Opinion: Mzee is gaslighting everyone on the World Bank…

On the contrary, those loans and aid packages, can be a source of distortion and stunted growth as you can see across Africa. If foreign aid and loans, are a source of social-economic transformation, why the present growing crisis of even security and stability in Africa?” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Yes, we can morally question the World Bank for its reasons to cease to give new loans or grants to the Republic of Uganda. That is fair and assess the reasoning behind that is a matter of debate. As they are only doing it for one sole purpose and not for how the Republic itself is run or what sort of leadership it has. The World Bank has been in dialogue and been in negotiations with the Republic plenty of times over the years. The World Bank has been coordinating and ensuring development projects, budget support and other measures for the benefit of the Republic of Uganda. Therefore, they know the costs and the suffering, which will come with a ceasing of operating or offering support there.

That President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni uses the populist angle isn’t surprising. He has done so in regard to the Anti-Homosexuality Act and he thrives on it. It is easy political currency and now he can vilify the West and their means to an end. While his not coming with solid proof or reasons for his onslaught. He is acting like we don’t know he used to be a donor darling and a man of the West.

Museveni lived large and got big aid-money after the Bush-War. He was the new breed of leadership and the hope of a brighter future. Museveni and the likes was easy to sell and he was supposed reformer, a man of principals and a man with a vision. However, that was all false and narratives sold to make him feasible for the many.

That’s why I will only take a few words from a World Bank report, which is an assessment of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). That respectfully got funding from World Bank, which the report states this: “The total amount disbursed for the first PRSC5-7 series was $462 million ($137 million for PRSC5, $125 for PRSC6, and $200 million for PRSC7). PRSC5 was approved on January 17, 2006 and PRSC7, the last in the series, closed on November 30, 2009. The amount disbursed for the second PRSC8-9 series was $200 million ($100 million each operation). Because of delays in reform implementation and a corruption scandal involving diversion of bilateral donor resources, approval of PRSC9 was delayed” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

When you read that and that’s only through one mechanism and one way of the World Bank. There are other ways that the Republic got funds or grants. This through the International Monetary Funds (IMF) or elsewhere, which isn’t covered here. Neither is this a overlook or a total oversight of the funds or grants given to Uganda. Only the ones through PEAP. That says something about how much money that was coming in and could be spent by the Republic or their respective government agencies, in coordination with the World Bank.

The report further states:

On the positive side, the PRSCs helped finance Uganda’s budget within this broader budget support framework and shared priorities, contributing to macroeconomic stability and to maintaining public spending on basic social services (education, health, and water and sanitation) that otherwise would not have been possible given the low domestic revenue mobilization. The Bank also maintained broad and high-level policy dialogue with the government” (…) “But in their drive to extend budget support focused primarily on social sector expenditures, the Bank and the other budget support donors missed a major opportunity to help significantly increase domestic revenue mobilization, which would have made these gains more sustainable. In the event, as the donor budget support began to decline in 2009 and then came to an abrupt halt in 2012 as a result of a corruption episode with bilateral donor funds, low domestic government revenues––at 13 percent of GDP–– increasingly put pressure on public expenditures on basic social services. As a result, these services became underfunded and outcomes began to suffer in education and, especially, health. Even in water and sanitation––a comparative sector success story–acute underfunding is threatening to reverse past gains in access, especially in the most vulnerable rural areas” (World Bank – Report No. 96202, June 29, 2015).

This here report just shows how quickly the gains was lost. Also, what was offered and how the Republic itself didn’t galvanize the domestic revenue. Therefore, the NRM and the government itself didn’t do its due diligence, but hoped for a “helping hand” indefinitely. When the Republic of Uganda suddenly got a set-back and lost donors in a short-time span. The government couldn’t cover the shortfall and the government services came to an halt. When we know this from history.

We just know this will repeat itself now. When the World Bank is ceasing its operations or renewal of loans/grants to the Republic. That will hurt the economy and with an state budget run on deficit financing. The state will lack funds quickly, as it is servicing rising amounts of loans or debt. It has has to cover the debt before even paying the running costs of operating as a government. Meaning, the state will be in a deficit very quickly and there will be lack of funds. As the ones utilized will go to pay interests and pay the creditors for old debts. That’s where the World Bank would come in with budget support and facilitate good terms for credit. However, with the ceasing of operating and freezing loans. Means that ship has sailed and the short-term crunch is bound to happen. It will cost and no signal boosting can help the government out.

That’s why it is really unique that Museveni wrote these things in his 26 pages long piece…

They are so shallow, they do not know when and where to stop. It is this shallowness in philosophy, ideology and strategy, that interferes with the global efforts to generate consensus for the good and even for the salvation of mankind from possible environmental and other man-made catastrophes. Hence, the recent provocation and arrogance by the World Bank Group on a subject of the homosexuals that we have so patiently discussed with so many of those elements. To dare think that the Ugandans, the brothers, the sisters and grandchildren of the Christian religious Martyrs of 1884 against our own tyrannical Kings, the Martyrs of the Luwero War (the 9th of June-Heroes), can be intimidated by the threat of withdrawal of loans and aid, that are, moreover, peripheral to our transformation efforts, is the epitome of mistake-making, to say the least” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

That is why Uganda under the NRM is an unsinkable ship in the stormy global sea of the World economy. It may be useful to remember the words of Dr. Mutharika, himself a former worker of some of those international bodies, when he became President of Malawi. He said that he wanted “a Malawi economic plan supported by the World Bank” and not “a World Bank programme for Malawi”. The Ugandans, should not waste time on it. Instead, we should launch a merciless war on the two internal inhibitors of our own: the corrupt and the neo-colonial planners. It is hightime, the two got off the scene completely. They have delayed us enough” (Museveni, 17.08.2023).

Musveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) got a bounty when they got into office. In the 1990s and early 2000s times where good. The International Community and its lenders covered the basics. There was so much money and ability to raise funds. The NRM and Museveni was promising and they could ate of other peoples plates without any hesitation. They were the new Kings in town and lived grand on donors money. Now those things are dwindling down and the goodwill is over. The outside isn’t as favourable and that hits the pride of the old man.

Museveni isn’t as beloved or bestowed. His not the future, but a relic of the past. His a man who has lost his way and trying to lecture anyone else on their misgivings. While never looking into what he himself never did. The World Bank commended the achievements earlier of his administration, but they also acknowledge that their easy money was taking away the ability of the state to raise domestic revenue. That is the problem to this day and is a reoccurring issue. That is a “bottleneck” that Museveni never got a handle of or idea of how to solve. This is why the Government and the NRM will have a hard time ahead.

He can speak vile and be angry. That doesn’t resolve the matter or help anyone. Neither does this text or article help his cause. The World Bank only cares about one thing. The President can torture, extra judicially kill, criminalize the opposition and use the military to detain civilians. Alas, the World Bank will not care about that, but they do want to save the Homosexuals of the World. That is obvious. Which is noble in one regard, but also very limiting in the other. As they are only safeguarding one minority, but not considering the implications for the rest of society. That’s where the scope of the World Bank is missing.

Museveni is right that the World Bank is shallow. That shallowness and pride was feeding him for years. It was giving him and his government a boost. The World Bank and other financial institutions gave Museveni the fire-power and ability to look successful without doing much labour. A lazy way of ruling the nation. Because, everyone else was paying the tab at the bar, but Museveni continued drinking. That’s what Museveni does and his now mad at the bartender for not allowing him another brew. Peace.

Opinion: A General campaigning for the Presidency…

The Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations and General Muhoozi Kainerubaga are openly campaigning for himself under the banner of MK Movement. That is the initial gist in 2023. There is no disguise or way else to see it. The birthday bashes was only the beginning and now his ramping it up.

The General Elections of 2026 cannot come fast enough. So, he can use his leverage, privilege and wealth to excel in politics. Even if his a shallow human being who hasn’t been tested or proven in any capacity. He wouldn’t be where he is without his father and his appointments. It is his father who has opened up all doors and given him the opportunities. No one else has gone that quickly through the ranks and been able to run their own unit, the Special Forces Command (SFC). Later being appointed the Commander of the Land Forces of the UPDF too. Therefore, we know the drill and “Project Muhoozi” is now in full effect.

The actions in Teso is in continuation of everything else. He is travelling across the Republic. Making sports tournaments and other excuses to be in public. While there is no campaign or no election road map opening up for it. That’s why the Opposition cannot even mobilize or be able to gather within their own parties without hostile reception from the authorities. While the General can do what he pleases and have the whole entourage with him. That’s why 300 MPs can participate and be guests at the rally, which the state says 20,000 was attending.

This is done in public. By a General and an Army Commander. It is done by a Senior Presidential Advisor and General. A man who has to follow code and law. Laws are broken and doesn’t matter in concern with Muhoozi. The UPDF Act is pointless or meaningless. Neither does it matter that his a civil servant and an appointed as such, and still campaigning for his own cause. Many other places people would have resigned from their offices before doing so. However, in this case… his above that and has all the authority to do so.

What is just striking to me… is the hypocrisy and the troublesome affairs of it all. Muhoozi will only bring trouble and his a violent brute. There is no real justification for his ticket or Movement for that matter. Only a personification and extending the reign within the Museveni family. Muhoozi doesn’t bring anything new or fresh to the table. The other questionable aspect of him running is that it could be seen as a violation of the 1995 Constitution, as the Presidential Candidate are supposed to be born in the Republic and be Ugandan citizen. Yes, Muhoozi is a citizen of the Republic, but he was born in the Untied Republic of Tanzania. Meaning he by practical means shouldn’t be eligible, but we know the authorities and the state will amend the law or make some adjustment to make him “legit”.

Alas, Muhoozi on the campaign trail early, just like his father who has used Operation Wealth Creation and other schemes to speak across the nation. The same trick uses the son who makes tournaments and other festivities. Just so he can be on stage and feel a moment of glory. So, the General can feel like a big man and be the next supreme leader. Though he has nothing to show for it and only rented crowds, plenty of “yes men” and people dancing because his paying for their feast. They are all there to get their cut and call it a night.

Muhoozi might think this is smart, brilliant and even wise. However it is not and this gig has been done before. His not the first or the last. The General might think he comes across as loveable or even sincere, but it’s all a mirage and sooner or later he will find out there is no water in the desert. Peace.

Opinion: Speaker Among shows the world her lavish lifestyle…

Today there was a home-coming party or house warming party in Bukedea District. That was at the new mansion, the poshest building in the area and biggest splash in memory. This was done the behest of Speaker Anita Among. She has built a huge house with lots rooms. In such a fashion, which resemble the aristocracy elsewhere.

We know the Teso region is hit with poverty and lack of resources. There been UBOS reports that states worrying numbers. While the Speaker doesn’t mind or couldn’t care. She is living like a Queen and has a Castle now. The Speaker is living the high life while others are starving. Plenty are malnourished and lacks food in her district. Meanwhile she built a building with more rooms than she ever would need or could care about.

This just shows the priority of the state. How the newfound riches and powerful is splurging cash. They are building opulent buildings and facades. This is manifesting their achievements and wealth. A wealth that is built on the treasury and national reserves. Because, it is not build on the craft of their own or their businesses. Since they couldn’t afford it before they joined politics.

Now we are seeing a Speaker who lives lavish and enjoys power. That’s why she is so flamboyant and public about it. She’s just oozing it and living her dream. While the district she represents and the nation isn’t living as large as she does. Most like the district she resides in is in the same predicaments as before she got into office. The schools are bad, health centres too and the roads are lacking. The government services are not to be trusted. Neither does plenty of citizens has electricity or water in their homes. While about 50% of the population in the District is living under the poverty line. Meaning they are struggling just to put food on their plate. Therefore, seeing this building should infuriate them and their struggle. When the person representing them are spending like this and showing it in their faces.

When the leaders, representatives and high ranking officials starts to live like this. Build like this and show their wealth. The poor should start to organize. They shouldn’t accept the public wastage of funds. It is not like the Speaker has earned this and honestly so. No, this is ill gotten gains and done with possible siphoned funds. While the government services is depilated. I’m sure we could find pictures of health centres or schools in the nearby areas that is beyond repair…

Alas, that is the case and it’s tragic. That a speaker of a nation can do this… when so many is suffering and struggling, the speaker doesn’t care and neither does the fellow MPs who was visiting. They had a blast and made the Speaker feel powerful. She had the possibility to do this and it has no ramifications for her. The Speaker can just live another day and live in assurance of prolonged power. That’s all she wants and sooner or later it will all tumble down.

Right now she is bashing in glory and in vast wealth. Tomorrow that could all fall and the house could become haunted too. We have seen this in the past and this house could become a relic of the Museveni era. As a reminder of the token soldiers who thought they were it, but when the time was up. It all went to pieces and the smouldering reality hit hard. There was no return and only mother nature returning to takeover the plot…

Speaker Anita Among might feel on top of the world today. What happens tomorrow is another day. Peace.

Uganda: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 – Certificate of Financial Implications (09.03.2023)

Uganda: The World Bank draw the line [and shows how hopeless it is…]

Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a livable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality. This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world. Immediately after the law was enacted, the World Bank deployed a team to Uganda to review our portfolio in the context of the new legislation. That review determined additional measures are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards. Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities. No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested” (World Bank Group Statement on Uganda, 08.08.2023).

Yes, the Anti-Homosexuality Act is wrong, by all accounts and definitions, as it is a tool to oppress one minority and their lifestyle. The government are not only interfering in their lives, but it is by all sense criminalizing one minority for populist gains. Alas, I will not dwell on that.

However, what I will do… is say my displeasure with the World Bank. The World Bank is ceasing their operations or diverting funds to the Government of Uganda. The World Bank is by far freezing funds for development projects and other planned efforts, which it has coordinated with the state. That is what is happening here and it’s all because of one law.

The same bank never had these actions when people died on the streets because of election rigging. Neither did the bank say anything or act swiftly when people are prolonged in jail for their political associations. Neither is the bank saying anything substantial when the military is interfering in all parts of society. The bank is silent when people are kept incommunicado or kidnapped. The bank hasn’t uttered a word or cared for the extra judicial killings. Neither does it care for the lack of services, health care or government services as a whole. Schools can be faulty and roads can be mismanaged. While “missing funds” are going on overtime and trillions of shillings are siphoned any Financial Year. Alas, the bank is silent on all of these. Not saying anything.

The bank is fine that the military courts are used to sentence and keep people of the streets. The bank is fine with political parties not allowed to assemble or even gather in public. The bank is fine that the state targets NGOs and CSOs. The bank is fine that state has ungazetted “safe-houses” where the dissidents and activists of the opposition are kept. The bank is fine that army and security organizations are monitoring and trailing high ranking officials in the opposition. That’s all fine and dandy…

but the moment the gays or the homosexuals are in trouble. That’s when you cry havoc. That’s when enough is enough. The hypocrisy. The audacity. When so many people are scorned, in pain or has lost loved ones. When people are kept behind bars for years and the police start the investigation after they have detained them. Assets and vehicles captured for years. Charges never ceased and cases never dropped. Politicians have long rap-sheets and a big book of charges while awaiting trials or even some sort of relief from the cases itself.

When you know all of this and suddenly read this statement from the World Bank. It is disappointing. This is the hill they want to die on. Not when it is systemic oppression, but one minority is hit. The whole society and the general public can be muffled, but there is just the one special class you are not allowed to touch. That’s the message I get here and it’s beneath the organization and the World Bank itself. If they believed in these things. They should have done so when they saw people dying in the hands of the guns of the state. Alas, we haven’t seen that and it shows that one life is more valuable than another. It shows that some people are more worthy than others. If you are a certain way, you can get access and get credit. If you are the other way. Well, good look and you can only hope for a better tomorrow… Peace.

Uganda: Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) – Press Statement on the Current Onward Movers of Refugees between Uganda – Kenya and the Action being Taken by hte Department of Refugees (26.07.2023)

Uganda: National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) – Update on the Media Blackout on Government Activities (21.07.2023)

A bitter cup of coffee: Ghost Coffee and lessons not learned…

“MPs have tasked officials from the Office of the Prime (OPM) to explain how Shs9.6Bn was spent on training youths on how to drink coffee in Uganda, after the Auditor General revealed that some of the coffee shops established in Gulu, Lira, Mbale during this campaign are non-existent” (…) “The contract to train youths on how to drink coffee was awarded to Inspire Africa (U) Limited where; Shs3.831Bn was to train farmers on the production of coffee, Shs1.906Bn train youths on how to drink coffee, training in financial literacy and business management skills cost Shs2.652Bn while the project administration cost Shs1.271Bn, thus bringing the total to Shs9.662Bn” (ParliamentWatch, 13.07.2023).

“The young people in Uganda need to participate in the coffee economy and one of the ways the young people told us, especially those in the city they would like to sell coffee and other merchandise but coffee had to be one of the items we promote. So, we needed to have partners that are able and working in the coffee industry to do this” – Robert Limlim, Director, Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) at OPM (ParliamentWatch, 13.07.2023).

Yesterday, the 11th Parliament unearthed another scandal and “missing funds”. The state has spent funds on non-existent coffee shops. The Inspire Africa Limited, which is based at Muwafu Road, Minister’s Village, Ntinda, Kampala. They are both a company, which is supposed to inspire people to drink coffee and another one that sells coffee directly.

They have been in the press a few years back and is maybe in connection to this…

“Coffee City, a subsidiary of Inspire Africa Coffee in partnership with the Young Africa Works Program and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) have launched a two-year project aimed at setting up mobile coffee shops and booths around the country” (Amon Katungulu – ‘Inspire Africa partners with PSFU to set up mobile coffee shops around Uganda’ 12.08.2021).

The Inspire Africa Company on its page says it held bootcamps in Lira and in Gulu, but that is back to 2018. These activities date back then and isn’t in the Financial Year in question. While the 9.6 billion shillings was spent on training youth to drink coffee much later.

We can see by headlines in other press that the Inspire Africa Limited connected with others back in 2021 and was supposed to end in 2023. Which could be what is the trouble now. As there was a plan to set up mobile coffee shops, but the 9.6 billion shillings went nowhere. There are no coffee shops and very little training or “educational” enterprises, which was the reason for the fund to begin with.

Alas, this just shows how the state can mismanage funds and spend money on reckless “development projects”. We can all see what is at play here and we can question the reasons for doing so. The Office of the Prime Minister and their stakeholders should take accountability and be transparent about this. Because, this is a bitter cup of coffee. This isn’t helping the farmers or the ones trading the beans. Neither is this changing the youth in regard to drinking coffee…

This here story will not end here, as there will be more twists and turns. There are billions of shillings spent on it and we know there will questions about this. The OPM and others cannot deflect or not take blame here. This is a wastage of funds, and nothing was delivered. We only got ghosts and fake promises. Peace.

Opinion: Does the Speaker have the authority to summon other high ranking officials into an ad hoc meeting?

“The speaker of Parliament, Ms Anita Among has summoned the minister of works and transport, the Uganda Police, the leader of opposition in parliament and other stakeholders for an emergency meeting over worsening road crashes” (Daily Monitor, 13.07.2023).

Today there was a populist move by the Speaker of the 11th Parliament, Anita Among. She summoned in several leaders for a meeting, because of the recent car accidents. Instead of calling into a debate in a plenary or adopt motions in the House. She called a meeting… and I don’t see how she could or have the ability to do so…

“7. General Authority of the Speaker

(1) The Speaker shall preside at any sitting of the House.

(2) The Speaker shall preserve order and decorum in the House and shall decide questions of order and practice.

(3) In deciding a point of order or practice, the Speaker shall state reasons for the decision and shall cite any rule of procedure or other applicable authority.

(4) The Speaker may invite submissions from Members but no debate shall ensue.

(5) The Speaker may decline debate on any contribution” (RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE 11TH PARLIAMENT).

The ideals of the meeting and summons are fine in itself, but the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja should feel betrayed. Other High-Ranking Officials should feel the pinch too. All of these appointed leaders have been downgraded and flower-girls in comparison to the Speaker.

The Speaker is going outside her mandate and her role as the Speaker. She doesn’t have the authority or mandate to do this. Among might think she’s that influential or has the power to do so. However, that isn’t her role, and she should beg for motions to move in a plenary session. She shouldn’t participate or take part in government business. Because that is what she did by calling or summoning the people for this meeting.

Even if this is the result of the meeting: “As a mid-term intervention to curb road accidents, the stakeholders have agreed to reintroduce mandatory motor vehicle inspection” (Parliament of Uganda, 13.07.2023).

The Speaker shouldn’t have done this and there should have been others who has the initial mandate or role to do so. She has overstretched her place and abilities. The Speaker should consider herself lucky because other places this could have consequences. That had been normal to call her out and question her reasons to do so.

The Speaker is the Speaker and not the Officer of the Government. Neither is she the most powerful government official. The President has delegated his powers and appointed a cabinet. There Vice-Presidents and a Prime Minister. Even Deputy Prime Ministers who could fit the bill. Alas, that is apparently not the case.

There are plenty leaders and high ranking officials should feel troubled by this action. If this set the precedence than they are obsolete and busy-bodies. As the Speaker is taking their place and orders people around without the mandate or authority to do so. That’s why it’s impressive that she gets away with it… Peace.

Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC): A Reflection of Oyam North By-Election (12.07.2023)