South Sudan: IGAD Special Envoy Meets with Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka (25.02.2019)

Opinion: We need a daily reminder that VP Ssekandi is alive!

Well, today was the day, that the State House officially stated to the Daily Monitor, that Vice-President Edward Ssekandi is alive. We all needed that friendly reminder, from time to time. Since he is a like ghost, who just show-up out of nowhere to functions, move plates, even scare the living sh** out of the patrons. Because, no one anticipated his remains were still there or even entertaining, the idea of an existence.

VP Ssekandi could surely be myth, be a relic of the past. Ssekandi could be a old book in the long forgotten National Library, which not even the biggest scholar cared to pick up in his life-time. Because, the existence of Ssekandi is that sort of guy.

That is surely, why the President picked him as his second in command. No one is afraid of him, no one is thinking of him, except his wife and his closes relatives. The rest just anticipate him to open a well or even gracing a funeral now and then. However, he is not the honourable of which the system collapses the day he cease to exist.

No, he is urban legend, a man of all season and none of them. Edward is there, but for sure, no one knows why. He could be there for his organizing skills, his training, and his funny wordplay and even for his spiritual upbringing. Nevertheless, none of us has seen this or even heard of it. He has never proven any of his skills or his set of features. Except for a speech here and there.

Ssekandi is the VP who is there, but not really there(!!). That is why they have to say it from the State House, that he is alive and watching YouTube. Because, who knows what he does during the day or if he eats a pineapple or matooke. Since, the man is not to be seen or heard from.

The State House should do this more often, especially since Ssekandi is soon of the advanced aged, the ones who is usually retired or “expired” from the workforce, just like his master. However, they both linger. The President jumps around like a Criss-Cross video, but the VP is in the shadow, in the middle of the fog and not seen. That might be by default or rare luck, since his not stating anything radical or critically acclaimed policies. It is as if he wants to be this hidden. So, we don’t know and no idea what to know. He is just there, we suppose, but very little or no proof.

What we learned today?

Is that we need a daily reminder from the State House. In addition, occasionally, maybe even a health condition sheet or similar, to prove that he is alive and enduring this thing called life. So, that we can ensure, that the second in line after the President is there. Because, at the day to day, we got no real idea. Peace.

Uganda Debt Network: Letter to Parliament – “Re: Reject Government Proposal to Issue Promissory Notes USD 379,9M for Construction of international Specialized Hospital in Lubowa (22.02.2019)

COSASE: Parliament of Uganda – “Re: Documents laid before the Cosase by Hon. Odonga Otto and Hon. Elijah Okupa during the inquiry into the Auditor General’s Special Audit Report on closure of Commericial Bank by Bank of Uganda (21.02.2019)

FDU-Inkingi – Rwanda: Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza vows to continue the struggle for democracy, rule of law and equal opportunity in Rwanda (22.02.2019)

South Sudan: Cap. Maribor de Garang Maribor – Public Service Announcement – The Regime’s Use Of The Ideal of “Peace” As An Instrument Of War (19.02.2019)

Slow implementation of peace agreement, lack of basic services impeding returns in opposition-controlled areas of Wau (22.02.2019)

Organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Civil Affairs Division, the forum in Ngo-dakala, an area under the opposition in Wau, brought together more than sixty participants.

JUBA, South Sudan, February 22, 2019 – Michael Wondi Issues impeding voluntary returns in opposition-controlled areas of Wau have been raised at a one-day round-table discussion that brought together the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement in Opposition (SPLA/M-IO) in the area.

Organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Civil Affairs Division, the forum in Ngo-dakala, an area under the opposition in Wau, brought together more than sixty participants that included military, political, youth and women representatives.

“In fact, there are fears for our people in the POC [Protection of Civilians sites] to come out,” said Emilio Fada, Minister of Agriculture in Wau, stressing the need to form a joint- committee to engage the displaced persons.

“They see that a peace [agreement] was signed, [but] since September till now there is no implementation on the ground. They still feel that something may happen in the future,” concluded the minister.

“The solution is that the government should take their army back to the barracks, and the opposition [forces] also go to their barracks, and leave the civilians alone,” said Chief Musa Joseph of Ngisa area noting that disengagement of soldiers will allow citizens to return to their respective areas.

“We came to you here to assess challenges affecting voluntary returns,” said Justin Atit, UNMISS civil affairs officer in Wau, noting, “The peace agreement has been signed and the time has come for us to resolve challenges to allow people affected in the camps to return home.”

Mr. Atit noted that the discussion aimed at creating a conducive environment for safe and voluntary returns to the areas under the opposition in Wau

“Disaster has happened as you have seen: farms of the people have been burnt, no medicine, people are suffering,” said Anthony Fada, Opposition Governor in Wau, enumerating the challenges facing people affected by years of conflict.

Mr. Fada urged humanitarian partners to support the returnees with livelihood items as they prepare for the farming season.

South Sudan: Recommendations of SPLM reunification committee (21.02.2019)

A brief look into the COSASE Report: Digest the lack of due diligence!

Well, sooner or later this report was bound to happen as the deadline of the Parliament’s Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) report into 7 defunct banks in the Republic. It had to be interesting to see how the National Treasury or National Bank, the Bank of Uganda handled it, as the Bank have been going around all cowboy and not with protocol. As the proper guidance nor minutes have arrived to the COSASE as the months of investigations has gone on.

As well, the lack of trust between the parties, lawyers and stakeholders itself. Therefore, the report, had to stinking of it, the lack of due diligence and care for delivering proper craftsmanship, where the profession and their ethics are shining true.

Instead the process of investigation have shown utter contempt of honesty and transparency, as documents have gone missing and people have taken trips away, while they were supposed to testify to the Committee.

That is the introduction. Let’s dig into the mess, which was unleashed today on the 21st February 2019.

The committee further observed that there are no documents relating to the post closure and management of Teefe Trust Bank assets and liabilities. This further complicates the process of winding up including resolving claims and some securities still in possession of the Central Bank” (COSASE, P: 9, 2019).

No inventory report was availed in respect of ICB but an inception report for liquidation by the Liquidation Agcnt (KPMG) dated 30th September 2001” (…)”without a proper inventory report, BoU did not know what it was taking over in terms of entirety of assets and value. Accordingly, BoU acted in breach of section 32 (3), of the FIS, 1993” (COSASE, P: 10, 2019).

Sold on the Same Day:

What further the report states is that the National Bank of Commerce was closed and sold on the same day. This being done on the 27th September 2012. The takeover and sale took only 6 hours time and was in convention of the FIA. The same actions happen to Global Trust Bank (U) Limited, which was closed and sold on the same day, on the 25th July 2014. This was also done in convention of the FIA.

While on Crane Bank:

The auditors produced the inventory report on 21st of December 2016 however, BoU had invited DFCU to bid for the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities of CBL on 9nd December 2016 and subsequently DFCU submitted the bid on the 20th December 2016 a day before the production of the inventory report” (…) “BoU did not carry out valuation of the assets and liabilities of CBL. BUT relied on the inventory report and due diligence undertaken by DFCU to accept their bid to arrive at the P&A. However, the final inventory report was submitted on 13th January 2017. In essence, the final inventory report was never used in evaluating the bid for the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities of CBL” (COSASE, P: 12 & 13, 2019).

Selling assets on discounts:

In the case of ICB, Greenland Bank and Co-operative Brank, the total loan portfolio sold of UGX 135bn included secured loans of UGX 34.5bn which had valid legal or equitable mortgage on the real property and were supported with legal documentation BUT were sold, to M/s Nile River Acquisition Company at 93% discount” (…) “Whereas the GTB and NBC discount percentages of 20 and 30% respectively appear reasonable, the 93% discount in respect of the loan portfolio of ICB, Greenland Bank and Co-operative Bank acquired by M/s NRAC was incredibly outrageous” (COSASE, P: 23-24, 2019).

Winding Up:

The winding up process of all the defuct banks has taken an unjustifiably long time to settle creditor claims. For Teefe Trust Bank (26 years), Co-operative Bank (20 years), ICB (21 years), Greenland Bank (20 years), NBC (7 years), GTB (5 years) and CBL (2 years)!!! Regrettably, many of the creditors and shareholders have and indeed continue to die” (…) “Due to absence of documents, it was not possible to ascertain whether the UGX.9 1 .22bn used to settle customer claims of ICB, Cooperative bank and Greenland bank went to the bonafide beneficiaries. The absence of documents could among others be attributed to the long delay in concluding the winding up process” (COSASE, P: 39, 50 2019).

This is really just a proof of some of the mismanagement and quotes that proves how the Bank of Uganda didn’t do due diligence. They didn’t fix the issues, neither the work that was needed for the distressed financial institutions, the BoU didn’t follow the laws and statutes. All of the banks seems to be closed without protocol. Without proper documentation, neither overlooking assets and the securities.

Therefore, the Bank of Uganda … have not acted as the Central Bank and having the supervisory role over the financial market. They have surely acted in ill-will and not like they are supposed too. If not, these seven banks shouldn’t been closed like this, even closed and sold within 24 hours. Peace.

Kenya Pipeline Company: Press Statement – KPC Management is Fully Committed to the Fight against Corruption (20.02.2019)