OPM-UNHCR: Verification Exercise since March 2018 proves there is 1m refugees in Uganda!

Since February 2018, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Dr. Ruhukana Rugunda has been under fire for faking the numbers of refugees in the settlements and camps within the Republic of Uganda. Where they we’re doubling and tripling the numbers of refugees in Kampala and West Nile. These figures and set-backs have clearly sent out a memo to the United Nations Organizations. As they have been active since March 2018.

On the 20th October 2018 this has been done by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the OPM are now verifying the amounts of refugees. This is significant, since this will establish the real numbers and how many who is really there. The individuals and their fate is more important, than their numbers, but when they have cheated on it to get more donor funding. These numbers become more vital. So, that the donations and the grants to help out these individuals come to the right ones and not being eaten by government officials.

The numbers dropped on the 20th October 2018 are after a verification exercise done in Adjumani District, this being in Bidibidi settlement on the 16th October 2018. They we’re able to target what they estimate 85% of the population there. In Bidibidi verified a total of 203,392. That is not all, but shows to what extent the refugee crisis is.

While in Kampala: “the daily turnout continues to be very low despite additional efforts on mobilization. The verification site remained open on Saturday to allow students and others to be verified over the weekend. However, over the period of six days, only 1,583 individuals were verified, majority being Congolese. In light of the low attendance, the verification team has operated at reduced capacity and the final day has been agreed by OPM-UNHCR as Wednesday 24th October” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

Therefore, the total estimate with all this exercises since March 2018 to 20th October 2018. Which states: “The ongoing verification of refugees in Uganda that started on 1st March 2018, verified a total of 17,428 individuals last week bringing the total as of 20th October 2018 to 1,088,415” (OPM-UNHCR VERIFICATION EXERCISE: Update, 20.10.2018).

So the are margins of error are still there. But the real crunched numbers are there. As the UNCHR wants the truth, as they are trying to collect funding for the operations of the settlements. Since the Ugandan government also wants to secure the donations too. This is all part of that and validate the need for the refugees. The scandal could block the support and trust in the agencies and the rampant forgery of numbers earlier in the year. This exercise was needed to build trust. Now the accuracy is more likely there. They might still try to find a way to inflate it, but it will be harder. Because the base-numbers through the verification makes it harder.

This was needed because of the lie, the lie of the numbers. These are now shattered. Now, the reality is there. It is still a million refugees and they need help. Both in the present, but also for building their future. That perspective is needed. This is people who fled burning villages, militias and armies fighting each other. They need space and trust to grow and rebuild. These people are trying to build a home. That is what should be focus and giving them hope in a dire situation. They are not just numbers.

Even if this story has been about the baseline numbers of refugees in the republic. That is because of the OPM inflated numbers to cheat donors funds. To earn money on their tragedy. That shall not be forgotten. But in the same manner. We need to discuss, how we can give this people hope for a better tomorrow. Peace.

A new Presidential Initiative: With what budget and other plan than the launch?

We know that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his State House has a free budget, where he can spend the funds as he likes. Because he got in the votes before the 2018/19 on the part of the: “11 Logistical and Administrative – Support to the Presidency” and the parts of “06 Presidential Initiatives”. That is why yesterday is special, when we know that he got 9.957 billion shillings for this budget year alone. While the Ministerial Policy Statement for this budget year wasn’t specific where these funds are going. That is why, what was launched yesterday, might be part of that, but who knows, right?

New launched initiative:

President Yoweri Museveni launched a new Presidential Fast-Tracking Initiative on the Elimination of HIV/AIDS that targets total elimination of the scourge from the Uganda by 2030. He used the occasion to remind Ugandans in general and those devoted to the fight against the scourge that the struggle to eliminate HIV/AIDS from our society should focus more on preventive measures because the pandemic is avoidable. Speaking during the launch of the initiative at Isingiro District headquarters in Isingiro Town Council, the President said that because AIDS has no known cure to-date, Ugandans need to focus on how to avoid contracting the virus which, he said, is the only sure way the virus can be eliminated from the Ugandan society. The ceremony attracted representatives from 28 districts if South Western Uganda” (National Resistance Movement, 20.10.2018).

This proves that some of the money goes somewhere. However, in the statement from the President and the NRM. There are no statements on how much is spent on the initiative, how many who will work with it or even the organization behind it. The President has budgeted funds fro the Presidential Initiatives, however, there are no allocations to where that goes. Especially not in the Ministerial Policy Statement and in the documents proving the voting.

It would have been good knowing to what extent this is or if its just a public stunt? Because it is noble fight to eliminate HIV/AIDS. We should still wonder where and how the funding for this are. Since it is public spending and supposed to do something. If it is printing pamphlets, posters and TV-ads. We don’t know, if this is a public campaign or something to inform the Ministry of Health and ensure less people get the HIV/AIDS. Who knows right?

That is what we should wonder about and how the monies is spent. It is a good idea, but good to know the reality of the initiative itself. Peace.

Opinion: The National Dialogue is a stalling tactic by the President!

No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity”Seneca, Dialogues and Letters

I don’t believe that the National Dialogue, which is about to start in November 2018 and Roadmap made by the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda will amount to anything. It will be a lot about nothing. It will be like a Seinfeld episode, lots of simple fun and punchlines, but nothing substantial for the body or the spirit.

This is not something that will upheld or even be honored by the President. Because he has never honored a deal, where he has to loose something or even give way. The President are always finding his way to get the upper-hand and will do so again. To think otherwise is to think that the Old Man with the Hat has changed. Trust me, all the acts of late, shows that he is more ruthless and shows more force. Because he knows he isn’t loved or cared about in the general population. The empty pledges and promises of old is haunting him and the lack of progress on nearly every account is another reason for his total failure. That is because the President is busy micro-managing and not trusting in the appointed cronies even.

I know I should have had hope for such an arrangement, but the acts of the National Resistance Movement, the usage of the Security Organizations against the citizens, the representatives and the ones standing in their way of late. Shows the dire need of a change, but they do this to intimidate and control. That is why Bobi Wine isn’t even able to launch his album in the National Stadium. At the same period, as the ones standing in the way of the President are awaiting court cases and charged with treason. That is a reason why I don’t believe in it. Because, there are not acts by the NRM that are opening for opposition or even trying. They are even blocking the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Patrick Amuriat Oboi from operating and meeting internal-party forums. How can this government be real about having dialogue, when others cannot operate without meeting the police or other security outfits?

I wish I could be hopeful, as the dire need is there, but from the one who said he wanted to destroy the opposition and crash it after the last General Election of 2016. That President is most likely doing it to teach the opposition a lesson, not being there to give way or even give the public a hand. Because the old man want to control everything, every legislation and be the fountain of honor. At all costs and be celebrated, even when he is killing innocent people and making up stories, where the hoodlums are the problem.

That is the man that supposed to negotiate with, a war-lord with all power and his orders from above can be fatal to others. He has no trouble using Luweero methods, using bush-war tactics and to use the National Dialogue for that, would be stalling and securing who was the heads. What their needs are and find ways to consolidate them. In such a way, that they need him and not really talk. This is the man that haven’t the ability to find a successor for 32 years and always excused he has more things to finish before he leaves power. You can wonder is left to forget to do. What bridge isn’t fixed in Isingiro or what school is falling apart in Moroto.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will only be a post-boy with lectures, but at this point. He will only use this to make a positive vibe or address the opposition, as they are trouble. He has not long ago said where the opposition has MPs, he has striked that district out of the map and stopped developing it. When your discussing what that sort of man, you know it is only his vision and his stories that matter.

The President have to show another side of himself, but that will be lie. He will then lie, because we know what he does and what he has done. The misuse of power, the ruthless acts against people who are in his way. This is known and he cannot run away from it. It is known and public knows it too. His cronies cannot hide that fact. Even if they try.

At this point. National Dialogue is pointless, unless Museveni pulls a rabbit out of the hat and says, who he plans to succeed him and what the NRM dynasty wants to be the next Grand Pumba. Peace.

The Sentry’s new report have been digging into the export of conflict Gold to the Gold Refinery in Entebbe!

The conflict gold trade sustains ruthless armed groups such as the FDLR and Congolese army units that commit mass atrocities, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses against the population of eastern Congo. It is critical that actors in the international community, especially global banks that trade gold and the consumers of gold, know the origins of the precious metal they are buying. More importantly, governments and companies need to take action against the corporate networks that traffic conflict gold and move it into the global economy” (The Sentry, P: 20, 2018)

Just as the Global Witness Report of June 2017 named “Under Mined” and United Nations Security Council Report from June 2018 named “Final report of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo”. Today, the Sentry launched today the report named “The Golden Laundromat”. They are all digging into the illegal and sinister gold trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the possible money laundering scheme of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his brother Gen. Salim Selah. Who is both invested in this operation.

This report is again stating the fact and the reality with this trade. As the Sentry is proving new perspective to the matter. These being their analysis of the documentation of the operation and more into the Goetz business practices, which are vital for the export of these conflict minerals. They are showing the trail from the fields and mines in the DRC to the World Market.

Here is some quotes, which I think was worth taking a minute to digest:

According to interviews conducted and documents obtained by The Sentry, there is a significant risk that AGR sources conflict gold from eastern Congo, and that it imports illegally exported artisanal gold mined in eastern Congo. In 2017, according to documents reviewed by The Sentry, AGR refined and exported 9.3 tons of gold, although the company says it exported 7.7 tons. Several people involved in the trade of Congolese gold with direct knowledge of AGR’s operations told The Sentry that the company sources gold from conflict-affected parts of eastern Congo. Two prominent gold smugglers in eastern Congo acknowledged they sold illegally mined and trafficked gold to AGR from 2016-18, which two South Kivu-based traders confirmed” (The Sentry, P: 8, 2018).

Furthermore, there is at least reason to suspect that AGR buys gold. Trade insiders told The Sentry that AGR buys gold, and Goetz reportedly decides on the price paid to traders, as well as arranging terms and scheduling of payment. Ugandan export records indicate that AGR exports gold: it exported 9.3 tons of gold in 2017, although AGR says it exported 7.7 tons. Goetz’s original AGR project proposal sent to President Museveni in 2014 calls into question the company’s commitment to due diligence. In the document, Goetz, on behalf of Tony Goetz NV, states that AGR should attract gold from the region and that any gold traders who do not have official documents should be allowed to sell gold to AGR but pay a $500 penalty” (…) “From Uganda, AGR’s gold flows to other Goetz-controlled companies in Dubai. The DMCC was scheduled to audit another company in the Goetz network, Tony Goetz NV, in 2017, but no new audit report has been published. Despite the lack of an updated audit, Tony Goetz NV remains a Dubai Good Delivery (DGD) member today. It had passed the DMCC’s audit on responsible practices in 2015 based on its 2014 activities – before AGR was launched” (The Sentry, P: 13, 2018).

According to documents reviewed by The Sentry, Goetz sought the intercession of President Museveni in 2014 in order to gain a 10-year tax break for AGR. Three years later, that became a reality when President Museveni announced a pending zero percent tax rate essentially benefitting only AGR. This, in turn, potentially relates to a fourth FATF AML red flag that is applicable to the Goetz network: registration of a trading company in a tax haven even though its business relates to another jurisdiction. While Uganda is not a traditional tax haven, as a practical matter, it presently serves as one for gold refining since Uganda changed its tax structures on gold to attract gold companies” (The Sentry, P: 17, 2018).

What we are seeing as some would be shocked, other would see the deliberate action of the President to support and earn of the illegal gold trade, also ensure the business in Uganda. That the DRC can be used and illegally export the gold, where the business-partner are acting on behalf of the President that has made the arrangement for the refinery in Uganda. This has been done, while also giving AGR a tax-holiday, so that the production will not be taxed and neither able to follow ordinary customs. That means the President and brother together with Goetz knows perfectly well what happens from the DRC to the World Market. They are earning fortunes on the illegal gold trade and is single-handed securing the profits because of it.

The Sentry has done great work collecting the documentation for this and proving their allegations. As others has done to of late. They have extended their work and shown more meat to the bones. Making it a juicy stake. That is showing the acts of violence and killings in the DRC are benefiting the Ugandan President to this day. He is earning wealth on the misery of the Kivu’s, as they by doing this trade keeping up the in-security there. So, that the illegal gold trade can persist… and linger on.

President Museveni knows this and blames the MONUSCO still for being there to long. But his reach and his hands are in the cookie jar. As it has been since he supported Laurent Kabila to overthrow Mobutu. Peace.

Reference:

The Sentry – ‘The Golden Laundromat – The Conflict Gold Trade from Eastern Congo to the United States and Europe’ October 2018

Kampala is a political mess: That is not Musisi’s fault!

That the political map and the organization in and around Kampala is frustrating. Is because there is first the Kampala Capital City Authority, who is a legal administration and Executive Director Jennifer Musisi. The Second there is the elected City Hall with the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and the Divisions and Wards. Thirdly is the Ministry of Kampala and the State Minister Beti Kamya. Fourthly is the Members of Parliament representing the Capital City itself and the fifth the Presidential Advisor for Kampala Singh Katangole. Plus you have the added interference of the State House and the President, who micro-manage everywhere and especially in the Capital.

When you see this and the stages, you knew Jennifer Musisi had a hard job. Surely it was easier when she and the Minister Frank Tumwebaze impeached the Lord Mayor in 2013. So, they settled the score and one less item to pass through. Because you don’t need to be a wise-guy to understand there are to many cooks and to many procedures to do anything in Kampala.

You don’t only has the elected from the Wards to the Lord Mayor, the ones elected in Parliament with their reasons and wants of change. The KCCA has their jurisdiction, the City Hall has their, the Ministry orders people around and the Presidential advisor says whatever he says to the President, who suddenly intervenes as well. That is why I have always been worried about Kampala.

The hierarchy and the political landmines are everywhere. There are no leeway, as the monitoring and the checks and balances comes into question. The KCCA answers to the Ministry and orders the City Hall. The City Hall is ordered by both the KCCA and Ministry, while the City Hall is trying to have a saying in the KCCA and the Ministry, without getting anywhere. As they are both acting as the City Hall is a symbolic enterprise. Instead of having elected leadership to make changes, the President has appointed the KCCA and the Ministry to try to evaporate the City Hall. To some extent they have managed that.

We know that even the Division Mayors have wondered what their tasks are, as they have little or less to do. As well, as the Lord Mayor are feeling override by the KCCA. The KCCA was established to counter the opposition and get in their way. Combined with the Ministry of Kampala, they are never giving space and when the State House orders the Minister. The whole chaos are happening. Like the kicking out of vendors from Owino Park Yard. This was done by the will of State House on decree by the Minister and met with hostile reception from the Lord Mayor. This is a sign of a messed up system and not of building a better Kampala.

There are too many cooks and for a reason. The President wanted to ensure the value of the elected leadership get as low as possible, while his loyal minions will overcome them. That is seemingly working, but must be tiring and Musisi gave up battling with the Ministry, State House and City Hall. That is unforgiving job, but she carried it and did what the President wanted her to do. The only thing she didn’t manage was to usher Ragga Dee in as Lord Mayor. Peace.

UPDF: Arrest of Four Suspected Armed Criminals in Areas of Buziga-Kampala (13.10.2018)

DFCU Bank Attorney’s to Rajiv Ruparelia: “Re: Notice Before Legal Action” (05.10.2018)

Possible outcome of the revised Investment Code of 2017!

Yesterday at the Plenary in the Parliament, discussed the revised Investment code of 2017. Which in its self isn’t the most exiting thing. Nevertheless, the reality is that this is now in Parliament shows a push from the Members of Parliament and the Committee of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). That they are up to something. They are trying to forge something ahead. However, as the President has claimed the bureaucrats for being lazy, this shows another attempt. However, if this parts of the laws are enacted. Will ensure that it takes longer and the quality of the Foreign Investor to hold onto the new demands of the state. This will also give more power to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

As the September report on the bill states. They will register all investments and all incentives inventory, as off who is doing what and licensed to do. As the Foreign Investor has to comply too a more rigid laws to be able to in the first place now.

Because the change of laws is that an exports of a minimum of 70% of the production in the given incentive, hire at least up to 60% Ugandan citizens and accept to monitored by the authorities and the statutes within the law. This being the UIA, which has the oversight.

The Incentive before launching has to verified and certified by the UIA. The same authority that has oversight and register the incentives. The Foreign Investor has to notify the UIA if they are complying with their inventory to the UIA as per law.

As to make it more hectic for anyone to invest is not allowed to directly to be investing in farming, as production of agricultural output. They cannot do that, but they can be able and allowed to own factories and businesses that helps the farmers to get better crops or bigger livestock.

The law states further the priorities for a Foreign Investor, as per law: “1. agro processlng; 2. food processing; 3. medical appliances; 4. building materials; 5. light industry; 6. automobile manufacturing and assembly; 7. household appliances; 8. furniture; 9. logistics and ware-housing; 10. information technology; or ll. commercial farming”.

This really put the parameter for what they can and cannot do. They are specific as to who allows, what sort of investment, who certifies and who monitors. Therefore, a foreign investor, by law has to comply a lot more and has to have more paperwork to prove his business-plan, prove his investment, his hires and his initial plan for getting exports of the giving products. This will clearly hamper investments and create a longer time-table for them. As the Foreign Investor cannot focus on local market, but on international market, because that is how it is by law. In addition, when you invest in something, you don’t want to loose your certification or your rights to produce or export given products.

Also, the same investor needs to incorporate the business with the Registrar General, a certified of remittance by the Bank of Uganda, the second, the certified of remittance to lodge an application to the Department of Immigration and this department have to give the Foreign Investor a permit to do stay and do business in Uganda. Therefore, before engaging with the new criteria of the UIA and MoFPED, the investor has to get the BoU in check and get the Department of Immigration. If all of these factors doesn’t slow down a process, nothing does. This is clearly a way of securing jobs for bureaucrats and lesser the burden of the foreign exchange and remittance in general.

  1. Get UIA Approval and Certification of Business
  2. Get BoU Certification of Remittance
  3. Get Department of Immigration – Permit and Application of Remittance
  4. Getting monitored by the UIA to see you comply with the codes.

If that sounds like an easier way in, it doesn’t, more offices and paperwork, before even spending money. This code will clearly hamper more foreign investors from coming, unless they are giving Presidential Handshakes to the President. I am sure he then lets them in. Peace.

Bosco was warned in 2016 about printing own currency, but in 2018: Goes ahead with it anyway!

The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.” Ernest Hemingway

There are someone who doesn’t listen to advise, even when it is well written and with shown data to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in October 2016, as there was reports and even made deals at the State House on the 7th October 2016. As the meetings was already ensuring and securing the deals between the Government and the printing company Veridos GmBh. By that time the Veridos company had delivered their commitments to print currency in Uganda. Also a comprehensive business plan that envisioned the proposed joint venture between Veridos and the government.

Now it is the 10th October 2018. Surely for many or plenty, this sort of an agreement is forgotten. Again, today at Entebbe State House, the deals was sealed.

As the Chimps Reports stated: “In the meeting that took place at State House Entebbe on Thursday afternoon, President Museveni noted that this new venture would save Uganda a lot of money that it has been spending on printing documents from abroad. “There was hemorrhage of resources that was unjustified. Money was going out to print currency notes for a long time. About US$25 million was spent each year to create Ugandan currency,” he said” (Kyatusiimire, 2018).

He is saying this without saying the cost of what sort of agreement the government has with company they are already using. As the lack of openness is shown from the state. That is why in 2016, the documents leaked and today, they just came on a government friendly web-paper.

To long:

Interestingly, Mr Museveni, who thanked the German company for its joint cooperation, criticized government officials for “taking too long” to act on such “crucial matters that affect the country.” He added that licensing bodies must not “over price working licenses for investors because it cripples investment and discourages potential investors. “These things of taking two years to deliberate on such matters must stop. Why did you spend two years discussing something that was so obvious?” he wondered” (Kyatusiimire, 2018).

That wasn’t obvious to the Governor of Bank of Uganda Prof. Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile or the Minister for the Ministry of Finance, Planning Economic Development Matia Kasaija, who both was skeptical, not only because isn’t a company who is known for producing currency, secondly the costs are likely to be more, than what they have today and last the possibility for more forgery. All of this data was scrapped, as Bosco had decided himself.

So for some weird reason, Bosco want to take a bad deal, which his experts has said is a bad deal. He complains that his experts has made it takes this, because they didn’t have faith in the project. All been done at the State House, as it was started in 2016 and rewinds again in 2018. What value has the Governor of the BoU and Finance Minister, when their words are meaningless towards Bosco?

Someone please tell me, because I got nothing. Peace.

Reference:

Sharon Kyatusiimire – ‘BREAKING: Uganda to Print its Own Money Locally’ 04.10.2018 link: https://chimpreports.com/breaking-uganda-to-print-its-own-money-locally/

Resident District Commanders Re-Shuffle: A list of Honourable Mentions! (October Edition) Part II

I just had to go over the list of one more time, as there are plenty of names and figures in it. The Residential District Commanders are the ones whose supposed to implement the government agenda. That is why they are there as appointed officials, which the President directly put forward their agenda for their work and also oversee the elected officials and civil service there. That is why the manner and the acts of the RDCs could be important, as they are the ones reporting to the President.

For instance the former Kitgum RDC Captain Okot Santos Lapolo are re-appointed for the Gulu District, which has been a career RDC first for over 12 years in Kitgum, before he has now been in Gulu since 2016. In early February 2018, he closed Radio Mara as he ordered the arrest of Choice FM editor there.

The Fred Bamwine, the former RDC of Nakawa, Rubaga, Bukiwe, Butambala and Ntungamo has now been appointed as the RDC of Mukono. He has addressed the amount of Ghost Workers in Ntungamo District in 2014. He is a career RDC, whose been often moved and not worked long. As shown by all the districts he has worked in, in 2017 he said: “What happens to districts that don’t get certificates of compliance so that they don’t do the same things,” (CSBAG – ‘Poor infrastructure, weak accountability hurting Local gov’t service delivery’ – CSOs, 18.09.2017).

The Former FDC Deputy Speaker of Kumi, Ambrose Oronia, gone from being a Deputy RDC of Amuria and is appointed to be RDC of Ngora district. She went from the FDC to NRM because she “wanted to serve the people”. That was back in 2008.

The newly appointed Rukungiri RDC Dan Kaguta is the former Wakiso District RDC. Kaguta has been called the brain behind the NSSF Bribe case of the IGG in the 2014, where he was an accomplice with Jane Mpeirwe. Back in 2012, he was involved in possible extortion of the KCCA. So this man has a record himself and been steady in questionable cases, however, that doesn’t stop the President from not appointing him.

Then there was Wilberforce Tukei, who lost the NRM Primaries in 2015 to become the NRM MP Flagbearer for the Bukedea district. He is now appointed as the RDC of Soroti District. He is the former LCV Chairman of Bukedea. Wilberforce has also fallen out with Rose Akol in 2015.

Richard Andama Ferua has been taken with forged academic papers (2006), jailed over rental arrears (2011) and jailed for debt in 2016. The former Arua LCV Chairman are now appointed to become the RDC of Yumbe District.

Then you have Maj. Ret. David Matovu, who is the former RDC of Mukono and Masindi. Before that he has been appointed as early as in 2008 by the President to be Chairman of the University Council at Makerere University.

In 2006 was the former Adjumani District Chairman Nixon Owole freed after being jailed for defilement. He has also been the LCV Chairman of the same district since. He is now appointed the RDC of Tororo.

This was just 8 more persons on the long list of appointed RDCs. Therefore, hope more people scan through and shows the past of the people, that Bosco put his trust in. Peace.