist, using police and IGP Kayihura to explain the journalist how to act, like he did through summer and before the presidential campaigns. Kayihura is a savvy media mogul and knowledge of all things, that is why he knows the proper ethics for journalist and a like, while his police-men undress opposition woman, but that is not his fault! My bad!

NRM

NRM can be so two-faced. This is the typical two-faced actions from the NRM and their regime. They call foul complain like cry-babies and second later complain when the actors finally acts because the NRM doesn’t comply or act as they say therefore the reports doesn’t add up to the reality. That is why when it comes to the media they want the perfect screenshot and Musevenist dream-land that tells how he liberated the land has still some works to finish his project. As Mzee has told time and time again; I am sure I could write one of his speeches just with my blinking eyes and the rising eagles of Luweero fly passed me while typing.

NRM can’t hold the facade and their wished story out to the people anymore. People know more and the educated masses will not eat of the hands of the Mzee. As the internet and social media can show, that is why NRM tries its best to fill the scope and streams to own it. Instead of letting other voices out; then NRM can’t have the issues of a National TV-station questioning the winning charm of the oppressive regime and long-time ruler of his Excellency. So that the NRM uses UPDF to tell them of instead of using proper formats to address the NTV instead of having men with guns telling them to step-off. But that is the NRM way; they can’t do it peacefully or with manners. They have to use guns as that was the way they got to power. This is just an extension of the vile actions of the regime. The behavior is so natural that Oulanyah a big-man had to use violence against journalist and FDC convoy because that is what NRM know. Not something else, that is why NRM use methods to destroy campaign material of opposition and block them with the police at every turn, I am sure there would be more tear-gas if the Police could afforded newer boxes and still not use the ones procured from the ‘Walk to Work’ demonstrations.

M7 NRM

NRM can’t help themselves they have to play foul; NRM behave like this because they don’t know anything else. Mzee uses everybody as a tool, as long as they are useful for his project he proclaim their value and use in society and how he let them be able to work. If they counter and show his darker sides he either shut them down or bans them like now he ordered to ban NTV from his campaign trail. It’s because he is weak and can’t get the truth out, the ignorant and village people can’t watch in taverns in towns all over Uganda that he has less of appeal as he get Vision Group papers to put to press. That makes the stories fail. The Ugandan loyalty is proven when it is to NRM, and Mzee thinks so. So right now NTV is not loyal to the country, but foreign and dangerous belief that NRM doesn’t have all the answers; something Mzee can’t handle. His mustard seed and now 30 year old mustard tree hasn’t yielded as much as he has wished. Therefore when the media coverage is portraying the reality it is not the reality Mzee want the world to see. Journalist therefore as long as they tell the story Mzee wants the world to see, they can travel and show smiling pictures from the campaign trail or in Parliament, but if you question the NRM-Regime you are vile force of evil. NRM can’t handle the media anymore and doesn’t know all the ways of spin-control even Tamale Mirundi talks crap about them now and then. It’s like clockwork. Now the NRM has banned NTV and next is NBS, and then WBS! UBC will never be banned, but they are like New Vision and sister papers that portray the stories of the NRM-Regime. So clap-clap for the level of free speech where is the useless European Observation Monitoring of the elections. They are surely at some location in a studio talking about their magnificent work while not doing anything, but they had the nerve to shake hands with Mzee and swallow all his lies recently. But hey a few shallow muzongos are nice for the NRM-Regime to give legitimize them. That they can because the EOM is useful stooges. Mzee has still played the cards wrong and played the cards while the world is watching. NRM-Regime is so nervous and foolish that they continue their ploys against the opposition while now stopping the biggest TV-station to follow on their “magnificent” campaign trail. Might need to ferry some more crowds and pay more for more yellow shirts to make the NRM look like their winning YET AGAIN! Peace.

Reference:

Fakebeast – ‘Media ignores Museveni, Kasule cries out’ (26.11.2015) link: http://www.fakebeast.com/media-ignores-museveni-kasule-cries-out/

The People’s President successful campaign in Kiboga district; He got a injured man in the middle of the campaign trail into the local Hospital; Even when the Calvary was barricading the hospital

This is the story of how Dr. Kizza Besigye saved yet another traffic accident victim on his campaign trail in Kiboga. Showing yet again through character. As a leader should do and also showing humbleness towards the police in a incident where they could have made the event turned sour. He didn’t visit the hospital to show the world the state of the hospital, but to help the citizen in need. See what the reports said!

Kiboga Accident and Save - Kizza Besigye

Dr. Kizza Besigye has rushed a man involved in a nasty accident to Kiboga hospital. The accident happened in Kiboga town when two bodas collided. Dr. Besigye surrendered his car to rush the injured to the nearest hospital.

The hospital was found manned by police as always but Kizza Besigye had no time to negotiate with them.
He entered the hospital and witnessed how the injured was given the first aid. Police was seen perplexed but the DPC later gathered some courage and greeted Dr. Besigye with a firm handshake.

Health workers,Patients and care takers immediatly gathered and surrounded Dr. Besigye and demanded that he greets them as police helplessly looked on.

After delivering the injured man: 

Dr. Kizza Besigye addresses hia supporters right at the entrance of Kiboga hospital shortly after dropping a man who had got an accident in Kiboga town. Police men were just looking on in astonishment.

Kiboga Hospital Rally 21.01.2016

Rest of the Campaign trail:

FDC Lwamata 21.01.2016

Lwamata, Kiboga district. The People’s President making a conversation with voters about equal opportunities and shared prosperity.

Kiboga Town Rally 21.01.2016

He contined the campaigns. As follows: Kizza Besigye arrives in Kiboga town play ground. Kiboga has also made its statement. Residents here reported to him the problems in the district which include among others land grabing and illegal evictions from land. From here Team Kizza Besigye is to resume campaigns in Kyankwazi district.

 

NTV crew barred by UPDF soldier from Museveni rally in Kagadi (Youtube-Clip)

“UPDF soldier telling NTV crew that they have been suspended from covering Museveni rallies” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Press Release: AfDB approves US $76.7-million for Uganda’s agriculture programme (20.01.2016)

Green-Economies-Africa-rpt

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US $76.7-million loan to finance phase two of the Uganda Farm Income Enhancement and Forestry Conservation Programme (FIEFOC-2).

The programme, which was commended by the AfDB Board on Wednesday, January 20 for its good design and high-impact development objectives, comprises agriculture infrastructure and agribusiness development activities as well as an integrated natural resources management scheme aimed to consolidate and expand key achievements of its predecessor (phase one), which was completed in December 2012.

Designed within the context of Uganda’s National Development Plan and long-term development strategy – the Vision 2040 – the Project focuses on improving farm incomes, rural livelihoods, food security and climate resilience. It will also support sustainable natural resources management and agricultural enterprise development.

500px-Uganda_Regions_map

In 2013, about 19.7% of the population, or 6.7 million people, were unable to meet their basic needs, according to a Uganda National Household Survey, which also disclosed that the incidence of poverty was highest among the food-crop growing category in the rural areas due to low income. Thus, the programme seeks to increase production and farmer incomes through improvements and expansion of irrigation schemes, development of agribusiness and adoption of sustainable land, forest, and water management practices and technologies to generate income from natural resources.

The programme will be implemented over a five-year period in five districts – Nebbi, Oyam, Butaleja, Kween, and Kasese – where irrigation schemes are located. The districts have an estimated 1.8 million population, 52% of them women. It will also benefit 300,000 households of which 20% are female-headed outside the irrigation command areas, by introducing or improving soil-conservation measures in the catchments feeding the irrigation schemes.

Furthermore, the project is expected to provide technical skills in conservation and other farming practices that promote environmental management and thereby increasing agricultural productivity in the project areas. It will also assist in the formulation and implementation of measures that reduce deforestation and promote agro-forestry which will lead to emission reduction and the protection of carbon reservoirs as part of the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) agenda. Carbon dioxide (CO2) to be sequestered in 20 years through tree-planting is estimated at 245,000. Training under the project will provide an opportunity for special attention to be given to intensification of climate-smart farming operations.

The project is anchored on the Bank’s Country Strategy for Uganda (2011-2016), which focuses on infrastructure development and increased agriculture productivity as well as human capacity improvement and skills development for poverty reduction. It is also in line with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2013-2022) and High 5s, which prioritize agriculture and food security as one of the key areas for the Bank’s future assistance.

The total cost of the project is estimated at US $91.43 million. In addition to the US $76.7-million AfDB loan, the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) will provide a US $5.6-million grant while the Government of Uganda will contribute US $9.13 million in counterpart funding.

The People’s President campaigns in Wakiso

FDC 20.01.2016 P

The People’s President Dr. Kizza Besigye sets fire in Gayaza in Wakiso district. Besigye is today combing all corners of district of Wakiso. In the district he himself live in and the masses greeted him!

FDC Gayaza 20.01.2016 P1

Dr. Kizza Besigye’s message after the rallies in Wakiso:
Abe Wakiso Mwebale Nyo obuwagizi! People of Wakiso thank you very for the support. We were welcomed from all corners of Wakiso. We appreciate the love, generosity from our brothers and sisters. Wakiso is my home and I am resident there, this was the first round of Wakiso we will be back for a second leg. We might the family of the Dr. Andrew Lutakome Kayiira and they pledge support to the support of our liberation. Many of you in Wakiso you made a bold statement that you want change. Our message: We will reduce the power of presidency and have it handed down to the people to determine how they want to use it. Thank you all for coming and for making it memorable”

This is enough from the campaign today! Peace.