Tag: GoU
The local radio-station (93.0 KBS Radio) was banned by the NRM from the rally in Kakumiro Town in Bugangaizi District

Today another report have arrived in my hand that NRM and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is tired of yet another media station. This time it is the radio station Kagadi Broadcasting Services (KBS) Radio in Kagadi Town in Kibaale District.
The Radio Station owned by MP Barnibas Tinkasimiire for Bugyaga West. Who actually are a NRM MP. It is the State House officer that has revealed it and now it spreading like wild-fire in social media. In Kibaale District the Radio Station is not allowed to attend the rallies of the President. The Radio Stations is no longer accredited to cover him and his rallies, as they cannot be a part of the rallies the President will have in Kakumiro Town Council. The issues Mzee have with the radio is that yesterday the radio sent programs exposing the failures of the NRM-Regime. The State House said even that the radio can’t send journalist to the campaign venue and surface there.

Seems like the issues with Media Coverage is grows on “the old man with the hat” as he can’t even handle a little radio station in Kibaale District. They did something as foolish right before him campaigning in the district told about the mismanagement of the nearly 30-year rule. That can’t be easy to hear as you are set in your ways. Mzee is literally again stopping the freedom of speech because it doesn’t fit his modus operandi. The President is more and more limiting the movement of the people around him and if you don’t speak his tune, he turn you away.
I am sure he would have a add-block on words I am writing about him. Not that I think he reads it, as I am teasing the leopard too much. As now the KBS Radio did as well. They are now banned and can’t listen in or broadcast the rally in Kakumiro. So the people in Kagadi get shunned from listening to Mzee as a result. I am sure they are listening to Bebe Cool’s Dembe instead of the old man’s speech with recycled pledges and wishes of loyalty to the local public and voter tourism to Kakumiro town. This is something that the radio listeners don’t really need. KBS radio will be Mzee free because of this and get other views and voices.

On the 15th of January there were two people who was setting up signs in Kagadi town, they we’re setting up signs that was “anti-Museveni” a week before Mzee himself was supposed to have rally in town. The Police did detain the activists and jailing them for putting up the banner in town. The message they had put up was: “Kidaga Town is the only town with no piped water, Tarmac streets, among others”. That was to violent message for NRM to have on the roadside while campaigning and also to violent. They breached the social contract between the public and police, therefore they was detained. It was so dangerous for society to read such a banner. They even threw tear-gas towards them who as setting it up! This here is yet another proof of the detail control the police and NRM have on the society, that hanging a banner in town that are soon having campaigns. When that report came out; I knew that the KBS report was true, because it is in the same line as NTV and wouldn’t be surprised at this point; Because the NRM have big issues with the media now-a-days! And when two men can put up a sign like that and be detained at the Kagadi Police Station, then you know something is wrong. They cannot help themselves!
Think that is enough of this today. Peace.
Press Release: Kenyan arrested on charges of Human Trafficking in Uganda (22.01.2016)

NRM Papal Poster; And other victorious ideas from Mzee’s team!

NRM has so little to show that they have to use the powers and goodwill of the Papal Visit in November to look good. NRM Campaign Team must have lost the plot, but Mike Sebalu is not the smartest trickster or campaign manager in the world, but the here take the Cake!

This here is also so Priceless! Wonder if the candidates feels the same?

Wonder if Mzee feels that this is a perfect spot to pin the posters up?
Well, there been more, but this the ones I could find now. Peace.
Political Parties spending during campaigns in November and December 2015; NRM buying shirts and ferrying crowds; while the others Parties use meager funds their campaigns

This here has been address by others, but this is my view on the report released by NGOs recently. So here is my view on how the parties have spent on the two months, and the issue is that is very important to discuss. Since this is use of money to gain power or to shape the political landscape. The use of moneys and what you use it on show the values and to what extend you will pay to either continue or get power. The pages are after the counting system of Acrobat document, the official document will have different numbers because Acrobat count the empty pages in the beginning also. Therefore the numbers are higher then what it is in the report and don’t get that confused. I just do it to make it easy.
“The minimum amount of money observed to have been spent by parties and their flag bearers in the observed districts was UGX 49.6 billion in November and 88.1 billion in December representing an increase of 77% over the two months. This increase is largely attributed to the commencement of member or parliament campaigns having been nominated on the 3rd and 4th of December 2015” (…)”ACFIM observers reported use of motorcades, bodabodas cyclists, entertainers; and provided transport refund, food and drinks for supporters that accompanied them to nomination and attended the nomination rallies” (P: 8, 2016).
“Assessment of Minimum Expenses by Party:
According to ACFIM observers, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidates are leading by far terms of campaign spending. The party accounts for 87% of the total minimum observed expenditures reported by ACFIM Research Assistants/Observers in the months of November and December. NRM is trailed by Independent Candidates who have spent 7.9%, FDC (2.1%), Go Forward political group (1.1%), DP (0.5%), UPC (0.3%) and other parties (0.3%)” (P: 10, 2016).

NRM Minimum costs:
There has been observed how the NRM have been using funds on their candidates and campaigning from June 2015 to December 2015. This here proves yet again to what extent the ruling parties secure loyalty and MPs. Every NRM Village has spent minimum UGX 15m. The delegates conference for the constitutional amendment they spent UGX 19M. The Second delegate’s conference to elect Flag-Bearer UGX 20M; then it’s the monies spent to MPs to secure the vote for sole-candidacy that was UGX 6M. They also spent money for Posh Cars for party officials UGX 10M. Last was paying for the NRM Primaries which cost about UGX 30M. That means the minimum cost for NRM we’re UGX 100M (P: 12, 2016). That is before you really start to campaign!

Expenses of Presidential Candidates in November and December:
“The candidate Yoweri Museveni accounts for majority of the total minimum expenditure with 91.6% of the total minimum expenses recorded. Candidate Museveni is followed by Amama Mbabazi whose expenditure accounts for 4.6% and Kizza Besigye (3.3%). The rest of the candidates spent less than 1.0% combined” (P: 16, 2016).
NRM giving money away to gain support:
“The Money Man”; He is retired Leut. Gen. Henry Tumukunde. He was handing over UGX 20million to an association of vendors in Entebbe Market in December. He has been leading the advance party of candidate Yoweri Museveni. Observers in Arua reported that he handed out UGX 50,000 to 400 voters who claimed to have converted from FDC – they met him at White Castle Hotel in Arua” (P: 19, 2016).

Expenses on Journalists by Presidential Candidate (Nov & Dec):
“Yoweri Museveni outstrips his competitors in terms of expenditure on facilitation of Journalists on campaign trail. Observers report that candidate Yoweri Museveni has a team on 20 local journalists (electronic and print) that are covering his campaign trail, each of these journalists receives daily upkeep (per diem and incidentals) of UGX 150,000 from the candidate’s campaign coordination team. In addition when the candidate conducts regional press conferences, the facilitation for journalists attending the press conference rises to UGX 500,000 and about 50 journalists can be in attendance (i.e. the 20 on campaign trail are joined by 20-30 others from the region). Journalists on candidate Amama Mbabazi campaign trail get up a reported minimum of UGX 40,000 while journalists covering candidate Kizza Besigye and others get much less or nothing” (P: 31, 2016).

Voter Tourism:
“Voter tourism as the practice by candidates where voters are provided with buses, trucks, minibuses or cars and driven from their homes to campaign rallies or around the constituency as an inducement to voters in return for their support come polling day. Clearly a poor voter who has not sat in an automobile for a year or more will be more than excited to enjoy the ride provided by the political candidate free of charge. Voter tourism has been prevalent in November and December with candidates of the NRM party most commonly observed engaging in this campaign tactic. Voter hospitality on the other hand is a situation where political candidate host voters to a banquet or party or meal or retreat where are treated to a good meal, animals slaughtered and cooked or roasted, lots of drinks including booze, music/disco, live entertainment and sometimes lodging in a comfortable hotel, motel or lodge. Voter tourism and voter hospitality were prevalent in November and December with majority of candidates across political parties complicity to this” (P: 41, 2016). To continue why the candidates use this tactic; “Political candidates that have been observed to engage in campaign tactics like voter tourism and voter hospitality in November and December, do not do so because they are generous, but because they expect recipients to return the favour. The timing of these offers in the middle of an election campaign and the nature of intended beneficiaries for this generosity is clear manifestation that the aim is to induce voters in return for their support on February 18th, 2016. This clearly is voter bribery” (P: 43, 2016)

Misuse of Government Resources:
“On the 9th of November 2015 a number of government vehicles were used on candidate Museveni’s rally held at Kasana Play Ground. Some of the vehicle registration plates observed in action at the rally include: UG2183C, UG 0178H, UG1427W, UG 0187D, UG 2688D, UG 2183C, UG 2043C, UG 2405C. UG 1832S, UG1768C. Observers in Katikamu report that on the same day government vehicle number UG 2708R was used to transport supporters to Kasana playground” (P: 44, 2016). “Similarly on December 3rd 2015 dependent candidate for Katikamu South Member of Parliament Patricia Magara was observed using a bus with government number plates to ferry campaign attendees from different sub counties to her nomination rally in Bulakasa” (P: 45, 2016).

The minimum NRM expenses of only November 2015 are 125,219,922,000! (P: 50, 2016) That is a lot’s of money. I will point out some special expenses that the NRM party has used this giant UGX 125bn on campaign for November 2015! That is lots of lots money! For Voter Tourism they have used UGX 140m in November alone. Allowances for 500 Special Force Command men as Campaign Security total pay cost UGX 300m in November alone. On Yellow T-shirts the NRM party used UGX 15,806bn that is a lot on type of item, it surely is to sprite up those campaign rallies and Yellow crowds! After quick calculations they used close to UGX 1,4bn on media advertisements on TV, Radio and Newspapers. On campaign posters the hefty sum of UGX 1,7bn (P: 49-50, 2016).
Though FDC used a UGX 1bn as the biggest opposition party, it still proves the total use of funds from NRM. I am not surprised with all the knowledge of voter tourism and also giving away foods and items at their campaign venues. The tally has to get big for the ruling party with all the hiring of buses and such proves how much their viable to use to get the perfect crowds and pictures to the press. Like yesterday there we’re reports of a village that was the size of 500 people, the NRM had a campaign rally of 20,000. Surely they had some buses and shipped them to that venue as they have done before and hired bus-companies to travel and pay to get crowds. Something FDC and the other parties does not do.

The NRM proves to be the big-spender and would be surprised if the result from a NGO would be different, maybe if Ofwono Opondo would describe it differently. He said this recently: “It is true that NRM is outspending other parties. It is true that we spent over UGX32b during NRM primaries” (…)”We are spending the money locally. We are buying t-shirts, water, paying musicians, hire cars from Ugandans” (…)”There’s no evidence that money being spent by political parties is causing inflation pressure” (TheInsider, 2016).
Mr Opondo is not a giant economic sense of a guy, the extended monies into use without monetary policy can lead into higher inflations, that is why the two recent elections periods in Uganda in 2006 and 2001 that the inflations rate we’re escalating and also led to higher prices on the household commodities. But Mr. Opondo has a way of forgetting such while his party is big spending. As they have their own “Money Man” during the campaign and continue to support the level of Voter Tourism. I am surely they have an own warehouse just for Yellow T-Shirts near a Headquarter of the NRM. They should they have used such a fortune on it and the ones they haven’t given away should be stored well.
The war-chest of NRM must be huge. As the reports before November was expected that NRM would use UGX 500bn, and by seeing the results of November alone in this report proves that those estimations was spot-on. If you can calculate the same amount for December and January; then you get up to the estimated usage of NRM party. Mzee surely like to make blast and bang while using spin-doctors to portray him as the national father of the country. While the other parties can nearly scrap enough funding for their own campaigns! And the other parties can’t use government equipment like the NRM does once in a while. As this report has pointed out and none of us who follows the NRM should be shocked and awe, it’s more the same old story. Well, that was enough for today. Peace!
Reference:
Alliance for Campaign – ‘MONITORING CAMPAIGN EXPENSES DURING
THE PRE-ELECTION PERIOD’ – PROGRESS REPORT NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2015
The Insider – ‘Opondo: NRM money won’t cause inflation’ (23.01.2016) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/opondo-nrm-money-wont-cause-inflation/
Today the FDC campaigns in Hoima; The Calvary had to act foolish; but with negations the activist was freed

Hoima starts off so well! FDC Convoy had their first stop-over at Katanga in Bugambe sub-county. Buhaguzi constituency in Hoima District. The fact that People’s President Dr. Kizza Besigye is addressing his people here in kiswahili points to changing demographics. Thanks to FDC Hoima leaders led by chairman Jackson Wabyona and candidates aspiring on FDC ticket on various positions for the good mobilization.

A police man at Kyarushesha police post threatened to shot at Journalists; who were covering the arrest of FDC supporters who were pinning Kizza Besigy’s posters at the venue where Besigye was scheduled to hold a rally there. The police man fired two bullets!

As he (the Police Man) contantly yells at journalists stoping them from capturing his actions. All the shootings happened in the presence of Kizza Bessigye before he start addresing the rally.

Defiance in action. We have held our rally at Kyarushesha Police Station; as we demanded the release of our mobilisers; who apparently were arrested by police for putting up Kizza Besigye posters. They fired bullets to chase the crowd away but nobody is moved and instead people continued to come.

By the time Kizza Besigye finished addressing the swelling crowd, our mobilisers had already been released! The power of numbers! #WesigeBesigye!

I think this was enough for today! Peace.
GoU – ‘Banning the Recruitment and Deployment of Domestic Workers to Saudi Arabia and Other Countries (22.01.2016)



Press Release: Sauti Ya Vijana denounce JPAM and now Support President Museveni (22.01.2016)

We salute the media, all Patriotic youth forums present, members of the public, ladies and gentlemen. Before you today is the National Executive Committee and Regional Coordinators of Sauti Ya Vijana.
Preamble; –
We are gathered here today after a series of consented regional meetings, consultations and guidance from all stakeholders including our partners in and around the world.
In these deliberations, Sauti ya Vijana unanimously agreed to revise our positions in regards to forthcoming national elections and conclusions have been drawn on these grounds:-
1.Declare our consented support for the NRM candidate Gen Yoweri K Museveni for 2016 presidency
2.Withdrawal of our petition to the UN Security Council for military support against a backdrop of the possibility of specious results of the 2016 elections.
3.Denounce our support for Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi and his Go forward pressure group.
Details.
1. Declaration of our consented support to Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
i) we Sauti Ya Vijana, on this day declare that we have decided to support Gen Yoweri K Museveni for president of Uganda 2016.
ii) The grounds of our support are clear minded. We are convinced that Gen. Museveni will offer Ugandans both the transformational & transitional leadership necessary at the time.
iii) We from Now henceforth join the NRM mobilizers to nationally canvass for votes for the president of Uganda.

2. Sauti ya Vijana withdraws its petition to the UN Security Council on the following grounds.
I ) After a 3weeks feasibility study (across the country) on the possibility of vote rigging, we express confidence in the Independent Electoral commission to deliver a free and fair election in February 2016.
ii) In our view a military struggle (war) will be unnecessary rather peaceful resolutions to any eventuality or uncertainty.
iii) Leaving nothing to chance we have set up sauti ya vijana election observation team. (SYVEOT) This team will monitor and observe the elections across the country. Consequently our findings will be translated into a report that will be published and distributed to government, International human rights organizations and all stakeholders.

3. Denunciation of Rt. Hon Amama Mbabazi and Go Foward.
I) we joined go forward with the confidence that it was the epitome of our aspirations as a transitional generation. However we have been dumfounded with the reality that ‘go forward ‘ is simply rhetoric with NO transparency, farsightedness, ego-centricism and smuggery fiefdom.
ii) Go forward has already failed. It’s a treacherous movement with self-centered individuals with cryptic intentions. We fear that these intentions are not in national interest and will only draw Uganda to Its perilous past.
iii) We have therefore unanimously agreed to revise our initial position and support Gen Yoweri K Museveni.
We thank you all for coming.
For God and my country.
Peter Mukiibi
Director; Information
The People’s President successful campaign in Kiboga district; He got a injured man in the middle of the campaign trail into the local Hospital; Even when the Calvary was barricading the hospital
This is the story of how Dr. Kizza Besigye saved yet another traffic accident victim on his campaign trail in Kiboga. Showing yet again through character. As a leader should do and also showing humbleness towards the police in a incident where they could have made the event turned sour. He didn’t visit the hospital to show the world the state of the hospital, but to help the citizen in need. See what the reports said!

Dr. Kizza Besigye has rushed a man involved in a nasty accident to Kiboga hospital. The accident happened in Kiboga town when two bodas collided. Dr. Besigye surrendered his car to rush the injured to the nearest hospital.
The hospital was found manned by police as always but Kizza Besigye had no time to negotiate with them.
He entered the hospital and witnessed how the injured was given the first aid. Police was seen perplexed but the DPC later gathered some courage and greeted Dr. Besigye with a firm handshake.
Health workers,Patients and care takers immediatly gathered and surrounded Dr. Besigye and demanded that he greets them as police helplessly looked on.
After delivering the injured man:
Dr. Kizza Besigye addresses hia supporters right at the entrance of Kiboga hospital shortly after dropping a man who had got an accident in Kiboga town. Police men were just looking on in astonishment.

Rest of the Campaign trail:

Lwamata, Kiboga district. The People’s President making a conversation with voters about equal opportunities and shared prosperity.

He contined the campaigns. As follows: Kizza Besigye arrives in Kiboga town play ground. Kiboga has also made its statement. Residents here reported to him the problems in the district which include among others land grabing and illegal evictions from land. From here Team Kizza Besigye is to resume campaigns in Kyankwazi district.
Value for Money Volum 5 – End of Year 2015: On rising debt, rice development, mineral industry development and other economical issues

I have now written down quotes from the 11th Value for Money reports from the Auditor General in Uganda of 2015, and we are in campaign season, so let’s see what the government can say about their own accountability and such. Beginning with this:
“Annual Report of the Auditor General to Parliament prepared under the Directorate of Value for Money and Specialized Audits. This Volume contains summary reports of the 11 Value for Money (VFM) audits undertaken during the Audit Year ending 31st December 2015”.

Let me begin with the MoWE:
“Water sources constructed were generally functional except for instances in Mbale, Rakai and the non-functional tap heads in Bundibugyo” (P: 23). Quick comment: So the ones they we’re building we’re from the get-go not functioning; what the need to use money to taps is and pipes that don’t work. Good work from the Government of Uganda.
Procurement in Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE):
“Some districts i.e. Bundibugyo and Kamwenge executed works using “Force account” method of procurement without first obtaining a waiver from PPDA contrary to the procurement rules and regulations. While using this method of procurement the districts also irregularly deposited public resources on personal accounts of district employees without any justification which exposes grant funds to misuse” (P: 23). Comment: So the ones buying can by without showing the need or getting rights to use government funds to use them, so he can buy toothpaste for his kids without showing any report of where the money went? Good to know.
Last quote from MoWE:
“Delays in the payment for goods and services to Suppliers / Consultants / Contractors were observed. In some cases such delays exceeded 100 days with some noted for exceeding 180 days” (P: 25). Comment: There is 360 days in a year, 180 is half, 100 days is over three months; That is the shortest for waiting to be paid for delivered service to the ministry; If your unlucky than it can be up to 6 months. Half a year! Can’t you just tell directly that you weren’t sure you had the money to pay for the service in the first place? Since you expect that certain business who you work with has to wait that long for payment!
Utilization of the District Water and Sanitation Conditional Grant (DWSCG):
“A total of UGX 161 Billion was released by MoFPED to the 111 districts as the grant funds over the 3 years period under review. Out of this, UGX 30.8 Billion was received by the 20 districts that comprised the sample of this study” (P: 60). Here is one of the tests that the OAG did and found: “Audit established that Bundibugyo and Kamwenge executed procurements and works amounting to UGX 192,761,460 and UGX 64,571,498 respectively using force account method of procurement without seeking approval from PPDA as required. Force account is a method where the Procuring and Disposing Entity (PDE) procures materials and undertakes the works with the supervision of a technically qualified staff – in this case, the District Engineer and the District Water Officer” (P: 64). Comment: Here it’s more buying of the DWSCG or a department locally without checking procedure, just buying blindly what they need, though doing it and without supervision so the quality control for much of the bought equipment is done unsupervised.
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) on Gender and Quality:
“47 government officers from the selected sectors were sponsored for a two-week training in gender and equity budgeting. However the training was mostly funded by donors, which was not sustainable” (P: 31-32). Comment: So the government can’t allocate money for training of their own and has to get the cash to educate their own staff from abroad, sounds not like development or steady progress, but a misuse of money, since you can’t cough up money to educate your own bureaucrats.

On Rice Development:
“The Promotion of Rice Development (PRiDe) project is a successor to three projects by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) projects: Agriculture Improved Rice and NERICA dissemination and Sustainable irrigated rice project (SIAD)” (P: 39). Quotes on the PRiDe: “PRiDe project has not established a system for collection, recording analysis and reporting of rice data and hence it was difficult to establish with certainty the progress the project was making towards the achievement of the set production targets” (…)”MAAIF should work out modalities that enable rice millers to access funding to acquire the required equipment like the mills, destoners and graders that will be used in improving the quality of rice produced” (P: 39-40). Comment: There isn’t any way to monitor the project or the progress, so they can build a stairway to heaven with the cash for what we know and not initially do any research on how to make rice better or yield better in Uganda.
More on the Rice Project:
“noted that although UGX 2,500,000 was paid to the database developer as part payment of the contract amount of UGX 5,000,000, the database was not yet in operation by the time of the Audit (January 2015) and the rice web page had not been developed.. Furthermore, Audit notes that UGX 21,232,912 was paid out to various staff to collect data from farmers and millers to update the non-operational database. Failure by MAAIF to operationalize a rice website and database denies the rice stakeholders access to vital rice information” (P: 217). Comment: There been paid out money to collect data, but not organize it, so it is lost at some office of the Ministry. Instead of being able for people looking at the experience of yielding rice or making rice better.
Performance of Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF):
“According to the project proposal document, GoU was expected to contribute about UGX Four (4) Billion for the five years (FY 2012/13 to FY 2016/17) as counterpart funding. However, the review of MAAIF PRiDe project expenditure documents indicates that only UGX 1,482,409,718 has been released to the project. The released funds represent only 37% of the amount anticipated for three financial years (2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015) and yet the project has less than two years to close. The failure of government to honour its obligation of providing the budgeted counterpart funding may affect the MAAIFs ability to sustain rice activities beyond the PRiDe project” (P: 223). Comment: Here it has been just dropped 37% of the funds in three financial years, while having two years left. That means that 31,5% of the funds have to be released in each year that are left; so the accounted money will go to the rice activities. Instead they have in three years used 37% of the total, and have to use close to the same each year. That doesn’t seem to happen unless they are starting to waste without waiver and procurement as the MoWE in Bundibugyo?

On External Debt:
Utilization of the Public Debt from the MoFPED (Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development):
“In Uganda, public debt is managed by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) in liaison with Bank of Uganda (BoU). Government of Uganda (GoU) external borrowing has risen over the years from (United States Dollars) USD 3.71 billion in Financial Year (FY) 2012/13 to USD 9 billion FY 2014/15” (P: 40). Comment: In two years going up USD 4 Billion from 2012/13 to 2014/15. That should be worrying for the economy getting this bigger debt burdens that gives the economy more interests rates to pay back to donors and banks who lent them, instead of development.
External debt overview:
“The Auditor General in his annual report further noted that commitment fees paid during the year 2012/2013 had increased by 40% from UGX9.023 billion in 2011/2012 to UGX12.7billion in 2012/2013” (P: 226). Comment: Following up the first comment on the debt, as the more loans you have, them more interest rates you pay to the lenders and banks. This here is expected things. Though this leave less money to be allocated to what the government needs and let more percentage of the budget go back to paying on debt, instead of investing or allocating to something sustainable, but then you need donors to training your own bureaucrats.
Paying back the debt on time:
“Failure to absorb borrowed funds within the specified timeframe of the projects has led to an increase in the cost of debt to Government in form of commitment fees and fines. This is because creditors, such as African Development Bank, Exim Bank of China, and African Development Fund, among others, charge a fixed rateon the loan amount that is yet to be disbursed. Government paid a sum of USD 26.8m in form of commitment charges between FY 2007/8 and 2014/15. The commitment fees paid peaked in FY 2013/14 amounting to USD 5.1m” (…)”the contractors for Tororo-Lira power line and Mbarara – Nkenda charged Government fees for implementation delays to the tune of UGX 23,353,168,480 and UGX 18,221,868,081182, respectively, which further increased the cost of the projects to Government” (P: 232-233). Comments: While the worry has been for more and more stacked up loans. Then the more increase fees paid for the loans that the Government of Uganda has gotten over time. With this knowledge the government and ministry who control the use of money should be sure of paying back the lenders and banks that facilitated the loans. This lead to more debt and fines to the government because they are not doing the job or delivering as promised back to the banks.
Continues:
“Although funds release performance improved from 22.2% as reported in the 2010 audit report to 71%, MoFPED was still unable to ensure a 100% release performance as promised” (P: 41). Comment: That the ministry can’t ensure that the payments are being served and secured after they had no issues getting the loans for the projects and other development programs, then they should ensure and make funds ready to pay back the fees, interest rates and fines for not releasing over the debt.

Construction of Jinja Market under MATIP:
“Originally the preliminary designs for the market considered four floors at an estimated cost of USD 13.3 Million; however the cost estimate was found to be higher than the project ceiling of USD 10 million” (…)”The original contract sum for construction of the Jinja central market was UGX.28,679,485,336; this was revised to UGX.32,335,198,075 vide addendum no.1 of UGX.3,655,828,962 (VAT inclusive) of 11th September 2014 incorporating additional works related to preliminaries, demolitions, lower ground floor extension from grid 10-12, storm water drainage, stall improvement works, slabs over entry voids, roof improvements and additional security requirements” (P: 43). Comment: Here is just a one project that has gone over the estimated limited and set up of a modern market in Jinja, the Local Government didn’t check the quality of the works and also didn’t do enough monitoring of the project as well. So the basic construction and planning of it haven’t been done that well, when you look at the level of extra expenditure.
Regulation of Construction from by the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT):
“The enactment of the UCICO Bill had been planned to be effected by 30th June 2012 but to date (5 years down the road) not much progress has been achieved. The major objectives of the bill were to establish the Uganda Construction Industry Commission to regulate and coordinate the construction industry, register contractors, consultants and other service providers engaged in the national construction industry” (P: 49). And this: “Out of the budgeted amount of UGX 1.4bn, the Ministry received a sum of UGX 1.02bn to cater for the development of the legislation under the programme for public structures as detailed” (P: 51). Comment: That the monitoring unit doesn’t exist while more and more roads cost then estimated, also with little progress of securing the funds used through the UNRA, there should be questioned why the government doesn’t want this transparency unit under the ministry and also checking the builder who seeks private contractors through UNRA.

Regulation of the Ministry and Energy and Mining:
“In efforts to revitalize the mining sector in Uganda, the licensees in the mining business have not been able to get support from banks here in Uganda because the mining industry has just begun to pick up after acquisition of new geological data. This gap of lack of financial support has a negative implication on the licensing process and mining operations, inhibiting the mining sector from developing as any other sector in the country. However, the Ministry will improve by sensitizing the banks on mining business to enable licensees get access to financing of their mining investment projects. In addition, the ministry will take extra care in screening mining applications and plans” (P: 104). Comment: That the banks don’t help the bank-industry. The laws is not yet set in fruition so that the companies in the mining business have proper banking operation, that means the mining industry seems as wild-west if the banks can’t monitor it properly?
Picture of Companies without returns!
“The DGSM takes note of this observation. The MEMD has continued to lobby the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Parliament of Uganda to make available adequate budget allocations for monitoring and inspections of mining and exploration operations to effectively manage enforcement of working obligations by licensees” (P: 107). Comment: Well, if you see how the banks are not build for the mining industry. This here is a follow-up and this is the second level of monitoring the mining industry and its exploration operations. Initially they have to wait for licensees and pay for them through the banks, to get sufficient structure through the banks to the ministry.
Affected persons of the late payment or compensations for work:
“This was the case with the Tororo-Lira power line project where 137 project affected persons since 2012 to date, claim UGX 3,084,420,624 in way leaves compensations and as a result 156 towers that had been established are not strung to date. Along the Mbarara- Nkenda power line since 2010, 60 project affected persons had unresolved way leaves compensation disputes to the tune of UGX 7,042,469,385 by the time of audit. Additionally, along the Mbarara- Mirama section of the NELSAP power line, 5 project affected persons claim UGX 1,143,401,900 in way leave compensations since 2013. This delayed the stringing phase of the projects because relay towers had not been erected in these areas of disputes” (P: 241). Comment: This is the same as the late payments earlier where business had to wait until 180 days. This here is another ministry, but the same kind of business structures and projects get disputes that leaves the levels of compensations to higher levels. That is shown the doubling of values in the audit as shown by the OAG this time. From UGX 3 Billion to UGX 7 Billion; that is a massive growth and added expenses on the set projects that the General Auditor has shown in the report.
I think the comments on each quotes is enough. Because they speak enough for themselves and the questions on how they used the governmental monies proves the validity on the matter and mismatches on the procurements. The scariest situation is with the rising debt and how the Ministry is dealing with the matter. Peace.

