Uganda: Ministry of Works and Transport – Public Notice for Transit Cargo Trucks (01.05.2020)

Rwanda: Ministry of Health – COVID-19 Coronavirus Update (01.05.2020)

Opinion: Omonya forgot the duties of the citizens

Lawyer Rama Omonya failed in his article today in New Vision. As his trying to use the Constitution to point that there is only way to criticize the President and his actions. That the public are only legally allowed to go after the Member of Parliament. This is all because of the 10 billion shared to all MPs as part of the Supplementary Budget

Especially this part triggered me:

Our constitution does not provide the citizens with such profound powers over the executive. The social accountability mechanisms for citizens to hold the Executive accountable only come in a general election after every five years or a referendum” (Omonya, 2020).

I am not a citizen of the Republic, but can read the Constitution of 1995 myself and know there is a article number 17(d) and 17(i), which states:

17. Duties of a citizen.

(1) It is the duty of every citizen of Uganda—

(d) to protect and preserve public property;

(i) to combat corruption and misuse or wastage of public property” (Constitution 1995).

To top it all off, there is article 107(b) which states:

(1) The President may be removed from office in accordance with

this article on any of the following grounds—

(b) misconduct or misbehaviour— (I) that he or she has conducted himself or herself in a manner which brings or is likely to bring the office of President into hatred, ridicule, contempt or disrepute; or (ii) that he or she has dishonestly done any act or omission which is prejudicial or inimical to the economy or security of Uganda” (Constitution 1995).

Yes, that removal can only happen, if there is a motion from the MPs and the Speaker has put forward a tribunal for the inquiry and investigation in the allegations of the President. So, the Lawyer is right on the money there.

Still, if the citizens are supposed to follow the duty, they are supposed to be angry at both the MPs for the usage of 20 million shillings on themselves and cuss out the President for his Classified Expenditure, the State House and the Office of the President. All of these funds needs to checked and balanced. Not only the MPs, unless their duty is only to lower-ranking officials. Which the duties of the citizens doesn’t state. Unless, the lawyer can elaborate that for me?

He also wrote this: “In summary, the citizens have every iota of rights to the bay for the blood of the MPs over the sh10b and it is for the MPs to the bay for the blood for members of the executives who are mismanaging the “other” trillions as our laws dictate” (Omanya, 2020).

It’s the duty to combat corruption and misuse or wastage of public property. This is not based on where it happen, as long as it happens within the Republic. It does not state who is acting corrupt, who is misusing the power or wasting the public property. That is all fair game, if this article has value and not only symbolic. Because, Omonya make it seem that way.

Because, there is nothing stating in the duties of the citizens to only look into the Local Councillors, Mayors or Members of Parliament, but not the President. The duties are very clear and the citizens are righteous to do so. Even if they don’t have direct powers, but they can push their MPs to petition a motion for a tribunal. That would be justified to investigate the classified expenditure and other questionable use of public resources. So, there is also oversight of the President, not only in the General Election like lawyer states. Since, the duties are there as citizens. That should be fundamental. Therefore, the citizens should push on the buttons of the MPs to look into the Executive. Not only call fire for the little burning bush of 10 billion shillings, but also the trillions of shillings in questionable allocations. Peace.

Reference:

Rama Omonya – ‘Why the public must be mad with the MPs and not the executive’ 01.05.2020, link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1518425/public-mad-mps-executive

Tchad: PLEPT – Communique de Presse No. 15 (01.05.2020)

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.

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

Lesotho: Ministry of Health – Latest Results on Suspected Cases of COVID-19 (30.04.2020)

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)