Opinion: Kadaga’s 20 million shillings conundrum

It is hard to see what Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga can get out this situation. She’s defending the 10 billion shillings to Members of Parliament to fight COVID-19 or the Coronavirus. Rebecca has attacked the MPs returning the money. Address Bobi Wine and wanted him to inquired by a Parliamentary Committee for calling it a bribe. They are just rewriting the 20 million shillings.

While the Courts have blocked the transfer of the funds and later gotten an account to return the 20 million shillings. Who knows if the MPs has it or not. Some has given it to charitable causes in their districts. While others who knows what they are spending it on. The 10 billions are surely haunting them and hurting the pride of the Speaker of Parliament.

As Government Spokesperson and Executive Director Ofwono Opondo is attacking the MPs. The President did so in his latest COVID-19 address. They are blasting it, while Andrew Mwenda is defending it. Meanwhile, Kadaga is acting all out. It seems like these funds is saving her home, her livelihood and gasoline of her cars. Since, she’s so defensive.

Speaker Kadaga has acted vile, she is now wanting to inquire and look into the Executive and his expenditure. However, that shouldn’t be threat, but the job of the whole Parliament. Now the puppeteers suddenly show some flex, when their meals and additional pocket-money is suspended or taken away. Not like there isn’t any measures to look into the President. You got the Auditor General, the PPDA, State House – Anti Corruption Unit and whatever else. However, they are not acting upon the man, because they are all appointed by him and having titles because of him.

Kadaga knows this. It might look cool now defending the MPs. 10 billion shillings in the scheme of things isn’t big. Nevertheless, it is the message it sends. The give-away. The misuse of state funds for personal gains. When you can take some sugar-canes from the farm today, tomorrow you can take a goat or cow. You start small and later take the whole land. It is just common greed.

When it is budget 45 trillion in the next financial year. You know 10 billion shillings isn’t all that. But its still important because it shows the intent. It shows their true heart and the ability to get paid for doing their job. When they already has allowance, fees and plenty of benefits in office. The MPs has paid cars, salaries and whatnot all the time. They are pocketing funds all the time. So, not like the MPs needs the 20 million shillings.

Unless, this is start-up fund for the General Election of 2021. That would make sense, as the MPs are spending fortunes on re-election bids and expensive campaigns. This is why the first thing they do in office is giving themselves suits and cars. So, they can pay off their debts for the election season.

That is maybe why Kadaga is so adamant about these millions. She need them herself to be able to campaign. Well, that is just mere speculation, but you go figure. Why else would she want no oversight, changing the usage of the funds and argument for it. Until now, actually going against her boss over it. It’s like she needs this cash and its her way out.

Kadaga, what is up? Why are you like this?

You know, you represent the public and their interests, right? Not your own. In that regard, you should be a bit more humble and considerate. As the plight of the ordinary citizen is so much more at these troubling times. Than crying over a 20 million handouts. While others get lacking food parcels or nothing at all. Peace.

Transparency International – Kenya: Account for COVID-19 Funds in Detail (01.05.2020)

Uganda Key Populations Consortium (UKPC): Uganda’s COVID19 Resonse is Terrorizing Woman with Arbitrary Detention, Blackmail, and Violence (01.05.2020)

Ethiopia: Notification Note on COVID-19 Situational Update (01.05.2020)

Rwanda: Ministry of Health – COVID-19 Coronavirus Update (30.04.2020)

Tchad: PLEPT – Communique de Presse No. 14 (30.04.2020)

My letter to President Magufuli: A foolish son brings grief to his mother!

30th April 2020 Oslo

Dear President John Pombe Magufuli

We are in troubling times, we are in times of a worldwide pandemic and the truths of your labour will be fourth-coming. The reality Mr. President is that your actions, your choices and your decrees will be detrimental for the people. Your decisions can save lives, your actions can make a difference.

You decide Mr. President, if you want to make a difference or let God’s will happen willy-nilly. That is up to you. However, I doubt God is that stupid and neither are you. God has blessed you with a mind and spirit. A functioning brain, your an educated man with a degree and you know science in your field. Therefore, its weird that you cannot combine those and see the wisdom of both. You can be both a Christian man and follow the wisdom of men. It isn’t that hard.

Let me recite a proverb to prove myself Mr. President:

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son brings grief to his mother” (Proverbs 10:1, New International Version).

Right now Mr. President your not bringing joys to the fathers of the United Republic. You are bringing grief to the mothers. As they are burying their loved ones. Seeing their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers dying, because of your in-action. There is talk of a number of 50 dead in Dare-Es-Salaam alone today. Second MP who died and 10 prominent persons of nation. This is worrying, as you haven’t put in social distancing measures and other regulations to safeguard the public.

You are bringing grief to your mothers. You are the President. The man who could bring joy the fathers. Mr. President, you could act wise and do something. The prayers aren’t everything. Yes, God wants us to show faith in both spirit and action.

So, let me recite another proverb from the same chapter to you:

The wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool invites ruin” (Proverb 10:14, New International Version).

Why do I say this, well you could have used the knowledge of the world. Taken into account what happened around you with lockdowns and closure of public spaces. Where people are staying home, washing hands and social distancing. That has been the main objective, that is why quarantining and only doing needed shopping has been the norm. So, its weird that a man of high education and degrees who became a politician doesn’t store up knowledge and use it. Instead runs your mouth and invites ruin.

It is like the proverbs are fitting for you Mr. President. It shouldn’t be that easy. You have a Parliamentary lockdown, but not a national and neither acting towards the citizens who are worried. There are videos of citizens buried in the night to hide the realities. That is not good Christian. Neither is it bringing joy, but grief. A proof of lack of storing knowledge and your mouth invites ruin.

I’m writing because, this should worry you Mr. President. The more the spread of the coronavirus. The more death will come. The more heartache and suffering. You can decide to do something and make a difference. That’s all up to you.

You where known as the bulldozer and been such a tyrant towards your opposition. Why cannot you use that will towards battling the virus? Where the results could be saving life, instead of saving your office?

So, please do something. Use your knowledge, bring joy to the fathers and avoid bringing more grief to the mothers.

Best regards

Writer of Minbane

Tchad: Communique No. 20 du Ministere de la Sante Publique (30.04.2020)

Republique Centrafricaine: Communique du Gouvernement (30.04.2020)

Opinion: Mzee donates some beans, but should have slaughterted some cows…

President, Yoweri Museveni, through the first lady, Janet Museveni, has delivered his contribution to the National Task Force against COVID-19 and its effects. The President has donated UGX 1.4 Million which is part of his salary” (SpyReports, 30.04.2020).

For a big-man and a President for 34 years, giving a half-month salary is only symbolic. It is trying to make a statement, but not a for-real. It is not like this will hurt the pocket of the President or even matter to him. His not afraid of that this will be detrimental for him nor his family. If it would, he wouldn’t do this now.

Why do I say this? Well, the President is estimated worth of USD $4 billion. Not like he needs help financially. He owns big farms, has state houses all across the Republic. The President owns hotels and other businesses. So, does the rest of his family. They are owning everything from Garden City to other well-known businesses. Not like the donation will hit them at all.

Plus, the President is covered by the funds spent on the State House budget, Office of the President and Classified Expenditure. There is always an escrow account or other measures to secure that the bills will be paid and expenses will be covered. It is just another scheme to get things out of the way.

I’m sure a man with a ranch and 1000 cows can afford more than a million shillings. Especially, if he do care and wants to be noble. Some will cry foul for me. Because, the gesture is on his own. However, when your know his richer than God and has more money than most will see in their lifetime. To be honest, the amount of money we would have the ability to run through if we was incarnated a 1000 times. We might be lucky to get close to a billion dollars. Until then, the President is giving away breadcrumbs and expecting praise.

The President has had the ability to get businesses, ownership of hotels, malls and whatnot. Factories and ranches. Not like the President doesn’t have the opportunity to spend more on the COVID-19 Fund if he wanted too. The President could cover the whole thing, but his not doing so. This is “his money” and only previously been state funds to enrich himself.

If he was an up-and-comer, who rose like a phoenix out of the ashes. However, the President is far from that. His the socialite and big-man of Kampala. The almighty kingpin of the Republic. The man who runs by decree and by his words. Not like he doesn’t have enough cash to double or triple the COVID-19 Fund. If he did that, he would have shown some sacrifice. Nevertheless, the act made by him is only a symbolic affair.

This is a PR Stunt. Not a big deal. That would be if he sold one of the estates he owns or donated a hotel to it. Even if he slaughtered a few cows and gave some of the Sameer Dairy Corporation milk to the COVID-19 Fund. However, he didn’t do that. Because, that would have hurt his pocket and he doesn’t want to do that.

He could even donate one of his cars from his convoy, maybe the luggage car? Show a little flex. That would have shown something. Until then, his only given breadcrumbs and wants praise. Who are you kidding?

He has billions of dollars and only gives a 1 million shillings? It is good, but not real. Only a tear-drop into the giant ocean. Peace.