Keeping up with Kaguta S1E15: Clarifications

I thought that I could clarify about a few points that I read out yesterday. I read out a list of long restrictions” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (19.05.2020).

Today’s 15th National Address on COVID-19 Pandemic is in response to his own National Address yesterday. No, this is not a joke, but our mere reality appearing in front of our eyes. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has to answer to his own stuttering words. He doesn’t even need someone to spar with, he just need to battle himself and that’s self-explanatory. Sadly, this is true..

So, here we are on the 19th May 2020 and have to listen to the 15th National Address and still confused. The President will back-track and make people even more fuzzed than the day before. Just expect someone be typing statements like crazy tomorrow and some ministers listening in. To ensure their authority and their ministries are covered with explanations ahead of the current lockdown. As the measures are as steady as the mind of the old-man and his lonely vision.

With this in mind.

Here is the quotes I find unique from this evening:

Private cars will be allowed to move on the 26th but must wear the right masks and those who can get masks on their own, we don’t mind provided they are the right quality” (Museveni, 19.05.2020).

For the other measures, like shops,hotels, restaurants, operations should start on the 26th of May but considering all the measures put in place” (Museveni, 19.05.2020).

The Public service tried to convince me to be like other presidents and get a lot of money but I said NO. I have been earning just 3.6M since 1996” (Museveni, 19.05.2020).

The clarifications was a few more dates, as the uncertainty to what happens before the 2nd June ending of lockdowns was there yesterday. Today, there are more uncertainty, but also a closure of people riding in cars. They cannot be half-full, before the passengers and driver wears masks, apparently.

We are seeing the “clarification” on shops and such too. So, its not like shops whose not connected to arcades or malls can open up. Neither can the ordinary ones with possibility of social-distancing. They all have to wait over the weekend still. So, there is no quick opening here. Just more waiting and suspense.

Last piece worth noting was the lie of his salary. That will be his nominal salary, but his State House gets billions on shillings every year. Everything is covered and the State House even has a giant donation budget. So, if the President boost about giving away money. He has allocated money for that every year. Secondly, we all know he own businesses, hotels and whatnot. He owns ranches and other things in the Republic. The salary he has is only a tear-drop into the Atlantic Ocean. His richer than God and the Vatican. The President can buy out Uganda, maybe once or twice. However, he will claim to be a “wealthy” man, but his filthy rich.

That’s enough for today. The saga continues. Peace.

Keeping up with Kaguta S1E14: Mask-on or Mask-off?

There is a season 4 of lockdowns, as there will be extended for another 21 days until 2nd June 2020. The Republic is still under lockdown. Even as there are some measures, where the Presidential Directives giving way and letting people go back to work. With his 14th National Address yesterday. He pushed it even further. What was also striking about yesterday, was that the Address itself was supposed to happen today. So, maybe the posho-stunt wasn’t enough. Therefore.. sigh.. he had to show up early to steer conversation.

The government will provide standard masks to all Ugandans aged 6 years and above, these will be distributed through the District Local Council system. Each person will be allocated one mask which must be worn all the time when in public” (Yoweri Kaguta Musveni, 18.05.2020).

Earlier in the year, the President has said NYTIL is the local producer of COVID-19 Masks. However, there is a new statement where the machiens are working, but still their levels of production isn’t as high as the needs. This means, that the President has to procure like crazy to cover all citizens with free masks. Not like the state has been able to distribute food and steady enough. That is why he had to show how little posho a person needs to eat. Scientifically off course.

Just like it will be magically distributed across the Republic, as the Task-Force haven’t managed to distribute food to 1,5 million people in Kampala and Wakiso district. Therefore, it is very rich that the same folks are supposed to be able to give away masks to everyone. They need a streamline ordering from Taiwan yesterday evening or best in February. So they are sure the boat with masks are arriving in time for the two week deadline. As it has to secured paperwork in Mombasa Port too.

What is special is that there is a ban up to about 14 days to the public is supposed to have all free masks. While the borders are closed for 21 days. Also still a closure of mostly everything in every border district, which is plenty and all around the Republic.

What is more striking is also that the President opened at one minute for public transport if there was three persons in the car. However, is this with or without masks?

Yes there are still closed bars, saunas and gyms. Shops in malls closed, but the ones detached are able to open. As long as they can social distance. Also other things.

So, what we do need is maybe one of his bunch of ministers to follow the directives and directions of the President. Explain what this means and what really goes. Since, there will easily be confused by the old man. He says one thing, but it differs from the other statement.

Seems like there will be more hazardous problems ahead. Just like the empty promises in the past addresses. The same will happen now. It is no one who can produce the amount of masks the Republic needs in two weeks. Neither seems it like Ali Baba founder Jack Ma will suddenly do a “Dumbo drop” on Kololo Airstrip within a few days. Unless, he has some secret procurement from the public and actually uses the Confidential Expenditure for the common good. However, don’t expect that. That’s all for his spoils and his enrichment.

The public needs food and not only masks. The COVID-19 Fund haven’t done its job. That’s why the public is starving. Where they are struggling to eat, because of staying home, lacking funds to buy needed staple food or areas of landslides. Therefore, there are plenty of issues at hand, not only COVID-19 lockdown, but landslides, locusts and so-on. The state should answer to this, not only where they didn’t do the job. They are representing the whole Republic and need

So, you can wonder how hard this continued lockdowns without measures in place to help. There is too many people who hasn’t gotten the help they need. That should worry the President. Instead, he loves the flashing lights and stopping ordinary broadcasting. So, that he can ramble without a coherent ideas. That’s why there is report of a 15th National Address tonight to address the uncertainties created last night.

Showing again. That the man and his handlers knows the problems with his utterance yesterday. Because, who knows what goes. He should be as direct as he was with the knocking down of a goat the other day. If he was a direct as that. Than, the LDUs, Police Force and everyone else would know what goes. However, with the man its hard to know.

Maybe, some of his advisors and press cadres could write it all and then he would read it to the public. Even give the old man a Teleprompter and ensure he gets steady on a topic. Instead of suddenly going into a pastoral mode and reading scriptures, instead of policies and new regulations to follow. That make sense right?

Let’s see, but don’t expect to be enlighten. Only brazen misuse three hours of your life and only getting a sentence or two, which makes sense. Peace.

Keeping up with Kaguta: Went from the running-man to posho-man!

I had earlier consulted scientists on how much food calories an individual can consume in single day sustainably and they said 250g of posho would be of enough calorie composition for a single individual intake. Now is the food being distributed enough? It is optimum, if we can ration the intake with mind that we can not consume as much as we have always wanted, but can survive on an economical consumption” Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (18.05.2020).

On the 9th April 2020 the President dropped his work-out video from the State House. Where the old man ran like a maniac inside his huge office. An office, which are bigger than most people’s houses. The President also did some weird push-ups, which was more ass movements than his body. If you have seen the clip posted on Facebook in April. You know what I mean.

So, today his handlers had a grand idea, as his advisors also postponed like his 14th National Address during the COVID-19 Lockdown until tomorrow. Well, that didn’t happen. He changed it again and did it directly after the showing of posho.

They had the brilliant idea of him weighing posho. Show how much posho or ugali its in the given bag of COVID-19 Fund to the general public. Not to forget to prove by weighing the food to prove how much you should eat peer day. Because, that is useful.

The way he did it and showed it. Was like a mockery cooking show. Where he living lavish in abundance. With more helpers than Santa Claus. The man whose the Commander-in-Chief, the Fountain of Honour and His Excellency. Trying to teach the masses how much Posho they should cook everyday. Not like this is an extension of the various dietary needs nor in explaining how a family supposed to live on it.

We didn’t expect the state to deliver full course meals from takeaways. Neither dropping samosa’s or chapiti’s. However, the Head of State should consider his role in this. That he hasn’t sufficiently thought this through. As this only display is micromanaging and mismanaged hack-work he does.

Since, this is the sort of work his MPs gives praise to. Cutting and weighing posho. Just like they were so proud of the man running around like Mad Max in his Office last month. The President should enlighten the public and ensure the public get their nutritious meals.

Just like with the running video, where the road-runner went lost around the desk. His now the big chef of Posho. He went from Running-man to Posho-Man, his still not the Pusha-man. Give him time, maybe he will get there too. It’s more of the white, I suppose.

Well, enough of this nonsense. Peace.

Uganda: Ministry of Health – Update on the COVID-19 Outbreak in Uganda (18.05.2020)

Opinion: UGX 10k donation drive from COVID-19 Fund is just distasteful…

In a Republic, where the Members of Parliament just delivered 20 million shillings either to pet projects in their communities or directly back to the state. In the same Republic, where the MPs got 40 million shillings to vote in favour of praising the President. The COVID-19 Fund is asking all employees to contribute 10,000 shillings to the COVID-19. These are ordinary working folk, the ones who cannot even touch the NSSF Fund and get payback on their contributions there for their retirement. As in the time of need and during lockdown, the workers have been stifled and eaten beans.

Therefore, its mighty rich of the COVID-19 to ask the Chief Executives to stifle the workers and give them less salary so they can over the COVID-19 Fund. Just as the State is getting loans and grants from everywhere. From the World Bank, from the IMF and elsewhere. There is piling in money to cover the costs of the pandemic. Surely, this money will got 4W Drive SUVs for RDCs and High Ranking Officials. Not like this money will go to PPE, Nurses Salaries or anything substantial in the midst of a global pandemic.

So, its really disgraceful and distasteful to do this. To send a letter asking the Chief Executive to shave off salaries of the workers. Who has already struggled and need every shilling for their day to day expenses. Let’s be clear, let the wealthy, the factory owners, the foreign investors and the State House pay-off this. Lets use the Confidential Expenditure to cover the COVID-19 Fund. Instead of spending on side-dishes, ammunition and whatnot.

The COVID-19 Fund should appeal to the President and the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Economic Development (MoPFED). Not ask for donations from the average workers. That is like a volunteer tax. The state either taxes it directly or they get wealthy donations to the COVID-19. However, when the MPs and other state officials are eating large.

This sort of enterprise is insincere and disingenuous. Yes, the COVID-19 Fund is meant well, but what its asking for and the way they do it isn’t it. The state who has begged international donors to save its budget. Should use that to salvage this fund, not ask workers who couldn’t get monetary help during the lockdown. That is not right, but just deceitful. Peace.

Uganda Media Centre: Process to Repartriate Ugandans Stranded Abroad due to COVID-19 (15.05.2020)

Opinion: 3 VIPs get special treatment

There been leaked a two letters exposing that three persons are allowed to enter the Republic and get quarantined after entering the Republic. First Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa wrote to Ethiopian Airlines on the 13th May 2020. On the 14th May 2020 the follow up letter from Director General of Health Services Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa to Minister Beti Kamya.

Both this letters shows that three persons are getting Very-Important-Person treatment. This the ones that getting bottle-service both in Church and in the Club. These are the sort of people that should be in the midst of the Presidential Convoy. They should be so unique, that next line of currency coming up. Their mugshots should be on it.

Since, they can consistently enter the Republic in the midst of the worldwide pandemic. They get the use of the state from all parts of it apparently. Soon, they might be greeted by Vice-President Edward Ssekandi on arrival with the Ethiopian Airlines.

I don’t these people are front-line workers. Neither do I think this needed services of the state. This is the same state that has blocked Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine to get Ugandan citizens home from China. However, that hasn’t been a priority, even with the outcries and open racism towards African Nationals in China.

Still, these people are left behind. Being students and foreign workers of Ugandan citizens. Whose stuck there and not helped to return home. Nevertheless, these VIPs get the full-house and get paid-in-full.

The sort of suction they have and ability shows their of a certain stature. They are eating of the plates of Kings. Since, they can get Foreign Minister Kutesa to move, and also get the Director General of Health Services Mwebesa to move.

There are clearly some people who doesn’t need to adhere to Presidential Directives and who has the back of the state. These three are clearly those, who apparently, doesn’t need to adhere or act like the rest. They can live lavish, travel as they please and get the high ranking officials to vouch for their actions. While other people are lingering abroad… and has no shot of getting home in the midst of this pandemic. Which is so rich, ironically.

So, let me stop there, before I repeat myself to much and that’s give the me the jitters. So, with that in mind. Peace.

A look into the Parliament Report from the Sub-Committee on Health on COVID-19!

Today the Parliament dropped the “INTERIM REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SUB-COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON COVID-l9” . This is interesting that it comes now. As there are MPs whose busy praising the President and his work on it. While this interim report says a lot about what is lacking. The Report is only 14 pages, so its not a deep dive, but a small fragments of what is out there. This gives an indication of how it really is.

PPE:

Whereas personal protective equipment is the only guarantee for health workers and security personnel’s protection against viral transmission, there is acute shortage of masks, hand gloves, foot ware, disposable aprons, disinfectants and sanitizers across the board. In some facilities, health workers buy their own items for example at Kawempe National Referral Hospital. At Masaka Regional Referral Hospital which has five (5) COVID-l9 cases was supplied with only two (2) pieces of N-95 masks, Bwera Hospital has never received any supplies while in some facilities, health workers improvise through recycling of masks for days as supplies have not been received” (Interim Report, P1-2, 12.05.2020).

So, when the public, MPs and others praise the President and his team for the response to how they handled the COVID-19 pandemic and the needs. This here is showing how the Parliament could easily see that the Ministry of Health and the Hospitals doesn’t have enough PPE. Which is needed to secure the health-care workers and patients. That says a lot about how the state has dealt with this. Because, this should be one of the first priorities to secure the front-liners in the battle.

Quarantine Centres:

All districts visited have established quarantine centres which are mainly in schools” (…) “The centres lack water, mattresses, access to sanitary facilities and people in quarantine centres buy their own food. None of the quarantine centres had received any material or financial support from the centre” (Interim Report, P: 2, 12.05.2020).

It’s good that the districts has made quarantine centres. This is good work by the state and in such a haste. While, they should have provided food, water and sanitation for the ones quarantined. That should be essential to ensure the food safety and proper shelter, as they are not allowed to leave the premises and not spread the virus. Therefore, its a lack financial support is dire and should be a priority, Unless, they want to risk these people to breach the quarantine to buy matooke, posho and beans. Then, its sort of pointless!

On testing:

A11 facilities visited had systems in place to screen people. However, most facilities lacked the equipment such as temperatures guns” (…) “Testing Kits are also in short supply and transportation of the samples is a challenge. There have been efforts to trace the contacts however, full contact tracing is difficult to achieve” (Interim Report, P: 3, 12.05.2020).

This here is the key to understand how the spread is moving. When you struggle with testing. You struggle with the basics. This is not a unique issue, even the United Kingdom and United States struggles with this. Therefore, Uganda isn’t alone, but its a worry that its like this. When this is the key to figure out how rampant it is and where the virus has been spread. This should be the thing that opens the door and secure society. As the Ministry of Health would have an understanding of how grand scale the testing is and what scope it has. As there is questions about how big of a scope the state has done, when they struggle to have enough testing kits and transport it.

Human Resource:

Much as Ministry of Health was given money to recruit staff, save for Jinja and Mbale RRHs, the recruited staff are not yet deployed meaning that the existing staff is stretched. Most facilities have re-deployed staff from different departments of their units to specifically manage COVID -19 in some health facilities” (…) “Despite Parliament approving UGX 80,000 per person per day as risk allowance, most Health Workers and security personnel at the forefront of handling COVID-19 related issues have not received their allowances to date” (Interim Report, P: 3-4, 12.05.2020).

Again, the state haven’t done what they need to do to recruit needed staff to run sufficiently. Both the Health Care Centres and Hospitals need help from the Ministry to do this. Instead, they have the staff stretched and that will weaken the performance. This combined with the other reports shows the lack of work put into it.

I just looked at the issues directly hitting the Ministry of Health, the front-liners and the ones who has the challenge directly. I have not looked into the financial part of it. As that has been discussed elsewhere and this seems more as a priority. While the accountability and transparency is important. That is why the state should be transparent, but don’t expect that. As there is a wastage of funds and suddenly it disappears. That always happens… Just await another tender scandal in the making soon.

Therefore, this is enough for now. The report states the needs for a more thorough plan, more focus on details, procurement and securing the ones in need. Because, this hurts the whole system and only showing the weaknesses, which are there. Peace.

Opinion: 5 Hungry MPs Making a Praising Motion to the Fountain of Honour!

There is a motion made by Bonny Desales Okello MP, second by Veronica Bichetero Eragu Isala MP, Jacob Markson Oboth MP, Simon Oyet MP and Keefa Kiwanuka MP. All of this from various of parties has decided to praise the old man with the hat. They know doing this is showing him a favour. A proof that the micro-managing and sudden directions on a whim is a good thing now. At least in their eyes.

It is hard to phantom where we are at this time. That these people are actually using their time in office. Praising the wastage of the COVID-19 Fund, the billions in Classified Expenditure, the questionable tenders for the COVID-19 Fund and every little regulation put hasn’t really been accounted for. Because, there is very little legislation and also just the voting on the budget for COVID-19. So, it’s hard to see much to praise, unless you loves the directions made after the 2 hour speeches on live television. Maybe they enjoy the old man on NBS Television or on NTV. Even they are the few who actually looks at UBC, when they are not eating samosas at the local restaurant.

Well, they named the motion this: “ MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT PAYING TRIBUTE TO H.E THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA FOR HIS CONTINUING EXEMPLARY AND INSIGHTFUL LEADERSHIP DURING THE COVID.l9 PANDEMIC IN UGANDA” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

So, they are really willingly to praise the man for his “insightful leadership”, a leadership where they had to react to this decrees on TV and suddenly ensure the drivers with correct stickers. Where the same President had to ensure the powers of the RDCs and elsewhere, as they couldn’t manage all the calls to be allowed to drive their cars. Thirdly, the exemplary acts of begging for cars maybe?

Or was it greatness when he wanted to pay for a goat, that his convoy knocked down?

I really don’t get it, maybe I am foolish like that. However, I haven’t seen exemplary acts by the President. He did the right thing to ensure a lockdown. He was slow with ensuring food for poor and the ones living day-to-day. He was slow enforcing security for the tenants, who cannot manage pay, because they are not able to pay rent at this given time. Also, the sudden announcements of extensions, people are grasping at the screen awaiting to see if he says it or not.

APPRECIATING THAT the exemplary leadership of H.E the President has seen Uganda become a beacon of hope in the fight against Covid-19 and other deadly viruses and has mitigated the social and economic effects of the virus on Uganda compared to other countries which have all reported far worse Covid-l9 statistics, including infections and deaths compared to Uganda” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

Yes, he acted upon it, by using more funds and even pushing to use it for pet-projects. That is why the President is great. He is saved by International Monetary Fund and their efforts to mitigate the economies. It is not that President Museveni found new ways of revenue or streams to boost the economy directly. No, his taking up new loans to beat the invisible virus. A virus he has not doing big testing off. The extension is that Uganda cannot know how many cases there is out there. Since, they are testing the borders, they have gone after people coming into the country from abroad since April, but they are not testing big locally. Even if there is cases and even barracks. Where there been found cases and they got quarantined. Therefore, there are bottlenecks and uncertainty.

Yes, the numbers are small of cases. Also, very little testing, unless your a truck-driver passing through one of the entry points of Uganda. That is why these MPs see the need to do this:

NOW, THEREFORE, this House unanimously:

1. pays tribute to H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his exemplary, visionary, insightful and decisive leadership during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Uganda;

2. Expresses its appreciation to Parliament, the National and District Taskforces on the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry of Health, scientists, security for their tireless efforts in working towards protecting Ugandans;

3. Recognizes the adherence of Ugandans and the private sector to His Excellency the Presidents guidelines to combat the COVID-l9 pandemic;

4. Recognizes the tremendous response by Ugandans and the business community to His Excellency the Presidents call for contributions towards the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic” (Okello, 12.05.2020).

So, these 5 MPs want to pay tribute in the House. A House he uses to rubber-stamp his endeavours. It’s like they want to sing songs for him. They want to serenade him and smooth him for his work. Seems like they want to give him glory and give him worship. Surely, ahead of elections to secure the bag.

Because this man knows they are useful to him. He will ensure their future, they will not have to worry. Since, they shown him the ultimate loyalty of singing praise. Even where there is little to praise about. Peace.

Uganda: Amelia Kyambadde statement on the new guidelines during the lockdown (05.05.2020)