Lest We Forget: The Mukura Massacre in Teso Region on the 11th July 1989

“Mukura is in Kumi District which is in Teso and Teso is in the North-East which Museveni told the diplomats as having been pacified. Why was it that some three hundred young men were imprisoned and locked by the NRA in Railway wagons at Mukura, a pacified area, and then MASSACRED by setting fire under the wagons! The answer can only be that the destruction of the foodstuff of millions of people, the destruction of their homes, the MASSACRES of some three million people and at Mukura were all a deliberate policy to depopulate Uganda so as to provide land for foreigners to farm” (Dr. Milton Obote – ‘THE MUKURA MASSACRE’ 07.07.1999).

This here is a sad story of something that happen early in the National Resistance Movement regime, this was just three years into the NRM regime and after the coup of 1986. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his rebels was “new” in office. Still, this crimes shall not be forgotten, as the innocent lives taken. Should always be a stain on the legacy of the regime. Which never really have taken account or responsibility. The President shows up with military fatigue after the NRA have killed the locals. It is just wrong and doesn’t show any redeeming factor, but showing force instead of humility and willingness to lead.

Even at this point, he had to spring out fear, instead of building the republic. The same he does to this day, as he can have a budget speech in the military fatigue. It is not to long ago since the killings and massacres of Kasese, this here is just an older tale of the murders that is rightfully pinned on Museveni. As he and his Bush-War Generals haven’t taken accountability for.

The Preparation for the Massacre:

“After setting up their detach at Okungulo Railway Station, soldiers of the Pili-Pili battalion embarked on an operation to round up suspected rebels and rebel collaborators. The operation was planned to cover villages and parishes in the sub counties of Kapir, Mukura and Ngora (all located in Ngora county) in which rebels were believed to be hiding. The date chosen for the main operation was July 8, 1989. According to survivors and other eyewitnesses, the operation by the Pili-Pili battalion of the NRA started a few days prior to the massacre with the arrival of many soldiers to back up those already stationed at Okungulo Railway Station in Mukura trading centre. The soldiers were then divided up into several units and sent to different locations to begin rounding up suspected rebel collaborators” (JRP Field Note XII, March 2011 – ‘The Mukura Massacre of 1989’ P: 7-8).

The Massacre itself:

“This paradox of double standard was captured by a reader in a recent letter to the New Vision comparing the action taken against the Inspector General of the Police and his deputy on account of a shooting incident at the Makerere University campus and the notorious “Mukura Massacre” where over 60 innocent and defenseless people were suffocated to death in a train cabin by officers and men of the NRA. We quote from the letter in extenso:” Even more seriously, 69 youths were suffocated to death in train wagons by some NRA solders in Kumi in 1989. More recently some civilians were reportedly burnt to death in a hut in Serere, while others were clubbed to death near Soroti, allegedly by some NRA soldiers. These naked atrocities have practically been swept under the carpet by the authorities. But the Army Chief of Staff did not lose his job because of what his soldiers, who were miles away from him at the time, did. Are these not double standards?” (New Vision, January 3, 1991 :5). It is also useful to remember that none of the soldiers involved in the Mukura incident were arrested, as were those at Makerere. This then is the concrete reality of Uganda today” (OLOKA-ONYANGO, Joe – ‘Governance, Democracy and Development in Uganda Today: A Socio-Legal Examination’ 1992, P: 102-103, Kyoto University).

President Museveni false apologies:

“President Yoweri Museveni visited Mukura a few months after the massacre. Eyewitnesses testified that he addressed the crowd in full military fatigues. He apologized for what had happened and promised a decent burial for the dead plus compensation for the families of the people who had died. He also promised to construct a secondary school in memory of the victims and promised accountability for the soldiers who perpetrated the massacre. According to respondents: He addressed the people at a rally. He was dressed in his military attire. He apologised and said the Government was prepared and ready to give the dead a decent burial. … then he said action would be taken against those who [committed the massacre] and that decent burials for the dead would be organized. He promised compensation for the families [of the dead] and asked our MP [for Kumi], Fiona Egunyu, to follow up the issue” (…) “It appears, however, that the President’s apologies, on both occasions, were not well received by the people. As one of the survivors remarked: The President’s apology was just to appease us, but it was not from the bottom of his heart. This is a man who came with armoured vehicles, a full uniform [of army fatigues] and started talking to us civilians. What could a civilian say in return? We kept quiet throughout. He came in that military attire with his [bodyguards]. So psychologically the civilians kept quiet, and then he started talking and said that “I am sorry for this.” But people just kept quiet. And when he promised compensation for the victims some people faintly clapped, but nobody knew what was going on in the civilians’ hearts and whether they had really accepted that apology. And then he drove off. That was when people began to murmur among each other and that meant there was already a discontent” (JRP Field Note XII, March 2011 – ‘The Mukura Massacre of 1989’, P: 13, 17).

All of these words is signs that this massacre should not be forgotten, as the people who was killed innocently deserves justice. They don’t deserve to be pawns used by Museveni in Campaign Rallies. They deserve that the relatives and the people of Teso/Kumi get what is righteous.

This actions will not be forgotten, the people will remember what Museveni’s troops did in 1989. How they rounded up civilians, claiming to be rebels and killing them in rail-wagons. This shall not be forgotten, also that the President visiting the area came as General and not as a man of Peace. He came for battle and not to damage the hurt. Just came because he had to, but not because he wanted to. Museveni knew what his soldiers did on his command. They did act with impunity and killed the innocent. The President should answer for the battalion attack in 1989 in Kumi District of Teso Region.

These actions done by the NRA deserves to be remembered. Not because it is an event of grandeur or betterment of the Republic. But because it shows the ill-intent of the NRM. This here show the ills of this government and how it will not be accountable for its crimes against humanity.

The ones ordering it, the ones who has been apart of it should answer for it and the leadership today. Should also answer for it, as they are repeating it. They did it recently in Kasese, who knows if they will do it again. Just to answer the public, because they can and the people will not have the power or will to answer back. Peace.

Opinion: Who is really the “Empty Suit”? Who might it be the Empty Suit in the Ministry of Health Care or KCCA? As the recent unfolded operations of maladministration in the public view… henceforth somebody who is just nodding to the Executive for the brown envelope.

McNULTY: “West Baltimore is dying and you empty suits are running around to pin some politician’s pelt to the wall. Thought you was real police, brother” (The Wire Season 2, Episode 13).

There is in this day and age lots of appointed government officials, they work supposed to be diligent and with honour of the codes of their work, not work directly for the ones that appointed them. That cannot always be easy as the station and the position would not been opened or given to the person if the appointee didn’t give that extended hand or blessing for the job. When you have that situation you need a strong state and strict regulatory regime that counter the possible backhand and kickbacks to the ones that appointed them.

Why do I discuss this at this point? Because it is a vital part of our government regimes and is a question that can be asked in nearly all parts of the globe. As all jobs in the branches of government does not automatically goes to the most educated, relied on or the one person who has the most integrity in the position. Instead the man or woman who gets appointed is an “empty suit”.

What some of them might do?

“What typically saves the empty suit is the tenuous relation between what he or she does and any actual business results. This may be a function of the job he’s in: a staff post, with lots of power to nix others’ initiatives but no responsibility to make or sell anything. Or a pocket of avoirdupois in a still-too-fat corporate bureaucracy, the kind of position that causes underlings to scratch their heads and wonder, ”Gee, do we really need all these vice presidents?” Or the empty suit may have come up through a system that rotates fast- trackers through a new job every 18 months, even though the effects of his tenure don’t become evident for two to three years. He hardly had time to get any grounding in the work his people do, and he may have royally screwed up the few decisions he was compelled to make, but when the chickens come home to roost, he has flown. If somebody has the bad taste to try to assign responsibility, the suit can easily fuzz the matter over by suggesting that the blame rests with his successor or former subordinates” (Kiechel, 1989).

There certainly similar like the ones described in our time in every department, every corporation and every single institution we know of. This might be the Electoral Commission of Uganda and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya. As much as the regulatory chairs of the banking industry of Kenya must feel like empty suits these days as the confidence at that is low-key as well. The Chase Bank, The Imperial Bank and National Bank of Kenya have fallen from grace. The most likely selling of the Barclays Bank African Group might also make the fragile banking sector into more disarray as the leading regulators seems like the extra board-members instead of people who uses their position and chair with care and uses the mandate to make a difference and even square.

The situations are different when the appointed is not hired for their knowledge of their field, but the loyalty of the regime or government that is running in the country. The likes of Ministry of Health in Uganda for the moment where the hospitals are creaking and the machines are criss-crossing between life and death. Electricity and other cases of depleted. As the missing extra blood for surgery, the copy-medication and the loss of necessary equipment; that shows the lack of management and reasons for empty suits. The highest empty suit for the moment must be State Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who seems to be more concern with catching checks then doing his job at this point. This point comes with the correlation of Minster of Health Hon. Elioda Tumwesige and the State Minister for Primary Health Hon. Sarah Opendi Ochieng. One of the three must generate a valued pay-check and makes sure that the NMS delivers the Global Funded projects and the other government funded health care, but either Chris, Elioda or Sarah, one of them or more must be a hired “empty suit” as the three of them are put into ministerial position working for initially the same thing.

It is just like the same mess with the KCCA where you have KCCA Executive Director of Jennifer Musisi. You have Frank Tumbewaze who is both Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Affairs. Then you have the third person who got a mandate the Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole what he does is surely only him and the Executive of Uganda who knows, since his appointment in December 2015 his silence must mean a envelope and letting Hon. Tumbewaze and Hon. Musisi does what they like. To make it more hectic you have the actual people’s elected through the ballot who supposed to run the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So you have hon. Musisi, Hon. Tumbewazi, Hon. Katongole and Lord Mayor Lukwago. All of them are supposed to central people in the running of administration and regulate the divisions of Kampala politically and create policies that builds and secure the functions of KCCA. That must be hectic one of these men and woman must be a empty suit. Unless Hon. Katongole who I haven’t heard a word from since appointment is an ear-to-the ground and talking or addressing letters directly to the Executive or Head of State as his role has still not been served. As the accountability of the NRM-Regime is not strong they prefer keeping people in the dark.  Hon. Tumbewaze seems more to be the ones who was appointed to turn opposition Lord Mayor on his knees and therefore also gotten a permanent Executive Director in Musisi to shut down the elected person. But the end-game is that one of them must be an “Empty Suit” as the basic needs cannot be that big, and one of them is catching the brown envelopes without doing anything.

There are certainly more empty suits in the system as I started with the appointed men who is not educated for the position, but are there for the loyalty not because of the office is needed or there for a general purpose. That is the same as extra board-members in a corporation who is hired to vote for the general consensus in the board, but not to generate profits in some sense. They are there because the Corporation and LLC need useful idiots to be paid to follow the remarks of the stakeholders and shareholders, not the common-sense of their position.

We can all question the value of these leaders and honourable men-or-woman in a representative or appointed position by the President for instance. The level of credible men and woman and the need for expertise in the government organisations, into the department and the civic care from the road-development to the health care facilities need men and woman who knows the trade. As long the men does what is needed for the President or for the Stakeholders. The ones that lose are the ordinary person, employee or civil servants as they will either work under them or have to pay them tax-money to keep them. As they have to be paid an envelope to be the empty-dress. The person who is an empty dress doesn’t become that for free. Somebody has to be charge to keep him there. Most likely it is me or you. We can just ask ourselves. Who of the appointed leaders in government is an empty suit? Who in the corporate world are the extras?

Lastly, why does the Minister Without Portfolio. Hon. Abraham Byandala gets away and is not questioned by the opposition or anybody else. Why is this man the free-man the invisible creature in the parliament that does not have scruples? This since this position is the epitome of a Empty Suit. He is a MINISTER, but does not have an OFFICE, Department or a MINISTRY to run. Hon. Byandala can do as he pleases and still get paid. You cannot check his ministry or running government portfolio as it is non-existence from the get-go. The Government Official without any oversight and anything to initial control or say in other words the official Minister of Nothing (MoN). Hon. Byandala is running the Ministry of Nothing. The Minister of Hot-Air and the checking the chapattis’ in parliament is fresh enough for Hon. Oulanyah’s taste.

Well, what do you think? Are the somebody you feels are an Empty suit? Somebody you question or wonder if really have anything more than pay-check from the Tax-Payers money, but does not use it’s office or even delivers anything. Then that person might be an empty suit who just nods the head to the Executive and the general leadership without exercising power or determine the future of the government institution, department or ministry. Even if the person is really doing anything in the boardroom or a needed voter for the stakeholders; if it is only the needed majority to follow procedure then the scheme need a check or reform.

There will certainly be more stories and the existence of similar men and woman who can be described as “Empty Suits” and be stooges needed by any administration and corporations as they viciously need structure to control the citizens and the policies without questions from the inner-circle. Even if that means not procurement of needed medicines, fuel, transformers or building bridges to easier access the missing Okor Bridge in Kumi District: “This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district” (MoFED, March 2015). A bridge that does not exist or is built by now so the sub-counties is not yet connect because of the altered situation and have to run long roads around the area than crossing straight over the river. So a project like this says there some empty suits as in 2009 as company was hired to build the river, by December 2012 the works by the river had stopped. Even if the departments to UNRA gave reports of progress of the project was last monitored in 2014 and by 2016 there not been done more to build the bridge since the monopoly of the Chinese Contractor have stifled the progression and in the end wasted government funds into a building a bridge who does not exist. Just like the Ministry of Nothing Hon. Byandala.

Think that is enough for today! Peace.

Reference:

Kiechel, Walter – ‘HOW TO SPOT AN EMPTY SUIT This breed of modern manager looks good and gets along splendidly with the brass. But is he contributing anything?’ (20.11.1989) link: http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/11/20/72761/index.htm

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).

Ugandan people shun the Local-Government Elections today; While Dr. Kizza Besigye is arrested while trying to go out and vote!

Today is the Local Government Elections in most places in the country except for the once that gets suspended because of wrong names on the ballots or the persons who are supposed be on the ballots. This time around the ballot-papers we’re delivered on time, everywhere actually and the polling agents was ready. There was also informed to be a public holiday so that there should be possible to show up, but this here is a silent demonstrations and a free-for-all after the sham of an election the 18^th February.

Just as the main elections of the Executive and representatives in the Parliament, this here will be marred with malpractice and even rigged. Therefore the people have shunned the event and polls. As they don’t trust the Electoral Commission; I have lots and lots of issues from around the country, this here is not just an reaction to all those people who never got their say on the 18^th February, but also all them who never got counted that day. Here are some reports.

From Kampala in the morning:

“Although polling materials were dispatched early enough by 6am, the poor turn up of voters has caused delays in starting of the voting exercise. At some polling stations in Nakawa and in Namirembe at Mengo primary polling station, Makarere and Kabale among others voting started after 7:40am with one or two voters occasionally showing up.  The stipulated time to open the polls is 7am and closing time is 4pm. The Electoral Commission has done its part to deliver the materials on time and ensure their electoral agents are already stationed for duty” (Radiocity 97FM, 24.02.2016).

As the Electoral Commission stated on social media:

“Kyankwanzi District that elections for the District Chairperson have been suspended today” (EC, 24.02.2016).

The Observer wrote this:

“Voting material mixup: Wrong ballot papers sent to 6 sub counties in Bundibugyo in  Busaru, Nyahuka, Bubugwanga, Ntoroto, Kasitu & Ntandi” (Observer, 24.02.2016).

Comboni Hospital Polling Station, Bushenyi

In Bushenyi:

The NRM continues to rig elections in the area as the NRM get the FDC Monitors of the elections is arrested, while the NRM starts to bribe the voters to vote for them. And stacks of money are taken to the sub-counties in the area as well. The NRM mobilisers are in the markets and buying the voters. This report from one of polling stations in the district: “Empty Polling Stations in Bushenyi, here at Comboni Hospital; people have refused to go to vote. Atleast 100 people have voted out of over 350 people who voted at this polling station last week”.

In Lungujja:

“Signed blank declaration forms have been discovered in Lungujja by Rubaga MP Elect Moses Kasibante. Chaos has ensues” (93.3. KFM, 24.02.2016).

In Kabale, Moroto and Katakwi:

“In Kabale, voter turn up is low, partly because the district chairperson is unopposed, our correspondent reports” (NBS TV, 24.02.2016). “9:53 LIVE: Our report David Ochieng in Tororo says voter turn out is still low. Voters are complaining about the Biometric Voter Verification” (NBS TV, 24.02.2016). Our reporter Mike Onyang says in Moroto, more locals have been seen at drinking joints than at many polling stations. Onyang says many voters he has spoken to in Moroto say they are fatigued and are still mourning the loss of ‘their’ candidates (NBS TV, 24.02.2016). Very low turn up in LC5 and LC5 councilor’s in Katakwi as the case in the rest of Uganda.

In Jinja:

“Voting for the district chairpersons and councillors is underway, but here in Jinja the voter turnout is significantly low as compared to the just concluded presidential and Members of Parliament election. All this, despite today being a public holiday” (89 Smart FM, 24.02.2016).

In Nebbi:

“Local government elections in most parts of the country have been characterized by low voter turn up compared to Presidential and parliamentary elections. For instance in Nebbi district at boma one polling station by 11:00am only 57 out of 500 voters had voted while boma two out of 142 only 37 had cast their vote” (Radio Paidha Ltd, 24.02.2016).

In Iganga:

There police and military are at the Polling Stations and the roads in the district.

In Kumi:

“Electoral Commission has postponed the polls for the Kumi District LC V chairperson, following the death of Charles Otaok, the Go Forward Candidate. Otaok died in a motor accident along the Mbale-Soroti highway, a fortnight ago. The Kumi District Returning Officer, Monicah Ngobi, said this morning that they received communication from the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, to postpone the elections of the LC V chairperson until further notice” (RadioCity 97FM, 24.02.2016).

There been low voter turn-up in Entebbe, Gulu, Makindye, Lyantonde, Lwengo, Masaka, Sembabule, Mukono, and Kampala. In certain areas there are more Polling Officals then voters. Look forward to see how they will fix the results from this locals elections Seem that the country there is low-turn up as people seem to have lost faith in Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu and his Electoral Commission. Who decide for them and therefore they boycott this election to prove as a demonstrations against the regime! As with the other election on the 18^th February there been people captured with pre-ticket ballots. There been silence and not much action since the announcement of the Presidential and Members of Parliament elections has been rigged and taken the public for granted. Therefore the result is low turn-up and showing the Electoral Commission.   

Reports from Presidential Elections in Karamjoa and explains the 95% for President Museveni:

“In Karamoja the Electoral Commission District Registar has been beaten by the Special Forces command on the 17^th February before making off with all the ballot boxes. He is currently paralyzed”.

Just as the low-voter turn-up the Local-Government does not need Dr. Kizza Besigy’s ballots it seems:

“Col dr Kizza Besigye has been blocked from leaving his Kasangati home. He planned to travel this morning to Rukungiri for local government elections. From the start of the week, Dr Besigye has been kept by police, inside his Kasangati home during the night, and in police cells during the day. Last night at around 10:30pm as he was being returned from police detention back to his home, Dr Besigye said he was tired of this routine, and that he would rather remain in police custody, than being enslaved inside his own house. Besigye on the other hand says he needs to prepare to legally challenge the presidential election results in courts of law, and has now less than 6 days to put together all the necessary evidence” (RadioCity 97FM, 24.02.2016). In the New Vision: “Kizza Besigye of FDC was earlier today denied chance to leave his home to go to Rukungiri to cast his vote in the local council polls by the area DPC, James Kawalya” (New Vision, 24.02.2016).

As the voters shun the election, Dr. Kizza Besigye still not allowed moving freely and under arrest on yet another day! The Electoral Commission will struggle to get more voters than the polling stations as the numbers should be small and the percentage of total voters should be very low. Close to 20% or even less many places, if it is more than it is pre-ticked for NRM candidates as that is the Modus Operandi of the NRM-Regime.

I want to say I understand the people and their demonstrations is vital and viable as the world is following Uganda and the people know about the non-sense re-election of President Museveni. As the opposition continues to be under pressure and harassment as seen by Dr. Kizza Besigye; Seen yesterday in Mbarara and Ibanda; now also in Bushenyi where they arrested FDC mobilisers today. Since it is for the ruling party the access and reason for it is not necessary as the fear and intimidation is what the NRM lives on, and not on vote-ability or accountability for their actions. Peace.  

The People’s President’s message in Ogooma Village and on the campaign trail today in Kumi and Bukedea district

Dr. Kizza Besigye message to the people after rallies earlier today:

“Our day was started at Nyero trading center at 9:00am. We addressing a mini rally of hard working men and women who were about the day’s work and young men and women who are in their holidays off school, others who have not continued with their education because their families cannot afford the raising cost of education.

I spoke to them about securing a future they want to own and be part of. Our government will give every children an opportunity to secure their future by acquiring first skills that will make them competitive in the 21st century this can only come through education.

At Ogooma Village we met residents who told us about the massacre of their beloved ones and we were also taken at the mass grave said to be having over 300 bodies. The cause of their death until today has never been made known. The residents told us that it was the NRA soldiers now UPDF that carried out these massacres.

The same reason we are in this struggle to liberate all Ugandans so that people can have the power to demand for accountability. in an FDC government there will be a process of reconciliation, truth telling and compensation for those families that lost their loved ones. The silence of those in power about injustices that were committed under their command can never take away the anger from those who lost their loved ones.

An FDC led government will Institute inquires to find out what happened and who was responsible in committing such atrocities, our people need to know and that is the only way in helping many to forgive one another, this will forge a new era that will unite this country for many years to come.

My brothers and sisters of the born again Church in Ongino Subcounty, Kumi you have blessed us with your prayers we thank you all.

The trail continues…”

Dr. Kizza Besigye thank you message after the campaign rallies today: 

“Thank you Kumi and Bukedea for the tremendous support for my candidature and Forum for Democratic Change. #WesigeBesigye”

All the texts are written by Dr. Kizza Besigye!

The People’s President couldn’t come to certain campaign venues because of no Okokor Bridge

Background introduction to why FDC couldn’t cross the bridge. It was procured for in 2009 and 2012, but in 2014 some reports said 50% and another said 72% while in the Kumi District there is nothing. The Bridge is not there and the reports tell that the company did not deliver. Okokor Bridge is a project and not finished product a typical NRM business and money spent on nothing instead of delivering steady progress. Let’s take a look!

Preview issues:

PPDA reported this on the report of set contracts on the matter in 2010:

“The Tender for the construction of the Okokor Bridge in Kumi District, cost for the open bidding UGX: 400,037,000. The date awarded the company was on the 9th December 2009. To the company called Ms. MML Road Construction Company Co. Ltd. And the construction by that is on-going” (PPDA, 2010).

“For Okokor bridge Work the contractor has been served with a vacation notice and MoWT will take possession of
the site” (MoWT,  June 2014)

Construction of Okokor Bridge in Kumi District:

“This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district. The contract was awarded in October 2011 to M/s MML Road Construction Co. Ltd at a contract price of Ug shs 400,037,000 and a contract period of four months. The works which had progressed up to the deck level in June 2011 were discovered not to be to the desired quality.This contract expired on the 27th September 2010. In the FY 2013/14, the MoWT took over the site since it was abandoned by the contractor. At the time of monitoring in July 2014, the Ministry was in the initial stages of procuring another contractor to complete the works. No works had been carried out since the last time the site was monitored in December 2012″ (MoFED, October 2014).

“On going Projects:” (…)”Okokor (Kumi) – 72%” (MoFED, March 2015).

(MoFED, March 2015)

“Details of Off-Budget Activities carried out by NGOs, Central Government, the Private Sector and Donors: Construction of Okokor Bridge along Kabukol-Kamenya-Nyero district road under Ministry of Works & Transport.

The three biggest challenges faced by the department in improving local government services:

1. Under Staffing in Engineering department:
   Staffing gaps results to inefficiency hence poor service delivery
2. Lack of heavy duty road equipment for Force Account operations:
   The heavy duty equipment was supposed to be at zonal base but these bases are not yet equipped hence negatively affecting planned Periodic Road Maintenance and Road Rehabilitation activities
3. High breakdown rate of the new road equipment:
   The new Chinese road equipment are weak moreover the cost of their repair is higher since the supplier enjoys
   monopoly. The weak supervision pick-up has hampered supervision in the sector thus delay in completion of some of the planned activities” (Vote: 529 Kumi District Budget Paper for 2016/2017).

There are issues here and money that are missing while the bridge is certainly not 72% done or 50% ready. So there is a reasons why FDC couldn’t pass the river today. Though I am not in the level that the FDC dropped of 4 Billion shillings wasted on nothing. Still the sums here are high enough and I don’t know if there are older projects of the same bridge that has been unfruitful in Kumi District. Peace. 

Reference:

Local Government Budget Framework Paper –‘Vote: 529 Kumi District’ (Written by Ismael Orot) . Financial Year for Paper budget: 2016/2017

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development- ‘Roads Sector Annual Monitoring Report Financial Year 2013/14’ (October, 2014)

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).

Ministry of Works and Transport – Ministrial Budget Policy Statement (June 2014)

The Public Procurement Disposal of Public Assets Authority – ‘REPORT ON CONTRACTS AWARDED IN EXCESS OF US$ 100,000 FOR THE PERIOD JULY 2009 TO JUNE 2010’

FDC Campaigns in Kumi and Serere district today; also checking the state of governance in Serere District

Today the FDC Campaign convoy travelled through Serere and Kumi. From Apaipai to Serere Town Center to the Kumi Muncipality; I will take pieces from the campaign rallies that have been released and the rest is showing one of the districts to the world. As they are sometimes forgotten, because the big questions in Parliament and big men are in Kampala and Up-Country doesn’t get the spot-light it deserves. Therefore I have some extra and to show how the district of Serere has been and how the Serere governance really is. In the same way I did yesterday with Katakwi.

Dr. Kizza Besigye said today this:

“We are going to need all our energy and determination to run the least stretch” (…)”When they bring these t-shirts take them, it is your money, you can use them in your gardens” (…)”Teso will become again, we have a lot to do when we take over power, we will not betray you”.  

I know that part is short, but the reports from the district are massive today. Therefore I have focused on that. So that people get some meat on the barbeque when it comes to Serere District since my focus have been there. Take a look at it!

Police in Kumi District:

“Kumi District Police Commander Mark Ajuna is arrested following reports linking him to the recent theft of exhibit money. Ajuna was arrested alongside the Officer in Charge of Kumi Police Post, James Lokiru Lorika and three civilians with whom they allegedly connived to share and conceal information on the theft of exhibit money amounting to 150 million Shillings” (Radio Buddu 98.8 and 95.5, 11.01.2016).

On Party Politics in the district:

NRM in Serere:

“NRM leaders in Serere district are divided over the Kyankwanzi resolution. While some have endorsed the resolution, others want the party to give opportunity to who-ever wishes to contest against President Museveni in 2016. These were some of the outcomes of a meeting that was held in Serere by NRM supporters, to discuss the Kyankwanzi resolution. The meeting was chaired by Teso affairs Minister, Christine Apor” (NTV Uganda, 15.05.2014).

NRM deflections:

“Over 80 NRM mobilizers in Serere District have crossed too FDC 04/01/2016 and were received by Hon. Stephen Ochola who is MP for Serere County”.

On the Good Governance in Serere District:

In October 23^rd 2013 this happen:

“The chairman Francis Odeke of Serere district wants government to come out and explain to civil servants in the district, why it has failed to confirm them as permanent public servants for the last four years. Odeke Opit says out of about 200 civil servants, only two have been confirmed, which he blames for the poor service delivery in Serere” (WBS TV, 2013).

On the 9th January 2015 this was said:

“The councilor representing Kateta Sub County in Serere district council John Robert Eudu is unhappy with the community for claiming that their leaders are corrupt yet the voters themselves are also not clean” (EtopRadio Alca Na Ateker, 09.01.2015).

There we’re allocated Ush 400m to Urban Roads for Serere Town Council for FY 2014/2015. The comment on the non-delivery of the money in the financial year is this one:

“The funds were meant for FY 2014/2015, but the town council received funds in July the following FY (2015/16). The funds are to be expended in procurement of assorted road materials which by the PPDA law, a firm does that. Also by the time of need, MoW&T prequalified firms to do the supply had expired contracts, same to the District. We have just updated & renewed the supplier list and hopeful to get a supplier. NOTE: Out of the indicated 400M, we have only received 343M without any explanations from the relevant authorities”. Proves that still some money is missing, up to about Ush 57M never delivered to the Serere Town Council. Somebody else needed that without any explanation I suppose.

On the 9^th December 2015:

“Farmers in Serere District have accused the implementers of the Operation Wealth Creation program of supplying them with fake sorghum seeds. The farmers expressed their disappointment on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Community Grain Warehouse built with support from World Food Program in Labor sub-county” (Uganda Radio Network, 9^th December 2015).

21^st December 2015:

“LCV chairperson Serere district was today thrown out of council after he refused to be inspected on suspicion of being in possession of a gun”. That is governmental of him, surely learned all his tricks from Mzee.

On the 5^th January 2016 this happened:

“Serere county member of parliament, Mr Ochola Stephen and the local council v chairman Serere District Mr Opiit Okojo almost exchanged blows. Today 5/1/16 around noon the two got into an argument over the poor state of graded roads in the constituency. This happened at the district headquarters where Mr Agum the ACAO rushed to separate the two” (Serere Times, 05.01.2016).

I think the numbers and stories tell the story on their own. This shows the levels of troubles in the Serere District, that there needed change and also have to rebuild the governance of the government institutions and Local District Government there. As we also so malfunctions in Katakwi District; so it is a pattern. Here wasn’t NAADS that we’re missing, more Road Money and missing civil servants to serve the public in the district something that is worrying if it is still so. Peace.